L.A. Times Art Critic Defends White House Commie-Chic Xmas
by PubliusOver at the L.A. Times today, art critic Christopher Knight went after Big Government for reporting on the White House Christmas tree ornaments and the man, Simon Doonan, tapped to oversee the decorations for the White House. Knight’s objection to Big Government’s coverage of the administration’s decision to inject left-wing politics into the White House Christmas tree begins and ends with the fact that Andy Warhol was the artist behind the particular image of the murderous Communist dictator Mao Zedong featured on one of the ornaments we brought to your attention. Knight’s article is excerpted below followed by Breitbart’s take downs and Knight’s response. Jump in the comments here or head over to the L.A. Times article and join the fray.
“A Warhol Christmas at the White House”
By Christopher Knight, L.A. Times
When it comes to art, the right-wing anti-Obama crowd hasn’t had a very good year. Repeated efforts to gin up outrage in a manufactured culture war have either fallen flat or proved downright embarrassing. (You can see some of them here, here and here.)
The latest fiasco is the Great Christmas Ornament Scandal.
On Tuesday, Andrew Breitbart’sBig Government blog got its knickers in a twist over one of the Obama White House’s myriad Christmas trees. (Big Government is a sibling to Breitbart’s Big Hollywood blog, which cranked up a paranoid fantasy about the National Endowment for the Arts a few months back.) The blaring “EXCLUSIVE” led with a blurry photo of a decoupage Christmas ornament adorned with the face of Chinese Communist dictator, Mao Zedong.
“Of course, Mao has his place in the White House,” Big Government wailed about the GCOS, taking the Obama-as-socialist meme out for a yuletide spin.
Except, it wasn’t exactly Mao. It was Andy Warhol’s “Mao.”
The image is one of a very large series of silkscreen paintings and prints the late Pop artist made of Mao. Warhol’s parody transformed the leader of the world’s most populous nation into a vapid superstar — the most famous of the famous. The portrait photo from Mao’s Little Red Book is tarted up with lipstick, eye-shadow and other Marilyn Monroe-style flourishes.
Read the full article here.
Breitbart/Knight repartee:
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162 Comments
Andrew, if you hasn't printed that story, you can be sure NO ONE would have heard about the commies in the White House! I would expect no compassion or intelligent remark, from anyone in that fantasy town of Hollywood…They have no clue about what is going on in the REAL world! You keep doing the great job you are doing, and let the Hollywood losers have their day, when it's all over but the crying!
Andrew you are fighting a war against an unarmed opponent.
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lol Breitbart must have the last word, doesn't he?
I agree though that Stalin and Mao aren't considered as evil as Hitler. Why? I think it's because the US military actually fought Hitler's soldiers, but never fought Stalin's or Mao's. Maybe I am wrong.
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Oh yes. LA Times. . .how horrible for us to question the glorification of a mass murderer of at least 60 million Chinese and known brutal torturer — you, LA Times, the newspaper who continually beats a drum about how horrible the detaines at Gitmo are treated.
You need to read accounts of history and then come out and justify the glorification of this Chinese mass murderer. . .or is it because he was not a Republican that he was justified?? No wonder your paper is more purchased for coupon clipping and bird cages.
Heh, "snark and misdirection" — precisely
[...] left-wing L.A. is going after Breitbart. In an article critizing Breitbart for posting the image, Christopher Knight says it wasn’t exactly Mao, it’s just Andy Warhol’s “Mao.” Isn’t Christopher Knight someone from the Brady Bunch? No TweetBacks yet. (Be the [...]
It is typical of a leftist malcontent to put a Mao ornament on a Christmas Tree which has been used as a symbol by the Roman Catholic Church going back before the reformation that represents the birth of the son of God, who represents, peace and love of thy fellow man. However, these leftist see no difference to honor a mass killer who's lust for power was his only God. This is mocking the birth of the Christ who was sent here to redeem mankind.
However, from the leftist ego point of view there is no GOD and only Man is to be worshiped even if he is a mass murdering sumbitch that cause nothing in his entire life but misery for hundreds of millions of people around the world. What do this cult of leftist malcontents care they piss on everything that makes America what it is.
Yea, you are wrong,no maybe about it.
"Art Critic" Meh
What does one expect of one who supports abortion on demand (tax payer supported, of course)? 100 million men, women, and children slaughtered in the name of communism isn't anything to lose any sleep over for a Los Angeles Times writer.
Possibly the only reason the Left hates the Nazis is that they fought the commies.
Also, Christopher Knight: You are supposed to be a reporter. How do you know the Obama's have Warhol's Mao up to be ironic? You don't. You are running defense for the administration. You are not a journalist but an apparachik. At least I'm honest about my biases. Don't worry, you're not alone. We nailed your counterpart at the Washington Post for a similar reflexive journalist-as-government-damage-control-artist spin controllery: http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bshapiro/2009/1... At least you didn't lie in your piece, like he did. You're just a shameless leftist apologist. Blake is a liar.
Snark and misdirection indeed. He says nothing in return but to disparage Breitbart "evoking" (I was pretty sure the term was invoke — subtle seeming difference, but actually significant) Hitler. Now that the left has spent eight full years invoking the old dictator, I guess they're just so over it. Lame.
Good piece, Andrew. If you weren't pointing these things out, nobody would be.
from what I can see, Warhol's "Mao" pre Adobe Photoshop. Today, of course, any schmuck can copy a photo of the Great Dear Leader and posterize the thing, emphasizing the gold color, of course. And Warhol would approve, I think. He was that kind of guy.
Of course, the whole idea of the 'Christmas ornaments" is to insult of hoi polloi. When said hoi polloi objects (as we are expected to, of course), then Knight and ObamaFriends get to sneer at us, finishing up a great Christmas celebration!
Give’em hell Andrew! It’s fun to see the little Marxist leap to the defense of their beloved Barry. They must feel the need, hmmm…I wonder why?
Amen, Jack. God Bless America. Merry Christmas… words the followers of Mao cannot claim to understand.
Way to go, Andrew ; keep telling it as it is !
I wonder, though, why there was no mention of the transsexual drag queen ornament. That surely can't be seen as "art"………………..can it?
Keep up the good work Andrew, you’ve got the leftist squirming, great fun!
The left has always only believed in freedom of expression when the opinions being expressed are in accord with their own.
Thank you, Andrew! It's time all these people were shown for what they are. Every single one of them.
To All:
Merry Christmas… Happy New Year and much happiness in 2010. If we so choose, our gift will be change… real change. Let' s all give ourselves a big gift next year… especially in November. Good Bless All.
So I guess it was that commie, Andy Warhols fault huh?
Only a leftwing idiot [redundancy] would think it’s appropriate to have an image of a mass murderer on an ornaments on the White House tree. Who did they think would find this in good taste? Chinese Americans that fled communist China? The millions of immigrants in America that fled tyrannical communist regimes? Liberals are morally backward communist and islamist bootlickers. These detestable authoritarian apologists like the author of this dreck at the LATimes may be revered by a handful of anti-intellectual liberal eggheads but they are loathed by hundreds of millions that have had to suffer under the iron fist of communism.
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for all your efforts to keep us, defenders of the Republic, informed. We appreciate your hard work, your relentless pursuit of the truth and faith in good old American values. God Bless You.
Well, i just think it's nice that the:
WHITE HOUSE HONORS JOLLY FAT MAN
http://naturalfake.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/white...
They are all the same. No thinking.
Except, it wasn’t exactly Mao. It was Andy Warhol’s “Mao.”
The author, Christopher Knight, is obviously retarded. Who cares whether the image of Mao on the ornament was painted by Warhol, or if it was a picture taken by John Doe or sketched by Jane Doe. The fact is there's an image of the greatest mass murderer from the 20th century on an ornament on the White House Christmas tree.
Americans that voted for this anti-American filth in the White House need to redeem themselves in 2010. Throw every democrat out of office; restore American Exceptionalism by throwing Hussein out in 2012.
Twinespc: I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess you were educated in teacher's union public schools and probably got a revisionist version of history taught to you.
I quote you here:
"I think it's because the US military actually fought Hitler's soldiers, but never fought Stalin's or Mao's. Maybe I am wrong".
Yes you simple little lefty cretin you are wrong. US troops fought against Mao's Red Chinese Army in the Korean War. What a dolt…no wonder Lenin referred to your kind as "useful idiots"…
Mao-ey Christmas you fool
The schools no longer teach children about the real tyrants of history. They skip over the fact tha Stalin used to sit up late at night creating lists of people whe were to be sent to labor camps where they would not be fed and worked to death. They don't teach about the millions killed this way or the millions Mao killed for just trying to feed their family.
This is really a shame and of course there are no movies that show this clearly and there are few books that are child ready to explain these events. I wish there were a Shindlers List styled movie that kids would have to watch.
Hitler was a bad guy (well he did make the trains run on time). Stalin would send troops into battles with no weapons so he took care of two problems at once, reducing the population and occasionally winning a battle. Mao was just a twisted guy who was one step better than the current leader of North Korea.
Satan, I agree. It is time to purge hell and all those in between hell and heaven.. Let them roast.. God Bless America. The People will speak in 2010.
They didn't mention that China just paid Cambodia 1.2 Billion for them to send the terrorists back to them. We paid Burmuda to take these same type guys. We should compare our prison for these terrorists to the Chinese, or anyone else. Since these guys were tagged and bagged in Iraq, Pakistan and other middle eastern countries, we should send them back there for trial and execution.
blame anyone but Obama, it wasn't his fault……wait I know! It was Bush's fault again! Why not, hell we can get one more jab at him before the end of the year maybe!
Whoa Nelly, does the USA need to rewrite its history, especially about the period 1950 to 1973? During the little Korean Police Action, our forces fought the Chinese army in addition to the NoKo army and our Air Forces fought Russian pilots who were flying NoKo flagged Migs. Of course, it might be that Uncle Joe and Mao didn't know that some of their people went rogue and decided to go fight the "evil" empire that was (Is?) the USA. This history adjustment doesn't even begin to discuss that follow-up struggle called Vietnam.
Or, alternatively, Twinespc, it might be that either you're total blithering idiot or instead a dirty rotten Socialist Troll trying to undermine the forces of freedom and good so help you Uncle Joe. My guess is that you're both.
You have to love Andy Warhol, he made a fortune being Andy Warhol. Today we have replaced the little talent he had with notables of Paris Hilton, I'm not sure we have changed that much.
Instead of making the campells soup cans, I perfer to buy the real thing. No intepretation needed.
"it wasn't Mao. It was Andy Warhol’s 'Mao'.” Hmm. Guess it depends on what your definition of 'is' is!
Mao is Mao. It makes absolutely not one tinker's damn that Warhol did the image. Mao murdered, by some accurate estimates, 70 million or more. And that person under any image should be in our White House?The only person who comes close is the earl warren Court with it's Abortion ruling. A complete dichotomy of what the left believes. They say that it is women's bodies to do with as they please and then pass laws that are about servitude and slavery and complete control of all aspects of individual action and thought by the Elite cadre fools in Government..
This President is the enemy and a fraud.
Death to Tyrants and corrupt Artists.
Thanks Doug,touche'. You beat me to it!
I guess kinda' like the difference between pol pot and Warhol's pol pot, or the difference between stalin or hitler and warhol's stalin or hitler.I'm so glad this troll knight is TOTALLY insignificant and becoming more so day by day.
A person's character is on full display when they show us who their heroes are. The Bill of Rights may require we tolerate their ideological idiocy, but it doesn't say we have to keep electing them. That's our fault.
So, why are we surprised that a group of people who adore Stalin, Mao, Che, etc, would give a flying **** what we think of them? To the victor goes the spoils.
The problem with an ideologue, though, is that they'll go down with the ship as long as they can take everyone down with them.
Thanks, Andrew, for all that you, Beck, Hannity, and FOX News do informing us.
LMAO! Poor old Bill, just the image of that slippery snake-oil salesman sweating before the camera as he gave his deposition and stammered those words cracks me up to this day!! ha ha ha ha ha
Personally, I didn't vote for him and I did all that I could to prevent him from winning the General Election for Office of the POTUS….. So that means I get to complain all that I want to.
Dear Santa:
Please give Andrew Breitbart the ability to continue his good work; Please give Republicans the abililty to persevere until the needed change does come… please give Nancy & Harry what they truly deserve, each other… and please give President Obama the best gift of all… Spontaneous Combustion. Send the bill to me.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Definitely, Juan. Can anyone IMAGINE what kind of abuse of power and in general lawless behavior bho's administration would get away with if we were not informed? Thank God for the internet, in spite of it's flaws.Double-TG for men like AB, RL, SH, GB,et al.
This kind of bullshit is indicative of the whole attitude and philosophy of Obama's regime.
What American President in their right mind would allow a White House Christmas tree to adorn the images of a mass murderer, a transvestite, and a narcissistic portrayal on Mt. Rushmore? Oh, that's right. "Diversity", and oh, by the way, it's all about HIM. Quite frankly, I'm suprprised the assclown didn't have an Islamic cressant somewhere on the tree.
Have a very Merry narcissistic, commie Christmas.
As can I since I voted against them.
Although I was more active this election than others, in retrospect I wonder how much more I could have done. How many of us took a friend to the polls, registered new voters, volunteered for a local political group? They did…and then some.
I remember a lot of conservatives this past election saying they were either going to vote for the opposition or sit it out to teach moderates and liberals a lesson. To give them what they wanted to show them how bad it could be. I hope it wasn't the last election for all of us because of that attitude. And yet, I'm still hearing a lot of people supporting a third party. I heard somewhere a house divided against itself cannot stand.
How many of us voted in a primary? By the time we get to the general election, we're often left with a choice between a Democrat we can't vote for and a Republican we have to, but hate to, because we didn't use the primary to ensure we had a viable candidate. Fact is, it's the only way to ensure incumbents get the boot.
Sorry Andrew, but you are really reaching here. This was just some kid who thought the Warhol painting looked pretty. They had no idea who Mao was. And if you really want to get into who was into Mao, you really need to run down to Nixon's presidential library and check the statue of Mao inside. To this day, it's standing there. Google it.
If it didn't say "L.A. Art Critic" in the header I would have thought it was a little kos kiddie. I'm serious here – rather pathetic when one thinks about it.
Merry Christmas and God Bless to all here,
Annie
PS: I would really like to know who feels they have permission to change our "Christmas Tree" into a "Holiday Tree" – "Peace Tree" – "Unity Tree" etc. Who makes these decisions??? And again who gives them permission?? Why don't these – RATS in Dark – change the Cresent Moon into – "Peace Moon" or "Unity Moon"??? Yeah, right!
BIG GOVERNMENT, BIG HOLLYWOOD, BREITBART TV. ALL ROCK!!!
Be of good cheer, Santa will soon be on his way. In a few days the tree will be down and everyone can move on to some other pointless outrage.
Andy is already dead.
The LAT has images of baby Obama – in a hut.
~ Origin, unknown.
Thanks Andrew. I'm honored to reply to your blog.
It's ROAR not speak. If you don't mind.
Godwin's Law ONLY describes the PROBABILITY "Hitler" will be mentioned, it says NOTHING about it's accuracy in use.
Keep up the good work, Andrew!! No matter what people say…we still have a BIG PROBLEM in the WH. We plan to vote him out in 2012. Never thought I would see a worse prez than Carter..but Odumba has him beat by a long run.
Now that Barack Obama has been exposed as a Mao worshiper who thought he could put Mao on the White House Christmas Tree and not get caught, this courageous exposé will mark the imminent downfall of the evil Obama régime and make America strong again for our women and children to walk the streets in safety and to finally enable the right to stack the courts with corporate hacks as our founders envisioned for the USA. Bad Obama.
Next year I'm going to make Christmas decorations of all the Commies in Congress that loose their job in November.
BTW, did Anita Dunn make that ornament? Since she loves Mao soooooo much.
Hey Chris come on Hannity with Andrew … and see who wins – "CAT" ? You pick the show and I'm sure he will be there – I ask again "CAT?"
Excellent comments, GAScott. I concur completely, while I thought that I did all that I could, there's probably more that could have been done.
So very true, 'UNITED, WE STAND, DIVIDED, WE FALL'. Instead of not voting or wasting your vote by fracturing into seperate parties, we MUST DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY of our elected officials. Let the dems/libs do as they may, they'll lose the next election. I only hope we can withstand the current tailspin we are in because of the 'New-Age Nazi's'.
DAD! Is this my dad? You sure sound like him! Though he was 4-F or whatever (no hearing in one ear) and I was Air Force.
Good dads express themselves clearly and succinctly. They also teach as you did with Twinespc. He now knows we did indeed fight Mao's Red Chinese Army, where we fought them and as an extra what Lenin called those he could use…but… is Twinespc a cretin or are we who put up with public school's abysmal lack of imparting actually knowledge the cretins? Social engineering really doesn't seem to be working well at teaching history. That is what I see as the major reason for the growing number of know-it-all yet know-nothing leftists.
Amen, Andrew.
Christopher Knight must've failed world history, or hates this country – either way, he's one of those heady journalists that was going to "make a difference" and "change the world" but never really excelled at either.
Ignorance is no excuse unless your an Obama-bot Brandon. It wasn't a kid that created these ornaments it was a highly paid interior designer. Nixon? has nothing to do with this argument . So stop with the juvenile deflection and moral relativism and stop blowing leftist smoke up are backsides.
Not to mention the fact that this same leader outlawed that very church (and other protestant, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist religions as well) imprisoning and killing anyone who would have a christmas tree ornament as it was an expression of rligious faith that was banned.
The Obamassaih does have a knack for missing out on seeing irony don't they.
Hey Andrew,
I am just wondering what other famous people might have an ornament on the tree.
How about Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, PAtrick Henry, Thomas Paine, ?
No Ok
How about Benedict Arnold? Oh we got one of him. Good to Know!
Yep the Whoopie Goldberg defence.
If it were Moa Mao well then that would be bad.
Obama is surrounded by radicals and communists and even his Christmas tree displays this leaning. Either he is a communist sympathizer, or just a plain old fool surround by those who are the antithesis of what America was founded on.
Oh boy! Chrissie Knight, All Hot Air, All the Time! What a treat!
Andy Warhol, a great artist.
Chrissie Knight, on a good day, with a strong tail wind, going down hill, mediocre Art Critic at best.
Bonus situation! Chrissie has decided to wade into Political-Economy: “…..ornament adorned with the face of Chinese Communist dictator, Mao Zedong.” Wow Chrissie! Heck of a definition of Mao! Guess this definition was beyond your reach: a ruthless Communist Dictator that murdered millions.
Chrissie Knight, PhD Political-Economy goes on to pontificate on Socialism, Obama, Drudge, and Richard Nixon. If only Milton Friedman was here to see the break through Political-Economy knowledge on display in this article.
Chrissie, we do know what Hunter S. Thompson would have said had he read your article: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”.
Obamao is a former member of the Communist Party. Guess he couldn't run for president while still active.
Merry Christmas ACLU – I'll let Linus talk now ….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs
Can't wait till bigjournalism.com !!!!!
Remeber
2010 = HOPE
2012 + CHANGE
God Bless us all !!!!
Bravo Breitbart!
Tastelessness is in the genes and it will never change.
I wonder if the LA Times let my post through:
"So that's it? that is your defense of this?
I've been to museums that have pictures and paintings of nude people, close ups of cocks, balls, and vaginas. Since those are in art galleries, they are now okay to put on the White House Christmas tree?
Sweet, next year I'm submitting an ornament. "
[...] For those who love a good fight. [...]
[...] of perspective.For the exceptional.For those who love the truth. Fight the liars.For those who love a good fight.For those who want hope, THIS! Benefit of libs not having kids and killing the economy.For those [...]
I have no knowledge of your age, but I am guessing you must be under 70 years. In the last 70 years, schools and history have "transformed" many times. Progressively, we were educated less about communism, socialism and fascism- the only catch being World War II. In fact, little is taught in our schools about WWII. So do not assume that Stalin or Mao were any less violent criminals than Hitler. It is a matter of the perspective of our dumbed down, liberal system of public education. They were all murderers and criminals… equally guilty.
As usual, you are wrong; not to mention continue to be patently ridiculous.
WHat would be the reaction if Mao and a drag queen were pasted onto a Hindu lamp for the festival of Diwali?
What happened to Tibet? WHo props up North Korea? WHo props up the vicious Myanmar regime in Burma? WHich country invaded India & stole part of that nation? How VULGAR would such an insult be to an Indian? Who would DREAM of being so disrespectful? Which nation has USA as their enemy in war gaming scenarios? China again. How many CHristians have died from persecution in CHina?
Seen Hindus and Muslims across the world both with CHristmas trees, it's that popular a holiday, because it's just NICE and kids LOVE it. It's not even their high holiday, yet they have more respect for it than what we are being treated to at the White House.
What's the explanation for the lack of common decency?
There is no defense for this. We have a commie in the White House… better accept reality and choose your side. Either we live like Americans, or we wait in line for toilet paper.
The left is always puzzled when they are criticized for adoring mass murdering communist dictators. They just don't understand why everyone doesn't love them.
Their "reality" is not someplace I want to live.
Great job Andrew, By the why when is the LA Times and all the other lefties going to publicly apologize to the great senator Joe McCarthy?
I'm in my office, just off the living room where our Christmas tree sits resplendent with appropriate ornaments – past childrens' hand-made ornaments, elves, Santas, stars, angels, AND, White House ornaments from the bygone era when good taste and good judgment was the White House norm.
I bought this year's ornament, but it is not on the tree. I'll purchase the remaining three of the Obama Administration from the White House Historical Association only to keep our collection complete, but with a nod to the democracy that was ours, and I hope will again be, the four ornaments from the Obama years will not grace our home during Christmas season. (This year's ornament is not one of their best, BTW. Holograms don't quite capture the elegance that is supposed to denote these collectibles.)
Instead, in place of this ornament will be one from Mount Vernon, a replica of George Washington's writing desk complete with foot pedal-activated fan, an interesting piece rendered in brass. When I look at it, I'll recall that what we're going through now is not what George Washington and the other Founding Fathers had in mind. If I understand my history, they wanted to guarantee the pursuit of happiness rather than ensure it at taxpayer's expense.
Finally, this Mao ornament is just the most recent in many subtle and not-so-subtle signals our current CINC and his fellow traveler entourage have sent us that the change he has in mind is to dismantle the apparatus that has enabled so many industrious and self-sufficient people to make America the great republic it became.
Merry Christmas, fellow Americans. And, to those who want to remake our God-fearing republic into some kind of Marxist fantasyland, Merry Christmas to you as well. With some intervention by divine providence, I hope you eventually come to see that our nation can evolve into "a more perfect union" without destroying those freedoms against which Mao was so fiercely and diametrically opposed.
Very bad taste, Barack and Michelle, very bad taste.
Matthew 7:15-23 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Obama is not a Christian! The Bible makes it clear! There are are two groups of people on this planet children God and children of satan, Obama is doing what comes natural to him because he is doing the works of his father the devil.
Oh, and to you who say as Christians we are not to judge you don't know Gods word. We are to judge first ourselves to see that our walk lines up with Gods word, then we are to judge those that claim to be Christains and yet act like children of the world(satan). We are to go to them in love and point the error of there ways so that they might repent. We are not to judge the world as the world is already condemed. One more quote from the bible"1 Corinthians 2:12-14 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged." So unless you are saved and have Gods Holy Spirit living in you you can't even understand what God is saying, it is foolishness to you. Have a Merry Christmas
Wait, if I read this article correctly, this writer thinks its OK to have ornaments with Mao's picture on it? Huh? These left loons are even loonier (if that's a word) than I thought. I think there's plenty of room in the old Russia for people like this, and it's so cold in the winter, you can pretend there is no global warming.
You are incorrect! I want the last word and I shall deliver it in a phrase: Why in the hell are a bunch of atheist communist twits celebrating Christmas in the first place? They are truly an embarrassment global proportions.
Okay, Left Always Times, let me clarify. You think that it is quite acceptable for The White House to display a replica of a photo of Mao on the official national Christmas tree that is intended to represent the majority of citizens of The United States of America. So for Christmas Tree #2 should we expect more of this with say a photo adaptation of Stalin who was Mao's hero? Then maybe on tree #3 a rendition of Chavez, the leftist Hollywood pal? And perhaps in the last year of this one-term POTUS should we expect to see a sketch of the glorious Rev.Wright drowning Jesus instead of baptising him? Shame on you.
Excellent….just literally excellent. This made my day tolerable. Andrew Breitbart, the warrior on a white steed. Camelot.
Park Airforce 1. Charter Pinochet Air. Problems solved.
My Vietnamese daughter ran from people like Mao. It's beneath contempt to have this "ornament" on a White House Christmas tree. As for the artistic value, it has none.
yep- the LaLa Times will always get way more worked up over one Rodney King than 60 million Wah Nee Changs (with apologies for the lame stereotyped Chinese name)
very well said, Andrew. keep up the good work.
Did you overlook the Korean War?
Amen brother merry christmas
Awesome jabs. I'm a fan!
Don't forget that the Obama's had the bust of Winston Churchill removed from the premises. I guess they had to make room for a future bust of Mao.
Attacking the messenger and changing the subject does not work forever. This is about the kind of people who populate the Obama administration, not about your fevered perception of what conservatives are like.
By the way, you shouldn´t have to be conservative to find the glorification of a mass-murdering tyrant obscene. Why don´t you ask yourself why you are reflexively excusing everything these people do?
Read this link to see what the legacy of Mao produced. It's not for the faint of heart.
http://www.ishr.org/index.php?id=1268&type=98...
Dear LA Times,
Here is a link that gives all the examples we need as to why ANY picture of Mao is inappropriate to have on a Christmas Tree. Maybe you should refresh your memory–you seem to have forgotten what Mao was all about.
http://www.ishr.org/index.php?id=1268&type=98...
Having said that, perhaps Obama needs to pay the Chinese back for the part of the 600 million the Chinese donated to his campaign in 2008?
Seems he likes everything Communist/Socialist. . .doesn't he.
Funny how he left this out (and so much more) of his campaign spew. . .remember who he said was his personal hero when asked? What else is the Liar hiding?
Ohhhh It was Andy Warhol’s “Mao.” That explains it and makes it all better. NOT! What a dope this Knight character is. Get a real job you freakin' obama apologist loser.
Well, duh!!!
We're on your side Andrew, keep fighting the good fight!
Merry Christmas Andrew! You're a hero to many.
I vote for blithering idiot. Dirty Rotten Socialist Troll would take some semblance of a real thought.
Where is the Che ornament? He is trendy enough for this White House.
And bringing a gun to a snowball fight!!!
"I think it's because the US military actually fought Hitler's soldiers, but never fought Stalin's or Mao's. Maybe I am wrong."
Yes, you are wrong. Google the Korean War. The U.S. military went to war with Mao's China in the 50s.
Lawrence is a confused Barry lover, that sometimes swerves into a point, just not this time.
Maybe twinespc knows that murdering 30-50,000,000 people who want to be left alone is perfectly okay when it's in the interest of "Progress". "Ya gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet." Hmm, does that "Progressive" label, or do all those reports of "progress" on health "reform" and a host of other issues, take on a little different hue when thought of this way? Maybe twinespc would love to wear a little Mao hat and Maoist gray clothes, and carry a little Mao Red Book, strutting around as a member of the ruling party… turn in his cantankerous uncle for reeducation, and in oh so many ways participate in "progress". Then again maybe twinespc just doesn't actually know any history.
With three wise latinas in attendance?
LOL.
Perhaps their bankruptcy attorneys will think of it.
Merry Christmas, Andrew. Good job.
Warhol's Pop Portrait of Mao proved you can purt lipstick on a pig and fool the gullibal but those who remember the pig's stink are not fooled at all. Communist murdering totalitarian dictators are still communist murdering totalitarian dictators even dressed up by a pop artist. The image doesn't change with the face paint.
May I put this whole spin scenario into context ?
Would Ronald Regan EVER allow such an insult to the decencies of Americans by displaying the face of the man that personifies the raw evil of leftists beliefs ? It's pure revulsion and another sign of the ObamaPOS total and complete DISCONNECT from the American people and their warm traditions.
Thank you brave military men and women for protecting us during the Christmas Season. If I could change places with you for even a few days so you could be with family, I would do so. God bless you all ! America loves you deeply. We shall remove Obama soon.
Why no ornaments of "Obama as Joker" in this "people's tree"? Knight's twisted-pretzel argument lacks honesty. How refreshing it would be to hear one of these "Bush-lied-people died" hypocrites admit they were defending our president without thinking though the argument. No one can better put these hypocritical ideologues in their place than Andrew Breitbart. Thank you, Andrew, for articulating exactly what I've been thinking since 2001–happy effing New Year to all. (and I cannot wait for "Big Education"!)
A Mao picture or Warhol's Mao picture… It doesn't matter, it is still an image of a mass murdering dictator on the ornament which is on the White House Christmas Tree.
Andrew was spot on in his statement regarding what Knight would do if Bush had a cartoonish Hitler ornament on the White House Christmas Tree. We all know Knight and the rest of the Left would be having a major fit over it. Although, knowing how the Left is, they'd probably have a bigger fit if Bush had an ornament featuring Churchill, Thatcher or Reagan.
Wow. Talk about being flogged into total incoherence….
Ditto.
Are we talking about communism communism?
[...] L.A. Times Art Critic Defends White House Commie-Chic Xmas [...]
Yeah, but those dictators don't murder murder.
There is none and can be no defense of WH actions. The man is a communist and does not deserve or merit occupation of his office. To be so stridently anti american anti god and pro everything else that true americans find to vile is disconcerting and criminal coming from his office. I only pray we can reduce him to lame duck status next November. I do not believe we as a nation can survive his communist beliefs.
Am I mistaken or White House is a public property and thus belongs to ALL OF US, Citizens of this great country who pay taxes and go to work…some of us are here because we ran away from dictators in our native countries, fled saving our lives and hopes for future. Do you know how painful it is to watch what is happening to my America??? I do not want portret of Mao in OUR White House!! How dares he???!!! Warhol or not. That is what happens when history is not taught, not remembered and not known. Three quarters of the people I asked for their opinion did not know what Mao is famous for! When we were coming from Russia 20 years ago one of the questions we had to answer was "Did you belong to Communist Party?" And if the answer was "yes" the visa was denied immediately. Now the "yes" answer probably would give you a position in the Government!!! Wake up America! They are taking you apart!
I'm glad they felt the need to defend the decorations because that just validates it.
They could have yanked the decorations and tried to lie about it so this makes it easier to prove that it WAS the WH's tree. 
"Transsexual drag queen" Is that Christopher Knight or an ornament? He writes like a girrrl.
Isn't there a middle ground?
That old drunk?
Give it a rest. It's all tom foolery anyway.
We can always count on you to put things in context. It may be lacking in accuracy, but it always plays well with the faithful.
Beck/Breitbart 2012!
Why don't you go in and take the ornament off the tree. We've got your back.
oh yeah!
And IIRC, Godwin's Law is NOT invoked if the name "Hitler" is not used as a comparison…which Andrew did NOT do.
But I may be incorrect about this.
warhol makes it better? he was another lunatic paid big $ for zip…how many leftist POS do we need in one country contributing nothing at all?
Admittedly what I say is a bit over the top, however, I do believe that the man we have in the White House, as well as those in control of Congress, have an agenda of massive government growth. I believe their is more than enough evidence to prove they want a government that controls, not serves. Also, as our president says, he is interested in furthering a type of 1-World Government. If there is a middle ground it certainly will not come from those in charge now. I think the, most especially, the Healthcare bills give further evidence to this in that they will not allow Republicans, or even some of their own Democrats, to Debate and form the legislation. Republicans have offered numerous ideas, and have been shut out of every meeting concerning development o this healthcare bill. There are major pay-offs by Harry Ried who also will not allow anyone to read the bill until 2 days before the vote. Even some Democrats were not shown the bill. Then there is the legislation before healthcare. For a party that hates corporate America they certainly like leveraging it to there whims. If there is a middle ground, it will not come from those in control, only from the American people who have been totally shut out of this debate.
Mr. Knight apparently hasn't seen President Obama's sinking approval numbers, as well as those of his Democratic colleagues in Congress. Contrary to Mr. Knight's claim, It's not only the "right-wing anti-Obama crowd" who disapprove of what's going on in Washington these days. The latest polls indicate almost 60% of the American people disapprove of the President's plan to "transform America," so if anyone has failed, it's the Obama administration.
Andrew, if you're a secular Jew, then why do you have Jerry Falwell-esque folks like "Dr." Ted Baehr post on Big Hollywood?
"Except, it wasn’t exactly Mao. It was Andy Warhol’s “Mao.” "
A distinction only a true appreciator of art can fathom, I suppose.
But, hey!
At least now I've got a great comeback for the morons who comment negatively about my Obama-Joker bumpersticker (I'm on my 3rd one, btw – they keep stealing them).
From now on, I'll just say, "You know, that's not really Obama there on my bumper…it's Firas Alkhateeb's Obama." I'm sure they'll appreciate the artistic nuance in my message.
Isn't Breitbart the guy who knows all about the media? How come he doesn't seem to understand that Christopher Knight, whose sole title at the LA times is "art critic" is not "supposed to be a reporter." He's not even supposed to be a journalist. He's a critic. An ART critic.
But since he disagrees with the collective wisdom of Big Hollywood, he must be the reason people are cancelling their subscriptions….
Andrew I went to the site and left my two cents. You keep doing what you're doing and we'll keep reading.
Liberal writers like Knight are all malcontents pushing their sick agenda as truth but they can't. Mao is the worlds biggest mass killer in modern times and nothing can cover that up. I don't give a damn if that no talent Warhol painted it or Norman Rockwell. The fact that an American President in the White House who is suppose to represent the complete opposite of Mao is hanging an ornament on a Christmas tree that is and has been a symbol of the birth of Christ, the redeemer of all sins. Can anyone, even a leftist mad dog working in the White House see this? They can ignore it, but they can't deny the fact of what this pic of Mao represents.
I didn't see any ornament of Christ, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Madison, Adams, I know about Rushmore with Obama's head up there. That is just an egotist wet dream. Were were the ornaments that represent America? Like Liberty, freedom, family, VE and VJ day. This sick cult of leftist malcontents need to be cut out of the body politics and get back to what made this country great. The generation of 60s boomers that crawl out of the mud in Woodstock drop the ball a long time ago. We went from the greatest generation to the asshole generation in the amount of time it takes for a generation to grow hair one between their legs. What a major achievement we boomers accomplished, we tarnished everything that had been built. Now we honor the biggest mass murderer of human beings on a Christmas tree, that honors the birth of the living God. Real Class Obama, you living sack of dung.
As it says , 'this too shall pass' and it will.
You don't know me. Few do.
But I, like many, bid our time, weigh our options, collect our ammo, clean our weapons, and wait for the flash point of the new Lexington, the reborn Concord, the rebirth of the greatest country in the world.
We wait, we are ready. We pray that political might, and the American ethic will succeed in removing this POS from office, we pray it can, but we fear it can't.
So we wait. And we observe.
We keep our powder dry, and our eyes alert.
God bless us, and help us, and save us, all….
As Obama’s first year in office approaches, his long calendar of corruption and failure flutters its windblown leaves into the abyss of the past. Let us take a brief look back at the full unmitigated ugliness of the Sham in Chief’s first year in office… for a proper report card. Obama campaigned on promises to help create jobs and fix the economy. Instead he ballooned the deficit to record levels, failed to create jobs and then lied about it, implemented the same policies he had criticized under Bush, lied about them too, and by the end of the year not only is the economy worse off than it had been under Bush, but the national debt is far higher, the dollar is weaker and America’s economic prospects look bleak.
Breitbart should get a life. When a person starts to focus on what is on christmas tree ornaments then you know that he has nothing better to do with his life. Breitbart keep blaming all the problems in your life on Libruhls ok. What are you doing to make the country better? This left versus right bullshit is not solving anything so get rid of your Hitler tourettes and do something with our life
If you think by sending them "back there" they will be tried and executed…think again. We have released some Gitmo detainees to police custody in their respective countries, only to have them turn up on al Qu'aida videos. Thanks for playing, though.
"Morally backward" — I like it, exactly what they are.
Seriously – We have been fighting Stalin and Mao for decades.
Oh mercy . . . Okay, the Obamas are hip, we get that (thank you MSM). Their tastes are very progressive. Check. But what about the dignity of the office? There weren't any other ornaments available with an equal "cool factor" but in better taste? It's like when parents name their child something avant-garde just to make a statement, only to have the kid move out as soon as they can.
Maybe there's an analogy here.
[...] Obama Marxists keep implementing their agenda. Heck Team Obama has even had the audacity to use a Christmas ornament adorned with the picture of Communist China’s Chairman Mao Zedong as part of … I guess our watchdogs were to busy entertaining Ben Dover from the White House to take notice of [...]
[...] L.A. Times Art Critic Defends White House Commie-Chic Xmas [...]
What can we expect from a bunch of Communists that have taken over our White House? It's a sin to our Christ and to the American Way to put such an ornament on the White House Christmas Tree, or any Christmas Tree for that matter!
Have you seen this? http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com I don't believe we'll have our country if we wait till 2012.
Doesn't anyone understand the crucial facts here?
1) The Obamas had nothing to do with what ornaments were put on the tree other than they called a guy and asked him to put up a tree for them (celebrating Christmas I might add).
2) That particular depiction of Mao has him all tarted up with lipstick and makeup. Did you notice the super thick blue eyeshadow, the ridiculous rouge on his cheeks and forehead, the blue pastel background that is pretty much the opposite of the strong red he always had behind him, the orangish hue to the yellow that so neutralizes the strong yellow also used in Mao propaganda posters? Do you think Mao would like being depicted as such? Do you think it's a form of praise to depict the leader of a massive and powerful country basically as a transvestite?
3) The Mt. Rushmore/Hedda Lettuce ornaments lead me back to point number 1. The Obamas didn't pick the ornaments.
Can you go find a real cause to be outraged against? Maybe something like catching Obama drowning a baby in a creek or something. That would be news-worthy. This is seriously not. For you to be right in this we'd have to assume that the Obamas are impressively stupid. Why would they draw attention to themselves in such a way if they were actually what you say they are?
Nope – for the last 8 years I've listened to all the liberals blame bush/hitler/haliburton for everything from herpes to the twin towers.
The simple facts are these:
This president (along with the congress) has "legalized" buying votes with taxpayer dollars.
This president grew up (politically) in the company of terrorists, corrupt politicians, and in the back room deals of Chicago politics.
This president has taken over private enterprise (with taxpayer dollars) and has delivered it on a platter to organized labor and the thugs of Acorn and related enterprises.
This president is responsible for the current runaway political engine he has set in motion that is rapidly devouring our private industry, our basic beliefs, and the very fabric of our society to "remake it" – into what – I don't want to know.
Tell me this president didn't hear his minister of 20 years GDing America.
Tell me this president had no idea of the illegal activities of acorn, SEIU, and his other cronies – like Jones, Ayers, and blagovitch (if I spelled his name correctly).
Tell me he hasn't bowed to foreign potentates and badmouthed his own country on a world wide tour.
Tell me that the people behind 9/11 deserve the same rights and protections as any US citizen.
Tell me that after a year in office all the problems we now face are somehow now the fault of bush, cheney, and palin.
This president is WAY past the honeymoon stage and must be held responsible for his actions and lack of actions.
Nope – I'm throwing the BS flag. The president is absolutely 100% responsible for everything that happens in his home. Just like I am in mine, and you are in yours.
As for your "baby in the creek" comment – the lap dog media would say he was baptizing the baby and the liberals would all believe…
Your simple facts aren't very simple and they seem a little "truthy" to be facts. I'd start saying "Obama didn't do these things" but I know there'd be no result, so let's just backtrack to the point.
For the Obamas to be doing what they're accused of here–that is paying homage to Mao, himself, and homosexuality with a Christmas-tree display–they would have to be remarkably stupid to think no-one would notice. I mean, I'm talking on the level of a 2nd grade only child blaming the neighbor's cat for breaking a window in their house and expecting their parents to believe it. I mean c'mon, you have to give the Obamas more credit than THAT. Maybe President Obama is a bad president, maybe he's not, but I think we can safely assume he's not a gibbering idiot. I mean c'mon, he's supposed to be master-minding all KINDS of plots, right? RIGHT?!
When faced with multiple explanations the simplest answer is often the most correct. Is it simpler to say they are trying to brainwash America with three Christmas tree ornaments or is it simpler to say that they had nothing to do with the placement of these ornaments given the evidence that exists, that being they hired someone to setup and decorate the tree and that local civic groups added their touches to it as well?
Seriously. If Christmas tree ornaments on the White House tree had the power to subjugate us all, don't you think it would've been done already?
Ok, so let's stay on point then.
IF the holy ones don't endorse the ornaments, now that's it's public knowledge, why do they not repudiate the person that decorated and/or at least the decorations.
See – it's that whole "responsibility" thing you glossed over.
And, just for the record, Obama can't mastermind his way through a game of clue. George Sorus and his ilk own him and pull all the strings.
And BTW, speaking of "truthy", when did speaking the truth of the facts become a smear?
"IF the holy ones don't endorse the ornaments, now that's it's public knowledge, why do they not repudiate the person that decorated and/or at least the decorations."
Because Obama has more important things to do than repudiate whoever put those ornaments on the tree? It could've been the guy he hired, it could've been people involved with the many civic groups that came through, it could've been a Republican who was out to create a scandal. Hell, as some other commenter here said, there's no proof these things are actually on the White House tree even (aside from one Fox news article… were they the only ones to know?).
Acting responsibly in this situation is putting Health Care, The Economy, and Iraq/Afghanistan before this. This is nothing. This isn't news. It's silly. This is The Onion without the funny.
"Because Obama has more important things to do"….Like making up false Certificates of Birth and paying lawyers millions of dollars to conceal his true identity. Like take 3 months deciding to send the troops to Afganistan that his General had been asking for. Like flying all over the world to give speeches, apologizing for America's short comings. Like making sure Pelosi & Reid railroaded his H.C. Bill through Congress with their private, partisan and back door meetings with his Lefties. Like having all the luxurious parties in the White House for he and his cronies, while millions of Americans need a job. Like taking 3 days to respond to the terrorists near bombing of the Detroit bound airliner because he was too busy vacationing and playing golf. Like covering up the Ft. Hood terrorist job that the Muslim Major did to our troops. Like putting Communist, idiots thugs and tax evaders in his Cabinet and in his list of Czars. Like making sure pictures of Christ were covered up before he could give his speeches at Notre Dame and Georgetown Universaries.
Continued: "(aside from one Fox news article… were they the only ones to know?)." I doubt that they were the only ones to Know….They were the only ones to REPORT it. With our biased MSM, too many things aren't reported.
We all know how busy the president has been, doing all of his important dealings. No wonder so many true American Patriots are wanting him out of office!!
So tell me one thing.
Did you have the sugared kool-aid, or the artificially sweeted stuff???
Liberalism – the belief that you can pick up a turd by the clean end.
Ok, since you totally dodged the responsibility thing – And changed the subject – let's speak to your talking points.
1. If this guy is so busy with all this more important stuff, why is he on vacation and can't even mention the terrorist attack on flight 258 for a couple of days, and then contradicts his hand picked psycho napalatino?
2. Yeah, it MUST have been a republican trying to cause a scandal. (roll eyes)
3. Just because the MSM hasn't mentioned it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist (Vann Jones, anyone?)
4. Acting responsibly, and per the constitution would not have him taking over private enterprise and redistributing wealth – I'm sure that would free up a lot of time if he'd just knock it off.
Acting responsibly would not be forcing the people to purchase something they don't want, need, or can afford. (that's healthcare in case you missed it) What's broken in healthcare is tort reform, not coverage, not lack of care. That cat is already out of the bag, no one is going to take on the trial lawyers en masse.
Acting responsibly would be taking the fight to the enemy without quarter nor mercy. Having server in the armed forces for 20+ years, I can tell you, half measures don't win anything, they only prolong the dying. It's like one of the rules for a gunfight; always cheat, always win, have your finger on the trigger before the bad guy even considers drawing his weapon. If you can't figure out who the bad guys are, then you aren't paying attention, or you are too PC to allow yourself to notice, or both.
Acting responsibly would not involved putting tax cheats in the cabinet and appointing czars with sweeping authority and zero accountability.
Now before you start pointing out that the czars have been around a long time, I've opposed them on both sides of the fence regardless of political party. I am not a democrat, nor a republican. What I am is a strict constitutionalist.
The huge changes this administration has made are unconstitutional.
[...] Andy Oram wrote an interesting post today on  Here’s a quick excerpt  Over at the L.A. Times today, art critic Christopher Knight went after Big Government for reporting on the White House Christmas trees ornaments and the man, Simon Doonan, tapped to oversee the decorations for the White House. … [...]
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