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Medal of Honor recipient's family turned away at White House

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Don

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http://www.ktvb.com/news/Medal-of-Honor-recipients-family-turned-away-at-White-House-104032604.html

At first, I thought, how rude to disrespect the family of a MoH recipient. Then I read the rest of the story.

Baker's widow, Heidy, and grandson, Vernon Pawlik, 10, were denied entry because the boy was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. His shirt had a picture of his grandfather on it.

A White House Web site doesn't list a dress code, but the family had been invited to tour the West Wing, which houses the president's office and where casual dress is prohibited.
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Criminey, folks, you're going to the White House, the building that represents the United States. How about having a little respect in the first place?
 
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targus

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targus

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Steven2006 said:
How about the adults that were bringing him. Would you not insure your child were dressed appropriately to visit the white house.
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Sure - but in my opinion a ten year old wearing shorts is not inappropriate.

It is kind of funny when considering the other things that go on in the White House.

Does anyone remember Hillary Clinton decorating the White House Christmas tree with condoms?
 
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Steven2006

New Member
targus said:
Sure - but in my opinion a ten year old wearing shorts is not inappropriate.

It is kind of funny when considering the other things that go on in the White House.

Does anyone remember Hillary Clinton decorating the White House Christmas tree with condoms?
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So even though apparently there is rule in place about the standard of dress to tour the west wing, they shouldn't enforce the rule because he was a ten year old?

As far as Hillary, you won't get any defense of her from me, but I fail to see the relevance to the OP.
 
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targus

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Steven2006 said:
So even though apparently there is rule in place about the standard of dress to tour the west wing, they shouldn't enforce the rule because he was a ten year old?
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That's about my feelings on it.

BTW - does the dress code include ten year olds?

What if the child were two - same dress code?

Does anyone working their have a mind capable of making a descerning decison?
 
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Bob Alkire

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Steven2006 said:
How about the adults that were bringing him. Would you not insure your child were dressed appropriately to visit the white house.
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I think he should be dressed better, I would say as one goes to church. But many wear shorts to church. I would not dress any better to see the White House than I would to go to church. So my kids and I would be dressed better than shorts and a t-shirt but I'm not up to par on what is the "in" today.
 
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Bob Alkire

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targus said:
BTW - does the dress code include ten year olds?

What if the child were two - same dress code?

Does anyone working their have a mind capable of making a descerning decison?
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When I went in the late 40's it did. I was mad because I had to put on my Sunday go to meeting outfit. Six year old I can tell you about, two year old I can't, but that was a while ago.
 
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Steven2006

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Bob Alkire said:
I think he should be dressed better, I would say as one goes to church. But many wear shorts to church. I would not dress any better to see the White House than I would to go to church. So my kids and I would be dressed better than shorts and a t-shirt but I'm not up to par on what is the "in" today.
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I agree, I feel about the same.
 
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targus

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Steven2006 said:
That is surprising. I would have thought you would be in favor of the white house enforcing their rules on conduct.
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Well now we don't really have a copy of the offical White House dress code as it applies to ten year olds - do we?

I would not be surprised to hear about White House apologies for the "misunderstanding" within a couple of days.

I seriously doubt that a dress code at the White House would be the same for adults and children.

Perhaps we will learn more later.
 
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targus

New Member
Just took a look at www.whitehouse.gov

No dress code mentioned there - no even on the tours information page.

Is this something that they tell you about when you get there?

The lack of advance notice is not a sign of good organization.
 
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Steven2006

New Member
targus said:
Just took a look at www.whitehouse.gov

No dress code mentioned there - no even on the tours information page.

Is this something that they tell you about when you get there?

The lack of advance notice is not a sign of good organization.
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Uh Oh, you linked to the W/H they are going to track your computer now. :laugh:

Seriously someone earlier in the thread explained that the dress code was for entering the west wing, not for a regular white house tour.
 
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Steven2006

New Member
From article linked:

"A White House website doesn't list a dress code, but the family had been invited to tour the West Wing, which houses the president's office and where casual dress is prohibited."

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targus

New Member
Steven2006 said:
From article linked:

"A White House website doesn't list a dress code, but the family had been invited to tour the West Wing, which houses the president's office and where casual dress is prohibited."

---
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And how is anyone to know this in advance if it is not publicized?

So you get to the White House and are invited onto the tour and then they say "sorry but you don't don't meet the dress code"?
 
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Steven2006

New Member
targus said:
And how is anyone to know this in advance if it is not publicized?

So you get to the White House and are invited onto the tour and then they say "sorry but you don't don't meet the dress code"?
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I don't know the details, I can only assume one of two things. The issue is addressed in the invite or they assume a person with reason enough to be invited to the west wing would be the type of person that wouldn't show up in shorts and T-shirt.
 
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targus

New Member
Steven2006 said:
I don't know the details, I can only assume one of two things. The issue is addressed in the invite or they assume a person with reason enough to be invited to the west wing would be the type of person that wouldn't show up in shorts and T-shirt.
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I would agree - however the "person" was a ten year old child.

I would assume - wrongly it appears - that the people in charge at the White House would have some level of authority to make a decision that a ten year old is not really inappropriately dressed when wearing shorts.

It's odd that this same sense of following the letter of the law doesn't apply to enforcement of illegal aliens at the border.

Illegal aliens entering the U.S. - yes

Ten year olds in shorts entering the White House - no

I am glad that the White House has their priorities straight.
 
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Steven2006

New Member
targus said:
I would agree - however the "person" was a ten year old child.

I would assume - wrongly it appears - that the people in charge at the White House would have some level of authority to make a decision that a ten year old is not really inappropriately dressed when wearing shorts.

It's odd that this same sense of following the letter of the law doesn't apply to enforcement of illegal aliens at the border.

Illegal aliens entering the U.S. - yes

Ten year olds in shorts entering the White House - no

I am glad that the White House has their priorities straight.
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Hehe, yeah. I guess I am assuming that the civil service staff for tours and such are not Obama appointees and where probably employed during previous administrations and this would have happened regardless of who is in office.

As far as his being ten, as I said before I blame his parent, or whomever the adult bringing him there for the lack of common sense in wardrobe selection.

I can just imagine how it would be with my family and we were somehow invited to the west wing. My wife would be making sure the children were dressed, hair combed to the point I would be saying, "lets go already". They would be prepared (probably by me I confess) over and over about what to say or not say. I just don't imagine being in that situation and giving that final once over and looking at my son in shorts and T-shirt and saying "yep, we nailed it".
 
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