Tee-ball on the South Lawn...a lasting Bush tradition?
It's the feel-good event of the Independence Day week — kids ages 4 to 7 playing tee-ball on the White House lawn.
This afternoon's game — the launch of the eighth season — honors Latino contributions to baseball, featuring the Little League Angels from Manatí, Puerto Rico, facing off against the Little League Red Sox from Camden, N.J.
Oh sure, the White House puts a wonky rationale on the occasion — saying that President Bush launched Tee-ball on the South Lawn in 2001 to "encourage fitness among America's youth and promote our national pastime to people of all ages." But the gig is mostly a fun departure for parents, staff and the infamous Washington observers. Yes, they really do exist, and the White House puts up bleachers for them.
Bush asked the players before they started to join him in the Little League Pledge: "I trust in God. I love my country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win. But win or lose, I will always do my best. Play ball!"
Bush is a baseball guy -- former part owner of the Texas Rangers — so the question is: Will Barack Obama or John McCain bring in a new tot sport or keep this one?
— Johanna Neuman
Photo: Eric Draper / White House
'I trust in God' as part of the Little League pledge? The hell with that- since when didn't Little League belong to the WHOLE community?
Posted by: newageblues | June 30, 2008 at 05:47 PM
And I thought Little League belonged to the whole community. Another assault on equality between religious and non-religious.
Posted by: newageblues | June 30, 2008 at 07:24 PM