Seattle artist's White House ornament in poor taste

A ROUND of boisterous boos, please, for King County's cultural agency and the uber-political artist selected to represent Seattle's 7th Congressional District in the White House display of Christmas ornaments.

Asked to create a holiday ornament for the White House, artist Deborah Lawrence sent a 9-inch ball that says "Impeach Bush." Happy Holidays to you, too. How embarrassing.

Everyone involved has a role in our holiday discomfort: the ill-mannered artist and the director of the arts group 4Culture who allowed Lawrence to be selected.

Lawrence is known for her anti-war, anti-torture and feminist views. That should have alerted someone to check in with the artist — or to select someone else who might feel the Christmas spirit a little more acutely.

Congressman Jim McDermott received the official invitation for such an ornament and passed it off to 4Culture. McDermott can learn, too, that a politician should specify some parameters to avoid getting egg on his own mug.

Artists from the nation's 435 congressional districts were asked to create an ornamental ball in the theme of red, white and blue to be displayed at the White House.

The only ornament rejected was the one by Lawrence. The White House made the right decision.

Why go with an artist so politically motivated?

The idea here is not to limit free speech or political expression. The smarter plan was to select an artist willing to represent the 7th District with some degree of taste.