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

KTVB TV ^ | 9/29/10

[MatthewQuigley]

The Family of Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker was denied access to the White House's West Wing on Saturday, a day after the World War II hero was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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 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.

U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick's office says he's contacted the White House to express his disappointment.

Vernon Baker, of St. Maries, Idaho, was the last living black World War II Medal of Honor winner.

The White House didn't return a phone call seeking comment.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>That includes the unaddressed casual dress on West Wing tours.

Tours are one thing, invited guests are entirely another. Showing up as an invited guest to the WH in a t-shirt and shorts is inappropriate. Period. Does not matter who, or what party is president at the time. Call me whatever you want... the WH is deserving of respect, and if invited there, you don’t dress like a tourist, no matter what your age is.

[wbill]

Hard to believe the only solution WH staff could come up with was to recind the invitation.

Were a different administration in power, IMHO, this would have just been taken care of quietly. Either a protocol officer would have contacted the family in advance ("formal dress is required, we recommend such-and-such") *or* someone would have quietly taken the family aside on entrance and resolved the issue.

But, since the current admin is made up of zero-tolerance, zero-commonsense idiots, we get this situation. Wonder if Hannity / Beck / Rush will mention it?

[wita]

My big fat ass.

Hey, enough with the secrets already. LOL!

[pgkdan]

Sorry that you don’t know any better but most people would know without a dress code being published that you don’t go the West Wing of the White House in shorts and a tee shirt.

[kcvl]

Unidentified girls with basketballs leave the White House and get into the motorcade with President Barack Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha, not pictured, as they leave the White House in Washington for a private game of basketball Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.

[kcvl]

[Republic]

Well-—lol——I think I have a good one but I am not sure most would agree! :^) It isn't in Mizz Uhbama’s class but its not flat, yet, anyway! LOL!!! Had to use a little self deprecation because I am busy ranting and wanted to use the word swear word, bit time.

[Republic]

Please read my posts. I talk about dress codes. In this situtation, it was a 10 year old boy in a very, very special t-shirt meant to honor his heroic grandfathe Probably just made for the very occastion of touring the WH. IS there NO ROOM for understanding in our WH?

Besides, what big name dirtbag, notified of this class A, military secret, horrendous offense of a dress code infraction, was willing to get of his own fat ass and walk out and at least GREET this little family refused entrance?

President Bush had the kind of administration that would have worked around this in an instant.

It was hurtful and dirty and inexcusable and totally expected action from our smeared WH.

A WH that is a cesspool of corrupt, vile, HEARTLESS animals to the nth degree.

Wonder what our Father would have to say about this episode.

[wita]

Tours are one thing, invited guests are entirely another.

Might have a point there. I didn’t see a distinction but my reading comprehension isn’t perfect.

[kcvl]

In this Oct. 25, 2009, file photo Melody Barnes, President Barack Obama's chief domestic policy adviser, left, and White House trip director Marvin Nicholson carry their golf clubs as they prepare to leave the White House to play golf with the president.

[kcvl]

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2681993

http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/michelle-obama-shorts-500x649.jpg

[kcvl]

http://www.daylife.com/photo/00ODfJO3raaq8?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/08F93JZ3YS85H?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/07H7btE0jc6Zb?q=michelle+obama

******

http://www.daylife.com/photo/03h0czpg5p1uz?q=michelle+obama

Students from different dancing schools take part in a workshop in the East Room at the White House in Washington on September 7, 2010.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02Gu7d9cDx78j/610x.jpg

http://www.daylife.com/photo/011K4xCeG02Js?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/00itge09xU7iP?q=michelle+obama

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a7dfo33kR5Rr/610x.jpg

http://www.daylife.com/photo/08pobTyfEG3jP?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/05ep0ms3zbcP3?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/06v2e7Ha3AbPy?q=michelle+obama

SEPTEMBER 07: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison (C) talks with dancers before a workshop with dance students from across the country in the East Room of the White House September 7, 2010 in Washington, DC.

[Gargantua]

Five bucks says that if it had been a little black kid in shorts, he would have been ushered in and given a complimentary "BARRY-Z PRESIDENTIAL CRACK PIPE" as a memento of his visit.

8^D

[Gargantua]

(_8(|) Doh!!! Should have read the article... it was a little black kid! Maybe...

LMAO

8^D

[kcvl]

http://www.daylife.com/photo/01IZ9I2cuqaTR?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/01QM8Gy1wF50I?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0b0l9c56Wa0bH?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/039d9aq0pgeza?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/07Rs1r8enf4d5?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/004U0qd3GTfYP?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0awa07K3cH7Ka?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/07Gx0XG4m69qe?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/098I4wM7ijf5c?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/0gVMeYU3tX50R?q=michelle+obama

http://www.daylife.com/photo/02BP9xgbvP1eC?q=michelle+obama

[Palladin]

This creature strolls around the White House all day in such attire.

Yet a little boy with a picture of his Medal of Honor Grandpa on his tee shirt can’t get in.

What’s wromg with this picture?

[gathersnomoss]

There is alway’s more room under Barry’s bus. Why would Hussein want to acknowledge a war hero, even a black one.

Try again when you become a Muslim.

[Oratam]

They came to WORK in t-shirts, shorts (cut-offs, actually) and FLIP-FLOPS during the Clinton years!!!

[LADY J]

"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."

They should have planned ahead!!!

His widow should have worn a stained blue dress & the boy should have had the zipper down on his shorts!!

[VOA]

“
The White House didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.
“

Maybe the late Mr. Baker was just so d-mned patriotic that Obama
considers the Baker family to just be kryptonite.