Though the dress code is strict, the white house should also not be considered just another tourist attraction. It is the house to some of the most powerful people on the Earth, and dressing well would reflect the kind of respect the president deserve. Shoes is a bare minimum I feel.

#90067 by Louise on 7/27 at 9:13 am

Ah Louise, so true, so true. How few people know, (as in the case with New Orleans after Katrina) that beyond the “main attraction” tourist spots, is an entire city crammed with abject poverty, and it’s pretty damn hard to miss, even if one doesn’t become lost.

And yep, it’s our Capitol…how disgusting is that?

When is the last time any of you tried to sight-see in D.C. in the summer (or for that matter, virtually ANYWHERE in the U.S. in the summer)?  I guarantee that the SMELL of people running around in coats and ties in +90 degree weather will be far worse than the visual horror of t-shirts and shorts.  W probably thinks we all have air conditioned limos to drop us off at each national monument (like HE has).  Tell you what, when W starts wearing a suit when he is clearing brush in Crawford, WE will start wearing them in the White House.  The effrontery of this lowbrow midget telling us WE are stylistically challenged is beyond belief.

believe it or not RAE (Comment #89944) I tend to agree with you. But my experience has not been so much with the mode of dress as the general behavior.

As you stated, “Americans are known world-wide for their brashness and lack of sensitivity to cultural matters.”

They’re also known for being filthy slobs.

When visiting in Asia, I was so impressed with the cleanliness of their public restrooms I startled my hosts when I commented on them. “Most people bitch,” I was told, “because you have to squat.” But squatting is quite all right when you are surrounded by cleanliness.

A few weeks later we happened upon a tour group of Americans, who were leaving the “American” style restroom as we drove into town. I went in, gagged and immediately turned back out. The filth, the stench, the plugged up over-flowing toilets, the wet paper and garbage everywhere was something I will never forget.

As I watched the cleaning women pick up their supplies and head in to clean up after the “filthy Americans” I felt compelled to offer my sympathy. They couldn’t understand me, but they understood I’m sorry. Then one pointed out my bus was leaving ... giving me the opportunity to shake my head and explain, “I’m not with that babbling bubble headed group!”
Their giggles told me they understood.

I honestly cant tell you what any of those American tourists were wearing. Their behavior overwhelmed the senses.

I was in South Korea for the World Cup and listened to endless complaints from bitching and moaning Americans boarding the plane for the return trip home.
“The food is horrible”
[it is wonderful]
“This whole country stinks”
[garlic and pepper and other pleasant cooking odors, obviously these folks had never been to North Bergen New Jersey.]
“The restrooms are awful!”
[awe but except for your visits so very clean]
“I cant wait to get out of here”
[I was close to tears because I had to leave]
“Nobody speaks English”
[That one always gets me! Duh if you want to hear English ... stay home! How many Korean tourists find folks in the US that speak Korean?]

Actually many Koreans do speak English. Many better than our president!

Some travelers are an arrogant lot. Their grasp of the world begins and ends at the tour bus. I rather suspect if Bush didn’t have secret service baby sitting him he would leave a similar impression behind. Come to think of it, he did ... when he stayed with the Queen.

Fortunately not all Americans are rude, crude and thoughtless. The ones that are, just leave that impression behind. Anyone involved in marketing can tell you, a hundred satisfied customers might bring in one new customer. But one customer with one bad experience will keep 100 potential customers away.

Such is the impact our tourists make. Nobody notices what they wear. It’s how they are that matters.

But of course we could never get the occupants of the White House to understand that. To them appearance is far more important than quality of character.

Wow.  I guess they don’t pay attention to how tourists dress in DC.  Many people wear T-shirts, shorts and/or jeans. 

BTW, I’ve been to England, Ireland and Scotland over the last few years, and while T-shirts (except for soccer-related T-shirts) aren’t as common there, the average tourist doesn’t dress up over there, either.

My trip to the White House, back when Reagan was president, was a real eye-opener. We got lost and took a wrong turn. Miles and miles of decaying infrastructure and mind-boggling poverty later ... we found our way back to the “Capital” city center and eventually to the White House.

By the time we reached the White House, we were sopping wet with sweat and smelled pretty bad too. So we just skirted the grounds and made our way back to the Hotel.

Frankly, the memory of the White House is fuzzy. Other than there were a lot of happy people milling about, and venders on the sidewalks. Something that we probably would never see today, particularly the Happy People. But the trip through the outskirts is burned in my brain. What ever must people from other countries think? I suspect they recognized ages ago, long before we ever heard of G.W. and his GWOT, that we are big fat phonies! Because our capital stands in the center of one of the greatest examples on earth of a double standard.

So if you contemplate a trip to DC, don’t waste your time visiting the White House. You cant drive around it anymore. And if you go there in the summer it’s too flippin’ hot to dress up. I suggest instead you hit the outskirts and ask yourself ... who is responsible for this ... red, blue, corporate America, or us?

On second thought, maybe that’s the way they like it. Maybe that’s their plan for all the cities in America. The “Big White Castle” surrounded by city after city of decay and abject poverty, with Chertoff’s “Forced Labor Public Detention Centers” scattered across the land for those who wont stay in line.

After all, look at the aftermath of Katrina, or “Corinna” as Queen Laura calls it. Looks a lot like they want to see what’s left, collapse into ruin. Maybe they envision themselves flying about in their helicopters throwing bread to the starving citizens. That would be pretty king and queenly, wouldn’t it?

Meanwhile, back at the White House ... do you suppose they have ordered their thrones yet?

In the words of Maureen Dowd,
“He talks like a cowboy,
but he rides a rockin’ horse.”

Andy Jackson let everybody in for a party. They trashed the place, but we survived.

Evidently Bush felt people were not respectful enough.

Well, George, ya can’t keep order in a free society.
People have to want order.
Ya can’t command respect. Ya have to earn it.

Mustn’t ruffle the monarchical feathers when taking a tour of the castle. People’s house? Guess not.

Who’d want to even go there?

Bush & Company have turned the White House into a 24hr. Adult Peep Show of arrogance and deceit.

I’m reacting to all of your comments before throwing in an observation that probably only a few might pick up, (call us the “conspiracy” theorists)

So Don, your disgust is perfectly allowable and acceptable. I too, am ready and willing to help Cindy Sheehan do whatever is required to replace Nancy Pelosi, since she should have removed herself from the table at the same time that she removed impeachment. Doesn’t matter though, because we’re gonna do that anyway. We have to, and this latest little display (wardrobe change on tour) is yet more proof.

Because, that’s what I honestly “read” this as. It’s just another step in the whole “total control” of the population thing. Ironically enough, there is in fact an official POLICE FORCE, in Iran, made up of WOMEN, whose sole job is to “police” the dress of the female citizens. They make sure that they are properly veiled, don’t have on too much make up, and the list goes on. And, these police women, DO NOT PLAY!! Anyone caught in violation could easily get a whack from a police baton.

Here again, this is common behavior in a THEOCRATIC government, as well as a dictatorship. And, institutions have used this as a way to control society for years. It reminds me of my years in the airline industry. There was this “set in stone” policy for attire, procedure, and behavior, for any and all employees, or anyone traveling on an industry discount status. (ie, stand-by pass riders). It was amazingly detailed, with much on the “forbidden” list, and…it NEVER CHANGED. (or, it took 20 years to finally allow jeans in the coach cabin.)

It FINALLY occurred to somebody, that the whole purpose of having employees “dress up” when they were traveling, pretty much defeated one of the other primary purposes, which was to have them “maintain a low profile” so that services (and attention) were concentrated on the PAYING passengers. In short, as long as the employees had to “dress up”, they always stuck out like sore thumbs.

That did NOT however, prevent some employees from acting as “fashion police” in determining the probably of whether or not a fellow employee was going to be allowed to fly. And, even at that level, it was all about “control”. The wearing of “uniforms” does the same thing. Show up at work for years without an optional part of the uniform, (I used to HATE wearing that little tie/neckscarf) and nobody cares. Come in one day and find a new “supervisor”, and get sent home, (from WORK mind you, we’re not talking about school here) because you don’t have it on. I’m not making this up.

So, if it were really about showing a bit of respect for the LOCATION, for a visit to “our house”, then it would surely be something to consider. But, that’s not how I see this particular “dress code”. Just like the Australian guy who was refused passage on a commercial airline because he had on a “Bush is a Terrorist” T-shirt, this is what the Mob wants to guard against – EVERYWHERE. (especially now, as they become more and more desperate).

So you arrive at the White House in the family station wagon, all the way from California.  Even though you are only on a tour, you have to show RESPECT for our commander in chief.  Gotta wear attire that will please him even though he is not there to see you, let alone to take your questions.

What a bunch of spineless wimps.  These fearless chicken hawks who are afraid to lead their men into battle.  WE have to HONOR them.  At our expense no less, with our taxes.  Remember, and I quote this administration, this is the country of…..“FREEDOM”.  What a sorry bunch that we have running the country. 

I am a Republican.  I voted Democrat.  But I’m pissed off Nancy Impeachment is off the table Pelosi.  I’m from California and I’m going to put my efforts into getting Cindy Sheehan voted in to replace you.

Yes, Mr. Bush.  Show your respect of your citizens by making them dress up on a hot July or August afternoon to see the White House.  You all, Republican and Democrats are a JOKE.

You Veterans out there, show your respect.  Bush is a veteran of many bloody battles.  He has witnessed the agony of death.  Show him the respect that he and his crew deserve.

I’m sorry!  I’m mad and pissed off.  These clowns have GOT to go.

Sincerely, Don Stivers

people on vacation dress exactly the way this absurd dress code is opposed to. can we just kill all republicans? no wait, i forgot my favorite answer. thermonuclear holocaust, planet wide. it would be glorious.

As usual I’m tending to swim against the tide of (Truthdig) public opinion…

I agree that perhaps a visit to one’s “White House,” no matter who the present (and temporary) occupant might be or how you feel about him/them, might deserve at least a small token of one’s respect for the place and its history.

The shame of it is that some in the American public have to be TOLD to drag themselves out of their t-shirts & beer appearance and behavior for such occasions.

But, alas, Americans are known world-wide for their brashness and lack of sensitivity to cultural matters. They’re the world’s bulls-in-the-china shop.

I’ve taken a tour or two on board cruise ships. Whenever we took on passengers in ports we always knew instantly whenever an American family had come aboard. They dressed as if they were in Disneyland, made enough racket to raise the dead and generally acted like over-hyped, uneducated, boorish teenagers.

Some of the British, of course, are just as wacky but in the opposite direction. I can’t believe so many Brits won’t even consider being seen in public without a shirt, tie and jacket/dress, hat and gloves… EVEN IF THEY’RE GOING TO THE BLOODY BEACH FOR A PICNIC!

Tank tops, shorts and flip-flops parading around the White House is just an offensive display of low-class… nothing anyone should be proud of. But neither is getting all “gussied” up like royalty at a coronation any more appropriate. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE MIDDLE GROUND folks… would that be asking too much from the “commoners?”

So much for the “People’s House”...

With this administration they may as well require a suit, tie, and check for $10,000 made out to the GOP.

It’s called setting the appearance of a high standard, so the commoners will believe the occupants have one.

Wont work though. We’ve heard them talk.

This suggestion no doubt came as a result of the “Queens” visit.
I suspect her entourage was a bit taken aback by the lack of class in “our” ruling elite. [with a small “e”]

Of course being who they are, they completely misunderstood and decided the offenders were We The People.

[Or maybe the Bush is hoping if we all look real classy nobody will notice the emperor has no clothes.]

Another truth our ruling elite cant quite grasp.

I don’t want to visit the Whore House while GWB’s still lying there !