By Denis Campbell

No one chooses their middle name, it’s bestowed by (hopefully sober at the time) parents. The only time anyone even hears it spoken aloud is to the guffaws of fellow classmates during high school graduation. History is working against Barack Hussein Obama and creating an off-the-silly-meter story.

There is no requirement he say ‘it.’ Harry Truman only had the letter “S”. Richard Millhouse Nixon, James Earl Carter, George Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, George Herbert Walker Bush, Ronald Wilson Reagan… all used their full middle names. Will the name Hussein be uttered during the oath of office or not?

Is this the best the Washington press corp can do? I’m sure it will get sillier as we get closer. Oh, the rationale? Utter it and you alienate the right/centre right as it identifies you with the Middle East and terrorism in a negative way. Eliminate it and millions of American Arabs and Muslims feel slighted because you ignore their heritage.

One thing for certain, with homophobic Pastor Rick opening the show and this drama before his inaugural address, television ratings should hold for the entire morning. What to do? What to do? At least that is today’s SPIN on the newest, hottest and biggest pre-inaugural issue.

Posh Temporary Digs
The Obama’s are settled into the Hay-Adams hotel so Sasha and Melia could attend the first days of Sidwell Friends School on time. As Barack Obama said, “we did this for two years so we’re used to it and it gets old.”

They will move a few doors around the corner into Blair House five days before the inauguration. Blair House is the traditional pre-inaugural residence of Presidents and was not available due to Republican functions (farewell parties).

At least that was the original excuse. I received a Twitter from Rachel Maddow and several other news organisations asking if anyone knew of or was attending an event at Blair House before the inauguration? When the return silence was deafening silly, the White House announced that a former government official would be in residence during that period.

Turns out the White House publicly thumbed its nose at the Obamas. When their request to move in earlier than the traditional five day before, was made in December, the house was not un-booked. Now, a last minute visit on the 13^th by reviled and disgraced former Australian Prime Minister John Howard was hastily arranged to give the excuse legs.

So PM Howard, one man, will fumble around for a couple of nights inside of a 119-room mansion depriving the already uprooted incoming 1^st family the chance to get somewhat settled (at least avoid three moves instead of two) before moving in across the street on the 20^th? Nice.

Getting His Daily Workout In
The Marine Corps - which historically considers itself the president’s “service” (Marine Corps honour guards stand at all White House entrances) - made available a gym at a base in Washington for Obama to use for his daily workout until he moves into the White House (which has its own gym). At least we know the ripped and buff look he has spent the transition pursuing will not suffer because of hotel food and living.

Dancing the Night Away
The Inauguration Committee announced a first-ever Neighbourhood Inaugural Ball” where tickets are issued to local DC residents for free or at a greatly reduced/affordable price so they can meet their new neighbour. Too, Obama will host 5 regional balls, a youth ball and one for his home states of Hawaii and Illinois. Joe Biden will host balls for Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Now by hosting, that means guests arrive, drink and dance and wait for the two-minute drop-in by the Obama’s and Biden’s. They are supposed to stay for one dance and the time pressures on them are great.

The Neighbours ball could take some of the steam out of a Washington tradition, The Stafford Foundation spends $1 million dollars to bring disadvantaged people to the inauguration. Virginia businessman Earl W. Stafford announced the start of the initiative to host the needy as well as the sick and forgotten at what he calls “the People’s Inaugural.”

Stafford, 60, whose family runs the faith-based charitable foundation, already has paid $1 million for more than 300 rooms and an array of amenities for his guests at Washington’s JW Marriott hotel, on Pennsylvania Avenue at 14th Street NW. He is also shelling out $600,000 for a prayer breakfast, luncheon and two inaugural balls at the hotel.

Stafford, who kicked off the project at a news conference at the hotel, wants at least 30 percent of his guests to be people in need and is willing to provide gowns, tuxedos and the services of beauticians so they can have an unforgettable experience.

Largely motivated by his Baptist faith, he said his goal is to get deserving people to the inauguration who would not otherwise have the opportunity. The hotel overlooks the Pennsylvania Avenue inaugural parade route and will feature a heated terrace tent for people watching the festivities.

Stafford is a Fairfax County resident who heads a technology firm in Centreville. With him at the news conference were his wife, Amanda, and children Earl Jr., Jessica and Mark.

“The people’s inaugural project is a historic investment that allows those who would not . . . have such an opportunity to come to our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., and join in the inauguration and celebration of our president Barack Obama,” Stafford said. “We are thrilled to give them a front-row seat.”

Cooperating agencies, including the National Urban League and Washington’s Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, will help the foundation identify people to be invited and help them get to Washington. Stafford has said he also plans to reach out to homeless shelters, community organizations and military hospitals in search of guests. 

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.