White House Hosts American Idol Finalists (Wizbang)

First he makes a trip to Graceland, home of the original American idol, now President Bush will host the American Idol finalists for a White House visit.

The White House announced Friday that Bush will host the Alabama crooner and other finalists from the hugely popular Fox television show in the Oval Office on Friday, when they are scheduled to appear in Washington for a live performance.

The pop singers will visit Bush on the same day the president hosts British Prime Minister Tony Blair for a meeting on fighting in the Middle East, the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, the effort to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb and the genocide in Darfur.

Hicks won the singing competition that has become television's top-rated show and a pop-culture phenomenon after viewers cast more than 63 million votes for him in the May season finale -- 4 million more votes than Bush tallied in the 2004 election.

Of course, a viewer can cast more than one ballot on "American Idol."

Hicks also has a personal connection to the White House. His 9th-grade English teacher at Hoover High School in Birmingham is Laura Bush's press secretary, Susan Whitson.

You have to be pretty versatile to be President. From Tony Blair, the Middle East and Darfur, to Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler. Did you all catch that little reference to the election, too? I kept hearing that during the American Idol season, the comparison to the presidential vote, and thought it was stupid then. My six year old could call in and vote for an AI finalist. If she was sneaky and I didn't catch her, she could vote for them dozens of times.

I was excited about this season of American Idol because there were three NC finalists this time. Past finalists, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino, both of NC, finished in second and first places in previous seasons. This time, though, none of the NC three, Bucky Covginton, Kellie PIckler or my favorite, Chris Daughtry, made it to the season finale. They made it to the White House though.

Update: Wizbang Pop has pictures. Also check out my questions in the comments there. (I am confused about Kellie Pickler's hair.)

(This is cross-posted at my personal site, LorieByrd.com, where I sometimes post incriminating evidence of my embarrassing American Idol habit.)

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Comments (16)

(This is cross-posted at my... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Paul | July 28, 2006 12:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Paul:

And welcome to the Wizbang family. Kev and I try to hide our addiction because some in the comments section have been known to get downright pissy if I quit bashing Dems and the media long enough for an idol post.

Your secret is safe with us.

Posted on July 28, 2006 00:09

blah blah blah I'm a moonba... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Organized Hypocrites | July 28, 2006 12:32 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Organized Hypocrites:

blah blah blah I'm a moonbat blah blah blah.

[well that's what she meant. -ed]

Posted on July 28, 2006 00:32

You know Organized Hypocrit... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by vero | July 28, 2006 12:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

vero:

You know Organized Hypocrites, I was just thinking that there is no bones in Ice Cream, which does go along way in explaining your post on an American Idol post.

Actually, mine makes more sense

Posted on July 28, 2006 00:50

Paul,At least I trie... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Lorie Byrd | July 28, 2006 1:42 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Lorie Byrd:

Paul,
At least I tried to hide this one behind the White House angle.

I have been a big fan since season one, but this was the first season the person I wanted to win didn't. Except for season 2. I was pulling for my homeboy Clay, and he came in second, but that was okay. He might as well have won.

I liked Hicks at the beginning, but by the end I couldn't stand him. That Ford commercial just grates on me.

Posted on July 28, 2006 01:42

Don't bother with the moonb... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Adjoran | July 28, 2006 1:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Adjoran:

Don't bother with the moonbat trolls.

Talking to them is like wrestling a pig: you both end up covered with mud and manure, but the pig LIKES it.

;-)

Posted on July 28, 2006 01:46

Trollhaugen... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by 914 | July 28, 2006 2:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

914:

Trollhaugen

Posted on July 28, 2006 02:43

Wheres our weekly caption s... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by 914 | July 28, 2006 2:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Wheres our weekly caption slamfest? Anyone?

Posted on July 28, 2006 02:49

I HATE it when bloggers edi... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Luncy | July 28, 2006 7:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Luncy:

I HATE it when bloggers edit comments or delete. I want to see the full unaltered idiocy.

And then someone down the line makes a comment to the comment and I'm left wondering WTF that was all about.

Certainly, it's your blog to do with as you wish. I'm just tossing my 2cents in here.

Posted on July 28, 2006 07:24

Perhaps I should leave well... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by lunacy | July 28, 2006 8:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

lunacy:

Perhaps I should leave well enough alone, but I'd hate to be misinterpreted.

I posted my above comment re: deletion BEFORE I'd read all the brouhaha in other threads. My opinion on comment deletion IS NOT a response to that little tempest, although I'd support all comments being left intact always regardless of the issue.

But, when I mentioned it, I just wanted to know what the moonbat above said.

Oh, and I love AI.

Lunacy

Posted on July 28, 2006 08:53

"You have to be pretty v... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by DDT | July 28, 2006 9:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

DDT:

"You have to be pretty versatile to be President. From Tony Blair, the Middle East and Darfur, to Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler."

Mediocrity loves company.

Posted on July 28, 2006 09:20

"Of course, a viewer can ca... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by yetanotherjohn | July 28, 2006 10:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

yetanotherjohn:

"Of course, a viewer can cast more than one ballot on "American Idol.""

Or for president if your live in East St. Louis.

Posted on July 28, 2006 10:20

12. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 28, 2006 10:45 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

P. Bunyan:

Not un-like voters in the city wards that are deep blue. So the comparison would have been valid were the President a socialist, err I mean Democrat.

Posted on July 28, 2006 10:45

Darn John you beat me too i... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 28, 2006 10:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Darn John you beat me too it... LOL

Posted on July 28, 2006 10:47

A comment above was deleted... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Lorie Byrd | July 28, 2006 11:14 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

A comment above was deleted by Paul. It was not only off topic, but in poor taste and contained some rumors and a bunch of name calling. I considered deleting it, but typically let such comments stand because all they do is embarrass the commenter. This one completely hijacked the comment thread though, so it wss completely proper that he deleted it.

Posted on July 28, 2006 11:14

"A comment above was delete... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by lunacy | July 28, 2006 11:45 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

"A comment above was deleted ... This one completely hijacked the comment thread though, so it wss completely proper that he deleted it."

I'm going to assume the post was in some part instigated by my previous comments.

I MUCH prefer Jeff Goldstein's method. You guys might want to consider it.

Someone will probably delete this, but whatever.

I read this blog several times a day. Comment once in a blue moon. Love to read the comments as much as the posts. I've gotten to know all the regulars: Lee, jpmWhatever, Synova, Mantis, Chris, JustRand, CubanBob, etc...
I'm not going to quit reading just because you guys may be over exercising your rights here.

BUT...

There something very creepy about deleting comments left and right and considering it "proper".

I guess it's the libertarian in me, but I'm not nearly as offended by the profanity and embarrassing name calling as I am creeped out by the censorship.

Just something to consider.

Posted on July 28, 2006 23:45

Lunacy,As I said, I ... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Lorie Byrd | July 29, 2006 7:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Lunacy,
As I said, I considered deleting it, but didn't. After Paul deleted it, though, I could have put it back up, but didn't because it really was pretty nasty, included profanity, name calling, unsubstantiated rumors about peoples' sex lives, and worst of all, didn't say a thing about the topic of the post. In fact, I don't know whether or not the commenter even read the post.

You will not see me deleting many comments in the future though.

Posted on July 29, 2006 19:54

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