WASHINGTON, D.C.—When First Lady Laura Bush invited members of Congress to each pick one artist from their district to decorate an ornament for the White House tree, she probably never suspected how far outside the Christmas spirit one artist was willing to go.

Three hundred seventy ornaments were submitted, and of those, one, by Seattle artist Deborah Lawrence, so offended the first lady that she was forced to reject it, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The Lawrence ornament was covered with swirly red and white stripes; a picture of Lawrence’s congressman, Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat; and a tiny text that hails the House impeachment resolution that McDermott signed.

“I think it really is a shame and, quite frankly, not very much in the holiday spirit,” said Sally McDonough, the first lady's spokeswoman, of the nine-inch ornament containing the words “Impeach Bush.”

While representative McDermott evidently shares Lawrence’s political sentiments and was responsible for nominating her to create the ornament, he agrees with the first lady’s decision.  

“We didn't have a role in this,” said Mike DeCesare, the congressman’s communications director. “We saw the ornament for the first time Tuesday morning. We agree with the first lady's decision to remove it. The holiday is meant for peace and understanding. We support artistic freedom, but we wake up in the morning like anybody else and say, ‘Not today.’”

Although Lawrence’s ornament will not hang on the White House Christmas tree, she was admitted to a reception on Tuesday for the artists who contributed to the tree.   

“I was afraid I'd be blocked at the door,” she said, “but here I am.... There are platters of roast beef, soft drinks, and white wine, with a duet of pianists playing Christmas music. Even if my ornament were still here, I wouldn’t be able to find it. There are too many.

“I’d like to get it back,” she added, “but that’s probably not going to happen.”