Independence
01-13-2009, 09:50 AM
David Axelrod's new WH painting
Posted January 12, 2009 7:04 PM
By John McCormick
When David Axelrod moves into his West Wing office next week, he will have a new painting to hang on the wall as he starts a new chapter in his life as a senior advisor to Barack Obama.
The painting, done by his disabled daughter with some help from an art instructor, appears like any other of the White House. But upon closer inspection, it has a distinct feature: Chicago's skyline is framed in a reflecting pond outside the mansion.
Axelrod's daughter, Lauren, presented the painting Monday after a speech her father gave at a $250,000 fundraising event for Misericordia, a North Side facility for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Reflecting his newfound celebrity and clout, the event drew nearly 400 people, including virtually every statewide elected official -- with the exception of Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- as well as numerous Chicago aldermen and Cook County leaders.
As he began his speech, the former newspaper reporter asked for a correction in what several previous speakers had suggested about his leaving town for Washington.
"I'm thrilled to serve this new president," Axelrod said. "But I always explain: I'm merely a Chicagoan on assignment. Chicago is my home and it always will be."
It was an assurance he also gave his daughter in what was a poignant scene for a man more associated with the hard-ball of Illinois and national politics.
"Lauren is my hero. Because of her epilepsy, she has had many challenges in life, physical and emotional challenges, that most of us have never imagined," he said. "Mom and I are so lucky to have you. And I just want to say I love you and we'll see each other often, so don't worry about this moving thing. I'm coming home for every home visit."
As public as Axelrod's recent life has been, he does not often talk about his 27-year-old daughter, who suffered irreversible brain damage following epileptic seizures. She has lived at Misericordia since 2002.
READ MORE ! http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/david_axelrods_new_wh_painting.html
Posted January 12, 2009 7:04 PM
By John McCormick
When David Axelrod moves into his West Wing office next week, he will have a new painting to hang on the wall as he starts a new chapter in his life as a senior advisor to Barack Obama.
The painting, done by his disabled daughter with some help from an art instructor, appears like any other of the White House. But upon closer inspection, it has a distinct feature: Chicago's skyline is framed in a reflecting pond outside the mansion.
Axelrod's daughter, Lauren, presented the painting Monday after a speech her father gave at a $250,000 fundraising event for Misericordia, a North Side facility for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Reflecting his newfound celebrity and clout, the event drew nearly 400 people, including virtually every statewide elected official -- with the exception of Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- as well as numerous Chicago aldermen and Cook County leaders.
As he began his speech, the former newspaper reporter asked for a correction in what several previous speakers had suggested about his leaving town for Washington.
"I'm thrilled to serve this new president," Axelrod said. "But I always explain: I'm merely a Chicagoan on assignment. Chicago is my home and it always will be."
It was an assurance he also gave his daughter in what was a poignant scene for a man more associated with the hard-ball of Illinois and national politics.
"Lauren is my hero. Because of her epilepsy, she has had many challenges in life, physical and emotional challenges, that most of us have never imagined," he said. "Mom and I are so lucky to have you. And I just want to say I love you and we'll see each other often, so don't worry about this moving thing. I'm coming home for every home visit."
As public as Axelrod's recent life has been, he does not often talk about his 27-year-old daughter, who suffered irreversible brain damage following epileptic seizures. She has lived at Misericordia since 2002.
READ MORE ! http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/david_axelrods_new_wh_painting.html