Political Insider: Kippa Politics II: Presidential
Posted By Adam DickterPolitical Insider: Kippa Politics II: Presidential Edition
I earlier blogged (read it here ) about the fancy knitted yarmulke sported by Sen. John McCain last month during his visit to the Western Wall. Now get ready for the Commander-In-Chief Model.
The Israel chapter of a group called Republicans Abroad (expatriates who vote by absentee ballot) recently gave President Bush a handmade kippa shruga during a Passover program at the White House. The yarmulke is emblazoned with not one but two American flags and the Hebrew title "HaNasi," the president. They'd like him to wear it during his second visit to Israel in recent months, since last time he appeared in one of those decidedly unpresidential handouts. "His black satin hotel kippa last month was an embarrassment," said one Jewish Republican.
It was knitted by Shira Gvir, a member of the Republican National Committee and daughter of a former Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Raphael Gvir. Republicans Abroad Israel also claims credit for the McCain kippas, one of which reads in Hebrew "the senator," while another hopeful one reads, "the president," keeping all the bases, well, covered.
A source who was at the White House Passover ceremony said the president "required a brief explanation of how to position the flags in the front and the name in the back so people could read it."