Secret Preparations For Jenna's Wedding

(CBS)  In the heart of Texas this evening the president's daughter Jenna Bush is marrying her longtime boyfriend Henry Hager. But while signs of the nuptials are popping up all around Crawford, there is little that can be seen from outside the Western White House.

CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports that press is not allowed onto the ranch this morning, at least not without an invite to the wedding. "I keep asking and, darn it, can't get an invitation," Cobiella said on CBS' Early Show.

People in Crawford won't see much of Jenna and Hager, either, although a lucky few did catch a glimpse of the motorcade pulling into a nearby town for a rehearsal dinner and a Texas-sized celebration with all 200 wedding guests.

Today there's a barbeque lunch on the ranch, then President Bush will walk his daughter down the aisle this evening at an outdoor ceremony as 200 relatives and friends looking on. Wedding time weather: partly cloudy and 91 degrees. (Hey, it's Texas.)

The White House won't say who is on the guest list, however. In fact, most of the wedding is being treated like a state secret.

The attire? A White House spokesperson said he wasn't sure, but would look into it. The menu? The press was told that Jenna wanted to keep the menu private because she wants to surprise her guests.

So far, so good, said Cobiella.

CBS News correspondent Julie Mason reports that trying to cover this wedding "is like trying to cover something behind the Iron Curtain."

But for a White House well-practiced at keeping things secret, a surprising note is that, according to Mason, "if it was up to President Bush, he'd blab the whole thing. He keeps giving up more and more details while his staffers keep stonewalling."

What facts have been leaked include the following: The ceremony will take place outside near a man-made lake on the ranch. The bride will be wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress, while her sister Barbara, her single bridesmaid, wears blue.

The somewhat casual atmosphere at the president's residence - they're calling it a Texas house party - is due to Jenna's desire to not want the formality of a White House wedding.

"Jenna and Barbara never actually lived in the house," said Mason. "It is not home to them. They're more Texas girls and Texas style.

"The wedding is being described as more casual. Even last night for the rehearsal dinner, the dress code was 'jacket, no tie.' It is in keeping with the how the Bushes live, [their] ranch lifestyle. It is not 'White House fancy.'"

The guest list is still secret, with staffers demonstrating their loyalty to Laura Bush's desire for privacy. "She doesn't like to share anything about her children," Mason said. "They've be raised in this 'cone of silence' until about a year and a half ago. We never even heard Jenna's voice publicly until she started doing her book tours."

We do know this much: The bride had her final fitting Friday afternoon. Well, a bride. Nora Bartosh, who was married to law enforcement officer Darrell Bartosh, picked May 10 for a church wedding six years ago, back when Jenna Bush was still in college. And whose wedding will take precedence tomorrow?

"Probably hers," Bartosh said.

That's because Bartosh's groom works for the sheriff's department. When the president is visiting town, every officer is on stand-by.

Darrell's boss has assured Nora that Darrell will be at the wedding and will not be called away.

Meanwhile, for those without an invitation to the Bush family affair, the local Chamber of Commerce has planned it own reception for tourists: Cake and punch on the main street.

[pfd572]

I am grateful that Jenna chose to have a small, low-key wedding under the circumstances. And I am truly happy for the wedding couple, I hope they have a long, happy and successful marriage. I understand a father''s love and pride, but his gloating and happiness, when so many father''s are suffering, just really upsets me.

[pfd572]

It just shows the contempt this family and their friends have for the American people. That they can gloat over their happiness and family when so many parents and young people hoping to be married have lost their loved ones in the bush/cheney war is a slap in so many faces.

[pfd572]

I wonder how many of their gifts were paid for with the billions in blood money her father''s friends have made as war profiteers?

[pfd572]

bagdhadshere: most brilliant strategy? Is your last name bush or cheney? We have been there for 5 years and no end in sight. This will end up being one of the costliest wars in American history. We have lost our honor, our pride, our reputation, our money, our hope, our trust, our belief in our leaders, and most of all our young men and women, For what? So the rich, white men and the companies they control can get richer? So they can move offshore so they won''t have to pay taxes or benefits, while they are paid with taxpayer money? This list of wrongs is endless. No one has been able to show that any of the reasons bush/cheney gave for invading Iraq were valid or true. NOT ONE.
Jenna appears to be a sweet, naive, sheltered and self-deluding. I hope she is happy and has a wonderful and successful marriage. Its the same wish I have for all young people, especially our young men and women who are serving in our armed forces.

[it_oldtimer]

Why isn''t sweet little Jenna serving our nation proudly (in uniform) in Iraq, in support of her daddy''s war?

Doesn''t she CARE about making Iraq safe for Democracy?

No? How very unpatriotic and unAmerican of her!

She and her sister both ought to be there, with their "peers".

[naucoming4u]

Henry Hager worked for Karl Rove! Not much mention of that in the press.

Posted by gce65 at 10:27 PM : May 10, 2008
.............

Yeah, I would guess that Daddy wouldn''t exactly approve of his daughter dating one of them bourgeois folk.

Hager: "May I have your daughter''s hand in marriage?"

Bush: "How much do you hate the **little people** (snickering)?"

Hager: "WITH A PASSION!"

Bush: "Great! You may marry my daughter Jenna!"

[gce65]

Henry Hager worked for Karl Rove! Not much mention of that in the press.

[gkc99]

Now send Chubby-Cheeks to Iraq! And I don''t mean Jenna!

Oh wait, he''s a rich white Republican. They only make wars, not fight in them.

[ubrew12]

Jenna: Gee, Daddy, how can I ever repay you for this lovely wedding?

GW: No worries, honey. Your share of the National Debt is $30,000. Ya didn''t think I was gonna pay for that, did ya?

[pfd572]

I am very happy for the couple and hope they have a long and wonderful marriage. However, is this really news? Is it newsworthy enough to be reported on for weeks? Its not like we were invited or have any real access to the wedding preps, the dress, decorations and the location. Would you mind giving and reporting the news? Thank you.