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September 26, 2005
Something Light for a Monday
GoldenPalace.com Buys White House Deed - Proceeds to go to New Orleans Flood Victims
Monty Kerr of GoldenPalace.com has purchased the White House deed from an auction on ebid.tv. GoldenPalace is the casino famous for buying the items like the Popemobile and a grilled cheese sandwich with an image of the Virgin Mary on it from auction for $28,000. Kerr's first move will be to turn the Oval Office into a high stakes Poker Room.
The story began two weeks ago when Canadian author David Jenneson posted the White House Deed for sale on eBay. While doing research for his novel, Night of the Realtors, (about a Canadian realtor who sells the White House), Jenneson discovered the U.S. Government does not hold the deed for the White House. He acquired a Quit Claim deed for 1600 Pennsylvania and placed it up for auction on eBay.com, with a starting value of $10.00. The international media picked up the story. In less than 24 hours the bidding had gone up past $15,000.00 with a $20,000.00 reserve.
Jenneson contacted the White House for comment. A White House Official promised a response by the end of the day, but within hours the deed was removed from eBay without explanation.
Jenneson then contacted eBid.tv, an international auction site that was happy to host the auction. However, due to Hurricane Katrina there was little room for media coverage so potential bidders were unaware of the new auction. Moments before the auction was to close GoldenPalace swooped in and scored the bargain of the century.
“It's a real shame eBay zapped the auction at $15,000,” said Jenneson. “I'm convinced the Bush Administration used their influence to kill the auction. If they'd been a little bigger about this I would have donated $15,000 or more to the New Orleans disaster victims. The real solution to their ownership problems would be for President Bush to produce the original deed, on national television, and end the controversy. As it stands, I definitely plan to donate the purchase price and more to the victims of hurricane Katrina.”
Jenneson, who cites DC Property Codes as legal support, says as far as he is concerned, GoldenPalace.com is the new owner of the White House until proven otherwise. “I hope that they turn the East Room into a video and slots room." The author explains, "In my novel, Night of the Realtors, the actual sale of the White House takes place in the East Room, in front of the President, on national television, using the same letter posted on the website.
In the novel, the new owner decides to turn the East Room into a video arcade. When fiction turns into reality, it's all that any writer can ask. This White House deed story has resulted huge international media coverage, much praise for the book (especially among Canadians) and there is already film interest. ”
Posted by joewest at September 26, 2005 11:28 AM