Washington ? ‘Tis not the season to post calls for impeachment on the White House Christmas tree.

A spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush said Tuesday that the White House tree will not include an ornament by a Seattle artist that supports President Bush’s impeachment.

Artist Deborah Lawrence said she wanted to salute Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle, a longtime Bush foe who backs impeachment.

The nine-inch ball Lawrence created is covered with swirly red and white stripes and features a picture of McDermott. Tiny glued-on text hails the impeachment resolution.

Mrs. Bush had asked members of Congress to pick artists to decorate ornaments for the White House tree to showcase all 435 congressional districts.

Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush, called the ornament inappropriate. “I think it really is a shame and, quite frankly, not very much in the holiday spirit,” she said.

Instructions to the artists were very clear: to decorate the ornaments in a patriotic, red, white and blue theme, McDonough said. Lawrence’s ornament was the only one of about 370 submitted for the White House tree that was rejected, McDonough said.

McDermott’s office said the congressman had no role in the design of the ornament that was submitted.