Can Someone Give a Reasonable Answer?

The questions that I am referring to are asked at the end of this post. If I were to file this report, it would definitely qualify to go under the title of, "things that do not make any sense." You need to go to the two featured blog posts linked below and read them before answering.

New Report: Mao Killed 45 Million (But He's Still Cool)
posted by William A. Jacobson at Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion - 5 hours ago
Mao Zedong caused the death of 45 million people according to a scholar who was given unprecedented access to Chinese Communist Party archives. As reported by The Independent in Britain: Mao Zedong, foun...

Someone Needs to Forward This to the White House… Mao Murdered 45 Million
posted by Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit - 1 hour ago
You may recall the Obama White House Christmas Tree included mass murderer Mao Tse-Tung ornaments last year. And, no less than two of Obama’s top officials have praised Mao Tse-Tung publicly in the past. T...

Now, my questions.

1. Why on EARTH would the Obama White House have given permission for a staffer to place a Christmas tree ornament with the likeness of Mao on the Christmas tree last year?

2. Was it meant as a not-so-veiled message, threat or warning to the American people?

Hat tips to both links.