News & Observer | newsobserver.com | What's in a domain? Gift for Jenna, hubby

Published: May 10, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: May 10, 2008 02:41 AM

What's in a domain? Gift for Jenna, hubby

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Matthews resident Jeff Jones has offered first daughter Jenna Bush an unusual wedding gift to celebrate her nuptials, planned for today.

Jones, 50, is offering the Internet domain name www.HenryandJennaHager.com to the couple for free, even though he describes himself as a staunch Democrat.

Jenna Bush, 26, a daughter of President Bush, is to marry Henry Hager today on the family's ranch in Crawford, Texas. The couple met during her father's 2004 re-election campaign. Hager, 30, was an aide to Karl Rove, then the president's deputy chief of staff.

Jones called his offer of the domain name a tongue-in-cheek business opportunity.

"When I saw their engagement announcement I started looking to see what domains were available," he says. "Several versions were already taken, but the one I wanted wasn't."

Jones says he tried to contact the bride via an e-mail address on the White House Web site. His original offer was to sell it for the price he paid -- $7.

But after he didn't hear back, he offered it for free in a follow-up message. Still, no response.

"I guess I'll just hold onto it until they claim it, if they ever do," he says.

By day, Jones is a media specialist at Independence High School. His side job is buying and selling Internet site names through his company, www.domainspromote.com. He says he has sold 144 domain names since he started the business in July. Most of the names cater to niche audiences, such as gasfriendlycars.com and bestbarbecuejoint.com.

Jones also said he's a father of three, and his wife is a nurse, but "they'd prefer I ride in this boat on my own. They probably wouldn't want their names aligned with my wacky ideas."

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