(Photo provided by the Obama Transition Office shows President-elect Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama getting their daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, ready for their first day of school in Washington, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Obama Transition Office, Callie Shell)
by Frank James
If ever there were two little girls who seem perfect for their role as First Kids, it's got to be Malia and Shasha Obama. We're talking central casting. We're talking child stars.
They seem completely at ease with the concept that on their first day at a new school in a new city, there should be a photographer on hand to capture the send-off they received from their father, the president-elect of the United States.
It was off to Sidwell Friends today for them where they will immediately be at the top of the kiddie pecking order owing to how their father will be the only parent with control of the nation's nuclear arsenal and their residence in the most famous home in the U.S. Even a senator's kid can't measure up to that kind of status in a status-conscious town.
Politico.com has a story that examines what it's been like for past presidential scions who have gone to local schools. Sidwell Friends features prominently in the piece since it is a school accustomed to educating presidential progeny, having schooled Chelsea Clinton and the Nixon girls, among others.
An excerpt:
Yet, at Sidwell, former students said, the girls won't be treated like little princesses. The school will try, as it did with Clinton before them, to help them simply fit in, along with the children of other wealthy and well-connected Washingtonians.
But as with Clinton, some parents likely will push their kids to befriend the girls, in the way they might push their kids to excel in math class, some former Clinton classmates said.
Among the students, Clinton was instantly popular, drawing a circle of hangers-on from Day One. But with time, that faded, former classmates said.
"In the beginning, tons of people wanted to be her friend and they were in it for the wrong reasons so she had a little bit of distance in the beginning because of that," said a former Clinton classmate who didn't want to give her name because she remains close friends with the former first daughter. "She handled it very well, but it is hard to not come across as snobby when you are 12 and you don't want to deal with all of these people around you who want to be your friend."
Ellis Turner, associate head of school at Sidwell, said that "every student has an opportunity to feel comfortable" at Sidwell. An added bonus for the girls is that they already have friends there -- Vice President-elect Joe Biden has grandchildren at the school.
No matter, they'll be treated like all of the other students.
The school will no doubt try its best to do that. But as the story indicates, it's the girls' classmates and those other students' parents who won't be treating them like any ordinary kid from a wealthy family whose parents can afford a Sidwell Friends tuition.
Heck, even Washington-area kids who don't go to Sidwell Friends are scheming ways to get to know the Obama sisters in hopes of being invited to a White House Christmas Party. (I've got two particular young people in mind and they know who they are.)
So it seems pretty unavoidable that the Obama sisters will be asking the question repeatedly over the next few years, "Does so and so like me for me or because of who my father is?"
Comments
Say what you want about his politics, and how he got to the presidency- what he does after Jan. 20 will be the judge-
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The Obama's as parents and role models speak volumes about the importance of a two parent household in the success of any child regardless of race. I could be wrong, but my instincts tell me that even if the Obama family was not blessed with the success they have enjoyed, that the Obama kids would still be good students and would always have a stable supportive environment to grow up in...
Good for them -
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I would love to see Obama leverage this and be very clear to the folks that live by the "we are a victim" mentality"... that you ar enot a victim- work hard, respect yourself, and your family and you will get exactly what you have earned..
Posted by: heartburn | January 5, 2009 12:57 PM
Alternative photo caption:
"OK, which one of you wants to be Commerce Secretary?"
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | January 5, 2009 12:59 PM
Posted by: heartburn | January 5, 2009 12:57 PM
I think Barack Obama himself is a great example that children of single parent families can turn out just fine as well. But that doesn't fiot too well into your "blame thepoor and minorities" world view, so I guess we'll just ignore it.
Posted by: Lou | January 5, 2009 1:20 PM
President elect Obama
Please please use your influence to stop the kiling in Gaza.
the only way forward in this conflict is to get the 2 sides to talk sure this is difficult but the military policy only reinforces the positions of all parties.
stop the killing please
Paula Walker
Posted by: Mrs Margaret P Walker | January 5, 2009 1:39 PM
Very cute. Can't wait for the pics when they get their puppy. They're already deciding on a name; either Bemused or Joe the Dog.
Posted by: Flo | January 5, 2009 2:15 PM
Heartburn, Certainly someone who came from a single parent houshold could ever turn out well enough to become, say, President of the United States, right?
But them again I guess my kids are just doomed to be victims. If only you had been around to set me straight when there mother ran off, I'd have given them up for adoption to a real family so as not to make them victims.Too bad there is no chance that I can give them a stable supportive home without a woman around. At least I hope to keep them from becoming judgemental blowhards who post ignorant drivel on the web making over generalized pronouncements about how others live their lives.
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 3:23 PM
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 3:23 PM
Wow!- A little defensive today?
If you can't see the difference in Obama's upbringing - and recognize that his case, (and I hope your families case) is the exception, not the rule then you just want to waste time and argue anecdotally- Michelle did not come from a single parent home btw..
The out of wedlock birth rate is above 60% in the african american community- This has been the biggest contributor to poor school performance, social skills, and many other issues- whats wrong with the first african american president being a role model to stress the importance of how completing school and providing a stable homelife is the best way for a child to realize her potential...
Please don't argue that it is better to have a single parent family because of Obama's success.
Posted by: heartburn | January 5, 2009 4:52 PM
Flo, you're really obsessed with me - do I need a restraining order? Seriously, though - the kids are wonderful. Now, leave them alone.
Posted by: Bemused | January 5, 2009 5:33 PM
After your last few comments about me, Bemused..... I thought it might be the other way around. But I'm trying to be relatively good today. I agree; leave the kids alone. Hmmm...sounds like Pink Floyd.
Posted by: Flo | January 5, 2009 7:11 PM
Please don't argue that it is better to have a single parent family because of Obama's success.
Posted by: heartburn | January 5, 2009 4:52 PM
I never did. But likewise, Please do not condemn every single parent family either. a caring family is important, not the number of parents, the gender of those parents, or the way the family came to be. (and certainly NOT the race of the parents, single or otherwise). You learn the wrong lesson from your statistics. Two bad your parents couldn't teach you not to bve so judgemental. Maybe you need more than two parents to learn that lesson.
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 7:21 PM
So as long as Sharia and Gaza get in to the good school everything is ok, right?
Posted by: truthurts | January 5, 2009 8:08 PM
Heartburn: I think the other poster was referring to Barack's mother.
Posted by: Mary | January 5, 2009 8:28 PM
more mind-boggling innuendo and odd issue baiting by juanito/ leo t/ mj.
pat the kids on the back, then posit that a two parent upbringing is superior to other circumstances.
couple that with a not so subtle racist generalization that an inner city single parent is typically living a "victim" mentality.
and throw in a dash of unsubstantiated stupidity by claiming that the largest contributor to a child's school performance, (SOCIAL SKILLS?!!!!!) and MANY OTHER ISSUES?!!!!!!! is the simple fact that they didn't have both a mommy AND a daddy.
just simply disregard all other obvious and possible reasons why so many inner city kids of color will never become president and pass it off on a family values and the importance of marriage.
that's ok juanito, we all know you're just an ill-informed suburban white kid.
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 12:45 AM
I"m not into "Obama-mania"...but I certainly hope he speaks out on the collapse of African-American fatherhood and responsibility...help solve a lot of problems of society.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 6, 2009 2:15 AM
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 12:45 AM
and
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 7:21 PM
Crud- Issue baiting? Kind of like taking the easy way out and calling someone a racist because they actually address an issue in plain english instead of feel good PC rhetoric?
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Bottom line is this; a two parent home is consistently identified as the best indicator of future educational success of a child. Also, children from two parent homes are much less likely to have a child out of wedlock...this does not mean that a single parent home cannot be succesful but the odds are against this, and the odds of a teenage, single parent successfully raising a high school graduate is extremlely low.
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So- hate to be so blunt, but maybe a little judgementalisim is what is needed in order to address one of the biggest negative impacts to our society...
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Honestly ask yourself two questions..
When it comes to african american boys- what is the most dominant message they hear about their role as a father, respecting women, and getting an education?
And is Obama in the position to address the issue usig himself as a role model or not?
Posted by: heartburn | January 6, 2009 10:39 AM
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 12:45 AM
and
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 7:21 PM
Crud- Issue baiting? Kind of like taking the easy way out and calling someone a racist because they actually address an issue in plain english instead of feel good PC rhetoric?
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Bottom line is this; a two parent home is consistently identified as the best indicator of future educational success of a child. Also, children from two parent homes are much less likely to have a child out of wedlock...this does not mean that a single parent home cannot be succesful but the odds are against this, and the odds of a teenage, single parent successfully raising a high school graduate is extremlely low.
___
So- hate to be so blunt, but maybe a little judgementalisim is what is needed in order to address one of the biggest negative impacts to our society...
___
Honestly ask yourself two questions..
When it comes to african american boys- what is the most dominant message they hear about their role as a father, respecting women, and getting an education?
And is Obama in the position to address the issue usig himself as a role model or not?
Posted by: heartburn | January 6, 2009 10:42 AM
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 12:45 AM
and
Posted by: Single Dad | January 5, 2009 7:21 PM
Crud- Issue baiting? Kind of like taking the easy way out and calling someone a racist because they actually address an issue in plain english instead of feel good PC rhetoric?
__
Bottom line is this; a two parent home is consistently identified as the best indicator of future educational success of a child. Also, children from two parent homes are much less likely to have a child out of wedlock...this does not mean that a single parent home cannot be succesful but the odds are against this, and the odds of a teenage, single parent successfully raising a high school graduate is extremlely low.
___
So- hate to be so blunt, but maybe a little judgementalisim is what is needed in order to address one of the biggest negative impacts to our society...
___
Honestly ask yourself two questions..
When it comes to african american boys- what is the most dominant message they hear about their role as a father, respecting women, and getting an education?
And is Obama in the position to address the issue usig himself as a role model or not?
Posted by: heartburn | January 6, 2009 11:25 AM
Posted by: heartburn | January 6, 2009 11:25 AM
Oh Thank you wise and benevolent sir for pointing out the error of my evil ways. Stupid me, thinking that I was doing a good thing working my butt off to ensure that my children had a good and stable homelife dispite the fact thay only had me as a parent. I'm glaa came across you to show me how hopeless that is. Can you please raise my children for me? I'm sure they'd be better off being raised by a great sage like you than by a lowly idiot like me. You clearly have all the answers for all people, especially us African Americans who are incapable of caring for ourselves without the guidence of kindly white folks like you. Truly, your definition of family is the one true definition, every other version is doomed to complete and utter failure. I hope President Obama has the wisdom to appoint you Federal Family Czar so that you can enforce your wisdom across the land. I bow in obedience to your superiority. On behalf of all singkle parents, the African American Community, and all non-traditional families, I offer you an abject apology. Please post here daily so that I can consult your wisdom in all my life decisions in the future, so that i do not stray from the one true path of life again.
Posted by: Single Dad | January 6, 2009 3:10 PM
Posted by: Single Dad | January 6, 2009 3:10 PM
Incredible- its still all about you isn't it?
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I encourage you to take a look at the big picture, before you take things so personally-
You have mistakenly taken my posts as some personal attack on you- when by all accounts, you seem to be the type of person who I have been saying should be ( but rarely is) held up as a role model.
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Happy New Year to you - and good luck to you and your family..
Posted by: heartburn | January 6, 2009 6:16 PM
feel free to cite some studies to support your claims, but in the meantime, please answer your last two questions first.
then we all know the framework from which you work.
i doubt you will.
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 11:00 PM
Posted by: crud | January 6, 2009 11:00 PM
Answer #1..
AN old article from the left wing bible ..
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE3DA1F3DF93AA15755C0A96E948260
do your own research- negative impacts of single parent homes- especially hard hitting african american children is well documented.
Answer #2...
Yes - Obama would be an outstanding role model-
So- do you have a point?
Posted by: heartburn | January 7, 2009 8:42 AM