First Lady Michelle Obama rallied congressional spouses at a food bank in Washington this week with Vicki Escarra, president of Feeding America, left, Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, second from right, and Lynn Brantley, Capital Area Food Bank president, right. (Photo by Paul Morigi / Getty Images for Sunshine Sachs & Associates)
by Mark Silva
"I feel like I've never left Chicago,'' First Lady Michelle Obama said today in Washington - soccer on Saturdays, slumber parties for the girls' friends.
Add to the routine now: Walks before dawn with the first dog - which the girls are supposed to be taking care of. And leading a national effort to spur volunteerism.
All of this adds up to more evidence of why the president's wife quickly has soared in popularity among an American public who seems to have been taken with an Ivy League-trained lawyer who gardens on the back lawn - it has produced its first salad, reports the first lady whom Time magazine has added to its list of 100 "most influential people.''
"We have now been at the White House for 101 days,'' the first lady said today, officially marking the next phase of that 100-day stint that was so widely noted this week.
She was addressing a Congressional Club luncheon, which she plans to host once a month.
"On the family track, just to let you know, because everyone always asks, that we've never been better,'' she said. " The girls are happy and healthy. They love their school. They're making friends. They're getting good grades....
" I feel like I've never left Chicago,'' she said. " Soccer on Saturday -- yes, I'm on a soccer field all day -- just like many of you.
"Slumber parties -- we had about seven girls over, screaming and yelling, and we're shuttling kids back and forth to play dates, just like usual, although now my mom does a little more of the shuttling than I do. I'm glad to have her here....
" And the newest addition to the Obama family -- the most famous member of the family, Bo Obama -- is also doing well,'' she said of the first family's Portuguese water dog. "I have to say, he is the best puppy in the whole wide world. I love him to death.
"He is so sweet. But he's still a puppy... I got up at 5:15 a.m. in the morning to walk my puppy. That's how my day starts. Even though the kids are supposed to do a lot of the work, I'm still up at 5:15 a.m. taking my dog out. So for everyone who has a child asking for a puppy -- -- you have to want the dog. As I do. I love my Bo.''
As a result of all going well, she said, she is able to turn her attention to issues she cares about - supporting military families, "work-life balance, healthy eating, planting that wonderful garden -- we had our first salad out of the garden, we're producing -- and one of my greatest passions, national and community service.''
" As a nation we're facing unprecedented challenges,'' Michelle Obama said. " I don't think that anyone here would doubt that. These are -- there are few times in our nation's history when the phrase "We're all in it together" really means something. And now is one of those times. We're all in this together.
" But embedded in our nation's core values is a spirit of community, generosity and entrepreneurship. I saw all throughout this campaign in every corner of the country a can-do attitude that says that no challenge is too great for the people in this nation.''
With the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which will triple federal funding for government-sponsored volunteer work, she said, the government "will allow more young people to help themselves pay for college by serving their communities.''
" And we're going to focus this service towards solving today's most pressing challenges: clean energy and health care, education and economic opportunity, the needs of veterans and families throughout this country.
"So we have a real moment in history to once again come together to help our neighbors, our communities and to help our country,'' she said.
"And this is what I find so inspiring about this position, leading this nation as First Lady: People in this country assume responsibility, knowing that each of us has something to contribute and something special to add to leading the way.''
Comments
Paying people to volunteer? Is that what are tax dollars are going to? Are we paying people or are they volunteering???? Or is it Americorp that pays and houses people? Forget Ted "left a woman to die in a car crash and didn't report it until the alcohol level in his blood stream was gone" Kennedy having a bill named after him. What gall. Name it after Mary Jo.
Michelle does her best when with children..she beams.
Michelle gets a year to smooth those rough edges. She has the intellect, let's see if she can crank up that classiness.
The garden idea was restauranteur Alice Water's idea...Michelle implemented it.
Glad to see blacks now have an excellent national family to model themselves after. They value education, love each other and adore their children.
Just can't wait to vote Obama out in 2012.
Less government intrusion, less taxes.
Posted by: Fran | April 30, 2009 6:35 PM
Just can't wait to vote Obama out in 2012.
Less government intrusion, less taxes.
Posted by: Fran | April 30, 2009 6:35 PM
*****************
Teresa,
Obama and the Dems just gave the largest tax cut in history to the poor and the middle-class in history.
So I guess you're saying that Republicans are going to win back the White House by proposing more tax cuts for the rich, big business and big oil?.....Ha ha ha !
Posted by: Can't wait to re-elect Obama in 2012 | April 30, 2009 8:10 PM
Paying people to volunteer? Is that what are tax dollars are going to? Are we paying people or are they volunteering???? Or is it Americorp that pays and houses people?
Posted by: Fran | April 30, 2009 6:35 PM
.
Teabagger,
Exactly where does it say that tax payers are paying to Volunteer.?.....It doesn't - it's just something that you pulled out of your backside, you moron.
Posted by: Valrie | April 30, 2009 8:19 PM
Glad to see blacks now have an excellent national family to model themselves after. They value education, love each other and adore their children.
--------
not sure what this means, why does it take a national black family? I model my life after my own family...... you know loving parents, good friends, educated siblings..... just like a lot of Americans.
Posted by: Karen | April 30, 2009 10:17 PM
Michelle does her best when with children. She beams.
Michelle gets a year to smooth those rough edges. She has the intellect, let's see if she can crank up that classiness.
Posted by: Fran | April 30, 2009 6:35 PM
I would like to let you know we share the same name, But I can tell you this, We don't share the same thoughts and feeling. And I bet you your last dollar, If the FLOTUS met you and knew how you felt, She would still beam with love for you.
FRAN SET YOURSELF FREE FROM HATE MAYBE,YOU WILL HAVE BETTER DAYS.
PEACE OUT.
Posted by: msla56 | April 30, 2009 10:37 PM
Can't wait: Guess you didn't see where they cut that big $13.00 a week tax cut out of the budget - you only get it for this year. Of course they said if they can find some more money somewhere they will extend it for another year, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
Posted by: vla | May 1, 2009 9:00 AM
Reads like more of the White House propaganda machine.
Posted by: Inky | May 1, 2009 9:22 AM
What the White House propaganda outfit (aka, The Swamp) left out:
"First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they're only $540!
BY Amy Diluna
DAILY NEWS FASHION EDITOR
Friday, May 1st 2009, 9:25 AM
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden (center) at a Feeding America event. The First Lady could feed quite a few people with what she paid for thesneakers she's wearing.
The kicks, made by high-end French fashion label Lanvin, cost $540.
The First Lady should look good, and she can afford it. If the sneakers make her happy, there's nothing wrong with it.
Michelle Obama has taken casual to a haute new level.
While volunteering Wednesday at a D.C. food bank, the First Lady sported her usual J.Crew cardigan, a pair of utilitarian capri pants and, on her feet, a sneaky splurge: trainers that go for $540.
That's right: These sneakers - suede, with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps - are made by French design house Lanvin, one of fashion's hottest labels. They come in denim and satin versions, and have been a brisk seller all spring.
They're out of stock at posh Meatpacking District boutique Jeffrey, and Barneys New York boasts a limited selection of the sneaks, which are a cult favorite among fashionistas.
It's likely Michelle got hers through Ikram, the Chicago retailer that often outfits her."
Read more at: http://www.nydailynews.com
Posted by: Party gal | May 1, 2009 11:15 AM
$540? I would never wear shoes that cheap! How embarassing for the nation. A properly cultured woman, from the better part of society, like myself, would never be caught in cheap retail like that. After all it is our responsibility to show the little people the finer things in life. For example, think how much it must have thrilled all those peons at the convention when I came out in my $250,000 outfiit. Just knowing that they were allowed to be in the same room with an elite person like myself must have excited them greatly. If my husband had won the election, you'd never have seen this first lady slumming it in $540 shoes.
Posted by: Cindy McCain | May 1, 2009 1:45 PM
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/INSIDE-WASHINGTON-Rude-apf-15091434.html?.v=1 You better hold on to anything you have because this administration wants it all. They do not care how much you make or don't make. They believe you owe them 100%.
Posted by: bringbackcommonsense | May 1, 2009 6:08 PM
Is Michelle a Feminist or a Feminazi?
Feminists and Feminazis
The title epithet, “feminazis,” is a word popularized by Rush Limbaugh to describe extremist feminists who have adopted feminism as a last resort to conceal a basic lack of attractiveness and for whom the rite and right of abortion border on the sacramental. Rush is sometimes a tad less kind and, after three wives, he may be a tad jaded so we’ll leave it at that.
I don’t know if Jessica Valenti quite fits that definition; she certainly doesn’t when contrasted with the late Betty Friedan whose book, The Feminine Mystique, had to have been written with a ton of input from women who were endowed with much more feminity and mystique than God gave Betty.
Valenti, however, does add an odd, new fillip to the decades-old struggle for . . . I’m actually not really sure just what modern feminists are struggling for. In apparent frustration, Freud said, “What do women want?” and I’m just as confused as to what feminists want.
Valenti’s stimulating contribution to the feminist evolution concerns virginity as pointed out in ” ‘Today’ Show Feature: ‘There’s No Such Thing As Virginity,’ ” by Warner Todd Huston: http://www.americanconservativedaily.com/2009/04/today-show-feature-theres-no-such-thing-as-virginity/.
To males, female virginity is a skitchy topic but unless feminazis have banished us to an underclass due to our gender I think we’re entitled to an opinion on the subject. After all, the “myopic feminist” Valenti’s opinion begs challenge. I would only add to that ”myopic feminist” is a clear redundancy.
Ms. Valenti is an ardent left-wing blogger, posting on Feministing.com as well as writing for NARAL Pro-Choice America. NARAL, originally founded in 1968 as the National Association for Repeal of Anti-abortion Laws by that same Betty Friedan and arch abortion apologist, Bernard Nathanson, changed its name after their victory in Roe v Wade in ‘73 and after the number of little dead abortion victims began to grow exponentially.
With her NARAL affiliation, it’s not much of a stretch to say Jessica Valenti is probably an ardent pro-abortionist and also probably a committed lesbian, leftist believer in the sacramental nature of extinguishing the lives of pre-born human beings in the name of feminism.
For that ilk, turkey basters work just fine for procreation and without all the fuss and muss of normal baby-making and if the product isn’t perfect, as in female, they can always just dismember and flush it and start all over again. No biggie.
The thirty year old Valenti, marital status unknown, appeared on the “Today” show to promote her new book, The Purity Myth, How America’s Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women. . . .
(Read the rest at http://genelalor.com/)
Posted by: Gene Lalor | May 1, 2009 6:19 PM
I love our First Family. In my 53 years, there has never been a First Family that reflected the American people. I've only seen the 2%'ers in that position. I'm sorry that the rabid racist right wingers are so scared, and stupid that they can't grasp anything but their own hatred. What a way to live.
Posted by: Colleen | May 2, 2009 12:50 AM
The continuuous expeditions to find, exaggerate, and make much ado about the slightest perceived or manufactured mis-steps by the First family is tiring and beneath the intelligence of most Americans. Substantive debate around substantive issues is welcomed. But conservative harangues about non-issues is tiring. But if you are so interested in the Fashion of First ladies --read on:Julia Tyler, widowed for nearly three decades, wore a painted miniature of her husband, clasped at her throat. As First Lady, she also wore a pearl and diamond string of some kind as a "diadem", apparently a type of headband. You can actually see her wearing it in her official White House portrait. Sarah Polk, widowed for nearly a half a century, always wore an ivory carved cameo of her husband. Mary Lincoln seemed especially fond of a black onyx set of earrings, bracelet, ring, necklace, and pin (it seems to be set with diamonds as well) which she was actually photographed wearing for pictures she gave permission to be released to the public.
Julia Grant most especially loved very green emeralds, very blue sapphires and very red rubies - I believe this is from a contemporary newspaper account of the Victorian era, but like so much written by others (as opposed to documentary evidence from photographs) it may not be true. Ida Saxton McKinley was known to be a jewelry collector, most especially diamonds. Her father and grandfather had begun the habit of giving her diamond rings, bracelets, and it was the foundation for an extensive collection she built over her lifetime. She also seemed to collect jewels that had not been cut or set in metal and kept them in a simple bag that she enjoyed giving to visiting children - to play with!
Nellie Taft also enjoyed diamonds and wore thick neck collars and matching thick (wide) bracelets - almost looking like they were shiny clothing cuffs. She was most famous, however, for her diamond tiara, which she was photographed wearing in the White House. Florence Harding always wore a thick black velvet neckband to cover her wrinkles and the Christmas following her husband's 1920 election, he gave her a large diamond sunburst - as it turns out, unknown to her it had been chosen for him by her best friend, the heiress Evalyn McLean who owned the Hope Diamond. Mrs. Harding in her white diamond sunburst at her neck, and Mrs. McLean with her legendary blue diamond at her neck often appeared together wearing these famous objects. The wedding ring which incumbent widowed President Woodrow Wilson gave to his second wife Edith Bolling was fashioned from a gold nugget given to them by western state citizens.
Eleanor Roosevelt owned a blue aquamarine ring given her by the government of Brazil which she turned over to the federal government since it was a state gift. Mamie Eisenhower was famous for often wearing beautiful costume jewelry, and even pieces from discount stores such as J.C. Penny's and Woolworth's. As a widow, she was rarely photographed without her colored-glass U.S. flag pin. Finally, although she was not as closely identified with it as was Barbara Bush with her three-strand fake pearls (which were copied by several companies and sold as "First Lady Pearls"), Nancy Reagan wore a large and wide gold necklace and bracelet in the latter years of her tenure: she was often photographed in the matching items and even addressed the United Nations in 1988 wearing them
-----
Wear any of these fashions by first ladies excessive???
Posted by: Tunisia | May 8, 2009 12:10 AM