The Obamas are the finest family to inhabit the White House in my entire life

[Fresh_Start]

I will greatly miss them

[Firebrand Gary]

1. I thought about this the other day and I got misty eyed.

[inchhigh]

2. You were born after 1980?

[Fresh_Start]

6. I prefer the Obama's to the Carters

Not that there was anything wrong about President Carters family.
But more that the Obama family has shown incredible grace in a much uglier environment.
While Presidents Carter family had to put up with a lot, they didn't have to put up with he's not an american crap.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Amy got mean treatment the Obama kids have been mostly spared, that's for sure.

GOP was also very very terrible to Chelsea Clinton as a child, called her the WH dog.

[Fresh_Start]

9. yes, nothing shows character like attacking children

But the Obama children had to hear that the father was anti-american, anti-christian, muslim, traitor, ....and many other horrible things..
not to mention all the crap thrown at the First Lady.

[heaven05]

10. true

yet I can NEVER remember, I'm late 60's in age, when the vacation of Amy, Chelsea or those two wild bush daughters vacation spots were revealed as they were with Michelle and her two daughters by the republicans. That was mean and dangerous. Every time something unprecedented happened to the first AA POTUS, it was noted. Long list of racially motivated misdeeds and outright traitorous behavior toward the man and his wonderful family.

[CrispyQ]

14. My right wing mother & I had the worst fight over that.

[IronLionZion]

26. The Obama girls were home when someone shot the white house with a high powered assault rifle

and they've endured numerous security breaches and death threats and recently someone tried to steal their dog.

Conservative news and radio hosts have made insulting comments about the girls too.

[MrScorpio]

12. Let's not talk about Billy, shall we?

No one remembers Billy.

[CrispyQ]

15. It took me a minute to place that.

I worked part time at a grocery store & one Christmas Eve someone came in & said, "They have Billy Beer at the liquor store next door." I knew right then what to get my step-father - two six packs of Billy Beer & a few cans of sardines. The family loved that they got to see/sip Billy Beer.

[MrScorpio]

17. I never had any of that stuff

I wasn't drinking in those days. I didn't turn 21 until 1982 and still I never started drinking.

[CrispyQ]

18. It was a flash fad. Didn't last.

I hate beer. And sardines.

[AlbertCat]

44. I was born in 1958.

So.... you didn't like the Kennedys?

Of course "finest" is a kinda vague term....

[Mike Nelson]

4. I don't judge Presidents on their...

...families. But, I have to agree... the Obamas are a model family!

[heaven05]

8. +1000

:clap

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. This is the first president and first lady that are younger than I am.

I'm 2 years and 2 months older the the President and 4 years and 6 months older then Mrs. Obama.

I agree with your sentiment completely. I just like the guy. His sense of humor, hell, his comedic timing is frankly professional grade! His deadpan looks when he is kidding someone......

And this;



A pic I put up in a thread a little over a year ago.

There are so many...his incredibly charming love of children and their instant love for him right back.

God dammit, I WANT a Constitutional Scholar as a President, not some dopey, loudmouthed buffoon or Bible thumping nimrod.


You're damned right I'll miss him. If he could run again he would win in a landslide, of this I have no doubt.

[CrispyQ]

13. He has handled the hate & disrespect shown toward him & his family with grace.

They all have. I am so ashamed of my fellow Americans who have disrespected this man.

On a happier note, has there ever been a president so loved by kids? He's a natural with them. Here's one of my faves:



Remember when the little black boy asked the Prez if his hair was like his & the Prez leans over & says, "Touch it dude."

I'm old enough to remember the Carter family & they were a nice family in the WH, too. It would be interesting to do a study & see if having children in the WH encourages other children to pay attention to politics more. ???

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. One of a few good families in my lifetime.

Obama, Kennedy, Carter.

[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida]

19. Will you be saying that, after Obama signs the TPP ??

|

[Fresh_Start]

21. Yes, I will

because I believe he is taking what he believes is the best course of action

[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida]

45. Good, then ask him for a copy of the TPP !

After he gives you 100 excuses why he can't show it to you, just keep telling yourself; "he believes is the best course of action".

[NBachers]

22. To-do List: 1. Join Democratic Underground; 2. Piss on someone's well–intentioned family post.

[3catwoman3]

61. Indeed. I am always...

...mystified by those who feel compelled to spread their negativity anywhere and everywhere.

[johnp3907]

71. My to-do list: 1. Put jackass on ignore.

2. Enjoy life.

[YoungDemCA]

24. ....

[Stonepounder]

25. Hell yes I'll still be saying it!!!

Just because I don't agree with every single thing that Obama, Michelle and the girls do doesn't mean they aren't great. If I agreed with every thing the President did for the last 8 years it would mean that I had been elected President. Hell, I don't even agree with everything my spouse has done over the last eight days, let alone years (and I can't imagine being married to anyone else). You don't like Obama? Fine, then don't vote for him.

[JDPriestly]

39. Can't stand the TPP, but it has nothing to do with the Obamas as a family.

[jwirr]

49. Yes, I will because I can dislike his policy without denying

the other values that he has brought to the WH.

[Egnever]

73. Obama wont sign the TPP

It wont come to his desk before his term is over.

TPP is far from a done deal.

[rateyes]

20. I was born in 1960. The Obamas are a fine family, but

no finer than the Carters in my opinion.

[Fresh_Start]

28. The Carters were a fine family

but I do believe that the environment is so much uglier today that they have been under constant attack...and its their grace while dealing with the horror of the GOP, tea party, birthers, .... that is one of the reasons I so admire them.

The Carter family had to deal with being politically attacked and demeaned as peanut farmers...
but they didn't have to deal with the birthers...and other crap from the right.

President Carter was a visionary and a fine and decent man.

[katmondoo]

32. Jimmy Carter sent Amy to Public School

This was a disaster for her as the daughter of a President with the secret service guarding her. I think she felt out of place and was probably taunted. She said years later how unhappy she was. Carter wanted to look like an everyday ordinary citizen at the cost of his daughters happiness.

[rateyes]

69. Maybe he believed, as I do, in public education.

I am not demeaning the Obamas, but to say the family is finer is an insult to the Carters. They both have fine families.

[pressbox69]

23. I'll go along

with your statement.

[yourpaljoey]

27. Carter was a far far better man than Obama could ever be.

Light years between them.

[JDPriestly]

36. Carter was great too.

[phleshdef]

78. Carter is a great man... but thats an unfair comparison and full of hyperbolic bullshit.

I believe President Carter would agree.

[yourpaljoey]

82. We disagree

It's okay to disagree.

[oldandhappy]

29. I am grateful for President Obama.

He and his family have maintained grace and dignity in the face of a lot of hate. I wish them well in their new journey

[fasttense]

30. Did you not like the Kennedy's or are you too young? n/t

[Fresh_Start]

33. Too young

but from what I can tell,

Jacqueline had nothing on Michelle
JFK was an adulterer

[Fresh_Start]

57. I need to correct that

Jacqueline seemed more like an ornament than Michelle
But I very much admire what I read about her actions after the assassination.
I might be misremembering what I read but I think she refused to change her clothing because she wanted people to see the aftermath...rather than matching peoples expectations of her being a cover model.

[Rhiannon12866]

74. You're right, she wanted people to see what had been done to him

After he was shot, she tried to hold him together until they forced her to let go when they reached the hospital. Heartbreaking.

[jwirr]

51. I liked their public persona and I think they brought a level

of sophistication to the WH that many others did not BUT John was a womanizer like Bill.

[tularetom]

31. I don't know how old you are but that's a pretty low bar

In my lifetime, FDR and LBJ were the two presidents who accomplished the most for the people, but I wouldn't hold either of them up as a role model for my kids. Jimmy Carter was a nice family man, but very limited in terms of his presidential achievements. First families since 1980 have pretty much sucked until the Obamas.

[BobTheSubgenius]

34. I think you can make a strong case for either...

...the Obamas or the Carters. President Carter's character and innate goodness has been on display for decades.

He went out and helped build houses for low-income families with his own hands. A former President could easily be excused for sending a cheque instead.

There is nothing I could add that would make more of a case for the character of the current President. I'm certainly not demeaning either...at least, I hope I'm not.


And, on an anecdotal level, a little parallel that involved my wife some years ago. She worked for many years at Boys and Girls Club and rose to direct a flagship club in Florida. A surprising number of celebrities had been Club Kids in their youth and were always ready to give back - lending their presence and fame to raise funds and awareness. Denzel was at the top of that list, but that's not what this story is about.

My wife worked hard all day, which was normal for these events, and had a nice day with two volunteers that she didn't know. At the end of the day, she said "I should have introduced myself much sooner, but thank you for your hard work."

The couple turned out to be du Ponts. Yes, those du Ponts, but I'm not sure which ones. Softened my opinion of them, for sure.

At the other end of the scale, and something I hope gives some people a little smirk...one of the celebs she once worked with turned out to be as big an asshole in person as you might expect from his public persona
- Bill O'Reilly.

[mainstreetonce]

37. The first WH family I remember was named Truman

And I agree the Obamas are the finest example of a WH family.

[jwirr]

53. The Truman's were not all that bad except that they were

extremely old fashioned and private.

[JDPriestly]

35. Absolutely.

[valerief]

38. You must not have been born before 1980. nt

[Egnever]

40. I am afraid I will never see another president I admire as much in my lifetime

You can certainly argue with some of the things he has done in his presidency but I have never seen another president work as tirelessly to try to do what he felt was right by the american people or do it with such amazing grace in the face of so many reprehensible attacks on his character and family.

Michelle particularly has been an amazing first lady If she ran tomorrow I would vote for her in heart beat.

[Fresh_Start]

41. Exactly nt

nt

[jwirr]

42. I agree but I am older and I think Jimmy Carter and his

family were pretty good also. What I love about President Obama is not his policy (I hate the TPP and other economic ideas) but I think he and his family have given America the best example of a good family that I have seen since Jimmy
Carter and in many ways that is one of the vital needs of the day.

[Fresh_Start]

46. I am also a fan for President Carter

He's the only President I've ever written a personal letter to...though it was years after he was out of office.
I just believe that the Obama family has been extraordinary in the ugliest political environment possible.
Carter had no picnic politically but he wasn't accused of being a kenyan, muslim, traitor....and I doubt anyone looked at Roselynn's high school and college records for signs of radicalism.

[Rhiannon12866]

75. I also think the Obamas are a wonderful family, love Michelle and the POTUS is a caring Dad

But I agree with you about the Carters, a very close family, all the boys, plus Rosalynn and Miss Lillian, worked on his campaigns. I'm currently listening to his autobiography ("A Full Life&quot on audio, read by the author himself, and learning so much I never knew about him. It really has been a full life, from his childhood on the farm to his Navy career to his early runs for office. I think I'm on disc #5 and he's just become president! LOL. I recommend it highly.

[jwirr]

83. Thank you.

[greymouse]

43. no one matches Miss Lillian

[Fresh_Start]

48. I'm sorry I don't know the reference. nt

nt

[greatauntoftriplets]

62. That was Jimmy Carter's mother.

[Politicub]

47. I'm already having Obama withdrawl

I agree, OP. The past eight years have been remarkable.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

50. I liked the Ford family.

No one was going to tell Betty what she could say. The kids were decent too. They were all likeable people.

For a while, this was the presidential residence:



Gerald R. Ford Jr. House



In a scene reminiscent of a 60's family sitcom, Gerald Ford, now President of the United States. leaves home for work at the White House as wife Betty waves goodbye.



School children walk past the house of President Gerald Ford in Alexandria, Virginia.



"Gerald, that lawn isn't going to mow itself."

Gerald R. Ford in Alexandria — Remembering Our 38th President

After Ford died, his body was brought back to DC for a few days. I went down to watch the motorcade go by. A few days later, about noon on a cold winter day, the plane often used as Air Force 1 flew west, taking him away forever. I saw the plane fly over Alexandria. People on board could look down and see where the family used to live.

[Fresh_Start]

52. thanks for sharing

I agree its shows humble character

[mahatmakanejeeves]

55. It didn't hurt that Steve was an excellent babe.

Of course, it's wrong to think that, but you be the judge:





The Fords at home in Alexandria the night he became president. (L-R) First Lady Betty Ford, Steve, Jack, Susan, and President Ford.



Betty Ford had a what-the-hell moment—and an accomplice in photographer David Hume Kennerly.

[Fresh_Start]

58. how did I not know that at that time

probably because we were poor and there was no internet....

[HooptieWagon]

54. While I have been disappointed in Obama on several issues,...

...I do commend he and his family for their display of dignity and class under difficult circumstances. I do not regret my two votes and support for him.

[Bigmack]

59. What you said. Exactly....

We don't elect perfect people... hell, there aren't any perfect people.. but Pres Obama has served well under horrible conditions. Michelle and the kids have been real role models.

I believe history will be kind to him.

[Ernesto]

56. K&R

I'm 70 years old & I often say the same thing!

[Scootaloo]

60. I agree

Given the apparent options for November, I'd really rather find a really fast way to throw out the 22nd amendment.

[Demonaut]

63. he's ok

[Pakhet]

64. I've had two. The Carters and the Obamas.

Jimmy Carter was the first president I campaigned for. I still have a little tiny gold peanut lapel pin

[riderinthestorm]

65. They are a wonderful family! nt

[Stellar]

66. K&R nt.

LAST CALL

eta forgot pic from HuffPo:

[Skittles]

67. will this swooniness soon be over

please

[Egnever]

81. Not likely

It will only be getting louder as this admin comes to a close. There's a lot of people here that are going to miss this family. Myself included.

Better start the blood pressure medicine now

[JoePhilly]

68. A very nice OP ...

... and yet some still found the need to shit on Obama when responding.

Sad.

But I'm with you ... I have two daughters who are almost exactly the same ages as their girls.

And its been awesome watching his daughters, and my daughters grow up.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

70. Me too.

I really REALLY don't want him to go!

"We won't see his like..."
Sigh.... :'(

but, if I were to try and look at it from a higher perspective, I would say the most important thing is to take his example as you would look to anyone you deeply admire, and try to live up to it. Or at least to some of it.

I can imagine President Obama himself giving that advice.

[imari362]

72. Very Classy Family

I needed a hankie when he was inaugurated in 2009 and will need one when he leaves in 2017








P.S. Saw a thread in the AA group that mentioned an Obama leaving office support group......think I will need to check it out...

[mwrguy]

76. Greatest president, finest family

[Lunabell]

77. Obama is such a nice man with a beautiful family.

He and Jimmie Carter are two of the nicest men to live in the white house.

[phleshdef]

79. It all feels kind of unfair, like Obama is really starting to hit his stride.

I would keep him for another 8 years if I could. There probably won't be another Barack Obama for a generation or more.

[hfojvt]

80. nice enough people

too bad President Obama made most of the Bush tax cuts permanent.

But I guess crappy policy is okay if one smiles and is polite about it (and nobody in your own party bothers to call out the bullsh*t, like they pretended to care about inequality when Bush was President)

Tax cuts for the rich? IOKIYAD