Partners in Love and the Presidency

[onpatrol98]

Last edited Tue Jan 10, 2012, 01:11 AM - Edit history (1)

Partners in Love and the Presidency

By CONNIE SCHULTZ
Published: January 8, 2012

On the evening of Jan. 12 last year, Michelle Obama sat in the front row of a packed memorial service and fixed her eyes on her husband as he took the stage.

The Obamas were at the University of Arizona in Tucson to honor the six people who were killed in shootings that had left Representative Gabrielle Giffords fighting for her life. Jodi Kantor describes Mrs. Obama’s reaction as the president spoke:

“She was following every word, nodding a little, her eyes flickering with his words.” When President Obama described Ms. Giffords opening her eyes for the first time, “Michelle closed her own eyes briefly, pantomiming her husband’s speech a little, showing the relief her husband was expressing. She did that sometimes, acting out the words he was saying during his speeches, as if she could give them some of her animation and help propel his message across.”

--snip--
Her new image set off repeated bouts of apoplexy among some White House staff members, who weighed in on her choices, albeit indirectly, creating a climate of tension. Ms. Kantor describes a blowup in August 2010 between the White House press secretary at the time, Robert Gibbs, and the Obamas’ close friend and adviser, Valerie Jarrett, in which he screamed an expletive at her. In a condescending tone Ms. Jarrett said, “The first lady would not believe you’re speaking this way.” His response was to curse the first lady too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/books/the-obamas-by-jodi-kantor-review.html
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I bet no staffer dared curse Laura Bush. This speakes volumes to me.

[Number23]

1. You're right. But this is par for the course

Apparently even the massively educated, brilliant, gracious black First Lady of the Damn United States is unworthy of respect along with all the rest of the black female population of this planet.

Do you have a link to your article? Thanks!

[onpatrol98]

2. Apparently, I was so upset, dropped the link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/books/the-obamas-by-jodi-kantor-review.html

I added it to the post.Thanks! I was blown away. I mean, at first Valerie Jarrett, and then the first lady. Apparently, it wasn't in the first lady's presence, but good grief. Would he have cursed Hilary Clinton? Then again, I don't know. Gibbs was such a strange character. And, I had the idea that this was supposed to be a "friend". With friends like these...

[Number23]

5. Don't forget that Desiree Robinson was run out of her position

Though no one and I mean NO ONE has any clear reason why. The White House was under so much pressure to get rid of her and they did. I wish they hadn't.

Don't know very much about Gibbs. But you're right, if he did do this it's a very good thing he's no longer at the White House.

[SemperEadem]

6. The War on Black Women is a real thing

I've been saying it for some time now.

[meat the beetles.]

3. So you just take this at face value?

Could it be a counter attack in case Gibbs plans a book during the election cycle? We need to be critical thinkers, people!

[onpatrol98]

4. As a people, we are critical thinkers...

But, thank you for the advice.