Opinion
Puff piece with young daughters just another episode of political peekaboo
New York Times Jul 14, 08 9:50 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The press tries to treat politicians’ offspring, particularly younger ones, with kid gloves, writes David Carr of the New York Times —so it’s no wonder there was a furor when Barack Obama let Access Hollywood interview his 10- and 7-year-old daughters. Many reporters were irked by the beyond-puff piece, and Obama swiftly said he wouldn’t do it again, drawing the curtain back over his family.
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OPINION
Putting kids on TV was a blunder, but so was whining about it: Dowd
New York Times Jul 13, 08 12:04 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Caught up in a Fourth of July celebration, Barack Obama agreed to let his daughters be interviewed on "Access Hollywood," a turnaround from his position on his family's privacy and a big slip-up, writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times. But Obama compounded the error by expressing morning-after regret so vehemently that it just looked like the latest in a series of flip-flops.
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'Access Hollywood' interviews include Malia, Sasha for first time
ABC News Jul 9, 08 10:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama took the unusual step of sitting down with Access Hollywood, but the interview took a decidedly precocious tone when daughters Malia and Sasha joined in, dishing on mommy and daddy holding hands and potential White House bedroom decor. The first interview of the Obamas is airing over four evenings, beginning last night, and is expected to draw millions of viewers—at a time when John McCain is struggling to stay in the spotlight.
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Wannabe first lady's image catapults mag sales—sans interview
MSNBC Jun 24, 08 3:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Featuring Michelle Obama and hubby on the cover of Us Weekly paid off big time for the gossip mag, MSNBC reports. Early sales figures have already far outpaced recent covers sporting Jessica Simpson and Heidi Montag—the mag's usual celebrity fare. The circulation bump is a boon for the flagging publication, but ironically Us didn't interview its cover lady—relying instead on comments from friends for its story.
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OPINION
Their sense of outrage doesn't seem to apply to black women
Washington Post Jun 21, 08 1:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Like strong women before her, Michelle Obama has been “demonized” in the press—so why aren’t feminists coming to her aid? asks Mary C. Curtis in the Washington Post . Feminists spoke out when Hillary Clinton faced sexism in her campaign—but the cause hasn’t embraced women of color. “In America, there's seldom a cost for disrespecting black women,” Curtis notes, adding that the anti-Michelle campaign "has not caused a rift between black and white women so much as it has exposed it."
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Mrs. O swaps fist bumps with the girls, dishes on pantyhose, politics, Laura Bush
Time Jun 18, 08 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Michelle Obama started off her debut appearance on “The View” with a jab at the "terrorist fist jab" controversy, demanding of her co-hosts, "I have to be greeted properly. Fist bump please." Obama talked everything from politics to pantyhose—no, she doesn’t wear them—and said she draws attention because “I wear my heart on my sleeve.” When asked right off the bat about her much-ballyhooed patriotism, Time reports, Obama said, “Of course I’m proud.”
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'Amazed at how deep the lies can be,' she hits rumors head-on
New York Times Jun 18, 08 7:07 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Michelle Obama has been called everything from a black nationalist to a "baby mama" in recent weeks, and sporting a new chief of staff, she's looking to take on the rumors. In a New York Times interview, Obama outlines her journey from Chicago's South Side to the White House doorstep. “I will walk anyone through my life,” says the would-be first lady. “Come on, let’s go.”
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'Too many fathers are AWOL,' he says at Chicago black church
New York Times Jun 15, 08 6:27 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama sharply critiqued black fathers today at one of Chicago's biggest black churches, the New York Times reports. “Too many fathers are M.I.A, too many fathers are AWOL,” he said to a mostly black audience, including his wife and daughters. “I say this knowing that I have been an imperfect father,” he said, “knowing that I have made mistakes and I’ll continue to make more."
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Would-be first lady reaches out to women by hosting The View
San Francisco Chronicle Jun 14, 08 5:24 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Nicknamed "the closer," Michelle Obama is known for winning over voters—but many still have not warmed up to her, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A recent poll shows that 42% of voters have an unfavorable view of her and 25% are "very unfavorable." The first lady hopeful plans to win over women starting next week, though: Her first stop will be as guest host on The View .
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OPINION
Network sparks outrage with poorly judged use of slang
New York Jun 13, 08 6:25 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Fox is catching flak for calling Michelle Obama "Obama's baby mama" and it deserves all it gets, Noelle Hancock writes on New York 's news blog. The network, which has conceded that a producer "exercised poor judgment" by posting the graphic, has made itself look "sexist, racist, and out of touch, all at the same time!" Hancock writes.
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Opinion
Pundit advises the wannabes on how to play it cool
Time Jun 12, 08 2:41 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Dear wannabe running mates, here’s how to campaign for the No. 2 job, per Mark Halperin in Time : DO: Prove you can be an attack dog while maintaining “eloquence.” Suck up to Michelle/Cindy. They’ll have the final say before the final say. Notify the campaign of every appearance you plan to make. Prove you’ve got something the future nominee needs.
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Obama's 'bitter half'
is fair game,
Republicans say
Los Angeles Times Jun 11, 08 2:19 PM CDT
(Newser)
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They didn’t like Hillary Clinton or Teresa Heinz Kerry, and conservatives aren't hesitating to pile on Michelle Obama, either, the Los Angeles Times reports. Conservatives have seized on several statements from the Democratic candidate's wife, calling her angry and unpatriotic. The National Review recently ran a cover dubbing her “Mrs. Grievance,” and Michelle Malkin calls her “Obama’s bitter half.”
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Opinion
Dowd: Right will paint would-be first lady as angry black woman
New York Times Jun 11, 08 9:58 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the White House picture, it’s Michelle Obama’s turn to be the object of that “sulfurous national game of ‘Kill the witch,’” writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times . The fairer Obama can be more prickly than her sunny husband, and dwells more on racial oppression. Websites have already cropped up painting her as another Jeremiah Wright.
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