Michelle Obama Watch

I LOVE IT! Oh my goodness I love it! Thank you so much Aminah for keeping us in the loop this week. Beautiful!

The Obama haters are in full force. They have nothing better to do but talk bad about Michelle and the girls. They are not exploiting the girls; Sasha and Malia are on summer break and the trip on Air force One will cost the same with or without them. I don’t care how much Michelle’s clothes cost because it is her money. People need to look at the elephant in the room, they have so many haters because they are black. The haters don’t think the Obama’s are worth spending so much money on and think that they should have a say in what Michelle wears, does and so forth. This is going to be a long eight years.

AM GETTING SICK OF TRIED OF READDING THAT OUR FRISY LADY IS CARRYING OTHER CHILD BUT SHE IS FLAT AND THERE IS NO SIGN THAT SHE IS RELLY SHOWING SHE IS 45 AND SHE SAID THAT SHE IS NOT CARRYING OTHER CHILD SASHA WILL BE THE LAST ONE. ELSE THEY GOING TO ADOPED A BABY BOY THEN THAT WILL BE OTHER STORY WITSH I ADOUT IOT BY NOW THAT BABY BOY WILL BE GOING EVERY WAY WITH THEM AND OUR PRIESIDNT WILL BE CARRYING HIM OR HIS WIFE. SO NO BABY. OUR PRESIDENT LOVE TO HOLD BABYS HE NEVER LOST HIS TOUCH.

I do not recall such criticism of presidents’ children when they’ve been taken abroad. For example, Chelsea Clinton traveled, and even the Clintons’ most vociferous, loud-mouthed opponents didn’t complain, as I recall. In addition, when presidents’ families do travel, serious security arrangements are required, as they are in the States. This is inescapable.

Nancy Reagan was criticized for her wardrobe (and for “borrowing” clothing from designers without declaring it). It’s worth remembering that Ronald Reagan entered office during a major recession, and there was a view that he and his wife had a somewhat imperial view of their roles. Doesn’t anyone remember the White House china scandal?

Finally, there was criticism of Jackie Kennedy’s quite expensive designer wardrobe (partly paid for by Joe Kennedy, at least during the campaign), along with her Francophilia, which was considered elitist and pretentious by some. The Kennedys, incidentally, had a British nanny for their children, and Jackie Kennedy had a Hispanic lady’s maid, though I don’t know whether this raised anyone’s eyebrows at the time.

I think what we’re seeing here is a reaction to the combination of a relatively young, fashion-conscious First Lady, who also has young children to whom she and her husband want to give new and special experiences, and the economic crisis. (And, I’m sorry to say it, but I think there is clearly some resentment, in some quarters, of the fact that a highly-educated and affluent black couple are occupying the White House and enjoying the privileges that presidents and their families always enjoy. People simply are not accustomed to this.) This confluence of somewhat unusual factors has resulted in rather more scrutiny, along with rather more hostility and criticism directed towards the First Lady, than we normally see.

I do think, by the way, that Mrs. Obama could dial down a bit on the expensive wardrobe items, given the current economy. We naturally want our First Ladies to look good, because while they were not elected to office, they do help represent the country, particularly abroad. However, as much as I love fashion, I’ve been taken aback by the cost of some of Mrs. Obama’s clothes; the $500 Lanvin sneakers didn’t thrill me, nor does this $875 handbag. A little thoughtful judgment wouldn’t come amiss.

I sense where people are trying to make something out of nothing. It does not bother me one bit, what Michelle Obama spends on her clothes. It is President Obama who is paying for it, isn’t it? He does get a salary, don’t he? Even if Mrs. Obama just spent five dollars for her handbag, it doesn’t help me one way or another. Really doesn’t bother me. About the baby rumor. I think if the First Lady was pregnant she would let the public know.I have a sister who paid five hundred dollars for a handbag. Me, even if times were good I wouldn’t spend fifty for one. That’s me though. I still like my First Lady.

The First Lady like all other celebrities are GIVEN designer clothing and accessories to wear for FREE.This is a brilliant marketing strategy as her high visibility gets the designer’s name mentioned in the world media. What concerns me though is the emphasis that is put on what a woman wears. Women of all races should respect each other more “a woman is more than her clothes,she is what she knows”

Have any of these complainers regarding Michelle Obama’s expenditures, etc., been so vocal during previous administration. The Bush twins went to Africa, Laura Bush went to see the Pope, and on and on and on. Were expenditures questioned then? Personally, I doubt it much.

The first lady is a college educated, articulate, high salaried professional who by the way doesn’t collect a pay check as FLOTUS, she can wear what she wants, after all didn’t she earn it? As far as travel is concerned how else are they supposed to get around, Greyhound? It’s the President and his family, their safety is the number one priority for the country.

If you haters put as much ENERGY into trying to analyze and correct the many problems our country faces, maybe and only then will we get back on track as a nation.

But as always as Michelle often does she isn’t paying you leeches any attention and you can’t handle it.

To Barbara of Mommy Life: Let The Obamas Travel in Class its Better to Travel in Class Than To Travel Broke If I Was With The Obamas I Would Travel in Class Too. It is Not Their Fault That America is in a Recession To Jennifer Roche of About.com Chicago You Don’t Watch The News Michelle Obama Said it Herself She is Not Pregnant She Works on Her Abs How Can She be Pregnant and Works on her Abs.

It bothers me that Michelle Obama take extended family members on these trips.

I reference to the comment pertaining to why the Obamas take extended family on these trips. Well, we really do not know who the Roosevelts, Eisenhowers, Kennedys, Johnsons, Carters, Reagans, Nixons, Fords, Bush Sr., Clintons, and Bush, Jr. took with them when they travelled. So, let’s not be hasty and think only the Obamas are taking extended family. It is probably comforting to the Obama daughters to have extended family along on these trips so they have memories to share with other family and not just the secret service. You mentioned the President’s sister was not there, and probably for good reason and by the way I did not see Mrs. Obamas brother and his family. So, its all six and a half of a dozen. Why not let them have some enjoyment and yes, I’m sure if we had these perks we would certainly include our family some of the time. It is disconcerting that many Americans are finding fault with so much the Obamas are doing. I’ve lived through ten presidents and and never heard the level of criticism not related to policy issues in my life thus far. It does not speak well of the American people and we quickly are living up to the image as “The Ugly American” right here in America.

RealtyChic, First Ladies are not given clothes and jewelry for free; they are not legally permitted to accept such gifts — at least not without declaring them on tax returns. That’s why Nancy Reagan got into trouble.

Don’t mistake me: it is certainly true that Mrs. Obama pays for her own clothes and therefore can buy and wear what she pleases. I’ve very much enjoyed observing her wardrobe choices over the last several months. I am simply suggesting that such choices as $500 sneakers are perhaps not such a good idea in the current economic climate. However, there’s plenty of room for debate on that subject.

I have lived through at least 8 different families occupying the White House. This time around the media coverage and scrutiny is just amazing to me.

I personally do not give a damn about how much money Michelle spends on her clothes. In reality, we know that there are sistas with far less economic means rocking fashions that break their budgets. And many of them do not have a high public profile.

Maybe it’s just me-but I dislike fashion watching anyway. It always seems to bring out the worst in women.

This morning’s Chicago Tribune includes a long article on Mrs. Obama’s Chief of Staff, Susan Sher. Ms. Sher herself described the $540 Lanvin sneakers as a “glitch.”

As someone who lives in Hyde Park, Chicago, and whose husband shared an employer with Mrs. Obama (and Ms. Sher and the President himself), I really have to suggest that dismissing overly-costly clothes right now isn’t a good idea. If Ms. Sher recognizes that the Lanvin sneakers were a bad choice, then perhaps the rest of us should pay attention.

Oh, Aminah, I’ve been meaning to say thank you for pulling together all of the beautiful photographs.

I especially like the one of Michelle seated alongside First Lady Clio Napolitano…it looks as if she suddenly turned her head to face the camera, and they’ve caught her hair in motion. Lovely!

Hello First Lady,

i want to let you know you’re great role model to all us, i am from Ghana- West Africa, the place that you and your whole entire family. you inspire me, because i was raised by late grandparents in Ghana. and tell you doing a great and wonderful things as First Lady.