Obama daughter's input...

[rebeccajo 14]

Oh, are we trading assumptions? I hardly think having zero interest in Obama's private life counts as cynism. I will be very interested in the content of his speach, but just don't care about what he talks to his daughters about - and I would wonder at the wisdom of drawing attention to those two girls. Seems to me the best thing everyone can do is inquire little and allow them to grow up as normally as possible, which really isn't going to be that normal.

I think we probably agree more than disagree. However, there's no harm in a President showing a bit of his personal life - Americans are interested. We don't have the Royal Family to follow around, so we find fascination and curiosity in our presidents and their families.

You do realise that you're essentially arguing the value of the Celebrity news section of the media. I get that you're on board with Obama but celebrity news is the worst kind of fluff. I accept that it exists, but I don't care to seek it out or invest time in following it.

Somebody had a thread awhile back showing photos of President Bush with his daughter on her wedding day and I thought the photos were really nice. Those kinds of events and the story here in this thread of a Obama's daughter at the Lincoln Memorial are a far cry from the tabloid news or paparazzi photos of Brittany Spears out on the town and drunk or Lindsay Lohan speeding off in her car. Tabloid news is what it is and certainly there are times when regular news blurs the line between information and entertainment, but in this particular story, there was no dirty laundry - just a touching moment in the context of a monumental event in history. There is middle ground, IMO, to have a healthy curiosity, interest in the First Family on a personal level and nobody is confusing that for being more important than having interest in the President as a leader.

I don't see how it is different to be honest.

Oops, sorry.

I was just recalling (in my head) the wedding portrait of GWB and his daughter vs. the pic of Paris Hilton (or whichever of those twits it was) getting out of a car in a rather 'indelicate' fashion.......

And I'm sort of thinking there is quite a difference.

Even if you DO think the whole papparazzi/family/icon stuff is just.....#######.

Why?

Because you deem the content to be more tasteful?

What I object to is fawning over the private lives of celebrities - it gives undue prominence to triteness.

No.

I just had this visual image as to why when I think of the term "pu$$y" for George Bush, it isn't............

oh well..............

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Who is Obama gonna ** first? Hes Bill Jr. for sure. He aint gonna be resistin all that pussie robot shite.

[Danno 1,228]

Oh, what the hell people - come on. It's just a kid story. Kind of like Art Linkletter used to have those "Kids Say the Darndest Things" segments or Rosie O'Donnell with the funny stories about kids on her show.

It's just cute and that's about the size of it.

I wasn't blessed to have a large family - just one son. But I've always been fascinated with a child's perspective of the world. They're pretty intuitive and speak honestly. Personally I think Sasha got it right.

What exactly was it that she got right?

That because Obama is the first Black president, he has to make a really good speech?

... and if he doesn't (not that anyone will remember it either way) then the country will let out a collective groan at electing a Black man as president?

Forgive me for not jumping on the "color bandwagon".

In my estimation, baracks successes and failures will have nothing to do with color.

Likewise, "His" Successes or failures should have nothing to do with any future Black Candidate.

So what is this "pressure" all about?

Of course one can't help but notice (at least momentarily) that the man is Black, but this whole

constant focus on it ... is like... from another time era. (...can a Black do this job)

Certainly Barack can't control the media swirl which loves this angle of the story but when he chooses "this" particular conversation (with his daughter) to share, he feeds into it.

On the broader subject, I see nothing wrong with modest amount of attention given to the First Family.

Europeans often like to separate political-life from private-life, the USA has a long history of tying the two together.

While some Europeans don't like this American trait, none come from a country whose system has produced a stronger nation.

Edited January 18, 2009 by Danno

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh, what the hell people - come on. It's just a kid story. Kind of like Art Linkletter used to have those "Kids Say the Darndest Things" segments or Rosie O'Donnell with the funny stories about kids on her show.

It's just cute and that's about the size of it.

I wasn't blessed to have a large family - just one son. But I've always been fascinated with a child's perspective of the world. They're pretty intuitive and speak honestly. Personally I think Sasha got it right.

What exactly was it that she got right?

That because Obama is the first Black president, he has to make a really good speech?

... and if he doesn't (not that anyone will remember it either way) then the country will let out a collective groan at electing a Black man as president?

Forgive me for not jumping on the "color bandwagon".

In my estimation, baracks successes and failures will have nothing to do with color.

Likewise, "His" Successes or failures should have nothing to do with any future Black Candidate.

So what is this "pressure" all about?

Of course one can't help but notice (at least momentarily) that the man is Black, but this whole

constant focus on it ... is like... from another time era. (...can a Black do this job)

Certainly Barack can't control the media swirl which loves this angle of the story but when he chooses "this" particular conversation (with his daughter) to share, he feeds into it.

On the broader subject, I see nothing wrong with modest amount of attention given to the First Family.

Europeans often like to separate political-life from private-life, the USA has a long history of tying the two together.

While some Europeans don't like this American trait, none come from a country whose system has produced a stronger nation.

Stereotypes, generalizations and for the last sentence a complete, what the #### are you talking about?

[Danno 1,228]

Oh, what the hell people - come on. It's just a kid story. Kind of like Art Linkletter used to have those "Kids Say the Darndest Things" segments or Rosie O'Donnell with the funny stories about kids on her show.

It's just cute and that's about the size of it.

I wasn't blessed to have a large family - just one son. But I've always been fascinated with a child's perspective of the world. They're pretty intuitive and speak honestly. Personally I think Sasha got it right.

What exactly was it that she got right?

That because Obama is the first Black president, he has to make a really good speech?

... and if he doesn't (not that anyone will remember it either way) then the country will let out a collective groan at electing a Black man as president?

Forgive me for not jumping on the "color bandwagon".

In my estimation, baracks successes and failures will have nothing to do with color.

Likewise, "His" Successes or failures should have nothing to do with any future Black Candidate.

So what is this "pressure" all about?

Of course one can't help but notice (at least momentarily) that the man is Black, but this whole

constant focus on it ... is like... from another time era. (...can a Black do this job)

Certainly Barack can't control the media swirl which loves this angle of the story but when he chooses "this" particular conversation (with his daughter) to share, he feeds into it.

On the broader subject, I see nothing wrong with modest amount of attention given to the First Family.

Europeans often like to separate political-life from private-life, the USA has a long history of tying the two together.

While some Europeans don't like this American trait, none come from a country whose system has produced a stronger nation.

Stereotypes, generalizations and for the last sentence a complete, what the #### are you talking about?

As if you don't know....

Don't make me laugh.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You seem to be saying that pandering to sentimentality in politics makes a nation "strong".

That's a bit of an "um.. Yeah.." comment.

[Danno 1,228]

You seem to be saying that pandering to sentimentality in politics makes a nation "strong".

You got that, from what I wrote?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

yep exactly from what you wrote. Perhaps you didn't read the post for sense before you posted it.