(So, President Barack Obama celebrated his first 100 days in office last night by chatting with reporters - the man is not taciturn. Mostly, he felt compelled to remind us that he is not George W. Bush. Equally importantly, we at Blogcritics continue our series on Obama's fascinating relationship with popular culture. Please see part one "ObamaRama, The Beginning," and part two, "ObamaRama, The Sequel." EO)
The Obamas as America’s Happy Family
Lisa Solod Warren
There is an English card game called Happy Families; it’s a simple game in which one chooses cards to assemble a happy family. Barack Obama has done just that. The somewhat glamorous and adoring mother-in-law who serves as grandmother/babysitter to his two young and gorgeous daughters; the beautiful, intelligent, fit and articulate working wife, and all are rounded out by the trim and gainfully employed husband and father who is both trying to save the world and still manages to spend time with the wife and kids.
I have no doubt that Barack Obama’s approval rating of 66 percent is due in part to his Happy Family. Despite the 50 percent divorce rate in the United States there are still enough happy families left in this country who are rooting for the success of the Obamas, who really want them to grow, thrive and succeed.
People are thrilled to see two lovely young children who aren’t yet jaded—no matter what their color — running with a sweet young puppy on the White House lawn. It doesn’t hurt that Michelle is planting a garden with dozens of other children, either; or that she wears clothes from J. Crew or that she has the star power of the late Princess Diana and the warmth of your best friend, despite her Ivy League education.
The fact that the Obamas, both from lower middle class origins, are now occupying the highest office in the land, is better than reality television. Better than Anna Nicole or Britney rising from the trailer park, better even than winning the lottery. Rumor has it that scores of young black men and women even abandoned their ghetto speak when Obama became president, and that is indeed cool to be smart, no matter how the Republicans try to spin it. It’s cool to be married, happy, and smart. It’s cool to think before you speak, to read book, and to be happy in your marriage. It’s cool to have your mother-in-law live with you.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Man we're really seeing a wide variety of opinions just in this series!
2 - Eric Olsen
yes, we are, which is the BC way!
3 - Arch Conservative
"But President Obama is around. He’s everywhere: traveling to foreign countries, giving press conferences, appearing on You Tube, making speeches; he’s on television, and he and Michelle are on the cover of every possible magazine, smiling and telling us how great life is."
Translation: He's a smug, narcissistic piece of garbage.
4 - Phillip Winn
Yes, Archie, because no previous President has ever traveled to foreign countries, given press conferences, or made speeches. Obama is the first President to ever go on television.
And, of course, he is demanding that magazines put him on their covers, and since we lack freedom of press in this country, they have no choice but to comply.
Or, just maybe, possibly, all those magazines are using candid or non-exclusive photos, and President Obama is just doing his job. Because I have these strange ideas, could even be memories, that Ronald Reagan was very much in the public eye while he was President as well, and I don't remember him being a "smug, narcissistic piece of garbage."
Yeah, I think I'm going to go with "B." Your translation is more projection than translation.
5 - roger nowosielski
Well, ladies and gentlemen. Let's not congratulate ourselves prematurely. I'm kind of disappointed of late of Obama's lack of enthusiasm and electrifying quality which characterized his primary appearances. No doubt it's difficult to maintain such high level in light of the problems facing us. How can you be upbeat day in and day out?
But I do remember JFK and RFK, which is not fair perhaps to the younger generation.
6 - Eric Olsen
I think Obama fares pretty well under the JFK comparison - remember that the press was still very compliant and discreet regarding personal foibles in that day
7 - roger nowosielski
It may be so, Eric. And the times were surely different. Perhaps the difference comes down to the fact that we were more naive then and more idealistic.
I don't think it's any longer the case, not even when it comes to the youth.
8 - Mongo
Some good signs in the economy today.