you're a school student than you are if you're one of the elite.
This is something light on this holiday evening. I couldn't help but laugh when I read the crying going on in this article about the Obamas not hanging out with the DC crowd, and instead deciding to stay home with the family and play sports:
"There’s a reason there hasn’t been a state dinner until now. They’re not pompous, and they’re not that formal,’’ says Lisa Brown, White House staff secretary, referring to the Obamas’ dinner for the Prime Minister of India. Brown, who graduated from Princeton and the University of Chicago Law School, says the Obamas like partying with the home team. "They really like sports — his basketball and her tennis. And music. They’ve had a series of musical nights — jazz, Latin, country and classical. They’ve had families in the White House for movies." Families of the kids from Sidwell Friends School, where their daughters are enrolled? No, says Brown. "More like me and my son, staff and their families. They like time with the family."
You see that? Instead of hanging with the "elites" they hang with the "common folk." I for one think that is great, it will help to keep them grounded, and remind them of the issues facing people who aren't part of the DC "scene"
Unlike other White House residents, who maintained a firm distance between old friends and White House staff, the Obamas pal around with the people who work for them. When the First Lady goes to the theater, she often sits next to her social secretary, Rogers. Social outings also provide a hint about White House staff shake-ups. At the Kennedy Center Spring Gala, Michelle Obama brought along Valerie Jarrett, Rogers, her mother, Marian Robinson, and longtime friend Susan Scher. A month later, the First Lady named Scher as her new chief of staff.
Not to mention the fact that Michelle Obama has had local school children come to the White House to help plant and harvest the Garden. Imagine what that's like to be a kid in DC and get to go to the WHITE HOUSE to "pal around" with the First Lady of the United States? They may have even gotten to meet the President, which is more than we can say for the DC insiders. Michelle even had local high school girls at the White House on Tuesday to sample the dinner that was going to be served that night, and learn some White House history about State dinners and protocol.
So far, Michelle Obama, who has ventured out to luncheons hosted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Heinz, prefers the role of mom and mentor to social trendsetter.
. . . In spite of the fact that so many try to put her in that role. Michelle Obama has been clear since the campaign that her first "duty" is being a Mom to Sasha and Malia, I guess they didn't think she was serious.
In fact, the President and First Lady have been going to basketball games and sitting on the floor instead of chillin' with the DC elite in a nice home. They've been hanging out with local kids and having a heck of a lot of fun, all without socializing with the "elite."
Not that there's anything wrong with the elite, I bet they are perfectly nice people. I just think it's kind of cool that you're more likely to see the President and First Lady if you are a local school student.
Oh, and in case you missed it, here are some photos from the White House State Dinner (posted on their flickr site):
I think The First Lady and her office did a great job! I only wish the performances had been shown on CSPAN :o(
I hope you all had a blessed, restful, and happy Thanksgiving!