In commemoration of the one-month anniversary of the Obama family moving into the White House, on Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez declared: "For the last month, as President Obama has settled into running the country, the first family has settled into life at the White House. While President Obama has been trying to repair our failing economy, First Lady Michelle Obama has become his number one advocate. Visiting five federal agencies this month, plugging her husband's economic stimulus plan."
Rodriguez went on to describe the Obamas hitting the Washington D.C. social scene: "In one month, the Obamas have engaged in their community, reading to school kids and visiting community organizations...They've become part of the local scene, eating out and attending a performance at the Kennedy Center. They're familiarizing themselves with their new home...They just hosted their first black-tie dinner and have entertained nearly 200 school children at the White House. But above all, in five weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Obama have learned their role as parents-in-chief to daughters Malia and Sasha."
Rodriguez asked former Hillary Clinton social secretary Capricia Marshall about the First Family’s first month: "How do you think they're doing in their first month? They seem to be handling things well. All the balls in the air." Marshall responded: "They are handling things spectacularly. It has been a whirlwind of a first month for this new first family. And America, I think, is thrilled in the way that they have embraced this new challenge and have started this new administration."
Rodriguez went on to ask: "They really have said that they're trying to make this the people's White House. They opened it up for a tour. They brought the students -- the culinary students into the kitchen the other day. Are they really trying to make it different than ever before?" Marshall agreed: "Well, I think that they're doing -- setting the right tone. They are making sure that the White House is the people's house. And it's wonderful to see that, opening it up to so many different types of people, so many different types of events. I was thrilled with the Lilly Ledbetter event. That was really amazing for women across the country."
Marshall was greatly impressed by Michelle Obama’s party planning skills: "But they've got lots planned coming up in the next few weeks. But last Sunday's Governors' Ball was pretty extraordinary. They only had three weeks to put that together." Rodriguez agreed: "Yeah, it's amazing."
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:33AM TEASE:
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Well, I am here because, of course, the President will be addressing the nation in prime time this morning. We have been previewing the speech all morning. Also because it marks the first month for the first family. We're going to tell you ahead what the Obamas have been up to.
7:35AM SEGMENT:
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: For the last month, as President Obama has settled into running the country, the first family has settled into life at the White House. While President Obama has been trying to repair our failing economy, First Lady Michelle Obama has become his number one advocate. Visiting five federal agencies this month, plugging her husband's economic stimulus plan.
MICHELLE OBAMA: You will also help carry out the business of getting our economy moving again as well.
RODRIGUEZ: In one month, the Obamas have engaged in their community, reading to school kids and visiting community organizations.
OBAMA: D.C. Is our community now. It's our home.
RODRIGUEZ: They've become part of the local scene, eating out and attending a performance at the Kennedy Center. They're familiarizing themselves with their new home.
OBAMA: The White House is -- it's beautiful. It is awe-inspiring. It is what I felt walking through there was that it is a great gift and an honor to be able to live here.
RODRIGUEZ: They just hosted their first black-tie dinner and have entertained nearly 200 school children at the White House. But above all, in five weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Obama have learned their role as parents-in-chief to daughters Malia and Sasha.
OBAMA: And there isn't a day that goes by, particularly after having kids, that I don't wonder or worry about whether I'm doing the right thing for myself, for my family, for my girls.
RODRIGUEZ: Making sure the girls do their chores, homework, and eat their greens.
OBAMA: Sasha still didn't like it. So they have some interesting challenges just meeting the taste issues of a 7 and a 10-year-old.
SANDY MATTHEWS [MICHELLE OBAMA FRIEND]: I think she's done a wonderful job in keeping the girls really, really, really focused and just a sense of normalcy, you know, in their lives.
BARACK OBAMA: If at the end of four years, just from a personal standpoint, we can say they are who they are, they remain the great joys that they are and this hasn't, you know, created a whole bunch of problems for them, then I think we're going to feel pretty good.
RODRIGUEZ: We are joined now by Capricia Marshall, who served as Hillary Clinton's social secretary. Capricia, good morning.
CAPRICIA MARSHALL: Good morning.
RODRIGUEZ: How do you think they're doing in their first month? They seem to be handling things well. All the balls in the air.
MARSHALL: They are handling things spectacularly. It has been a whirlwind of a first month for this new first family. And America, I think, is thrilled in the way that they have embraced this new challenge and have started this new administration.
RODRIGUEZ: They really have said that they're trying to make this the people's White House. They opened it up for a tour. They brought the students -- the culinary students into the kitchen the other day. Are they really trying to make it different than ever before?
MARSHALL: Well, I think that they're doing -- setting the right tone. They are making sure that the White House is the people's house. And it's wonderful to see that, opening it up to so many different types of people, so many different types of events. I was thrilled with the Lilly Ledbetter event. That was really amazing for women across the country. And in addition to that, there are so many other events that they are planning to host in the future. I understand, through talking to their social secretary, Desiree Rogers, they have hosted over 20 events in a short, short period of time.
RODRIGUEZ: How does it work? In the morning, do they get a paper and say -- did you give a paper -- you know, did you give a paper to Hillary Clinton and say, 'here's everything you're doing today'? And how long do you have a schedule for?
MARSHALL: That's about it. You sit down at a scheduling meeting with both the president's office and with the First Lady. And you decide, what are we going to tackle in the next couple of weeks? And they really didn't have a lot of planning time. We have to remember that. I mean, they really sort of jumped into the moment, jumped into the day and just started going. And that was pretty extraordinary. But they've got lots planned coming up in the next few weeks. But last Sunday's Governors' Ball was pretty extraordinary. They only had three weeks to put that together.
RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, it's amazing. So, for example, with the First Lady, are there a whole team of people that plan out every aspect of every event? Does she have hair people, makeup people, wardrobe people, people who think of what she should say? Is it a whole staff that does this?
MARSHALL: Well, there are -- there's lots of help in the White House. But to that extent, not really. But it all comes from her. I mean, she will determine what is going to be the tone. 'What is -- what are we going to tackle? What issues am I going to try to embrace? What events are we going to put before the American people? What do we want to do?' And from there, then, the staff takes on, and they, you know, set forth with their duties, speech-writing, and event planning, and all that goes into it.
RODRIGUEZ: Wow. What a job. Capricia Marshall, thank you so much.
MARSHALL: Oh, thank you.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Have they given him a
February 24, 2009 - 17:55 ET by fitzfongHave they given him a promise ring yet?
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Perhaps we should all
February 24, 2009 - 17:58 ET by DJEddlePerhaps we should all celebrate this first month. After all, passing $800 billion legislation doesn't happen every year. Oh, wait...
OK - maybe we can celebrate the idea that Obama will reduce his inherited deficit. If only that thought was credible.
Lack of Credibility on Fiscal Responsibility
How about this: We celebrate the great 230-year run we had and start making plans for a new government. After all, it is our right as free men to do so.
Let the clowns in the media celebrate superficial things like visiting government agencies and reading to school kids. The rest of us will be preparing for the next wave of government intrusion and what we will do to combat it.
*If you like the comments, check out the articles.
DJE... Oh yeah...I share
February 24, 2009 - 18:10 ET by bigtimerDJE...
Oh yeah...I share your sentiments.
You spoke for a lot of us out here.
No adoring bias here is
February 24, 2009 - 18:07 ET by bigtimerNo adoring bias here is there?
Pass the duct tape...
We are in a "Crisis" and he is...
February 24, 2009 - 18:10 ET by GrymHaving black-tie dinners, eating out, and attending performances. Yet if Bush did that he would be crucified.. Much like the top exec are...
Right you are Grym...the
February 24, 2009 - 18:21 ET by bigtimerRight you are Grym...the hypocrisy is and has been blatant...to put it mildly.
I used to think the msm depended on us as a whole to have a short memory span...since the primaries, I realize they really don't care.
Like Matthews said...'it's my job to make sure he does well', or something to that effect...the majority of the rest of the msm talking heads etc are on the same train....and there is no stopping them, they are full speed ahead.
Grym,
February 24, 2009 - 22:01 ET by DEVILDOCMOMdon't forget he is also the most travelled President for the first month...
"For the last month, as
February 24, 2009 - 18:19 ET by goldbough"For the last month, as President Obama has settled into running the country [into the ground], the first family has settled into [the cushy] life at the White House. While President Obama has been trying to repair our failing economy [not really repairing, but screwing up, as he likes to say], First Lady Michelle Obama has become his number one advocate, visiting five federal agencies this month, plugging her husband's economic stimulus plan."
Obama should have promoted Michelle's party-planning skills during the campaign! I might have voted for him then!! (j/k)
What?? No party hats on the
February 24, 2009 - 18:21 ET by celatorWhat?? No party hats on the reporters? No balloons in the studio? No clowns giving out candy? What kind of a celebration is this?
I want my money back.
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to
public office
--Aesop (~550 BC)
Let them eat cake . . .
February 24, 2009 - 18:26 ET by GalvanicRODRIGUEZ: ". . . and have entertained nearly 200 school children at the White House. . . . "
Did they explain to the school children why First Daughters Malia and Sasha attend the elite Sidwell Friends School instead of their schools?
Or were the 200 visiting students from Sidwell Friends?
Why Galv...the girls have
February 24, 2009 - 18:32 ET by bigtimerWhy Galv...the girls have real 'school choice' dontcha' know..
Let no good crisis go to
February 24, 2009 - 18:27 ET by 10ksnookerLet no good crisis go to waste
Yea Great
February 24, 2009 - 18:28 ET by rick007One month and the economy is in the toilet.
Another "milestone"
February 24, 2009 - 18:29 ET by CobraManWhat is it with the MSM and their love of "milestones?"
It reminds me of a line from the movie The Incredibles. "It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity"
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities
of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
think I am going to be ill
February 24, 2009 - 18:35 ET by katainkentthis isn't news - this is propaganda.
kata... I'm sick knowing
February 24, 2009 - 18:40 ET by bigtimerkata...
I'm sick knowing Gary Locke was named for Daschle's place for the Health and Human Services Job...in other words...Nationalized Health Care.
Just wanted to add that here real quick, because I know you know full well what far left guy he is.
Christine Gregoire
February 24, 2009 - 18:45 ET by katainkenthas made me miss Gary Locke.
kata.... ROFLMAO! You
February 24, 2009 - 18:50 ET by bigtimerkata....
ROFLMAO!
You do make an excellent point!
Cheating evil witch she is, along with the rest of the dem crew from the courthouses on down...you are right.
It is sad to see more and more of the NW turn blue by the leftist newbies moving in.
"Let them eat cake." One
February 24, 2009 - 19:07 ET by RR GOP"Let them eat cake."
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Parties?
February 24, 2009 - 19:57 ET by saw the light"Marshall was greatly impressed by Michelle Obama’s party planning skills"
And the legion of White House staffers and kitchen help know absolutely nothing about throwing a party. Good thing Michelle's there to set them straight!
Does the first lady do anything except tell others what to do?
I mean, seriously, these idiot anchors are fawning over Michelle like she's singlehandedly arranging the parties, including setting the table! She has almost NOTHING to do with the plans!
"I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." Barack Obama to "Joe the Plumber"
If she IS doing the planning
February 25, 2009 - 11:06 ET by SickofLibsIf she IS doing the planning (ha ha!) she is neglecting her children.
trash television
February 25, 2009 - 10:05 ET by gordonIt just makes you want to vomit.
Liberalism is nothing but aimless contrarianism in the raw pursuit of power.
The Communist Broadcasting
February 25, 2009 - 12:12 ET by semolina_filcherThe Communist Broadcasting System (aka CBS "eye") will be marking Comrade Obama's term in office, every month. Next month, it'll be Harry Smith reminding everyone of The Proletariat's accomplishments (not lack thereof) in his second month of office. Marking the Great Dictator's third month anniversary, will be Dan Rather's turn, so on and so forth....enjoy the moment.