Truth to Power: Al Roker Asks Michelle Obama if She Buys Toilet Paper in Bulk at Costco
In an interview with First Lady Michelle Obama that aired on Wednesday's NBC Today, weatherman Al Roker gushed over recent shopping trip to Target and wondered: "...do you sometimes miss the ability to do something like that on a regular basis?...Do you go to Costco? Do you buy a lot of toilet tissue at once?" [Audio available here]
Obama said of her shopping trips: "I do that more frequently than people realize....we try to sneak out as much as possible and it – and it helps to keep our kids' lives normal." To the challenging toilet paper question she replied: "You know, we pretty much have our supply stocked." Roker observed: "One of the perks." [View video after the jump]
Following the taped portion of the interview, even co-host Ann Curry shook her head and remarked: "You asked her about toilet paper." Roker joked: "You can't get that toilet tissue with the presidential seal on it at Costco."
Roker added that it was "amazing" that the First Lady was able to go on such excursions and co-host Matt Lauer added: "That was cool stuff."
On the September 30, the Today crew was thrilled by photos of Michelle Obama wheeling a shopping cart through Target.
Here is a full transcript of that portion of Roker's interview with Obama on the October 12 Today:
7:01AM ET TEASE:
MATT LAUER: Plus, Al traveled to the White House on Tuesday and talked to the First Lady Michelle Obama. He talked to her about a lot of things, including that secret shopping trip to Target. It turns out that was not a one-time deal. Find out more in Al's interview, coming up a little later.
7:20AM ET SEGMENT:
LAUER: It's nice to have, by the way, have you back with the little people today after spending time at the White House on Tuesday.
AL ROKER: Well, that was fun.
LAUER: You caught up with the First Lady?
AL ROKER: Absolutely, we were there to help participate in her Let's Move event. We're going to tell you more about that later this morning. But we also talked to Mrs. Obama about her recent shopping trip to Target. Check it out.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Secret Shopper; Michelle Obama Talks With Al About Trip to Target]
We all saw those pictures of you at Target. I mean, is that, do you sometimes miss the ability to do something like that on a regular basis?
MICHELLE Absolutely, but quiet as it's kept, although not so quiet, I do that more frequently than people realize, and it's amazing how people don't recognize you. They don't expect to see me at Starbucks or at Chipotle or, you know, I actually took Bo to Petco and the cashier asked me, "Oh, what kind of dog is that?" I said, a Portuguese waterdog. He didn't recognize us because he didn't expect that we would be in Petco. So, you know, my secret's out but we try to sneak out as much as possible and it – and it helps to keep our kids' lives normal.
ROKER: Did the – did the cashier look twice at the credit card?
OBAMA: He recognized me. But plenty of people, I've been in Baskin and Robins a number of times, you know how the kids aren't really paying attention? They're looking right through you, they don't know it's me.
ROKER: Do you like the big budget – do you go to Costco? Do you buy a lot of toilet tissue at once?
OBAMA: You know, we pretty much have our supply stocked, so, you know. I know, it's one of the advantages-
ROKER: One of the perks.
OBAMA: One of the perks.
ANN CURRY: You asked her about toilet paper.
ROKER: You can't get that toilet tissue with the presidential seal on it at Costco.
LAUER: That's funny, but she does it often.
ROKER: I know, that's amazing.
LAUER: That was cool stuff. And we're going to have more of Al's interview with the First Lady a little later on.
- Kyle Drennen's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Fitting question
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:02am.
...
Yeah, BK...............she
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:12pm.
Yeah, BK...............she probably buys rolls of paper towels, for the right 'fit'. I'd ask you for one of your great photoshops, but even I am not that deranged!!!!
Wow, I'm impressed
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:31am.
That was a really tough question. I am totally impressed. Hey Al maybe you can borrow a roll of that TP to wipe the stuff off your and Matts faces from all that @ss kissing. Is this really suposed to pass as some kind of interview? No wonder the Today show continues to bleed viewers. LOL
Does anyone else think....
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:26am.
MO has had some serious plastic surgery....her face, and I think she got lipo'd too.
Remember back in August when she missed Barry's BIG 5 0? And went to visit her bro, disappearing for a month or so?
I say yes.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Oh yeah, Blonde.
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:15pm.
I doubt many bought the "oh she's out of town" line about her missing the big 5-0 party. Hell, who would buy the idea of her missing any kind of party? Not if it was on someone else's dime.
It never fails to amaze me....
Submitted by NeoKong on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:40am.
how these media suck ups talk about the Obamas as if they have special powers that allow them to do the ordinary things that we all do every day. I mean seriously. There was Roker and Lauer simply in awe that the First Lady could actually go to a Target. It was like they were impressed that she was aware that the rest of us existed and that she walked among us as a mere mortal like it was some sort of special treat.
It makes me want to puke.
Obama said of her shopping
Submitted by sometimesright on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:07pm.
Obama said of her shopping trips: "I do that more frequently than people realize....we try to sneak out as much as possible and it – and it helps to keep our kids' lives normal."
she wants us to believe she "sneaks" out? that's a good one. if the Target photo-op is any indication it's that she's trying desperately to identify with the "middle class".
her and her husband preach fiscal responsibility despite her lavish life-style and outlandish vacations during a recession. celebrity-esque $42,000 borrowed bracelets, 10 million dollars in vacation expenses in less than 2 years?
they tell us to eat peas when they both eat lobster and cake.
This is actually a very good question!
Submitted by billburz on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:07pm.
With all the shit coming out of this White House, they surely need a great deal of toilet paper to clean up all of the a**holes.
She doesn't buy toilet paper,
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:18pm.
She doesn't buy toilet paper, she steals it from the taxpayers. I doubt this greedy entitlement pig spends any of her own money.
Good morning Lam Son
Submitted by cocodrie on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:24pm.
Judging from physical characteristics, you're talking about huge amounts of toilet paper. Oh, the waste of our trees.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
So out of touch
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:53pm.
Hay, Michelle, who, in their right mind, "sneaks out" to go shopping in America? Has Barack "grounded" you or something? It's not like your ditching your Secret Service protection detail. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, is going to even try to stop you from shopping. So, please, tell me again how it is that you are "sneaking out?"
Oh, and Michelle, if you REALLY want to give your kids a sense of a "normal life," as you claim, then I suggest that you get an actual job. You husband has one, why don't you? This may come as a surprise to you, but "First Lady," isn't a job description, it's a honorary title. It's a "sign," if you will, of modern-day nobility.
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
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Tabloid grade PR for the
Submitted by TerryWest on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 12:55pm.
Tabloid grade PR for the first lady, the fine line between the MSM & tabloids have officially been blurred.
wow that's really cool stuff.
I see that
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:31pm.
I see that Moooooooooooooooochelle was doing another really important thing recently, by trying to organize the world's record for people doing jumping jacks!!! Now, I'd have to say that is a great thing to do!!! Maybe even 'historical'!!! And apparantly she almost got trampled by the adoring crowds of physical fitness fans...............and her security men weren't able to protect her shadow, as it got stomped on by the jumping jack enthusiasts!!!!
I thought jumping jacks were banned or something............
First
Submitted by grammajane on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:56pm.
the lame media are praising the protesters who are using public parks for bath-rooms and now they are asking about where the the white house is purchasing toilet paper and they think this is news-worthy. NBC is such a joke
The Country is gonna need
Submitted by ant on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 1:59pm.
The Country is gonna need toilet paper in bulk after this disgrace is expunged in 2012. BTW, who says Baskin and Robbins? Most of us 'average folk' know it as Baskin Robbins. And I'm sure the clerks just don't recognize her (as famous and powerful as she is/sarc). ".you know how the kids aren't paying attention..". Yeah, we know, that's one reason you're incompetent husband ended up in the White House.
I'd be interested to see what
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 3:54pm.
I'd be interested to see what the private quarters in the White house look like after 3 years of the Obama's. Wonder if they are trashed?
In the immortal words of T.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 2:25pm.
In the immortal words of T. F. Prince..."AW HELL NO!"
Michelle's never stepped foot in a Costco that wasn't merely a photo op.
Racist
Submitted by djaymick on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 3:09pm.
Al Roker is a racist for implying Michelle Obama needs toilet paper by the bulk. Is he saying she has a big butt? LOL
yep she falls into the
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 3:52pm.
yep she falls into the perpetual joke category of the husband whom complains his wife breasts are so small and her butt so big..use toilet paper to wipe the breasts is what he pleads...
in a broader sense her buying TP is nuts to be reported about.
I just figured
Submitted by panzerakc on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 3:12pm.
she bought the toilet paper at Target.
(I can't say how little I think about where Michelle Obama buys toilet paper since time can't be expressed in negative numbers.)
Michelle could earn extra money.
Submitted by djm159 on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 4:34pm.
Michelle could hold a bake sale on the order of Dan's Bake Sale in Colorado. She could stick her face in some dough and make gorilla cookies, then sell them to all the willing participants that love the Obamas so much and raise a tremendous amount of cash to help reelect the Marxist in Chief (Hugo Chavez north) as dictator for life. Won't that be fun? We all know she is such a domestic engineer and such a down to earth person. Hell, I hate when I can't wear my $40,000 bracelets on each arm to Walmart (I can't afford Target) but I digress. This is a good plan and she can pull it off. Trust me.
The non sneak-out
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 4:55pm.
we try to sneak out as much as possible and it – and it helps to keep our kids' lives normal."
But just this once, because, you know, there was that whole flap about the $42,000 bracelets, which were just rented, for crying out loud, and I would never actually wear that kind bling if I had my choice, it's not my style, to tell the truth I like costume jewelry from Macy's...but you know, I try to support all these struggling artisans by giving them some publicity, and not only that, people expect a certain standard of dress by the Queen...I mean the First Lady, and I was just doing my part to please the masses. But surprisingly everyone had a meltdown over it, and Barack was pi$$ed off, and we had to do something to counteract it quick, and what better to show that deep down I'm still Michelle from the South Side thana trip to Target, with me carrying my own bags and pushing my own cart, and NOT wearing my $500 sneakers?
Costco's next; I hear they have potato salad in gallon tubs.....
Yeah, I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Submitted by kata on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 5:01pm.
.
Michelle has seen the movie
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 5:07pm.
Michelle has seen the movie "Dave" once too many times. As President, the First Lady, and children, you are NOT ALLOWED to "sneak out."
No one was keeping here there.
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:18pm.
"Sneaking out" implies that she was being prevented from leaving. Just who was preventing her from leaving?
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
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
"Just who was preventing her
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 12:05pm.
"Just who was preventing her from leaving?"
The Secret Service whose agents are required to protect the First Family 24/7 so they prevent her from "sneaking out."
The Mooch wipes...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 5:23pm.
...with dollar bills because they are worth less than TP...
Yeah, she "sneaked out" - as the WH calls the Associated Press
Submitted by krendler on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 6:58pm.
to make sure there's a photog in the store WITH camera in hand.
I'm not sure who nauseates me more in this interview: The fawning Al Roker or the phony Michelle Obama.
aw, gosh
Submitted by michiganruth on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:31pm.
aw, Moochelle, that is really great that you're trying to keep your kids' lives as normal as possible.
we want that too, and in order to help you we're going to vote your husband out of office as soon as we possibly can.
Nice.
Submitted by ant on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 10:41pm.
.
Really Michelle, " it's one of the perks"
Submitted by antiObamunist on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:50pm.
That the house keeper stocks up on your toilet paper. You seem to have very low standards As first lady, I thought she would choose perks like vacations to Marthas Vineyard, Spain, Africa and expensive date nights in NY. Oh wait, never mind.........
continue snark
Toilet paper
Submitted by Dr. Sandy Kramer on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 11:23am.
If there's one area of expertise the Obamas should be knowledgeable about ...
They're both full of it.
Dr. Sandy Kramer