Just hours after the New York Times published an article entitled "Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction" (as reported by my colleague Clay Waters moments ago), Us Weekly unveiled its new issue featuring the Obamas in a cover story depicting the potential first lady as a "down-to-earth mom" that "shops at Target."
I guess we can declare the Michelle Obama makeover season in full swing, dontcha think?
Update: Apparently this is a pattern for Us, as Tim Graham previously reported the headline about Obama in the March 10 issue "HE REALLY IS JUST LIKE US!"
Readers are cautioned to have a trash receptacle handy before viewing the headline and teaser on the magazine's cover:
Michelle Obama: Why Barack Loves Her
She shops at Target, loved "Sex and the City" and never misses the girls' recitals. The untold romance between a down-to-earth mom and the man who calls her "my rock."
Oy vey. Would you like some coffee with your saccharine?
Sadly, there was more, for this was how Us hawked the piece at its website:
Barack Obama tells Us Weekly in its new issue, on newsstands now, that his wife Michelle is an "extraordinary mother" to their two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7.
"Nothing is more important to Michelle than being a good mother," the Democratic presidential nominee tells Us. "She works every day to instill in our girls the same values we were raised with." [...]
She went on to excel at Princeton and Harvard Law, and friends detail in the current issue of Us her struggle to balance work and family. "She's a very genuine person, just like you and me," longtime friend Valerie Jarrett says, who adds, "She's not in the least bit interested in being a co-president. Her first priority as first lady would be that the girls are OK."
Yes, the woman that is on record as having said "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country," and that America in 2008 "is just downright mean" is a very genuine person, just like you and me.
Sadly, this is what Americans can expect for the next four and a half months from their Obama-loving media.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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I'll Be On the Lookout
June 18, 2008 - 15:35 ET by UpwayAny word on when their issue featuring Cindy and John McCain on the cover will be out?
Is Cindy a homebrewer?
June 18, 2008 - 23:56 ET by VonuInquiring minds want to know.
Cindy McCain makeover
June 19, 2008 - 09:37 ET by AndersonI heard the McSame campaign is planning a makeover for Cindy. In Drudge this morning, there is a picture of Cindy looking a little scary/angry as she questioned Obama’s baby mama’s patriotism (yet again). So she is off to the doctor for a softer image; a little more Botox for the forehead to reduce the furrowed brow, a little less in the cheeks to reduce that plastic look, and some Collagen for the lips for sex appeal.
Hey, do you think the moniker “Botox Cindy” has legs? Has Rush started calling her that yet?
You must have "heard" this
June 19, 2008 - 09:49 ET by PeskyDaneYou must have "heard" this from the voices inside your head, because there is nothing in the article to suggest that Mrs. McCain has an appointment with a plastic surgery.
The point of the M. Obama makeover is that it is political in nature - an effort to hide her dangerous and radical views. An no, your nickname for Mrs. McCain doesn't have the same resonance as say, "Stretch Pelosi."
Now, I ask you....
June 18, 2008 - 15:44 ET by Susan Idoes this look like the same Michelle on the front cover? Little photo shopping going on???
Just Another Soccer Mom
June 18, 2008 - 16:06 ET by allanfPhotoshopped or not, Michelle is just another soccer mom, who shops at Target --- not the evil Wal-Mart. Doesn't she look so proud of her country for the first time?
the other Uncle Sam
June 18, 2008 - 23:19 ET by mom_roxI'm not in the Chicago area, but isn't Wal-Mart banned from that area?
...but how many soccer moms have a personal trainer?
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
momrox...I was thinking the
June 18, 2008 - 23:29 ET by bigtimermomrox...I was thinking the exact same thing about being to afford a personal trainer...blah blah blah...I swear, politicians really think we are ALL dumb out here.
Target my arse...I wonder when the last time that woman ever had to really shop, budget, make all meals, pay the monthly bills herself, fill up her own gas tank, clean the house, take care of yard, do laundry, homework with the kids on and on...
Give me a break.
the perks
June 19, 2008 - 10:40 ET by mom_roxWell, Michelle probably does some of the above items herself because the Obamas employ a full-time housekeeper (who probably cleans, does laundry and prepares some meals). I don't know about the gardener, but I can comfortably assume they employ one.
I'm not envious of the fact that the Obamas employ a housekeeper or that Michelle has a personal trainer. They're successful, and they have earned these luxuries. My problem is the campaign trying to portray Michelle as a typical soccer mom, and that Michelle preaches to others to not go into corporate America and be financially successful like she and her husband are.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Photoshopped? Looks like
June 18, 2008 - 17:44 ET by motherbeltPhotoshopped? Looks like she's been air-brushed with a Wagner paint sprayer!
OK.....merrowww! LOL
Oh, yeah, this is going to
June 18, 2008 - 15:44 ET by motherbeltOh, yeah, this is going to be an all-out, full-court press "makeover."
BTW...I heard on Rush today the clip of Obama complaining to some interviewer about bringing families into the campaign.
Has he forgotten about his attacks on Bill Clinton? Which debate was that when he made an accusation to HRC. When she said "I didn't say that" he countered "Your husband did." But now that it's his wife being criticized, he wants a different standard.
Like all things, with Obama it's a one-way street
Why do so many on the Right
June 18, 2008 - 15:47 ET by BruzillaWhy do so many on the Right want to keep a spotlight on Michelle Obama? The woman has her faults, but she was still a successful lawyer who did very well at Princeton and Harvard Law. Compare that to Cindy Lou McCain, who majored in education at USC and minored in cheerleading... not exactly a flattering comparison.
Um. Way to keep that
June 18, 2008 - 15:50 ET by KillgraveUm.
Way to keep that spotlight off of Ms. McCain.
Killgrave...ROFL.
June 18, 2008 - 17:07 ET by motherbeltKillgrave...ROFL.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Bruzilla.
Why do so many on the Right
June 18, 2008 - 16:07 ET by PeskyDaneWhy do so many on the Right want to keep a spotlight on Michelle Obama?
Because she has inserted herself into the campaign in no uncertain terms. Metaphorically speaking, you can dip your toe in the water or you can do a half-gainer off the high dive and make as big a splash as possible. Which one gets you more attention?
When you make policy statements or if you promote your personal/political philosophy in very public forums, you are opening yourself up to the bloodsport of politics.
That's all true, but to
June 18, 2008 - 16:13 ET by BruzillaThat's all true, but to score any points from that strategy you need to make sure that your side can make a stronger case. If you're going to make attacks in Obama's statements, history, and positions part of the campaign, then you might want to make sure than when those attacks boomerang back at you (and you know they will) that they won't hurt you more than your opponent. About all Obama can get hot on is a couple of remarks she made, which is peanuts compared to what Cindy McCain can get hit on.
If you campaign on consideing which would be the better first lady, McCain loses big on that one.
Then you and I are just
June 18, 2008 - 16:35 ET by PeskyDaneThen you and I are just going to have to agree to dissagree here. I look at M. Obama and I see someone who brings new meaning to the term "Target Rich Environment."
Cindy McCain is harder to hit because she has her head down (again, metaphorically speaking) and you can't see the flash of her weapon for the simple reason that she's doesn't fire it often if at all.
If you campaign on
June 18, 2008 - 17:13 ET by motherbeltIf you campaign on consideing which would be the better first lady, McCain loses big on that one.
And your supporting evidence for that statement is......?
And who is campaigning on which would be the better First Lady? Seems to me it's the liberal MSM who keeps promoting her! If you compare the amount of slobbering coverage she's gotten to the grudging mentions they print of Mrs. McCain, you would see how ridiculous that assertion is.
Chicago Magazine already has her in the White House....calling her "First Lady in Waiting."
Not so fast, ChiMag....she's "in waiting" after he wins the election!
...and she's gonna' be
June 18, 2008 - 17:16 ET by bigtimer...and she's gonna' be waiting a mighty long time...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
BT.....good god I......
June 18, 2008 - 17:42 ET by BEGRUNThope so. Those two scare the hell out of me......They look like "frick & frack". The more they open their mouths, the more I realize they haven't a CLUE as to the real world.
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Ingratitude gets you nowhere
June 19, 2008 - 08:12 ET by UnsaneActually, no. Mrs. McCain seems to be proud to be an American, and seems to have been all her life. Mrs. Obama has only been proud of her country since February or so.
It is Mrs. Obama who loses big due to sheer ingratitude.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Are you for real?
June 18, 2008 - 16:13 ET by SickofLibsThe right is keeping the spotlight on her? Open any newsmagazine, newspaper, news website or try to flip thru all the channels just once without seeing her. You couldn't avoid her if you wanted to.
Pretty low blow to Cindy there; I didn't realize she was such a POS compared to Michelle. But sorry, we can't ALL be Ivy League lawyers... then we wouldn't have 'diversity'.
Us Weekly is right wing??? A
June 18, 2008 - 16:52 ET by red_dragon311Us Weekly is right wing???
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Gerald Ford<
You could have stopped at
June 18, 2008 - 18:27 ET by BuffNBoneYou could have stopped at lawyer and that would tell us all we needed to know.
What's wrong with education majors?
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Why can't you tolerate criticism of Michelle???
June 19, 2008 - 03:29 ET by UnsaneOh, I don't know; maybe because she is a fortysomething that only now, in 2008, is proud of her country. Never mind the many accomplishments her country pulled off in her lifespan.
"Well, well, well, you just can't tell, my, my, my, my Michelle!" - Guns 'n' Roses
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
"She works every day to
June 18, 2008 - 15:48 ET by Killgrave"She works every day to instill in our girls the same values we were raised with."
Why am I not comforted?
I don't shop at Target
June 18, 2008 - 15:49 ET by ricklail..because they sponsor Chip Ganasse (?) racing and I don't like them. Now I have another reason.
“A debate is a conflict which clarifies a position. A dialogue is a conversation which compromises a position.” –John E. Ashbrook, The New Neutralism II, P. 7
Lacking in women voters?
June 18, 2008 - 15:51 ET by whatajoyI guess the "powers that be" feel she's not connecting enough with the women voters out there so they are making her as "relatable" as possible. They think that women will vote for her husband just because she shops at Target and watches Sex and the City? Please. Who are they fooling? Give us women more credit. What a silly and cheesy article US did promoting Michelle. Ugh.
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Take it easy! We're not making a western here.
~ Uncle Junior (The Sopranos)
They don't respect men,
June 18, 2008 - 16:00 ET by KillgraveThey don't respect men, either. Don't forget that Barry tried to jack up his "everyman" cred by bowling a freak'n 40. Let me repeat. A 40.
But he is REALLY GOOD at water polo.
I think we all know how
June 18, 2008 - 16:04 ET by balboaI think we all know how important bowling skills are to the office of the president...
b
June 18, 2008 - 16:37 ET by Noel Sheppardb,
Honestly, would you follow a man into battle that could only muster a 36 in ten frames? I knocked down more pins the first time I went bowling. I think I was three or four. I think I got a 50 or 60. You really want a guy in the White House that can't bowl better than a three year old? ns
Really, couldn't, care,
June 18, 2008 - 16:49 ET by balboaReally, couldn't, care, less about his bowling skills. I like my president's to have cheerleading experience, though...
Somebody stop me
June 18, 2008 - 16:58 ET by AndanteJune 18, 2008 - 16:49 ET by balboa
"...I like my president's to have cheerleading experience, though..."
I'm trying so hard to be good but some straight-lines are too good to pass up.
"We are going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."... Karl Marx? Nope, it was Hillary Clinton.
Or football. Yep.
June 18, 2008 - 17:28 ET by Roger the ShrubberOr football.
Yep. Definitely not football.
Maybe soccer? Naaaaah.
I'm tellin' ya' Rog,
June 18, 2008 - 17:35 ET by balboaI'm tellin' ya' Rog, cheerleading!
Ugh. It is rather sad that
June 18, 2008 - 17:47 ET by Roger the ShrubberUgh. It is rather sad that Bush makes male cheerleading look less gay than Kerry does football.
*shudders*
Um, Bal, I think you missed
June 19, 2008 - 08:12 ET by KillgraveUm, Bal, I think you missed my point.
Why try pandering to a demographic (in this case, the beer-belly middle America guy) if you are going to look like a total ass doing it?
Imagine John McCain trying to break dance to impress the Urban yutes. I think he would fail just as miserably as Bambi throwing gutter balls.
Your golden boy better stick with water polo.
Yay! A Michelle Obama
June 18, 2008 - 15:55 ET by balboaYay! A Michelle Obama makeover!
Whoo-hoo!
June 18, 2008 - 16:09 ET by PeskyDaneWhoo-hoo!
Woo! Maybe we can all get
June 18, 2008 - 17:09 ET by Roger the ShrubberWoo! Maybe we can all get pedicures together!
"down-to-earth mom" that
June 18, 2008 - 16:40 ET by forest"down-to-earth mom" that "shops at Target."
Right. Sounds more like Gretchen Wilson than Michelle Obama.
Gretchen would shop at
June 18, 2008 - 18:00 ET by Clear thinkerGretchen would shop at Wal-Mart.
"Abstain from McCain"
Saw this coming from about 10 miles away....
June 18, 2008 - 16:46 ET by krendlerI'm sure everyone saw this coming: Play to the professional victim base with a daily "bad Whitey" and "mean America" narrative while battling for the nomination. Then do a complete make-over to produce Michelle 2.0 for the general election, while simultaneously painting the Republicans as villains for "attacking" the statements she mad on the stump.
So, somehow, a campaigning spouse is "off limits"? I seem to recall the Obama Moonies and surrogates in the media lambasting Bill Clinton almost daily a couple months back over his remarks.
She's not interested in
June 18, 2008 - 16:47 ET by bigtimerShe's not interested in being co-president....
....ROFLMAO!
Ok...that convinced me...how 'bout you out there?
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
She shops at Target, loved
June 18, 2008 - 17:28 ET by allamericangirlShe shops at Target, loved "Sex and the City" and never misses the girls' recitals. The untold romance between a down-to-earth mom and the man who calls her "my rock."
I wonder if David Axelrod wrote this for Obama after all he writes all his speeches for him.
aag... LOL...well, he
June 18, 2008 - 18:15 ET by bigtimeraag...
LOL...well, he must of, Obama couldn't of thought of all that by his lonesome.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Someone should ask her a
June 18, 2008 - 23:56 ET by Robin BoydSomeone should ask her a question about Sex and the City and see if she can answer the question without an advisor whispering in her ear. My bet is she wouldn't know Carrie Bradshaw from Terry Bradshaw.
For the life of me, I can't
June 18, 2008 - 17:55 ET by Chris NormanFor the life of me, I can't tell much difference in Michelle Obama coverage by Us Weekly and say, The NYT. They're all determined to sell the Obamas as "The New Kennedys". Why are we even bothering with the time and expense of an election? Just tell old McCain to get lost and let's get on to the fun and caring in "Obamalot".
LOL Chris........."Obamalot".......
June 18, 2008 - 18:07 ET by BEGRUNT"Were knights of the Obama table, we dance whenever were able"..............
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
What values would that be?
June 18, 2008 - 18:08 ET by sam.i.am"Nothing is more important to Michelle than being a good mother," the Democratic presidential nominee tells Us. "She works every day to instill in our girls the same values we were raised with." [...]
Which of Obama's values are we talking about? We've heard these all so far. . . There might be more.
Typical white grandma values?
Hawaii values?
Kansas values?
Oregon values?
African values?
Indonesian values?
Chicago south side values?
Muslim step-father values?
Marxist father values?
Hippie Mom values?
Reverend Wright values?
Weather Underground values?
A contest
June 18, 2008 - 18:33 ET by dboI'd like to see a best of seven series "bitch-off" between Michelle and Teresa Heinz Kerry. Probably be a long series since both have tremendous offence but absolutely no defence. My best guess is Michelle would win game 7 in double overtime.
BS
June 19, 2008 - 00:16 ET by ToddonCapeCodMore media-created BS about these two elitists
Slap...
June 19, 2008 - 07:19 ET by deseon a coat of paint and call it new.