btw

I just loved seeing Barack Obama's Black Wife, half-Indonesia sister, Chinese brother-in-law and white relatives. How awesome was that?

Finally

An AP article I agree with, but only because it is appropriately worshiping Michelle Obama

Obama, McCain paper dolls

Is it me or do the paper dolls bear no resemblance to the actually candidate?

Whitey

Heh. I had the same reaction as Ben Smith and Jake Tapper apparently, when reading this:

Penn wrote:

On Friday we do a media interviews (sic) and basically say that he is unvetted, discuss his ever-changing positions. Release the tapes. Create immediate pressure that deprives him of oxygen.

My first take: This will drive the crazies up the wall thinking it's a reference to the elusive "whitey" tape. Sadly, Ben Smith clears it up. I'm sure that knowing the truth will deter No Quarter.

This made me veclempt

Why does Sen. Obama need a vacation?

The [S]enator suggested this week that most of his focus would be on his wife, children and grandmother, who he has not seen in 19 months.

“Those little girls need love, as does Michelle I think,” Obama told reporters. “So we are going to take the time.”

Kawaii!

Malia Obama is amazing

Over the course of the campaign, I have been impressed with the poise, intelligence and self-awareness of Malia Obama. This snippet of an interview with Michelle only deepens that feeling:

"I told them, 'Dad had a big night, and it appears he's going to be the Democratic nominee for president.'"

They were still sleepy — and rather underwhelmed.

"They basically said, 'Oh, good, Daddy won.'"

Mom tried again.

"This is really a big deal. There's never been an African-American nominee for president. Do you guys realize the significance of this?"

Malia nodded. "Well, African-Americans used to be slaves and we couldn't vote and we didn't have many rights, so of course this is a big deal."

Her mother smiled.

Then Malia added, "Just like it would also be a really big deal if Hillary Clinton had won because there has never been a woman nominee for president, and women used to not be able to vote and didn't have many rights, either."

How smart is she! Even Bill O recognizes it.

Tyra Banks as Michelle Obama

When I first heard that Tyra was going to be on the cover of Harper's Bazaar dressed as Michelle Obama, I took a deep breath and thought "Lord, I hope she isn't too crazy," because as anyone who knows anything about Tyra, the girl is a bit crazy.

But, I just read the article, and this was very moving:

When asked about the symbolism of the first black president of the United States, Banks pauses for a second and starts to tear up. "When Barack won the nomination, I just started bawling. I started calling all these people, and everybody was talking to me like I was crazy. They're like, 'Well, he hasn't won yet,' but I'm like, 'Yes, he has, because he's gotten this far.' I think he gives everybody so much hope."

She grabs a tissue. "I did a talk show, and we were testing racism with little kids. We showed them a picture of a black man in a suit and a picture of a white man in a suit. And we asked, 'Which one can be president?' These kids were all of different races — black, white, everything — and not one of them said that the black man could be president. Not one. So what gives me tears is if Barack Obama wins, kids are going to say that a black man can be president, too."

The thing I love most about Tyra is her authenticity and confidence. Like Michelle Obama, she's a great role model. Also, the pictures I've seen so far look good.

Updated Here are more Tyra as Michelle pictures.

I love Michelle Obama

I think she's smart, beautiful, down-to-earth, confident, and is such an excellent role model for any woman out there. It makes me sad to read this part of an interview in Essence Magazine:

On considering her husband’s run for President:
“I took myself down every dark road you could go on, just to prepare myself before we jumped out there.”

Can you imagine having to prepare yourself for your husband's assassination, and then going forward because you think it's the right thing to do?

Obama to Michigan

I normally judge how the campaigns are doing by talking to my somewhat informed, but non-political-junky co-workers. They cover the whole ideological spectrum, with varying levels of political information consumption, so by talking to them, I can get an accurate sense of "American public support". I like to think of them as my private focus group, actually.

This is why it's critically important for Sen. Obama to focus on state polling and visiting specific locales like Lansing, Michigan, rather than focusing on the back-and-forth John McCain prefers. While the back-and-forth is interesting for people like me and the traditional media, normal people don't follow it. They do follow the local news. Everyone knew that Sen. McCain cancelled his visit to New Orleans due to our huge oil spill/hurricane, they don't know that Sen. Obama went to Baskin Robins on his first date with Michelle.

Barack Obama is "Arrogant"

Mark Ambinder portrays the Republican's latest attack ads like this:

It works not because of the fact of thing -- windsurfing is not an elite sport -- but because it allows partisans to feel superior and allows Republicans to begin to build an entire narrative around their opponents' purported elitism. BTW: you can see the train of thought: Obama --> full of himself --> arrogant --> celebrity --> self-possessed --> doing things for himself, not for the country, BTW: What type of shoes does McCain wear"

Mark misses an important aspect of the attack - its inherent racism. The Republicans are trying to portray Sen. Obama as an "Uppity Black Man" who doesn't "know his place." Michelle Obama is also "ungrateful," "angry" and "bitter."

So in other words, the Obamas are nothing but Angry Black People who are not content with all the riches that the White People have given them, but who are also trying to steal something away from the White People. Somehow they think that they Deserve the Presidency. Which they haven't earned - and which, they actually can never earn.

Michelle Obama: Best Dressed

I'm so happy to see that for the second-straight year Michelle Obama has made Vanity Fair's 2008 International Best Dressed list. Not only that, but she's #1!!!! I'm such a fan girl. *tear*