The Remarkably Narcissistic... Michelle And Barack Obama

[*period*]

By Quin Hillye
October 5, 2009

When Hell freezes over five times in succession and rhinoceri write
sonnets on Pluto, the Washington Post's Robin Givhan will stop writing
love letters to Michelle Obama. Here the Obamas broke precedent and
put the prestige of the presidency on the line, as well as ignoring
much more pressing problems at home, all for a spectacularly
unsuccessful and remarkably narcissistic effort to secure the Olympics
for the Chicago Way, and all Givhan can do is gush about how
wonderfully Michelle Obama had performed anyway.

Givhan wrote that the First Lady "was her team's most valuable
player." And, quoting others, ""She was truly elegant, articulate and
persuasive." Givhan again: "In the end, the failed bid
notwithstanding, not even the leader of the free world managed to
outshine the first lady. Officials who met with her were impressed,
particularly with her ability to quickly shift gears as she chatted
with everyone from up-and-coming athletes to heads of state."And: "The
first lady could just as easily have received a gold star."

Meanwhile, the Post's other news stories spent paragraph after
paragraph after paragraph providing excuses for why the Obamas fell
short and why it wasn't their fault. Reading the coverage is enough to
give you the sick feeling you get when you eat way too much cotton
candy.

Here's the truth: Both Obamas' speeches to the Olympic voters were
ridiculously self-referential and self-reverential.

The Prez: "I ran for President because I believed deeply that at this
defining moment, the United States of America has a responsibility to
help in that effort, to forge new partnerships with the nations and
the peoples of the world.... Nearly one year ago, on a clear November
night, people from every corner of the world gathered in the city of
Chicago or in front of their televisions to watch the results of the
U.S. Presidential election. Their interest wasn't about me as an
individual. Rather, it was rooted in the belief that America's
experiment in democracy still speaks to a set of universal aspirations
and ideals."

Right, it's all about the message sent to the world by his own
election.

Mrs. Obama: "I never dreamed that the Olympic flame might one day
light up lives in my neighborhood....

I'm also asking as a daughter. See, my dad would have been so proud to
witness these Games in Chicago. And I know they would have meant
something much more to him, too.....If he had lived to see this day --
if he could have seen the Paralympic Games share a global stage with
the Olympic Games, if he could have witnessed athletes who compete and
excel and prove that nothing is more powerful than the human spirit, I
know it would have restored in him the same sense of unbridled
possibility that he instilled in me...."

This is solipsism at its greatest heights, or rather depths. The
message wasn't about why Chicago itself is worthy and competent to
hold the games, but about why the reflected glory of the Obama's
should give an added glow to Chicago. Call it the penumbral theory of
Olympic pitches.

Obviously, though, the Obamas' penumbras aren't anywhere near as
bright as they themselves, much less the Post, seem to believe.

[Alls Quiet]

On Oct 4, 9:46 pm, *period* wrote:
>
> Obviously, though, the Obamas' penumbras aren't anywhere near as
> bright as they themselves, much less the Post, seem to believe.

True dat. So true dat.

[Right Wingers Make Me Burp]

When this chapter is written, Obama will be seen as a transformative
figure in American history; quite possibly the first one since Reagan,
but in the right direction.