Posted on 11/23/2014 4:18:25 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have been fiercely protective of their daughters’ privacy since winning the White House in 2008.
The first daughters have spent their formative years in the public eye. Malia Obama was 10 when her father was first elected president and is now 16; Sasha was 7 and is now 13.
But the president has also often invoked his daughter’s names — and their attitudes — when making political points.
The most recent instance came during Thursday night’s primetime address on immigration. Here, in reverse chronological order, are seven examples.
Immigration Reform — November 20, 2014
Obama’s televised address was intended to build support for extensive executive action in the face of vigorous opposition from Republicans. In making his case, he drew a parallel between students who are illegal immigrants and have become activists, and his daughters.
“I’ve seen the courage of students who, except for the circumstances of their birth, are as American as Malia or Sasha,” he said. “Students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in the country they love.”
Environmental protection — June 25, 2014
In a speech to the League of Conservation Voters, Obama emphasized the urgency of acting on climate change while touting his record of cutting carbon pollution and increasing alternative-energy usage.
But he also suggested that his daughters, and others of their generation, understood the importance of environmental protection in a way that older people did not.
“The younger generation is more attuned to this than just about anybody,” he said. “You talk to Malia, you talk to Sasha, you talk to your kids or your grandkids, and this is something they get. They don’t need a lot of persuading.”
Same-sex marriage — May 9, 2012
Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage six months before Election Day in 2012 after describing his position as “evolving.” When he decided to back the right to marry, he placed this evolution in the context of his daughters’ mindsets.
He told ABC News that Malia and Sasha had friends whose parents were in same-sex relationships and “it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them. And frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change of perspective — not wanting to somehow explain to your child why somebody should be treated differently.”
Sandra Fluke & Rush Limbaugh — March 6, 2012
Fluke, a Georgetown University student, came to national prominence when she spoke out in support of requiring organizations with religious affiliations, such as Georgetown, to include birth control coverage in their healthcare plans.
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh reacted with indignation, but his comments — calling Fluke “a prostitute” and “a slut” — provoked intense outrage. Limbaugh later apologized for his “insulting word choices.”
In the midst of the episode, Obama called Fluke to offer his support.
He had done so, he said at a press conference, “because I thought about Malia and Sasha, and one of the things I want them to do as they get older is to engage in issues they care about, even ones I may not agree with them on. I want them to be able to speak their mind in a civil and thoughtful way. And I don’t want them attacked or called horrible names because they’re being good citizens.”
Debt-limit crisis — June 29, 2011
As the 2011 debate over raising the debt ceiling barreled toward full-on crisis, Obama portrayed himself as a stern father figure — one irked by the failure of the squabbling members on Capitol Hill to discharge their responsibilities.
In a White House press conference urging a deal, Obama said: “You know, Malia and Sasha generally finish their homework a day ahead of time … They don’t wait until the night before. They’re not pulling all-nighters. They’re 13 and 10. Congress can do the same thing. If you know you’ve got to so something, just do it.”
Deepwater Horizon oil spill — May 27, 2010
When Obama appeared at a news conference in the East Room of the White House in May 2010, more than a month had gone by since the Deepwater Horizon rig had started to gush oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
With critics complaining that the president appeared disengaged and that the massive spill could come to be seen as his “Katrina moment,” Obama hit on an unusual anecdote to reassure the public that the issue was hitting home.
“My job right now is just to make sure that everybody in the Gulf understands this is what I wake up to in the morning and this is what I go to bed at night thinking about,” he said.
“And it’s not just me, by the way,” Obama continued. “When I woke up this morning and I’m shaving and Malia knocks on my bathroom door and she peeks in her head and she says, ‘Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?’ ”
Nobel Peace Prize award — October 9, 2009
Aside from invoking his daughters to make serious points, Obama is also fond of talking about their capacity to keep him rooted.
The best example came in late 2009 when Obama, having been in the Oval Office for less than a year, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Well, this is not how I expected to wake up this morning,” he told the news media who assembled in the White House Rose Garden.
“After I received the news, Malia walked in and said, ‘Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize and it is Bo’s birthday!’ And then Sasha added, ‘Plus, we have a three-day weekend coming up.’ So, it’s good to have kids to keep things in perspective.”
"....I can only imagine what these parents are going through,” he said. “And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together — federal, state and local — to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened."
Embedded in his remarks in the Rose Garden was a particular message about being a black parent.
“If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” Obama said. “When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.”......
If he wants these young and promising Dreamers to have everything, then why doesn’t he just swap out his daughters’ citizenship for two of the Dreamers. Problem solved. I mean, birth certificate and citizenship never seemed to be a problem for him, so what would be the problem with his daughters relinquishing theirs?
So basically, Obama plans to spoil his daughters, and not care whatever they do so that they roam around and do what they want. That’s what Trayvon Martin’s parents did, he didn’t sound very bright when he said that, especially given that he presumably has more information than I do in his access.
At least they were left alone by the press. Same as Chelsea. Sarah Palins’ kids?
Reminds me of the other worst POTUS, Jimmy Carter, who consulted regularly with his daughter Amy and let the world know about it. This is leadership?
soetoro may not half white, there is good reason to believe he is half black/half indonesian. Ann Dunham could have gone to kenya to pick up a baby as much as have a baby. The arpaio/zullo investigation has discovered some “dark” details and the info should be coming early 2015.
Obama is such a creep - stuck in his little pathetic world. He feels the need to remind everyone about his daughters (I think a DNA test would prove otherwise), and include references to them in his pathetic speeches, while attempting to sell the leftist “one world - one family” philosophy. Makes me gag. To Obama I would like to say: I have my own family, and sure as hell don’t want any part of yours.
Would like to have more info on this. Do you have a link?
His brainwashed daughters are as ignorant as he is
They have virtually no chance of escaping liberal hell into intellectual freedom
The promise was for Maarch 2014 and is now extended.
As much as I like Sheriff Joe, He has failed to produce
He’s the whiz nobody beats him/.....ssssheeee
Nixon only mentioned Patches once.
My lie detector went off. My bet is this is a totally fabricated quote, which goes well with a totally fabricated president.
I didn’t know that there were black gangs at Friends
charter members
"Some people may know that Malia actually has a peanut allergy," Obama said in a statement Wednesday night. "She doesn't have asthma, but obviously making sure that EpiPens are available in case of emergency in schools is something that every parent can understand."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/11/14/obama-malia-obama-food-allergies-bill-signing/3524363/
https://www.google.com/search?q=malia+obama&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=malia+obama+peanut
“Malia did have her first prom,” the president solemnly said on "Live! With Kelly and Michael." "It’s fair to say that the first time you see your daughter in heels is a bit jarring.” When asked whether Malia, a high school sophomore, attended prom with a boy, the president deadpanned: "This is all classified information."
http://www.today.com/news/malia-obama-attends-her-first-prom-president-reveals-2D79738754
I would not be shocked if it is 100 times he has mentioned them. He speaks in public several times a week. He never shuts up.
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