Posted on 08/03/2011 3:10:43 PM PDT by casinva
Outside the sunny East Room of the White House, some 200 spouses and parents of military-service members are waiting in line. It's a slow march to the front, but nobody seems to mind: First Lady Michelle Obama and vice-presidential spouse Jill Biden have planned an elegant tea in their honor and are intent on greeting each, one by one.
(snip)
They whisper tales of pain and loss — "My husband came back from Iraq, then died....I lost my son....
(snip)
In return, Obama and Biden offer a hug, a squeeze of the hand, a promise of prayer. And always, a "Thank you, thank you."
(snip)
When AARP The Magazine sat down with them in the cozy comfort of Biden's office, the military-families campaign was top of mind. But the women also talked about 9/11, the death of Osama bin Laden, their high-profile roles in this administration, their families, aging, health, sacrifice, even running for office.
(snip)
At times philosophical, at times playful, Obama and Biden appeared purposeful, relaxed in each other's company — and clearly grateful for their privileged place
(snip)
Q: It's been a decade since the tragic events of 9/11. Where were you that day, and what went through your mind when the towers fell?
(snip)
MO: "What does this mean for my daughter's life now? Has the world fundamentally been changed? Are we now a nation at war?" So for me it was about the future.
(snip)
Q: The attacks set off the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Did either of you have an inkling that the mission that killed him was in the works?
(snip)
MO: I knew something was happening, but when it gets down to that level of secrecy, there's just a small number of people who know anything.
Q: So when did you find out?
MO: I was actually out to dinner with girlfriends, and I didn't know until I walked in the door. It was later in the evening, and Barack had his suit on, because he was going to the press conference. And I said, "What's going on?"
Q: Was he too hurried to explain?
MO: No, he sat down. And then I sat down and talked to Malia to make sure she was aware, because the crowds [outside the White House] were starting to form.
Q: The President has declared September 11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. How do you get people to embrace it as more than a one-day wonder?
JB: Well, I think Barack has always said that this should be commemorated as an opportunity for service.
Q: What part of the job did you think you wouldn't like but have warmed to over the months?
MO: For me it's sharing my husband with the world.
Q: Would either of you ever —
MO: The answer is... (snip)
While I picked mostly the BARF answers for your pleasure here, the interview also contains info on a new White House volunteer program to help military families. That program is called "Joining Forces". While I don't know much about that program yet, I would not put a program for military families into the 'barf' category, even if Michelle Obama is promoting it.
Otherwise, enjoy MO's answers!
I won’t read any more lies from Chewbacca and her hubby, Jarjar. Your post summary is enough.
Ever since AARP endorsed Mooch-elle and her idiot husband, I pay no attention to anything they say. I understand that the illegal alien living in our White House has exempted these ba$tards from his health care, while the rest of us have NOT been exempted.
AARP . . . go to hell!!!!
Well I have to admit I had a really hard time reading anything from AARP, but I’m glad I was able to give you all the “smiley” parts to see here on FR at least! :)
All AARP mail I receive goes straight to the shredder.
“Q: The President has declared September 11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. How do you get people to embrace it as more than a one-day wonder?”
A “One Day Wonder” what the heck is that stupid question
What are we supposed to wonder why evil muslim terrorists killed all those people on 9/11 is that what the wonder should be?
Humph. Her bisexual husband has already shut THAT door. Only the clinically insane, or suicidal, would want more of what he's done to this country.
I get their mail too which I shred while preserving the pre-paid envelope which I send back to them empty.
LOL. I'll have to remember that. I'm sure they've already got us on their mailing list, and they're just waiting.
No. Don’t shred it. Send it back. Make them pay for it. The only way to hurt these clowns is monetarily. Hand it back to your postmaster/clerk and tell them you refuse to accept it.
Glad you picked that up! I entirely missed that characterization of 9-11 and was even looking for those kinds of things in this article.
Goes to show how easily people can slide misconceptions and misrepresentations into our lives, sometimes even when we think we are being vigilant. The frog in hot water thing...
She did say she would not.
Jill Biden said no as well.
I don’t even know what the question i supposed to mean and it is stupid and disrespectful to the family’s who lost loved ones and all of us as Americans. I am irritated by this. Mo’s answer was stupid as well seemed flippant to me but what should I expect from MO
Q: So when did you find out?MO: I was actually out to dinner with girlfriends, and I didn't know until I walked in the door. It was later in the evening, and Barack had his suit on, because he was going to the press conference. And I said, "What's going on?"
Better fix that quote to make it accurate...
MO: I was actually out to dinner with girlfriends, and I ate soooo much! We had heaps of cheese fries, buttered bread, deep fried appetizers and more high calorie drinks than I could remember. They had to roll me out of there! Anyway, it was later in the evening, and Barack had his suit on, because he was going to the press conference. And I said, "What'd we have to eat for snacks tonight?"
Good idea!
funfan,
I can see this is very important to you, and I am glad you shared.
I actually think my post of this article included the answer Jill Biden gave about Barack Obama and how Barack Obama sees 911. I’m not sure that is what Jill Biden would have said herself. (Maybe, but maybe not.) Jill Biden actually could have been being flippant as such she was showing, even unconsciously, that Barack Obama’s view is flippant. I don’t know. She only answered what Barack Obama wants to make 911. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused there.
Just so you’ll know... For that same question, Michele Obama RIGHT AFTER Jill Biden’s response is this:
_____
(More full excerpt of that one question)
Q: The President has declared September 11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance. How do you get people to embrace it as more than a one-day wonder?
JB: Well, I think Barack has always said that this should be commemorated as an opportunity for service.
MO: And the population that AARP serves has some of the highest numbers of people who volunteer. But you don’t have to wait till 9/11. We’ve got military families who are in need today
_____
MO then continues with information about her “Joining Forces” volunteer project. I mentioned in my first post that I just wanted to keep any military program for families away from the other barf statements of the interview, so I did not present info of that program in these excerpts, instead adding a note about them in my own comment so anyone interested could look up the actual program from the actual website for that program.
I am sorry if I created any confusion by showing JB (Jill Biden’s) response for that question.
What I noticed though, after you pointed it out, was that the AARP interviewer first asked the question calling 911 a “one day wonder”. I had not noticed the interviewer’s first use of the word “wonder” for this event.
You’re right though, what a shame for ANYONE to characterize 9-11 as a day of “wonder”. Very sad to see that.
A A R P...TOOK ME A LONG TIME BUT FINALLY GOT THEM TO REMOVE ME FROM THEIR MAILING LIST...
Did not know about the Extreme Makeover episode. I won’t be watching either, thank you. :)
That reminded me of the article I posted here though.
I did not add it to the excerpts, but when AARP asked them about how they, as older “mature” women, contributed to our society... could they give some pointers to other mature women like them, Michelle Obama was real quick, and I mean REAL quick, to point out that Jill Biden should be answering that because she was SO much older than her (MO) and that she (MO) could only wish that she (MO) could be as active as Jill Biden when SHE (MO) was old.
_____
(Excerpts)
MO: Let me tell you something. Jill gives whatever aging means this level of grace and excitement.
MO: Jill and I have an age difference, but [looking at] what she is doing at her age, I feel like I still have so much more to do
MO: If I’m where Jill is at her age, I’m a happy camper.
(End of Excerpts)
_____
If I were Jill Biden, I would have felt so angry!
Oh, it was quite apparent that Michelle Obama did not want to be thought of as an older “mature” woman, even though she IS just a step away from getting those AARP advertisements! hehe That part was SOOOOOOO funny!
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