Results tagged “michelleobama”

As we all know by now, today is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. From the thousands of clips we could possibly choose, including a recent appearance by First Lady Michelle Obama, the side-splitting conversation between Elmo and Ricky Gervais, or even the heart-wrenching scene when Big Bird learns Mr. Hooper isn't coming back, we all know what you really want: Stevie F'n Wonder rocking out "Superstition" with the kids of Sesame Street (especially the kid at 4:12).

Back in February, kids everywhere were deprived of the opportunity to play with Sasha and Malia Obama dolls after Michelle complained that Ty was using her daughters for marketing purposes. Then in May, kids everywhere were appeased by the introduction of a First Puppy Bo Beanie Baby. Now, coming soon, a Michelle Obama action figure.

       

The IOC is all about pomp and circumstance, which is the only way to explain the opening ceremonies held Thursday night in Copenhagen. An opening ceremony for a vote? Sure, why not. Oprah, Mayor Daley, and Michelle Obama were among the Chicago delegates there while other members continued to spread out around town. The Trib has a running update of today's events.

     

If the series of delegates visiting Copenhagen on behalf of Chicago 2016 were like a concert bill crica 1986, then yesterday's arrival of the first contingent would be White Snake and President Obama's headlining appearance would be like Bon Jovi or Poison. Which makes today's arrival of First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah like...Cinderella? The pair of ladies joined the rest of Chicago 2016 today in Copenhagen to continue the wooing process.

There's been much speculation over the past day or two whether or not President Obama will be visiting Copenhagen ahead of the October 2nd IOC vote for the 2016 Summer Olympics host city. Speculation heightened when Mayor Daley, at a press conference this morning, made a reference to a phone call he received from Obama. Now come reports that an Obama is going to Copenhagen, it's just not the one everyone assumed it would be. Instead, First Lady Michelle Obama will take on diplomatic duties in Denmark, helping make a final pitch in the name of Chicago. While the First Lady certainly will make a good impression on the IOC with her dignity and grace, one can't help but wonder if anything less than the President himself matters to the IOC. We also wouldn't be that surprised if the President himself still manages to make the trip, though he claims the fight for his health care reform is what might keep him stateside.

Sad news for Soul Food fans this morning: Helen Maybell Anglin, who founded South Side staple Soul Queen, passed away yesterday at the age of 80. Take a pilgrimage to 90th and Stony Island this weekend in Ms. Anglin's honor. [Sun-Times]

As if the Burr Oak Cemetery case wasn't under enough scrutiny, the heat on the investigation is sure to amp up with the revelation that Fraser Robinson III, the father of First Lady Michelle Obama, is buried at the historic African-American cemetery. Michelle's spokeswoman, Camille Johnston, confirmed that Robinson was buried at the Alsip cemetery but refused to comment any further on the matter and there's no word if his grave or headstone was among the hundreds of burial sites that had been disturbed. [Chicago Breaking News]

              

Pictures from President Obama's first Fourth of July in office, which also happened to be oldest daughter Malia's 11th birthday. Most pics are from the Fourth of July party on the White House's South Lawn.

For this year's edition of their annual 100 list, Time Magazine listed their 100 most influential people which featured a trio of Chicagoans: Michelle Obama, Oprah, and...Sheriff Tom Dart??? Yep, Cook County's sheriff who refused to enforce evictions and went after Craigslist for their sex ads has been recognized by the famed magazine, profiling him as a sheriff with "heart." [via Sun-Times]

In the nine years Oprah Winfrey's eponymous magazine has been in circulation, no one other than the media mogul herself has appeared on the cover. Michelle Obama will be the first person to share the cover with Winfrey in the magazine's upcoming March cover, hitting newsstands March 17th.

The Ty Inc. dolls that were named Sasha and Malia but were in no way at all meant to be Sasha and Malia Obama have been retired and renamed, thus bringing the saga of the Obama Dolls to its conclusion. If you remember, the company originally claimed the dolls, Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia, were inspired by the Obama girls, but later backed off after they raised the ire of First Lady (and Mom) Michelle Obama. Since then, Ty has distanced themselves from the Obamas. The announcement was made via the company's website which also included this statement from founder Ty Warner:

In deference to the wishes of the First Family, Ty Inc. has officially retired the Ty Girlz names Marvelous Malia and Sweet Sasha. We have renamed the dolls Marvelous Mariah and Sweet Sydney.

Continue reading "Obama Dolls Retired"

Looks like word about Oak Brook-based Ty, Inc. selling Sasha and Malia dolls has made its way to the White House, and Michelle Obama is not happy. Ty is insisting that the dolls are not supposed to represent the Obama girls, and that the names were chosen at random simply because "they are beautiful names." But the First Lady isn't buying any of that crap. Through her press secretary, Mrs. Obama said that it is "inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes." Maybe it's just us, but we don't think it is wise to get on Michelle Obama's bad side.

First there was talk about the "terrorist fist jab." Now there's this clip from Fox News Channel 2 in Detroit where "The Love Doctor" makes an unfortunate mistake. While this humorous (if sophomoric) example does delight us, it's called a "fist bump," people.

The now-former Senator from Illinois continues to dominate the news around here (though we'll pass on his gym updates, Trib).

Illinois Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama and wife Michelle, escorted by their daughters, cast their votes this morning at Shoesmith Elementary School in Hyde Park. Also voting at this location? Louis Farrakhan and William Ayers. Matt Drudge's head just exploded; as far as we know, no terrorist fist jabs were exchanged.

Illinois Senator and Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is excusing himself from campaign appearances over the next two days to head to Hawaii to visit his gravely ill 86-year-old grandmother, Madelyn Dunham. Obama will still make scheduled appearances in Florida at the beginning of this week, but will bypass appearances in Iowa and Ohio at the end of the week to return to Hawaii on Thursday. Wife Michelle will appear in his place at rallies in Ohio on Friday; the Senator will return to the trail on Saturday out West.

As the Democratic National Convention got underway last night, much of focus has been on the ongoing Clinton-Obama struggle and an appearance by stricken Senator Ted Kennedy. But Monday night, with the theme of "One Nation" focusing on Barack's background, featured a plethora of Chicago and Illinois politicians stumping for Candidate Obama, including the ladies of the Obama family. Amongst the Chicago politicians who spoke yesterday (though you wouldn't know it given the way Wolf Blitzer talked incessantly over the speeches - viva la C-SPAN!) was Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who used old-school baseball analogies for Obama and the Clintons:

“Barack Obama has the capacity to hit,” Jackson said a breakfast panel just before the opening of the Democratic National Convention. “But he is in the situation where he can’t hit back, which Jackie Robinson could not do…He had to be able to run the bases, even though the crowd was jeering the first African-American on the field...He has to keep smiling, because no one wants an angry African-American man in the White House.”

Continue reading "Chicago, Mrs. Obama Take Center Stage In Denver"

Those Tyra-Banks-as-Michelle-Obama photos are finally online. They're not very fierce.

Chicagoans Michelle Obama and Kanye West both made Vanity Fair's 2008 International Best-Dressed List. Why the recognition? "Because she's our commander in sheath" and "[b]ecause, yes, he Kanye."

Does "Change" Extend to the Presidential Seal?: The Obama campaign unveiled a new Barack-centric take on the seal, with an eagle bearing the "O" logo, as well as proclaiming "vero possumus" which The Swamp translates as "truly we're able." As long as everyone else is suggesting preferable Latin to have on the new logo, may we suggest the Royko take on the Chicago motto: "Ubi Est Mea," aka "Where's mine?" For some real hilarity, RedState is trying to convince the waternoggins among us that the "interpretation" of the seal is illegal and that Obama should be arrested. Note to RedState: If he was using the actual seal, you'd have quite a case. But it's not. Sorry.

We've made no secret of the fact that we love watching MeTV. You can keep your crappy network reality TV, thank you very much. When it's time to wind down the evening we'll stick with Twilight Zone at 10pm, followed by The Dick Van Dyke Show (which apparently Michelle Obama loves). Especially now that there are two MeTV channels, there's rarely a moment when there isn't a vintage goodie airing that isn't worth watching.

Hot on the heels of her hosting gig on , Michelle Obama and some guy are on the cover of this week's Us Weekly. Wow, Mrs. Hulk Hogan's dating a 19-year-old? I mean, wow, that white I on the white cuff makes it look like it says "girls' rectals" instead of "girls' recitals. Also, the whole "rock" thing was marginally more interesting back in February when it was mentioned on the cover of Newsweek.

Are spouses of presidential candidates fair game? It's a question that always arises, especially during this election cycle. After all, candidate spouses are important topics to potential voters. But at what point does such criticism and coverage go from legitimate to absolutely ridonkulous? Take, for instance, Fox News's coverage of Michelle Obama. Between "terrorist fist bumps" and being "Obama's baby mama," it's clear Rupert's peeps have been hitting the crazy sauce. But the Obamas could be in for more nuanced attacks on Michelle from Republicans as focus turns from the now-settled Democratic primary to the general election.

Here are some newsworthy items to dwell on while we still wonder why Karl Rove can't leave now. The Mercantile Exchange cuts 380 jobs as it continues its merger with the Board of Trade. St. Sabina's roof is in disrepair, forcing services to their school auditorium. A fire that killed a mother and two children in Naperville this weekend was set by the mother. Lakeshore Athletic Club is closing its 441 N. Wabash location...

Well, another week has descended upon the city by the lake, and the politicians, like the rest of us, are frolicking in this wonderful spring weather like cowboys at the beach. Let's take all the newsy tidbits that came across our desk this week and rustle them up, like the spring cattle they want to be. Who knows? Maybe one of these stories will fatten up into a vitriol-filled post we can use as a...

The FBI's Chicago office is one of the places where agents abused power of the Patriot Act. Our aldermen have advanced a plan to back the city's Olympic bid with a $500 million financial guarantee. Michelle Obama is cutting her hours at her regular job at the University of Chicago so that she can participate more in Barack's campaign. People are still debating about Chief Illiniwek. Elementary schools may be posting record high gains...

A couple days ago Chicagoist noted how horribly wrong national columnists can go when talking about us folks in the Middle-West. Yesterday two more national publications took a swipe at defining Illinois politics, and this time they seemed to have gotten it a little more right -- just a little.