Michelle, It’s Not Just About the Garden

It really is great that Michelle Obama is growing an organic vegetable garden at the White House. She’s sending a great signal about buying locally to eat healthfully.

But, she’s not going far enough:

However, when The Washington Post asked Mrs. Obama for her favorite recipe, she replied, “You know, cooking isn’t one of my huge things.” And last month, when a boy who was visiting the White House asked her if she liked to cook, she replied: “I don’t miss cooking. I’m just fine with other people cooking.” Though delivered lightheartedly, and by someone with a very busy schedule, the message was unmistakable: everyday cooking is a chore.

Cooking is a chore? Sadly, for most people, it is. To those, cooking it much like sweeping or washing dishes — an annoying task that must be completed to maintain a household.

It’s a shame that prepared and packaged meals have taken the place of real cooking in too many American homes.

As we lost our skills at the stove, we also lost something less tangible but no less important: the opportunity to spend time together in the kitchen, talking and cooking.

Indeed. One of the most pleasurable things in life for me is to cook for others. It gives me a creative outlet, lets me explore new things, and shows my family and friends that I like them and want then to be happy when they are in my home. It’s something of a catharsis after spending an irritating day at work. I can think of few things better than preparing a meal while having a glass of wine with my friends and family.

An added bonus is that cooking at home gives me the ability to control my food in order to make it more tasty and healthy (I’m starting to put ground carrots into most everything I cook, as the carrots don’t seem to change the flavor of most dishes, but that addition makes my dishes more healthful.

Getting away from fast food and processed food is an admirable goal, but it would be made better if the art of cooking were seen as the next step that will help people live happier lives.

Quote of the Day

Michelle Obama:

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

Photos of the Day

Great speech from Michelle! She came across as warm, intelligent, and funny. I have a feeling that as the public gets to know her,  she’ll be an incredible asset to the campaign.

Ted looks GREAT, considering what he’s been through.  Great speech.

It’s a great feeling to be a Democrat tonight!

Obama’s New Dog

There’s been a lot of talk about what kind of dog the Obamas should get for their girls after the election.

I was glad to find this petition from the Best Friends Animal Society urging the Obamas to adopt a dog from a shelter rather than to buy one. I think it’s a great suggestion, as the Obamas would gain a loyal and thankful ally and also send a great message to the people of this country about dog adoption.

Satire? Or Reenforcing Right-Wing/PUMA Myths?

I admit that when I first saw this image from the latest cover of the New Yorker, my reaction was one of anger: how DARE they?

But then I got over it.

Sure, they were going for shock value, but I think it does a good job of pointing out the absurdity of the right-wing/PUMA/Larry Johnson/Hillaryis44.com myths. That’s exactly how those people portray Obama; to them, he’s a flag-buring, jihad-waging, Osama-loving radical Muslim with a crazy Christian preacher. They also think Obama is a latte-drinking, arugula-eating, New York Times-reading elitist who practices terrorist fist jabs with his wife, who is an updated version of Angela Davis.

My only worry is how this might be viewed by an average low-information news consumer. This will be all over the media, so my worry is that it may form some kind of indelible image in the minds of some potential swing voters?

But I still think it’s a damn good piece of satire.

How Conservatives See Michelle Obama

From 23/6:

Fox News: Michelle is Obama’s Baby Mama

Geez.

Yeah, I was right. The attacks are just starting.

On the Upcoming Attacks on Michelle Obama

From Salon:

Numerous media outlets have articles Wednesday speculating about how Republicans will attempt to skewer the spouse of the presumptive Democratic nominee during the general election campaign. In her column for the New York Times, Maureen Dowd wrote, “It’s good news for Obama that Hillary’s out of the race. But it’s also bad news. Now Republicans can turn their full attention to demonizing Michelle Obama.”

Snip:

Last week, on his blog Ragged Thots, Robert A. George (a conservative who also writes for the New York Post) pointed out a distinct trend. Based on the presidential elections of the past 20 years, George says, the question is not if Republicans will go after Michelle Obama, but when. George writes of the alleged “whitey” tape: “No tape exists … This is the ‘08 version of a really weird conservative urban legend that pops up every four years. The names change, but the basics remain the same: 1) It always involves the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate; 2) it always portrays the wife — not the candidate — committing some anti-American, unpatriotic act.”

In 1988, Idaho Sen. Steve Symms claimed that photographs existed of Kitty Dukakis burning a flag at an antiwar protest. No such photos ever emerged and Dukakis denied the charge.

In 2004, John Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, grabbed headlines for her altercation with a Pittsburgh conservative editorial writer who said she had used the term “un-American” in a speech. Kerry denied that she had used the phrase and told the writer to “shove it.” Right-wing Web sites like World Net Daily also propagated unfounded rumors that Heinz Kerry had links to terrorists.

And then, of course, there’s the long history of the fractious relationship Republicans have had with Hillary Clinton. So what does all this mean for 2008? Even though the “whitey” tape most likely does not exist (the rumor was originally floated by a Clinton supporter, blogger Larry Johnson), we’ll probably hear more about it as the campaign progresses. And if that rumor is forgotten, another one will probably emerge to fill the space. ‘Tis the season, after all.

Michelle is going to be a target, but it’s important to remember that she isn’t the first potential First Lady to be attacked unfairly. It’s part of a pattern.

Michelle no more can be seen in a video condemning ‘whitey’ than Kitty Dukakis burned the American flag or Hillary Clinton killed Vince Foster.

But the shit is coming. Get ready.

Why do I have full confidence that the Obama team will deal well with these smears?

Michelle Malkin on Michelle Obama and the “Whitey” Remarks

Ok, I can’t stand Michelle Malkin, but (please excuse the cliche) a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Malkin on the “whitey” story:

Many readers are wondering why I have not written a single word about the rumored Michelle Obama “whitey” video.

Simple: Larry Johnson, the main source of the rumors, is not, not, not to be trusted.

Moreover: The story keeps changing.

First, the rumor-mongers claimed, Obama appeared on tape with Louis Farrakhan. Now, the rumor is that the tape comes from this event where she appeared with Mrs. Farrakhan at a Rainbow/PUSH conference in 2004 (via reader Bill):

First, the rumor-mongers claimed, she said “whitey” on the tape. Now, the rumor is that she’s saying “why’d he” (referring to George Bush).

First, the rumor-mongers claimed, the “bombshell” would be released on Monday. Then it was yesterday. Now, it’s tomorrow. So, where’s the stupid tape?

It’s nice to see that Malkin can be intellectually honest. She’ll attack the Obamas for a multitude of reasons, many of them complete BS, but I’m glad she rejected this line of bullshit.

As for the other bullshit Malkin and her friends will throw at Obama?

I say, “bring it on!!”