Is Barack Obama Pussy Whipped?
There’s been a lot of eye-rolling since The New York Times Sunday Magazine published yesterday The First Marriage, a profile of the Obamas’ personal relationship. I have a big crush on the couple, so reading the article was a big step up from my usual rushed fix of gratuitous celebrity gossip in the supermarket checkout line. Furthermore, I think Barack Obama is HOT, HOT, HOT. Many other women of all ages feel the same way, including my college-aged daughter and her friends.
Do you know what the hottest thing about Barack Obama is? It’s the way he looks at Michelle. The Times piece states that their marriage is central to his political brand. Fair enough, it enhances his curb appeal. As a marketing strategist, I can tell you that the reason it works so beautifully is that it is real. There are no artificial notes being struck when these two appear in public. Sparks fly when they look at each other.
They kiss, touch, and flirt in public. She teases him. He gazes upon her adoringly. The crowds may be roaring, cameras flashing, but he only has eyes for her. Though the feeling is clearly mutual, there is a sense that he is being solicitous of her, always reinforcing the impression that she is the woman of his dreams. In fact, one often gets the sense that he would like nothing better than to carry her upstairs and ravage her. And yet, she is no helpless female. She is strong-willed, of strong opinions, strong family values and possesses a strong and brilliant mind. Barack Obama chose a woman as smart and talented as he is. And he looks as if he can hardly believe his good fortune.
Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson met in 1989. She was a corporate attorney at Sidley Austin when he showed up as a summer intern. Because they were the only two African Americans in the firm, she was assigned as his mentor. Michelle had never had a serious boyfriend, saying that she had never known a man who met her standards. Barack asked her out right away that summer. She said no. She had heard about his unusual background, and thought it was strange. Later in the summer she heard him give a speech, and recalls thinking to herself, “OK, yeah, this could work.”
The Obamas do not have a perfect marriage. For twelve years, they were only able to live together part-time. They openly acknowledge “bumps in the road” along the way. When he first announced his intention to seek public office, she said, “I married you because you’re cute and you’re smart, but this is the dumbest thing you’ve ever asked me to do.” She has always supported him, but not by being on the campaign trail endlessly. “I’ve had to come to the point of figuring out how to carve out what kind of life I want for myself beyond who Barack is and what he wants.”
Is Barack Obama pussy whipped? No. Theirs in an equal partnership. I imagine he gets his way much of the time, in fact. What’s remarkable is that this President feels secure enough in his own masculinity to demonstrate in public that his sense of well-being clearly depends on the love and good opinion of the woman he loves.
If the coolest dude on the planet can unabashedly adore and desire his wife for all the world to see, he makes an awesome role model for the next generation of men.
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Totally agree here on this one. I think they have the best & 'most equal' marriage relationship of any First couple in perhaps over a generation. And those much older styles of 'happy marriages' were, well much older styles & more 'traditional' in their roles & expectations. And they still were pretty strange in many places (witness Ronnie Reagan and his erstwhile 'missing kids' & serve ambivalence over same).
But the Obama's seem pretty 'middle class' 'normal' to everyone who's ever seen or encountered them in any context. And she's totally right for him & vice versa. For a fatherless boy and then a motherless man at a relatively young age, she was there to anchor his ambitions with a stable & loving & regular home life. Something he'd not seen much growing up, save for his grandparents in HI. She was his first safe harbor in a very long time, and he'll always be grateful for that recognition & hopeful embrace & the sacrifices made to get them to where they are today.
Again, perhaps not wholly unusual for many political marriages, but we've not seen ones so openly & demonstrably yes, loving, perhaps ever. Which is the point. And the press started writing about their marriage way back in 1994, before he was doing much of anything yet. Which is proof positive that some one could easily see the value they both held for their union.
They're great role models here in this respect. Socialists or not. Cheers & Good Luck, 'VJ'
BTW: Other 'First Family' couples that were noted to not only have a pretty equal & openly affectionate marriages, but progressive views on what woman's roles within them might accomplish & strive for might include: Jimmy & Roslyn Carter & Jerry & Betty Ford. The later were noted to be the first 1st couple in living memory to insist on actually sleeping together! (And yes, they all talked about that too!) Just some more thoughts here. Cheers, 'VJ'
You may not like this, but Ronald Reagan adored Nancy in much this same way. They were visibly in love. She wasn't a pillar of strength the way this First Lady is, but he was unabashed in his adoration of her. He wasn't cool with the youngsters, though. This President is a great role model for boys who are coming of age.
I mostly agree about RR, who always depended upon & relied Nancy's good sense & judgment more than anyone can understand or even suspect. Still, If there was anyone who might have been PW'd in the WH, he'd be a good example for this, (which is why I mentioned him) . She'd regularly feed him lines (just like he was back in Hollywood) which he'd use for Press conferences, and sometimes this even made it onto tape too!
But yes, over all a very loving & openly affectionate, attractive & even an elegant couple. And they & he were still fairly attractive to the youngsters too for all that. Still a very strange & unusual 'family' man. He just never really was all that. Never quite really, and anyone who knew them knew that too. I did say in about a generation too. Cheers & Good Luck, 'VJ'
Actually, the Reagans kind of creeped me out. She seemed like a terribly cold fish, and as you say, he seemed like a terrible father. I agree, he probably was PW'd! It seemed to work for them, though.
What I love about the Obamas' relationship is how secure they are in their love for each other, and in particular how secure he is with his own masculinity. In a country where many young people are growing up in single parent homes, I think they provide a stellar example of real sharing in a marriage, as well as devoted parenting.
But then again, I have to admit, I drank the Kool Aid.
OK is there a contest for the number of times in a day the template can change here? It's obviously a work in progress, right?
Oh VJ, have pity on me. Hacked, hacked and hacked. This time my theme seemed to be the culprit (the easy way in). I need to change themes anyway – HUS has outgrown its original charming/cozy/cluttered theme. I need more space for ads, and I'd like some new features as well. This theme is interim – it's the default for WordPress, my blogging platform. I'll be introducing a new theme soon.
But the content won't change. I'll still be railing about my favorite topics in whatever format I can make work!
Last several administrations:
44 Michelle wears the pants.
43 GWB
42 Hillary. Usually wears pants in the literal sense as well.
41 GHWB, but they were high-water nerdy pants. Doesn't count.
40 Ronnie
39 No pants to be found.
38 G. Ford: Polyester pants. Stodgy, old-fashioned.
37 Richard. Pants sweaty and nervous. Bulge in trousers is tape recording.
36 LBJ: Trouble is, those pants were accessorized with boots and spurs
35 JFK, no ifs/ands/buts.
34 Ike. Probably the last real American President.
Hahahaha, that's good, did you write that? I especially like 39. Why no pants comment for 40 and 43? As discussed above, RR may have been the most PW'd President ever.
W and RR wore the pants.
Abbreviated comment style. And yes, I wrote it.
Although RR effected a jovial, avuncular style, that was his weapon of control. Supposedly he told Gorby: “Look, I will push The Button is I need to”.
rick, I had no idea you were so funny! I guess that's b/c we've been discussing some serious topics. That's a very clever bit you put together. I can imagine David Letterman using it.
Hi,
I like this article but..
Can someone tell me about Barack Obama..
I know that he is a serious candidate for '08, but I would like to know where he stands on the issues. I checked his site but nowhere can I find the info. i am looking for.
so please tell me…
Haha, this cracked me up. Yeah, the issues seem to be a bit of a problem. Maybe I drank the Kool-Aid too soon. I think you'll like this if you haven't already seen it, it's the funniest thing I've seen on Sat. Night Live in years:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/cl...
Hi,
I like this article but..
Can someone tell me about Barack Obama..
I know that he is a serious candidate for '08, but I would like to know where he stands on the issues. I checked his site but nowhere can I find the info. i am looking for.
so please tell me…
Haha, this cracked me up. Yeah, the issues seem to be a bit of a problem. Maybe I drank the Kool-Aid too soon. I think you'll like this if you haven't already seen it, it's the funniest thing I've seen on Sat. Night Live in years:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/cl...