Obama’s Mother-in-Law to Move Into the White House

[Pirate Smile]

Obama’s Mother-in-Law to Move Into the White House
By Rachel L. Swarns



It’s official: Marian Robinson, the 71-year-old mother-in-law of President-elect Barack Obama, will be moving into the White House, transition officials said on Friday.

In fact, Mrs. Robinson is already in town, helping to smooth the family’s personal transition as Mr. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters prepare for new lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“She is here to help them get up and running,’’ said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama. “She will determine in the coming months whether or not she wants to stay in D.C. permanently.”

In some ways, Mrs. Robinson’s decision to move – at least temporarily — is no real surprise. During the presidential campaign, Mrs. Robinson was a family mainstay, caring for the Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, while their parents were on the road.
She took them to school, to piano lesson and dance lessons, cooked their meals, ran their baths and got them to bed on time. She was a critical part of the family’s effort to keep the girls’ lives as normal as possible in the midst of extraordinary times.

But Mrs. Robinson is also deeply rooted in Chicago. She still lives in the house where Michelle Obama grew up. And she has often expressed ambivalence about the notion of moving to Washington.
“I’ve never lived outside of Chicago, so I don’t know,’’ said Mrs. Robinson, hesitating a bit as she considered last year whether she was willing to move into the White House. “In the end, in the end, I’ll do whatever. I might fuss a little, but I’ll be there.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/obamas-mother-in-law-to-move-into-the-white-house/

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. And hilarity ensues...

Just kidding. I'm sure she's a lovely woman. It's just that the way the news story reads, it sounds like your typical sitcom plot...

[LisaM]

3. Remember that short-lived show about a woman president, Commander In Chief?

Just when her mother was about to move in, the show got cancelled.


At last, though, the comedians got their comedy gift. I am sure she's a wonderful woman too, given the success of her kids (to me, Michelle Obama's story is far more compelling than Barack's) but it is pretty funny.

[Pirate Smile]

13. I read some of the comments on NYT and they range from "As if the President-elect doesn’t

have enough stress." to (this seems to be a RW talking point) "does that mean that American taxpayers will have to subsidize her?". Their assholishness can always be counted on to rear its head (like Putin in Alaska).

Most people think it is wonderful for the family. :)

[no_hypocrisy]

2. If memory serves, so did the mother-in-law of Harry S Truman

and she hated him.

[Cha]

17. I wouldn't mind having a son-in-law

like Obama. But, I already have a very nice one:)

[wyldwolf]

4. "I told you you'd never amount to nothin' OHbama! Now I'll be watchin' you!"

(said in an Aunt Esther voice)

[Fleshdancer]

5. This is great for the girls

I like the idea of grandparents being close. Surrounding kids with people who love them is always a good thing IMO.

BTW, from that pic, there's no way Marian Robinson looks 71! It's obvious where Michelle gets her good looks from.

[firedupdem]

6. That's great. That will help the girls and I didn't want her to be left

in Chicago by herself. Very good. I was close with my mother and she was close to my boys. If she were alive today, she would be right here next to me.

[Phx_Dem]

7. Good! That woman deserves to live in the big house and

have people wait on her. Plus having her there for the girls will be great.

Squeeeeee! So excited for January 20. Party at Marian's house!!! :party:

[Cha]

18. How fun! I'd be like..

yes, "I'll be there" like she said.

[rurallib]

8. When I think of the Obamas and their families and their trials

and what they have overcome, I tear up. But as Barack himself said, "No one tells Marian Robinson what to do."

[rug]

9. Good for her. Imagine what her parents would think about this if they knew in 1937.

[Cleita]

10. Do they have a mother-in-law apartment for the MIL

or maybe a trailer on the grounds like I get? Instead of looking after grandchldren, however, I look after all the pets. LOL!

[Cha]

19. This is OT but

have you seen this, Cleita? From Obama's speech today?

"The Greenest Pieces of Obama's Speech"

<snip>

"To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy bills. In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced – jobs building solar panels and wind turbines; constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner, safer planet in the bargain."

Later in his speech he said:
"To build an economy that can lead this future, we will begin to rebuild America. Yes, we’ll put people to work repairing crumbling roads, bridges, and schools by eliminating the backlog of well-planned, worthy and needed infrastructure projects. But we’ll also do more to retrofit America for a global economy. That means updating the way we get our electricity by starting to build a new smart grid that will save us money, protect our power sources from blackout or attack, and deliver clean, alternative forms of energy to every corner of our nation. It means expanding broadband lines across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world. And it means investing in the science, research, and technology that will lead to new medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and entire new industries."

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/01/the_greenest_pieces_of_obamas_1.html

[Cleita]

24. It seems hopeful that he will do the right thing about the

environment. I hope he takes care of our national parks and federal forest lands too, something the Bush administration has gone out of their way to destroy. However, he really needs to rethink health care in a big way. None of this off the table stuff before there is even a debate about it.

[WI_DEM]

11. Yep she will help with the girls when Michelle and Barack are on official duties.

[hamsterjill]

12. This makes sense

She cared for the girls during the campaign and, for continuity, I'm sure it will be a comfort to the whole family to know that she's near and available to continue with caring for the girls.

[jsamuel]

14. I smell a sitcom!

[Berry Cool]

20. Coming this January to BET..."Mother-in-Law Sweet"!

"When President Barry O'Bama was elected the first African American president, everyone knew the White House was in for big changes. But no one anticipated the biggest one of all..."

..."Hi there, Mr. Secret Service Man!"

"His MOTHER-IN-LAW's moving in with him!! And the West Wing will never be the same!! Sure, he's the Commander-in-Chief...but who gives the commands at home?? Tune in for the hilarity as our nation's newest Prez learns what life is like steering the ship of state with your wife's mom as first mate!! It's 'Mother-in-Law Sweet,' Thursdays at 9 on BET!!"

[IndianaGreen]

22. Mother-in-Law in Chief!

Queen Latifa will have to play the mother in law.

[EraOfResponsibility]

23. Chief in Law..or something....n/t

[csziggy]

25. Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy) or Patricia Belcher (formerly on Bones) would be good

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjE2NTU3MjI2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjc3NTQyMg@@._V1._CR0,0,278,278_SS90_.jpg
Chandra Wilson

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5MzM4NzI1NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjUwMDc0MQ@@._V1._SX100_SY75_.jpg
Patricia Belcher

Queen Latifa would want too much money to do a sitcom.

I'd rather see more good actresses get a chance at big roles. Though I love Queen Latifa, she now has her choice of roles in major movies.

[bigwillq]

15. Aww. How nice!

:) :bounce:

[Cha]

16. Sweet..."I might fuss

a little but I'll be there."

[EraOfResponsibility]

21. Honey, once she moves in...she'll never want to leave

bet on that.