The Brangelina-fication of the Obamas
You couldn't pass a grocery store line this weekend without seeing the picture-perfect smiles of the Obama family. There were Barack Obama's young daughters (whose privacy their parents so sanctimoniously claim to want to protect) flashing their pearly whites on the cover of People magazine. Malia and Sasha competed for attention right next to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's toddler daughter, Shiloh, whose cherubic face was splashed on the cover of another celebrity tabloid. Next to them beamed basket-case starlet Lindsay Lohan and her new lesbian lover — oh, and that formerly pregnant "man" who just gave birth to a baby girl.
The Obamas blended seamlessly into this Hollyweird pop culture galaxy.
The spread in People, which earlier this year fawned over a photo of the bare-chested Obama in his swimsuit, was supposed to be an "exclusive" first and last look at life at home with the Obamas. Knowing what we know about the Obama we know now, it probably won't be the last.
They've hawked the kids to TV gossip show "Access Hollywood," blabbed about their romance to Us Weekly magazine, and plopped Michelle O — the purported "civilian" whom the Obamessiah declares immune from public criticism — in front of the cameras to schmooze effortlessly for "The Colbert Report" and "The View" demographics. They believe their two-faced tabloid strategy (show their true elitist colors behind closed doors, but play the Every Family for the Obamedia sycophants) is working. Given our dumbed-down, celebrity-obsessed culture, they are probably right.
Who cares about Barack's perilous lack of foreign policy experience, his longtime associations with left-wing radicals and domestic terrorists, and his business dealings with Chicago corruptocrats? People magazine brings you the scoop on what really matters in this critical presidential campaign: Michelle hula-hoops with her daughters. They're just like you and me! The kids have slumber parties. They're just like you and me! Barack does laundry, but he doesn't fold it. They're just like you and me! The kids get small allowances. They're just like you and me! The Obamas wear normal clothes while doing normal things.
THEY'RE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME!
There's a popular feature in most gossip magazines that rates celebrities as "normal" vs. "not normal" or "diva" vs. "down to earth." This is supposed to humanize the stars and make celebrity followers feel better about their empty idol worship. Paparazzi catch "normal" famous people in candid moments — taking out the trash, scarfing down hot dogs, goofing around with their kids at the playground — and magazine editors compare them to photos of "not normal" celebs in elitist repose — walking with their umbrella carriers, surrounded by seven bodyguards and three nannies, boarding their Gulfstreams, etc.
The fatal flaw in the tabloids' Obamas-as-next-door-neighbors propaganda, of course, is that unlike the candid shots of normal, down-to-earth celebrities without makeup or entourages, the photos of the Obamas in "normal" mode are all carefully choreographed fauxtographs.
While Snobama complains about "bitter" rural voters who "cling" to their guns and religion and moans about the price of arugula in his candid unscripted moments, JustLikeYou&Me Michelle cunningly brags about buying her sundresses at discount retailer H&M and, with studied casualness, tells reporters that she doesn't mind if the kids' beds aren't perfectly made. Uh-huh.
The Obamas do everything but pick their noses for the cameras to mimic Real People bona fides. The Obamedia stenographers in the celebrity press — and the mainstream press, for that matter — eat it up. And so do the American people. Former Star magazine editor Bonnie Fuller, citing a poll showing that more adults would like to invite Obama to a summer barbecue than McCain, hailed the Obamas in Advertising Age as the "Brangelina of the political world."
Obama and his political paparazzi are banking on people's stupidity and his cult of personality to carry him to the White House. Unfortunately, the odds are in his favor. Just try talking to one of the millions of people with their noses buried in People or Us about Obama's relationship with Jeremiah Wright or Bill Ayers, his flip-flops on the Iraq war surge and his reckless naivete regarding Iran, and you'll see what I mean.
The exclamation of a journalist at the UNITY minority news media gathering this weekend sums up the star-struck reverence that fuels the Obama phenomenon: "He touched me!" And yet, he's sooo "down to earth."
Hurtling toward a government of the stupid, by the stupid, for the stupid we go.
Michelle Malkin is author of "Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild." Her e-mail address is malkinblog@gmail.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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21 Comments | Post Comment
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So sadly true. Government of, by, and for the stupid make me not want to watch or read the news for four or eight years; a la the Clinton years.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Juanito Verde
Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:34 AM
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Ms. Malkin:
What is your true issue with the Obama's besides being a clone for the so-called right? What about Sen. McCain and his cascading throughout the country? It is nothing short of amazing how some people will attack themselves becasue they forget that the image that others see, is just like them! But, I guess it pays the bills hum?
What about your euro-fication with yourself?
Comment: #2
Posted by: Kevin L Young
Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:18 PM
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Ms. malkin
We're in the middle of a war that was started because of weapons of mass destruction with no end in sight. I still have not seen any of those weapons. Halliburton was awarded a 3 billion dollar no bid contract.(dick cheneys former employer) After taking over the white house with a government surplus in the black Mr Bush has given us the largest deficit in the history of of this great nation. The price of gas is through the roof , the value of the dollar is down . I assume from your article that you will be voting for Mr McCain. What wisdom do you possess that makes you believe that Mr McCain will change anything. Our country is in a downward spiral that needs to be turned around. The republican administation has failed miserably in the past eight years. You speak of Obama's naivete on Iran but I believe it is you that is truly naive on the condition of this once great nation. Government of the stupid is what we have had for the past eight years. By the stupid is the direct result of who voted for Mr Bush. For the stupid just look in the mirror
Comment: #3
Posted by: Thomas James
Sat Aug 2, 2008 10:31 AM
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Ms. Malkin: Yeah, it's funny how you would honor the stupid as long as they vote for your guy. You're revealing your contempt for them a little too soon, though. They might just elect your guy. Then you'd have to take it all back with a little pillow talk about how you didn't really mean it. As far as Obama is concerned, you're really going to have to plumb your limited vocabulary for a different adjective. Stupid he clearly is not. ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Has it ever occurred to you how unpatriotic it is to show such contempt for the country to which you owe your soft, easy life? All you are saying in your little rant is that if you don't get your way, the country and the voters are not worth your loyalty. That is an insult to the United States of America, and sooner or later you and Rush and the other right wing hooligans who are getting rich off of spitting on the soul of our nation are going to be held accountable for the snake oil you have peddled. .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Comment: #4
Posted by: Masako
Sat Aug 2, 2008 3:08 PM
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Dear Michelle
Barack is a citizen of the world (as the second coming should not just be a plain old American) and is one heck of a down to earth guy. so much so I am dutifully keeping my tires properly inflated.
Thanks B.O.
REALITY CHECK......
Michelle, I fear your articles largly consist of to much common sense for the Left to understand.
Thankyou.
Comment: #5
Posted by:
Sun Aug 3, 2008 10:16 AM
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WISDOM is what this country needs. Clear thinking individuals who could care less about the power, who want to preserve the family instead of parading them in front of the world. Give me someone who sees the great in this country instead of pointing out it's failures at ever turn and corner. Give me a wise man (or woman) who is sensitive to simpler things and hard work and isn't afraid to point out the obvious disillusionment of the people TO the people and to tell them to stand on their own two feet and see what common sense and hard work will bring. A higher belief that goes beyond a man- any man -of this word regardless of what party he belongs to. Give me someone who is still humbled by the belief there is a body of people who would see him as a leader. A LEADER not a demi-god. Give me someone who doesn't want to be the president but runs for the office because he has felt a higher calling that doesn't involve organizations that are pushing their own agenda. Take Rainbow Coalition out of the equation. If he is elected as the next president, I will respect him as the leader of this country, but as a man, I will remember that he needs prayer more than anything to avoid the foolishness and mockery he has applied to this country already. I will pray that God gives him wisdom and discernment as I will pray for every elected official of this great nation. Those that we don't want to pray for or help are the ones we need to pray the hardest for.
Comment: #6
Posted by: Carisa Knox
Mon Aug 4, 2008 12:11 PM
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Ma'am; with all due respect, how smart does a person have to be to understand their own self interest? People could govern themselves, and all they would have to do is refrain from voting on issues that did not concern them. If it concerns you, then vote. There is an intelligence test for you. Not like the one we are failing now, where everyone in the congress or presidency can act on issues that have no effect on them, what so ever, understanding that to obstruct, or impede the will of the people can amount to some huge cash. Look at Mr. Stevens from Alsaka. It has a hand full of people and the rest of the nation sends them piles of loot. Why? Because Mr. Stevens wouldn't go alone with good or bad unless there was some spoils for his electors. But where is his right to vote on anything not effecting Alsaka? You know; the people may be stupid, but my bet is that they are just uneducated. The constitution deprives citizens of political power. The government has worked to deprive the people of more political power. The excuse is that they are not educated. Right? The unwashed masses? Does it ring a bell? But since we are deprived of political power there is no need to educate us, because, we cannot force the issue. Still, people do not need a great reason to vote Obama. He is young in a country that percieves itself as young. Nothing good has ever come from the old. They have endured problems and handed them to us worse than recieved. I grant you that things would be much better if we actually had a choice, and if we did not have to settle for the generic party product. But with the little choice we have, clearly, John Mccain is the loser, and will be if Mr. Obama does not give up too many votes to reach a middle ground where no one lives. There is no middle. There are no moderates. The parties have divided us right down the middle, and you are on one side of the line and I am on the other. So do your best. Slander me and him. Slander all of us. You know it is not about making government work. It is about keeping government powerless to achieve justice, so you can work your mine, and run your slave trade unmolested. Carry on... Sweeney
Comment: #7
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Mon Aug 4, 2008 7:50 PM
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Re: Terry Dodd; Oh ya. We just can't figure things out can we Mr. Dodd? You know, what passes for intelligence among your group, I wouldn't brag on. You guys get manipulated by every greazy media slicker imaginable, and you eat it up with a fork, The republicans know how to rattle the right religious chain. What does it do for them? Nothing. It uses them, and drags the into justifying injustice because the republicans stand on the right side of a single issue. It isn't any better for you guys than for us. This whole country is on the skids because of two party leadership that leads to the bank. The economy is on life support and has been for decades. The rich absolutely refuse to support the country that make their wealth possible. If I were you, I would consider an intelligence test before calling anyone stupid. The whole bunch of you are puppets in a morality play. You don't seem to get how immoral the whole system is, and what crimes you support. People like you will never figure it out until they turn the cops, the criminals and the military loose on you. But how can I cheer your stupidity, and your powerlessness If we are all suffering from the same failed government, and an ideology that is wreaking the place and making the people hate each other. It is all non sense.... Best... Sweeney
Comment: #8
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Mon Aug 4, 2008 8:05 PM
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Why is it that when we disagree that we have to call the opposition " stupid?" I personnally am put off by people who start doing this and then expect me to change my opinion about the topic at hand. Yes, I am a conservative and no, I am not stupid. In fact I started reading fluently at 18 months old. It is just plain bad manners to resort to name calling. Recently Mr. Obama resorted to that tactic when he called Republicans stupid for handing out tire gauges. It isn't stupid but a smart move on their part. If we are to inflate our tires as Mr. Obama suggests, then we will need to check our tire pressure to make sure that we do not over inflate them and cause a blow out which might kill ourselves or someone else. I am sure Mr. Obama meant well when he made this suggestion but he needed to get the facts straight and do the math before he spoke on that topic. I could not believe that he was so impulsive as to say something like that without checking first. But then again, we all make mistakes and he is making plenty of them.
Comment: #9
Posted by: agmom
Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:38 PM
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I THINK THE GUYS AFRAID TO WIN. HE WOULD LOVE TO CAMPAIN FOREVER.
Comment: #10
Posted by: peri
Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:55 PM
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Can someone explain why so many conservatives will, out of one side of their mouths, talk about how great America is (and it is), and how we the people are so much more intelligent than the left-wing media, liberals, et al, give us credit for, then out of the other side of their mouths criticize us for being idiots and having a "dumbed-down, celebrity-obsessed culture"?
Comment: #11
Posted by: Lucero
Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:43 AM
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Jealousy, pure jealousy, be honest, would youreally want your children, sister, brother, close friend toknw howstpid and shallow you are? I mean if Obama was a white male you be licking his dirty ass with your tongue. You people cometo America, and all of a sudden you think your whiteand not jut white but dirty white. Go back to whatever country yo come from and be the poor wanna be white trash you are.
Comment: #12
Posted by: tony
Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:30 PM
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Obama is a fraud and people will soon see it...especially if they go and blindly vote him in.
You will get what you deserve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only in America can they take a clown, dress him up and make him presidential.
Go with the flow and put in a fake....he can only speak to large crowds who adore him, put him one on one and he can't even finish a sentence. How foolish people are to follow such a FAKE!!!!
Comment: #13
Posted by: Jen
Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:22 PM
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Thank goodness for your insight. Would Obama be the candidate if he were 100% Caucasian or Latino? No, as he has NO experience other than a few years in government with no major bills passed and many pork projects. Interestingly enough, he has not been questioned in depth as number one like Palin has in number two position. What distortion by the media. THAT IS WHY PALIN IS REFRESHING. THE FIRST PERSON WITH THE ATTENTIVE MEDIA looking on TO QUESTION HIS "CREDENTIALS." She is as sharp an orator as he is; and clearly heads above him in running government; she understands energy as why we must supply our own for security and the economy. Good jobs at home; oil profits for the states where drilling occurs and for the federal tax basis to bring down the debts. Please more articles exposing Obama. The media is mostly angry that their star is being ripped apart for his ego-star glazing actions. Seperate Hollywood antics and serious politics, please.
Comment: #14
Posted by: Juan
Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:09 PM
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Ms. Malkin, as always, you are a breath of fresh air. Thank you, for your continued "shouting "from the tops of the Hills about this empty suit in empty socks> OBAMA! HE IS A FRAUD and all these numskulls, stupids ,if God forbid, he wins, will be whining to no end when He gets through with OUR COUNTRY ..... This from a white, Latina, Democrat... WHO HAS SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!!
GO McCain/Palin!!!
Comment: #15
Posted by: aida
Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:52 PM
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I lean definitely to the right, however I am knowledgeable to realize that both sides lie to spin propaganda to make them look good. With the job the Republicans have done over the last years (and it not ALL has been bad) I at first was looking at Mr. Obama as a positive change and maybe someone I could vote for. Of course I knew the right would be all over him and what they say or claim needed to be taken with a little salt. However the relationships with Jeremiah Wright or Bill Ayers need no political spin, and the fact that there was no attempt from the Obama team to try and seperate themselves from such messages of hate except to claim they have been Obama's mentors over the years. I have raised 5 fine kids and I have always told them to pick carefully who they hang with because it is a reflection upon yourself. Mr. Obama made it easy for me, I did not have to wade through the dirt, spin or lies from either side to make up my mind. He will not be getting my vote, plain and simple.
Comment: #16
Posted by: TripleA
Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:27 PM
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I will like to invite Sen.McCain and Governor of Alaska for barbecue as they have to share their life story which is rich and not empty as ---.They are honest and live in present and will not cheat me like the dem. who think when you need money you just raise taxes as he is going to do--I am in 95% and I dont need 1000 he is offering. He has to show courage by stopping the increase in salary of senators and congressman who are the biggest beneficiery of our system of govt,why not increase the hours and days they work.
Comment: #17
Posted by: P.Barman
Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:54 PM
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Another clear but hardly shocking example of how stupid and hypocritical hacks like Malkin really are. I'll freely admit that Obama adds and supporters sometimes stretch the truth and context in the midst of a campaign, but that is nothing compared to the out and out clearly demonstrable lying of their opponents. If Malkin were being intellectually honest she would note that this sort of fluff family piece in People and similar magazines is common fare during campaigns, getting to know the potential First families for American people who Malkin clearly disdains, Americans who buy magazines in grocery stores. If she spent more time in grocery stores, she would realize that in the last month the McCain family has been on the cover of these magazines (I know, I saw them) as has the Palin family. Not so sure about the Bidens...does that give them "real American" cred in Malkin"s book? From what I've seen of her, she is a want to be Ann Coulter who busted onto the scene by appearing on and guest hosting Bill O'Reilly's show. Her claim to fame is being of Japanese descent and praising World War II detention policies to high heaven. Still, she needs a few more low brow shockers to catch up with Coulter. Save the fake outrage Michelle.
Comment: #18
Posted by: Zach Brown
Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:52 AM
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Michelle Malkin has a crush on Obama. You would be surprised to know who she is married to.
She is a trivial, childish angry conservative woman whose rants don't even make a blip on the radar screen.
Maybe when she realizes she is just a token for white control, she will have seen the light.
But for now, all her keystrokes amount to horse dung.
Comment: #19
Posted by: Malachi French
Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:47 PM
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Michelle Is sooooo jealous of Michelle Obama and her beautiful family. She is obsessed with Michelle Obama, how sick is she. She has stooped down to a new low by attacking the little Obama girls. Michelle Malkin is an angry girl, a hateful human being.
Comment: #20
Posted by: louise
Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:14 AM
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As usual Miss Malkin - Great! Thank you for your tireless work. It is anybody's job as a liberal - it takes brains and guts like your to be a Conservative. Again, thank you.
Scott Paye, esq.
Comment: #21
Posted by: Scott Paye
Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:22 PM
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