Friday, August 21, 2009

Why the Outrage?

A few days ago this picture of Michelle Obama was all over the internet and in all of the newspapers. It is the scene of she and her family leaving the plane after a summer vacation to the Grand Canyon. This pic in itself isn't surprising but what got me were the stories. Seems everyone was outraged that our First Lady dared to wear shorts in public.

Really?

One commenter even said something about her "Daisy Dukes"...ummm...since WHEN are mid-thigh length walking shorts even CLOSE to being risque? Okay, I don't care about the political affiliations or grievances of others but, damn people, get a life. We have wars on two fronts, an economy in peril, and I could name any of a dozen different things to bitch about but what the First Lady wears on her family vacation is none of my business. In one of the stories, someone said the First Lady is expected to present herself in a certain way and why didn't she look more like Jackie Kennedy, Laura Bush or Pat Nixon. Lordy! I just had to shake my head over that one.

Personally, I am proud of the way Michelle Obama presents herself and I see nothing about this woman that should embarrass any of us. She is the epitome of the modern woman...educated, savvy and one who juggles marriage and family with style and grace. So back off people! Honestly, I can't think of a single woman out there who would wear hose, heels, and a dress to visit the Grand Canyon in August. Don't we have other things, more important things, to stress over?

26 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

I'm with you. That's insane. Must have been a 'slow news day'.

Anonymous said...

Oh, for heaven's sake, don't we have more important stuff to grouse about? Go Michelle, give your kids a sense a of normalcy--wear your shorts, renee

Regina Carlysle said...

Yeah, I had to think it was a slow news day. Damn. Ridiculous! And yes, Renee, they have to live in such a bubble that I think it's nice they do something completely NORMAL. BTW...how HOT is it in AZ in August anyway! JEEZ.....BIG EYE ROLL

Kelley Nyrae said...

Okay before I came here I just read this article. Give me a break. It's the craziest thing I've ever heard. Who cares? They're shorts? They're not even short shorts. Anything to cause controversy where there is none. It's nuts.

Bronwyn Green said...

O.
M.
G.

Seriously?

They're shorts. It's summer. Get over it, media.

What I'd really like to know, is who has the time and energy to get bent over something like this when there are so many important things to worry about?

Great blog, Regina!

Nicole Morgan said...

Good Lord! Here I was under the assumption there were real problems in the world. Huh? Guess I'm pretty dumb. Apparently with all the responsibilities of the First Family their foremost concern should be what they're wearing. I mean it's not like we have to worry about National Security or anything important like that.

I'm sooooooooo glad these reporters set me straight about what's important. I would have gone my whole life thinking the fate of our country actually mattered, and not worrying about fashion sense.

Thanks!

Regina Carlysle said...

Snicker. Good one, Nicole!

Anonymous said...

Please, people. She looks fabulous, and I grew up in Arizona. It's frickin' hot as hell! She's on vacation, she looks amazing, she's wearing something normal and comfortable, and who the hell cares!!!

Great blog, Reg. Sometimes I think the media will do anything to insult Michelle or find wrong with whatever she might do. This proves that case!

Anonymous said...

Who cares what she wears? I have enough trouble affording clothes, much less freak over what she wears. Lets keep our minds on what is happening behind closed doors. And I don't mean the Whitehouse bedroom. Average working stiffs probably have not seen the pic and would not know who she is.

Regina Carlysle said...

I don't know how this uproar started but yeah, Taylor, it's silly as hell.

Kris Norris said...

I'm thinking she wore the shorts to bring awareness to the issue of global warming! Anyone take that spin on it?
Pretty sad day when you have to worry about wearing shorts in the summer. Good job they didn't catch her in her string bikini at the pool, or is she supposed to wear panty hose and a dress for that too?
Maybe Renee should come north, to Canada, where, quite frankly, we just don't give a damn about what our politicians wear... though I think we do assume they wear something.

Unknown said...

So she should sweat to death in some long sleeved dress, covering her whole body? We live in America where we have the freedom to wear what we please! These reporters need to turn their attention to more important issues. Geez.

jean hart stewart said...

that negative press may be stupid but it makes me mad as hell. Arrrrghhh.

Fran Lee said...

Another stab at the President and his family by a batch of total jerks. Now, if they wanna complain about someone wearing shorts, they should see ME!

Unknown said...

This is a new millennium and it's time for a First Lady with a style that reflects that.

Regina Carlysle said...

Happy to see we're on the same page about this ridiculous bullshit. This kind of stuff is what pitiful. On their trip to London, some fringe-group nutbag bitched about what the oldest daughter was wearing. She's a child for cryin' out loud. These people have no class whatsoever.

Lyla Sinclair www.lylasinclair.com said...

I read an article where the journalist attempted to trace the source of the so-called "outrage," and finally came to the conclusion that the media wanted an excuse to comment on a first lady's legs and trumped the whole thing up. He couldn't find a source of the outrage listed anywhere and had even Googled all the usual extremist crazies to see if they'd started it, but there was nothing at that time.

So, yes, I guess it boiled down to slow news day.

Mary Ricksen said...

Some people have nothing better to do than make up nonsense. What a waste of a photographers time.

Regina Carlysle said...

Interesting Lyla. I DO know I read "comments" to some of the news stories and they were pretty outrageus.

Unknown said...

Last I heard, wearing shorts on your vacation was not a crime or moral offense!!! What is wrong with these people.

You don't what to know what the temp was in Phoenix when she was here (I live in Phoenix), I do it it was over 105 and it can get nasty hot even up at the Grand Canyon!

I so Go Michelle!

Jeanie and Jayha said...

I FKING LOVE YOU CHICK! Tell it...I have an issue with the media/powers that be/powers that want to be attempting to control the sexuality of women...and by telling them how to dress...that is one mechanism of control...

the other thing is that most peeps didn't want to see barbara or laura in shorts...or short-sleeves for that matter...

i like laura bush...she has a great style but its HERS...the media just happened to like it also...

Bekki Lynn said...

Here, Here.

Those were my thoughts, too.

I love the fact she's different, down-to-earth and not some carbon copy.

MJFredrick said...

Fran, LOL, I had the SAME thought. They want to complain, they should see me in shorts! Unbelievable what is "news" sometimes.

Unknown said...

I was actually visiting the GC the same day - via helicopter actually. It was earlier in the morning, but we landed at the bottom of the cannon for a while - the pilot says it usually hits about 119 during the day. So yeah - she can wear shorts!

To be honest, I wouldn't care if she was in a bathing suit. Clothes do not determine a person's intelligence or their ability to help run a country.

Elizabeth Delisi said...

I agree. Would it be more dignified if she fainted of heat exhaustion? Sheesh. Leave the woman alone and find something worthwhile to complain about. Or better yet, don't complain...DO something to improve the world.

Anne Rainey said...

To me that image says that she's a mother. she's one of us. Not some princess on a pedastal, which is how I usually view the first lady. She seems warm and approachable. What a refreshing change!!