Obama's Daughter On Inaugural Speech: "It Better Be Good"

As the final preparations are made for his historic Inauguration on Tuesday, pressure is mounting for President-elect Barack Obama-- including from his own children. Speaking to the Washington Post, Obama gives an account of his family "field trip" to the Lincoln Memorial where there is an inscribed copy of the 16th President's famous Second Inaugural speech. At this point, Obama's 7 year-old daughter Sasha asked her father if he would be giving a similar speech. Obama describes the interaction to the Post:

"And I said, 'Well, actually, that's a short version, but yeah, I will,' " Obama recalled. "And then Malia says, 'First African American president -- it better be good.' "So I just want you to know the pressures I'm under here from my children.

The family's "field trip" was a symbolic gesture to Lincoln, to whom Obama has frequently been compared. Obama's children clearly have equally or even higher expectations of their father. This sets them somewhat apart from their mother, who throughout the campaign has insisted that her husband is merely human. Ta-Nahisi Coates, in the January/February Atlantic delves into this quirk extensively, explaining why Michelle Obama was initially viewed as an "Angry Black Woman" during the campaign and why that really isn't the case at all. The article gives an enlightening account of the value the Obamas place on family. Coates quotes Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson:

"We had a very fortunate upbringing," says Obama's brother, Craig Robinson. "It was filled with good times. We were like every other family. We had love and discipline. We had caring parents ... It wasn't unusual at all. It wasn't that everyone had both parents in the house, but it certainly wasn't like it is now, where you find single-parent families everywhere. Folks went to work, people were excited to get good grades ... People would laugh about folks finding out you were getting in trouble. People had mothers at home. So if someone broke a window, you always found out about it. You had a secondary line of defense."

That the incoming President will have such a solid familial foundation (his mother-in-law will even be residing with them in the White House) should only bolster his performance as the leader of the free world. It is good to know that Obama's family can be both comforting and demanding.

Comments

[substance43]

IMHO, I don't think that Malia's comment was cute as much as it was profound! At 10 years old, this young girl is very well aware of double standards. She knows that Dad and the entire family have to be a cut above. Sad, but true.

[AhnAmuru]

What low standards you seem to accept! On the defensive, huh?

Kindly do not transpose your low standards on the rest of us.

If BHO is held to a higher standard, that's fine. Everyone who comes after him will be held to that exceptional standard.

We shall breed giants! How can anyone complain about that?

[zanbama]

I heard Lincoln was possibly mixed with African AMerican.

[AhnAmuru]

In more progressive families, family members are held to a higher standard.

[americanalien]

What a beautiful family to have in the White House. I just love them.

[sunnyjane]

Sorry to get off thread here, but does anybody know who the lady to Mrs. Obama's left is? It makes the photo look very peculiar.

Other than that, I think the Obamas are terrific. The U.S. is blessed to have a president with such a functional family unit. What an example they can set for ALL OF US.

[JohnFObama]

I was at the convention and that was one of convention workers with her going through what was going to happen that day. The photo was taken during rehersal.

[zippy2112]

"The family's "field trip" was a symbolic gesture to Lincoln, to whom Obama has frequently been compared"
I hope the best for the Obama family, but he is not Lincoln, he is his own man. he is the first American-African President.
Is Obama willing to be hated for the rest of his life to do the right thing?

[eden4barack08]

He's not being compared to Lincoln, he's INSPIRED by Lincoln's greatness and wisdom. He admires him and believes he can learn from history.
There's nothing more laudable than a great historic appreciation of our past.

[zippy2112]

The media uses the word "compared" .

[zippy2112]

During the Civil War, Lincoln appropriated powers no previous President had wielded: he used his war powers to proclaim a blockade, suspended the writ of habeas corpus, spent money without congressional authorization, and imprisoned 18,000 suspected Confederate sympathizers without trial.

[hortonhearsawho2]

Hate is not Change...

[gastoys]

I read more hate on the site than any other forum, yet you all voted for Change. So very confusing???

[hopefullee]

I thought Malia's comment was funny and sweet. It was funny because she was joking with her father the way family members do. I though it was sweet because underneath the "sarcasm", it's clear that she recognizes the significance of her father's inauguration, and, as his daughter, wants to see him do well, more so than even his most ardent supporters, I would assume.

[propitiousmoment]

You're right, I thought it showed she is perceptive and in tune with the situation from more than one perspective. She's very bright, and she's lucky to have such great relationship with her dad.

[Thefamilyvan]

I'm sure the speech will be great! It'll be a breath of fresh air to listen to a President who can string more than 3 words together to make a coherent thought!

[SantaFeConservative]

Like "ahhh" "errrr" "ummm"

[Patricia84]

No more like such as ... like such...

[NewDem08]

..and then, after thinking, he says something INTELLIGENT! In coherent sentences.

Ya gotta love that Ivy League education.

[blurredtruth]

Of course it will be...style over substance.

[wordvarc]

No, 'it' will be understood, substantial, and loved...th­ree attributes of the WH that were were tortued and buried in 2000.

[lovered]

What good is substabnce if its all BS?

[anitaj]

Pehaps we could actually listen to the speech before deciding if it is style/subs­tance/BS/e­tc.

Watch out for me ... I live on the edge.

[Badger84]

Inauguration speeches have typically been motivational rallying cries and do not contain detailed policy proposals. What's your point?

[ckfan]

Robinson is Michelle's brother and Obama's brother-in-law. Where are the copy editors????

[AKAchip]

Michelle is an Obama, too!!

[shrimpdip]

You'll notice that the "Obama" in "Obama's brother" in the quoted Atlantic article refers to Michelle Obama, not Barack Obama. Read the sentence immediately above the quoted material. No harm, no foul...use­r error.

[The Ogre]

"Copy editors" are not "fact checkers." They aren't the same thing. I don't expect everyone to know that; it's just that my sis is a copy editor.
Copy editors check grammar (including spelling, diction, you name it). That's about the extent of it, usually.

[Ex-Democrat]

2002 – Michelle Obama hired by the University of Chicago Hospital for a salary of $120,000
January 2005 – Barack Obama sworn in as US Senator
March 2005 – Michelle Obama’s salary increases almost $200,000! From $121,910 to $316,962.
February 2006 – Barack Obama requests $1 million earmark for Michelle’s employer
January 2009 – Michelle Obama resigns from $317,000/year position
January 2009 – University of Chicago dissolves position entirely.

Sounds like a kickback to me.

How do you explain it??

[helenwheels]

zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz

[MsRy]

Explain what, your post? Try "troll".

[Ged2012]

Where's the link to your "facts"?

[SadieGirl]

We're very glad you left the party. By the way, a hospital is not exactly an earmark.

[eden4barack08]

Yawn...you lost, it's over.

[kristophil]

i found her comment more intelligent than many i am reading on here...

[NotMcCain]

Michelle and the girls often sound critical to the point of rudeness.

I haven't decided if that is positive for a man with the adulation Obama is getting. Or a really bad idea from your family.

Anyway, I don't really find it endearing or cute at all.

[ZimboChick]

hmmm

[kelly1956]

Awww, come on NotMcCain. In my family, we are deeply loving and have a solid respect, but we tease and cajol and keep each other in line. We're secure with each other enough to not take it as rudeness. I find it quite endearing and the mark of a grounded, normal family situation.

[nostalgia]

Don't you think you are taking things too seriously here? A little sarcastic, dry sense of humor is good for people in power! I note that ever since I came to America at a tender age, people tend to be super positive about everything you do to the point of being ridiculous. Back home, my siblings would cup their ears when I tapped Beethoven on the piano. In the US, I got heaping praises for talent not deserved. You really lose your sense of objectivity if you have no insight. And this is probably what happens to GWB...

[wordvarc]

A little realistic self-deprication is appropriate for leaders. Sarcasm often wounds opponants and leaves the leader seeming barrogant and aloof.

[Joyful Woman]

He is special to people who do not know him. But at HOME he is Dad and Barack, period. They have seen him when he was penniless and in debt, with lint in his hair and pockets. They know what his stinky breath smells like. They know how he throws his clothes around, etc. What we think is spectacular (and it is), they think it is his public face. But they know him. And since he is husband and father, they have a right to hold him to a higher standard. To tell him straight up, "Dad, you better bring it." Plus, as an African American, I also understand that Black folks are the toughest audience. Haven't you ever seen The Apollo? You better bring some sorry dance or singing act on that stage, or prepared to get yanked off. You better come prepared to make Beyonce look regular. His family is the most important thing to him and it is clear that he cares about why they think of him first. Family first. America, second. Got that?

[southeybrown]

"You better come prepared to make Beyonce look regular."

All I can see is Obama singing his address to the tune of "Single Ladies" in a black leotard and heels.

That would not be so good.

[Joyful Woman]

One more thing, with Black folks (and I am sure others) there is always the public and the private, the ever twoness. But especially with Black folk.

[Kiabell04]

Awwwww, that is so cute.

[wordvarc]

Wonderfully corny, cute, and realistic.­..a heartfelt smile incomprehensible to scoffers and cynics.

[smoothdogie]

I can't go to the inauguration but I am damn sure going to take the day off (which i never do in the middle of the week) because I don't want to miss this historical moment. I have begged my four adult children to stop and take time to live this moment. Its so important that long after I am gone they can tell their grandchildren that yes...I watched that...I lived that. For those of us who are so fed up with the present administration and the entire ReaganBushBush era....thi­s is like a breath of fresh air. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!