Michelle Obama's Target Shopping Trip Sparks Conspiracy Theories

WASHINGTON -- Thursday's incognito shopping trip by first lady Michelle Obama to the Potomac Yard Target across the river in Alexandria has attracted its fair share of fawning praise and biting criticism. Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show Friday, said the Target trip was elaborately staged: "What a phony baloney plastic banana good time rock-and-roller optic photo op this was!"

Politico writes that "[n]ever has a Target dash caused such a ruckus. Jennifer Lopez could probably shop at Target without creating a stir equal to that caused by the first lady..."

But how was it that Associated Press photographer Charles Dharapak happened to be the only photographer at the Target store when the first lady was there? (The photographer hasn't commented while the AP said the photo score was the result of "good source work.")

The Washington Post, meanwhile, notes that it would have been difficult for the photographer to know the first lady's plans around town in advance:

As a practical matter, it’s difficult to know in advance where a first lady is headed without White House cooperation. Obama, unlike the president, doesn't travel with a regular press retinue that records every public moment. The White House doesn't "provide details about the first lady's personal activities" to protect her privacy, said Semonti Stephens, a spokeswoman.

Target, also doesn't allow photographers to shoot inside their stores without prior permission from the company.

In Target news that's also related to Michelle Obama, one of the first lady's favorite designers, Jason Wu, is now collaborating with the discount chain on women's wear and accessories. As The Huffington Post Style's Ellie Krupnick relayed this morning:

Wu told Women's Wear Daily, "The exciting thing about this limited edition collection of affordable women’s wear and accessories is that it allows me to reach a wider audience and bring my designs to people who may not have been able to purchase them before."

Such as... Michelle Obama? The First Lady has been a huge Wu fan since she made him a household name, wearing one of his original designs at the 2009 Inaugural Ball. But Obama is also a Target fan, seen shopping at the big-box store just last week.

All of which makes Jason Wu for Target the perfect storm of FLOTUS faves -- and has us so totally freaking out. We will be first in line when the collection drops.

Comments

[headkat1]

01:06 AM on 10/09/2011

It makes sense, after the Obama economy she's setting an example for the rest of us. It's the only place we can afford to shop.

[headkat1]

01:02 AM on 10/09/2011

How the standards have hit bottom. I'm thinking of other first ladies with some dignity and style... can't Michelle wait another year? After that she can run to all the discount stores she can handle. Is this where our tax dollars for security of the first family is going? I wonder what she needs to replenish from Target?

[collectsrocks]

11:40 AM on 10/06/2011

Our local Target was having big sales going on the same day/week. Thirty to fifty percent off many items store wide including school supplies and inexpensive Halloween items. The "conspiracy theories" thing still has me laughing. Duh, as if! rofl

[Msichana Mrefu]

06:24 PM on 10/05/2011

whats the big deal?its just Target shopping

[GT66]

01:48 PM on 10/05/2011

Awww...look! She's being like regular people! How folksy!

[Bystander]

12:58 PM on 10/05/2011

Guess the WH wants to suggest that Michele is so frugal. Well, perhaps with her own money. But not so much if we taxpayers (and US creditors, like China) pick up the tab. Judicial Watch has reported that the cost of Air Force aircraft alone for her recent African vacation (that included 21 family members and friends) cost over $400k. Oh, but that's right, it was a "goodwill trip." Like her vacation to Spain (wink, wink, nod, nod).

[MillerMan]

04:38 PM on 10/06/2011

It's amazing how "you people" sit and moan about this and that and things that were never an issue when Pinky and the Brain were running up the bills. reagen (spelled the why I like) ran up the biggest deficit ever and told you deficits don't matter.

Turn oof faux and stop being so petty; we are the USA and if we are too cheap to send our First Lady somewhere, well shame on us.

[Bystander]

05:15 PM on 10/06/2011

Fortunately, she doesn't have all that much time left to vacation on our nickle.

[headkat1]

01:10 AM on 10/09/2011

What???? Do you think we should give her a raise?

[Don Stalvino]

08:18 PM on 10/04/2011

When her husband is unemployed in 2013, maybe she can find a job there, if they are hiring.

[Marc Menard]

01:50 PM on 10/05/2011

He IS an educated black man y'know. Now with an enviable resume'

[headkat1]

01:12 AM on 10/09/2011

He did promise to "fundamentally change America!" and by George, he has!! Can't wait until I can vote again......anything's better..... At least the economy can't get any worse.....

[emma richmond]

04:37 PM on 10/04/2011

Well we guess you people are going to follow this drug addict of the Cliff, Rush sure is busy watching and keeping his eyes on President Obama Wife, where is his Wife, for a newly wed

First Lady have been going out shopping at Target, for a while, it just that the Wide Load Rush trying to make a big deal out of it, People shop where they like, for you people always yelling about Democracy and Freedom Speech, why in the he.. are they complainting and Bit.....? One comment MENTION NEIMAN MARCUS, IF SHE WOULD SHOP THERE, THERE WOULD BIT...... WHY IS THEY STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS, IT HAPPEN LAST WEEK, WHY IS IT ANY ARTICLE TODAY, you can tell when there is nothing to talk about, all the NEWS out there the only thing they can focus on is where the First Lady shopping at TARGET. Good the first lady shopping at target, give them something to talk about, because you're DARN IF YOU do and Darn if she don't. WE SAY TO ALL THE HATERS, KISS OFF AND GO TO HE.., YOU GO FIRST LADY.

[headkat1]

01:15 AM on 10/09/2011

Emma, there's class and there's class! What is she showing by shopping at Target? Do we really need to be told by Michelle where to shop in this lousy economy? If we COULD shop, we'd surely know where!

[Rich Cash]

11:26 PM on 10/03/2011

Hardly a "conspiracy" but obviously staged. "Us Obama's are just regular folks who shop at Target rather than sending someone to Neiman Marcus for the kids flip-flops." Really?

[Bonnie511]

07:47 PM on 10/03/2011

If it is or is not staged, that affects you how?

[jgleveq]

05:56 PM on 10/03/2011

It looks like most commenters on this blog didn't read the article: they just look at the headline to jump to their keyboard and make make foolish remarks irrelevant to the essence of the story! Forget about Rush: Read the article, and you'll realize that the whole "event" seems to have indeed been staged! For whatever reason....

[Michele Belin Beulah]

05:32 PM on 10/03/2011

A trip to Target is a conspiracy???!!! Wow!! Glad I know where to go for a good laugh!!!!!

[collectsrocks]

11:42 AM on 10/06/2011

Don't forget your "consipiracy" coupons. ;=)

[byb9605]

05:21 PM on 10/03/2011

Under the definition of blowhard in the dictionary is a picture of Rush!
I think anyone should be able to shop wherever they like . . . it's called freedom.

[V-Bottom]

05:19 PM on 10/03/2011

The clothes have to blend in with regard to what other black women wear at Dollar Stores. Buy American did she...?? I quit reading........

[ccalvin57]

05:18 PM on 10/03/2011

Michelle has never been in a Target in her life, until this. How did they decide it would be a Target? I guess it couldn't be a Walmart, you know everyone hates Walmart, except the millions that shop their every day. It was totally staged, why would she go shopping by herself, trying to hide from the public? She probabley called the press herself and told them to meet her there, or better yet ask for a ride. Just another ruse to try and show us Americans how "Normal" they are.
Sure I'll vote for your husband because you shop at Target. Give me a break, bunch of fakes.

[cbgilbert]

05:21 PM on 10/03/2011

How do you know the information you posted. How do you know who shops at Target and Walmart? Are you a Washington insider who keeps up with the gossip? Or just an unhappy person?

[jgleveq]

06:10 PM on 10/03/2011

So, you believe that it was an incognito shopping trip? Did she park in the open parking lot, and just walked-in??? where's the secret service detail?
ccalvin57! You're right on the" money" on this one: you have people who just have no COMMON SENSE' let alone have any kind of objective opinion. Fools will be fools!

[ccalvin57]

07:54 PM on 10/03/2011

Belileve me if she had ever been to Walmart or Target, then why is THIS trip such a big deal to the press? only explanation is this is a first.

[ccalvin57]

05:44 PM on 10/03/2011

I work at Walmart, and I have never seen her. Your such a jerk, if you think this is anything BUT a setup. Get some smarts, think for yourself take a look at this President you think is helping things. What has he done since he has been in office except talk? NOTTA. How much money can he spend to get jobs? At last count it was about 250,000 per job that the government has spent. Sure 225,000 for one of his yet to be seen "shovel ready " jobs. His Green companies has gone bankrupt, and left us taxpayers holding the bag. THIS is the man you want to reelect? You need to stop believing every thing you hear, and think for yourself for once in your life.

[wendoxia]

07:34 PM on 10/03/2011

Oh.... you work at WALMART! NO wonder you're pissd she didnt bring a little press to your store.

Go back to school and you can get a better job, like our first lady did..Oh and, its spelled NADA..not notta.

[phillica2]

01:20 PM on 10/04/2011

Absolutely this is the family I want to be in the white house. Sorry you do not have a good job (nothing wrong with walmart) but Because of Obama I do. And so what if it was staged I too love Target and will continue to shop there