Fact check: First lady's false fairy tale of struggle

PJABBER

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Feb 8, 2001
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We look to our nation's leaders to tell us the truth, hard as it may be.

They do, sometimes, but in ways that they believe will be palatable or even inspirational.

We hold them to a certain standard and when they betray that standard we feel personally betrayed and inclined to elect them out of office.

Should we have a similar standard for their spouses and their spokespeople?

This election season has been one endless cycle of "he lies" and "she lies" accusations. The great majority, maybe all of these accusations, particularly against the Republican candidates, have been proved false, spurious and political shenanigans meant to distract from the real issues we face. I expect these false, malicious and, yes, mundane accusations to continue in the months yet to come, and beyond.

Many here post critically about the Romney family's privileged position.

We do know that Mitt Romney gave away all of his inheritance from his father as a tribute to his father's and his own values. Romney and his family tithe and contribute substantially to charity (nearly $3 million to charitable causes out of taxable income of $21.6 million in 2010), itself a true contrast to most senior Democrat politicians. By the time his father had died, Romney had worked his way into a very comfortable living. His was not the life of unearned privilege but one where he worked for notable success.

Last night we heard the President's wife deliver a stirring speech. It was impressive, it brought tears to the eyes of adoring Democrats, though none fainted as expected.

Michelle spoke of a "hard" life, of rusty cars and old sofas. Maybe a car was rusty and the sofa used, but what we know of Michelle and Barack is that their lives were far apart from those who are truly needy. We still don't know anything about the President's academic records, he continues to hide them from public scrutiny, but we do know quite a bit of where the First Couple lived and how they lived and whom they associated with.

The speech Michelle gave was to connect this very privileged couple to the ordinary voter.

It is really too bad that it was a lie told brilliantly.

FACT CHECK: FIRST LADY'S FALSE FAIRY TALE OF STRUGGLE

by JOEL B. POLLAK 5 Sep 2012, 5:58 AM PDT

First Lady Michelle Obama’s pitch to voters last night relied on the premise that she and her husband understand what it is to struggle to make ends meet. She spoke movingly about their early years--about how a young Barack Obama drove a car that was “rusted out" and found his furniture “in a dumpster,” how they both came from families that had to “scrape by.” Her fairy tale--however well-delivered--was one great, big colorful lie.

Both Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama began their adult lives with a leg up on the rest of America. They attended elite schools: Michelle went to Whitney Young, the public magnet school for Chicago’s upper class, while Barack attended Punahou, the private prep school for the top stratum of Hawaiian society. They were accepted to Ivy League schools despite undistinguished credentials, and both attended Harvard Law School.

“elieve it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage,” Michelle said. That sounds like a raw deal--but in fact reflects their fortunate circumstances. They had both just graduated from a very expensive law school, and their combined income from cushy law firm jobs dwarfed the repayments. Barack also soon enjoyed a second salary from the University of Chicago.

They had expensive tastes, reflected in the $277,500 two-bedroom condo they bought in 1993--a high price even by today’s standards. Several years later, they moved into their $1.65 million mansion in Hyde Park--with the help of fraudster Tony Rezko. Barack often told a story of hardship on the campaign trail in 2008 about having his credit card declined--once. The fact that he thought this counted as real hardship speaks volumes.

As her husband moved onto the national political stage, Michelle Obama began to enjoy a lavish lifestyle at taxpayer expense, directly and indirectly. When Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, he obtained a $1 million earmark for the University of Chicago Hospital--and his wife’s salary as Vice President for Community Affairs jumped from $121,910 to $316,962. Her job: pushing poor, uninsured patients to other hospitals.

As First Lady, Michelle Obama has lived high on the hog while the rest of the country has suffered through an extraordinary recession. In 2010, she and her entourage decamped to Spain for a lavish vacation. That summer, the Obamas encouraged Americans to visit the Gulf coast after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which threatened tourism in the region. They promptly jetted off to Maine for their own summer holiday.

This summer, the Obamas skipped their usual summer trip to the wealthy playground of Martha’s Vineyard--months after Michelle and her daughters had enjoyed an expensive winter skiing trip in Aspen. And, of course, there are the frequent pilgrimages to Hawaii, Some of their family’s comfort, of course, comes from private income, principally Barack Obama’s book sales--yet even that wealth is a spin-off of Obama’s political career.

If, as the Democrats eagerly pointing out, Mitt Romney enjoyed the privilege of private wealth, the Obamas have enjoyed privilege funded by public money and public life. And until entering the national spotlight, they gave little to charity, contributing instead to a church that preached racial grievance.

“[T]ruth matters,” Michelle Obama told the nation last night. That, too, is a lie--because so far, she has evaded it without consequence.
 
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Todd33

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2003
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They had expensive tastes, reflected in the $277,500 two-bedroom condo they bought in 1993

LOL, that is a lot of spin. I bought a $200k house while in graduate school on a $25k salary with my wife who made the same. It's called a bank loan. Sounds like the author is ignoring their early life and focusing on them after they were successful.

I'm not sure how going to school and getting a job is in anyway comparable to being born into a rich family, but maybe I'm missing something.
 
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PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
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I'm sooooo shocked that the adoring throng (the media) and the delegates would believe tripe spewed forth about the dear leader.... I'm surprised she didn't say he was born from a ray of sunshine on a mountaintop or something.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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What a crock of shit - I love how this sleaze ignores the first 24 years of her life (as if ones struggle growing up and education means nothing).

Also - Obama and his family swam in the waters of the Gulf when they came down to visit after the oil spill, and Mrs. Obama took her family to the same attractions and sites that I have taken my own family to (on many occasions).

If you're looking to paint someone as out of touch, and look no further than Mittens and his wife, the couple who spends millions of dollars training horses how to do ballet. At least Mrs. Obama is relatable and down to earth - The Romney family is miles in the sky, and approaching orbit by comparison.
 
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PJABBER

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Feb 8, 2001
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They had expensive tastes, reflected in the $277,500 two-bedroom condo they bought in 1993
LOL, that is a lot of spin. Sounds like the author is ignoring their early life and focusing on them after they were successful. I thought the right loved success stories? Do we expect the Obama's to be homeless up until the election?

$277,500.00 in 1993 had the same buying power as $441,324.74 in 2012.

Annual inflation over this period was 2.47%.
 

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
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I read that whole thing and couldn't find the part indicating either one of them grew up more than middle class (at the best). Feel free to post details to the contrary, since you haven't done so yet.

All I've read about is how they got themselves into good schools despite "undistinguished credentials" (ambiguous enough to be meaningless). Past that, everything they have they've worked for. Looks like sour grapes for people who are successful at life and happen to hold different political views than you. Feel free to correct anything I've stated (using facts, preferably).

Thanks.
 

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
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1993 was what 19 years ago

BHO is 51 now so he bought a 450K equivalent house at age 32 and that is supposed to be a sign that he and Michelle had a fairy tale life now?
 

diesbudt

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2012
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1993 was what 19 years ago

BHO is 51 now so he bought a 450K equivalent house at age 32 and that is supposed to be a sign that he and Michelle had a fairy tale life now?

I dont know if that was the point exactly, but just a use of words to embelish the real point.

But I can see the point in that they didn't "struggle" to the real definition or meaning of struggle many Americans have felt for almost the last decade.
 
Nov 30, 2006
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I wish our family had to "struggle" like that when we were growing up. She has no idea what it's like to be dirt poor and truly struggle.
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
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1993 was what 19 years ago

BHO is 51 now so he bought a 450K equivalent house at age 32 and that is supposed to be a sign that he and Michelle had a fairy tale life now?

That may not be the best example but crying about how rough things are while going to Ivy League schools can fall on deaf ears.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
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Barack attended Punahou, the private prep school for the top stratum of Hawaiian society. They were accepted to Ivy League schools despite undistinguished credentials, and both attended Harvard Law School.

anybody every wonder how a pothead mediocre student was able to get into Harvard? much less find the money to go to a Ivy league school? his dad was a goat herder and his mom was poor. so wtf??
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
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"Fact check" from Breitbart.com? :rolleyes:

Such dishonest sleaze!

Michelle went to Whitney Young, the public magnet school for Chicago’s upper class...

There is no such thing as a magnet school for anyone's upper class. Magnet schools are generally based on merit. Whitney M. Young certainly is.

Michelle Obama got into Whitney M. Young on her academic acheivements alone. http://www.wyoung.org/admissions_process.jsp

Freshman Admission: Apply to Whitney M. Young Magnet High School through the Selective Enrollment High School admissions process:

The Selective Enrollment High Schools selection process is based on a point system, with a maximum of 900 points. Criteria for selection is based on an application score that balances entrance exam results with standardized test scores and final classroom grades. The application score consists of:
-- The entrance exam (33 1/3% or 300 points)
-- 7th grade reading and math test results (33 1/3% or 300 points)
-- 7th grade reading, math, science and social studies grades (33 1/3% or 300 points)
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
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LOL, that is a lot of spin. I bought a $200k house while in graduate school on a $25k salary with my wife who made the same. It's called a bank loan. Sounds like the author is ignoring their early life and focusing on them after they were successful.

I'm not sure how going to school and getting a job is in anyway comparable to being born into a rich family, but maybe I'm missing something.

You mean the OP is being disingenuous? Never. This thread is going to be hilarious. Pulls a up a chair to watch the dumb...
 
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kia75

Senior member
Oct 30, 2005
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anybody every wonder how a pothead mediocre student was able to get into Harvard? much less find the money to go to a Ivy league school? his dad was a goat herder and his mom was poor. so wtf??

Wait a minute, Obama was poor? I thought He was rich and went to an expensive Private school. Which is it, rich or poor?

Next thing you'll tell me is he's a Muslim Atheist.
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
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I just love that she tried to turn this into how much less privileged they were than the Romneys.

That's a shameful argument for why someone should vote for a candidate. But when they can't run on the last four years, you gotta take what you can get.
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
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"Fact check" from Breitbart.com? :rolleyes:

Such dishonest sleaze!



There is no such thing as a magnet school for anyone's upper class. Magnet schools are generally based on merit. Whitney M. Young certainly is.

Michelle Obama got into Whitney M. Young on her academic acheivements alone. http://www.wyoung.org/admissions_process.jsp

Do you mean to tell me that Breitbart.com might embelish the truth on occasion? You mean it's not a 100% honest site known for posting facts and videos without massive editing to change the content? I also find it funny when people ask for the academic records since Romney hasn't released his, Bush didn't release his (they were illegally released by a third party), no President releases theirs, but of course you won't hear him mention that most Presidential candidates release more than one year of federal only income tax returns.

PJabber being here is great, it's like if cybrsage and spidey had an insane baby. His threads always crack me up.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
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Wait a minute, Obama was poor? I thought He was rich and went to an expensive Private school. Which is it, rich or poor?

Next thing you'll tell me is he's a Muslim Atheist.

thats what im trying to figure out!!! his mom was not rich by any means so how did he go to expensive private schools and get accepted when in his books in his own words he was a pothead less than average student?
 

nehalem256

Lifer
Apr 13, 2012
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thats what im trying to figure out!!! his mom was not rich by any means so how did he go to expensive private schools and get accepted when in his books in his own words he was a pothead less than average student?

I thought his Grandma, who he was close to, was the VP of a bank?
 

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
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From Wikipedia:

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III,[3] a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain, and Marian (née Shields), a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store. [4] Her mother was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school.[5] The Robinson and Shields families can trace their roots[6] to pre-Civil War African Americans in the American South. Specifically, she is descended from the Gullah people of South Carolina's Lowcountry region.[7] Her paternal great-great grandfather, Jim Robinson, was an American slave in the state of South Carolina,[8][9] where some of her paternal family still reside.[10][11] Her maternal great-great-great grandmother, Melvinia Shields, also a slave, became pregnant by a white man. His name and the nature of their union have been lost. She gave birth to Michelle's biracial maternal great-great grandfather, Dolphus T. Shields.[12]

Michelle grew up in a two-story house on Euclid Street in Chicago's South Shore community area. Her parents rented a small apartment on the house's second floor from her great-aunt, who lived downstairs.[4][13][14][15] She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, the father works, you have dinner around the table".[16] The family entertained together by playing games such as Monopoly and by reading.[17] They attended services at nearby South Shore Methodist Church.[13] The Robinsons used to vacation in a rustic cabin in White Cloud, Michigan.[13] She and her brother, Craig (who is 21 months older), skipped the second grade. By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).[18]

She attended Whitney Young High School,[19] Chicago's first magnet high school, where she was a classmate of Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita.[17] The round trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to the Near West Side, where the school was located, took three hours.[20] She was on the honor roll for four years, took advanced placement classes, a member of the National Honor Society and served as student council treasurer.[4] Michelle graduated in 1981 as the salutatorian of her class.[20]

I don't see how anyone can label that as priveledged and commuting 3 hours a day to school is something I would consider a struggle.

She graduated salutatorian of her class in a Magnet School so are you guys going to start complaining about her being a product of Affirmative action since she went to Princeton?