Sunday
Mar152009
New York Hearts Mrs. O
Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 10:58 PM 
With glossy magazine covers featuring Mrs. O at every turn, New York magazine has taken things to the next level. They've not only put Mrs. O on the cover of their March 23 issue, they appear to have devoted the entire magazine to the First Lady's iconic influence. The sixteen articles (!) and gallery of artists' interpretations will keep us busy reading tomorrow morning; click here to get started.
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Reader Comments (70)
Regarding the Churchill bust - I did a little research...
The Churchill bust was replaced with a bust of Abraham Lincoln (which now sits to the right of the fireplace) and then the other bust Bush had has now been replaced by a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King (which now sits to the left of the fireplace). I think that those two bust are totally appropriate.
Photo below:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0a885n4gQK3nS/oval_office
Jojo, that's an interesting question. The illustration was done by Gluekit, a design team specializing in collage (pasted papers), thus their name.
But this image doesn't look like either collaged paper, brush painting or pencil drawing. And it's definitely not a photograph from life.
It almost looks like a 3-D animation figure -- like the characters in Toy Story -- which was then converted to 2-D with added computer painting for the halo effect. It also could have been printed and re-photographed to give it more realistic depth and "shine." I like it a lot.
But in the original photo of Mrs. O that was scanned to start the process, the dress may have been a different color than it is now.
It's beating a dead horse but, for the record, this makes the Prime Minister's give more poingnant: I understand the Prime Minister gave President Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet, sister ship to HMS Resolute from whose timbers the President's desk is made.
It is official - another celebration today at the White House: St. Patrick's!
I would comment more on the "gaffe" of the Obama's gift-giving, but I'm still overwhelmed with the serious mistakes and mind-boggling crimes of the Bush administration.
For example, I wonder what someone like Valerie Plame (the CIA agent outed by Bush/Cheney) would have to say about the "mistakes" made by the new occupants of the White House...
Debra: Fact Check Time
It was Dick Armitage (Colin Powell's right hand man at State) who leaked Valerie Plame's name to Bob Woodward of the Wash. Post. Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame filed a civil lawsuit against Rove, Libby and Cheney (later adding Armitage).
The Judge dismissed the lawsuit and the Wilsons appealed. A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the dismissal.
Scooter Libby was convicted of perjury and was not pardoned by President Bush.
Forgot to add that the Plame/Wilson's could still appeal to the US Supreme Court...
The thing about the gift for the girls that no one has mentioned yet is that Top Shop is about to open it's first store in the US. Perhaps I'm a bit cynical, but I would say there's a bit of promoting going on there, considering how much attention the girls got in their JCrew outfits. It's part of a head of state's job to promote their country's products, of course, but it would be a huge coup for Top Shop for the girls to be photographed in its clothing right when it is opening its first US store.
Given that, I don't really think that the helicopters can be considered tacky in comparison. Both gifts were fine. As for the DVDs. . . I haven't seen a list of what they were. If it was a retrospective of American classics, promoting out film industry, I would think it was fine, too, as long as it is the right region to play on British DVD players.
I think that the cover image is a photo illustration, perhaps of a picture taken during the DNC. I've never seen Mrs. O wearing lipstick the exact same shade as her dress.
Lilly, I think your post makes some good points. I don't know that I agree that Desiree Rogers is more interested in promoting herself than doing her job, but I can see where people could consider the gift-giving occasion a misstep. I think it'll get better, though.
I have to remind myself that it's not healthy to get so wrapped up in politicians that I think they can do no wrong -- it wasn't good when it was Bush, and it's not good when it's Obama.
ElJay, actually, we did mention TopShop is opening in the US in our original post:
http://www.mrs-o.org/?p=4490
The bust of Churchill was loaned to President Bush by Tony Blair after the 9/11 attacks. It was "intended as a symbol of transatlantic solidarity" according to Newsweek. It was never intended to remain in the States forever.
As for the gifts, I have to say, they did seem a little 'blah,' but then what wouldn't, in comparison to the gift Mr. Brown gave to Mr. Obama? It would be difficult to match that. I also agree that it probably was someone's job to think about this in advance, and a mistake was made. Mistakes are allowable! It doesn't mean we love the O's any less.
The gift for Mrs. Bush was very thoughtful, and shows what Mrs. O would do when given proper time to think about it. For what it's worth, it mirrored a gift Mrs. B reportedly gave Mrs. O on her first visit to the White House - a journal to keep track of special memories. In return, Mrs. O gave Mrs. B a journal to begin her memoirs. You hear more about the latter gift because it was made public by the media there that day.
Magnolia: Logic-Check Time!
Yes, Armitage also gave up Plame's name to the media. But, he wasn't the only one. You forget that Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, as well as perjury. He misled authorities, according to court testimony. Who was he protecting? Only Cheney and Bush were above him in the hierarchy. Rove was also implicated in court testimony by some of the press (like Tim Russert) who had to talk under oath. So we have Libby and Rove, one the right-hand man to Cheney, the other, the right-hand man to Bush, both involved in outing a CIA agent by talking to the press.
One piece of evidence in the Libby trial was a hand-written note by Cheney. He didn't like that his guy was having to take the fall. But Libby did take the fall for exchange of no jail time. He paid a fine, that was all. That was Bush's side of the deal: to give Libby a get-out-jail free card.
Saying that Armitage was the only one at fault is like saying that the guy who robbed a bank in the afternoon isn't at fault because someone else robbed the bank that morning. The logic is flawed.
In addition, Armitage told the truth when questioned by the prosecution. The Bush cabal lied and obstructed justice. Why do you think they did that if they weren't guilty of something? As Patrick Fitzgerald observed when discussing Libby's role: the umpire can't see the play if someone throws sand in his face.
One more thing: Bush and Cheney had motive. They wanted to discredit Plame's husband by creating some distraction about her role in her husband's trip to Niger. As we all now know, the Iraq war was based on lies and Joe Wilson had just exposed one of those lies.
Sorry Mrs. T, I meant no one in the comment discussion! I think it's an important thing to remember when talking about how thoughtful the gifts for the girls are or are not.
ElJay-
The DVDs were American classic films and the gift set was produced by the American Film Institute as a 'special request' for the White House.
Here's a list of the films on a chart about halfway down the page on this link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html
Spot on Leah D on every issue raised!
And Alsace, I agree with you re: the Brown's initiating this visit and bringing the so called "thoughtful" gifts...
The Brown's were aware that the Obama's were going to be in London for the G20 meeting in April and at that time "appropriate" gifts would be presented...But this quickly put together trip was Brown pushing his initiative and seeking support for his economic recovery effort-
And yes, the Telegraph and Times are right leaning publications - nary a good word for the Obama's and always seeking to denigrate them...
By the way, the Times is owned by Rupert Murdoch owner of the New York Post...enough said!
All much ado about nothing really...
We should realize that state gifts usually are from well known national craftmen (crystal, wood, silver etc..); with historical value and symbolism. DVD's and some helicopters are not - in my estimation - of good taste, given the fact that this Nation is so rich in traditions and resourecs. Who decided on these gifts, is a mystery. I am pretty sure the President and Mrs. Obama were given these gifts to present. It is not as if they went shopping for these gifts themselves! The White House Chief of Protocol really missed this one. And I am pretty sure an embarrasing situation like this will not be repeated. What a shame!
On second thoughts...if I invited myself, then I get what I deserve, however "thoughtful" the gifts I bear might be. Afterall, I went uninvited and pushed my way in. I should be just happy I wasn't thrown out. :)
Actually Top Shop is much cheaper than the Gap...
Not exactly as awe inspiring as those who insist the Obama's botched the gift-giving bit would have us believe-
My sister couldn't stop laughing when she heard folks were gushing about 2 dresses and plastic necklaces from Top Shop the Browns got the Obama girls -
People oughta save their faux outrage for more substantial and actual disses...
Where would I be without "Mrs-O.org"! you guys are the best. Thanks for the heads up on this mag.and so many other gems you guys ALWAYS seem to find! Keep p the great work.