There’s been an unprecedented blizzard of action surrounding Malia Obama’s Mexico vacation. When Agence France Press posted on it the story took off, with Huffington Post, Politico and many other new-media outlets doing reports. Then parts of the story started disappearing across the web. Now values snob Rick Santorum has chimed in. He just couldn’t help himself.
This is nothing new. Every time First Lady Michelle Obama dares to take a holiday the gossip pit vipers come out to opine on how the First Lady shouldn’t dare take time off, let alone to attractive destinations. People evidently think her duty is to drop into Detroit and skip glamorous locales she’d just as likely visit as a private citizen.
Setting an example as first lady or first daughters shouldn’t include what you choose to do in private. Hey, but I’m kind of funny about public servants and the importance of time off. Everybody needs it, especially the First Family, but particularly kids caught in their parents’ ambitions.
As you look across the web you likely have also seen pictures of Malia and Sasha Obama in Obama 2012 reelect ads. They’ve taken a prominent place in ads talking about helping Pres. Obama stand up for families. You can see a very small photo of this ad in the HuffPost screen capture (via Buzzfeed) below.
Needless to say, showing an attractive family portrait is sound political strategy. That doesn’t make them fair game in public, at least not in the U.S.
The HuffPost story link on Malia’s Mexico spring break no longer works.
Rick Santorum felt compelled to jump into the fray through the Glenn Beck show (audio at the link).
“What I would say is that the president’s actions should reflect what his administration is saying,” Santorum told Beck. “If the administration is saying that it’s not safe to have people down there, then just because you can send 25 Secret Service agents doesn’t mean you should do it. You should set an example. I think that‘s what president’s do. They set an example. And when the government is saying this is not safe, then you don’t set the example by sending your kids down there.”
He also noted that he wasn‘t being critical of the president’s daughter, but rather referencing the president’s “higher duty.”
The State Department’s travel advisory on Mexico should chill anyone wanting to travel to Mexico. A short excerpt reads as follows:
Effective July 15, 2010, the U.S. Mission in Mexico imposed restrictions on U.S. government employees’ travel. U.S. government employees and their families are not permitted to drive for personal reasons from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of Mexico or Central America. Personal travel by vehicle is permitted between Hermosillo and Nogales but is restricted to daylight hours and the Highway 15 toll road (cuota).
U.S. government personnel and their families are prohibited from personal travel to all areas described as “defer non-essential travel” and when travel for official purposes is essential it is conducted with extensive security precautions. USG personnel and their families are allowed to travel for personal reasons to the areas where no advisory is in effect or where the advisory is to exercise caution.
Politico’s Dylan Byers was given confirmation that the White House had requested news agencies scrub the story. Kristina Schake, Communications Director to the First Lady offered this statement:
From the beginning of the administration, the White House has asked news outlets not to report on or photograph the Obama children when they are not with their parents and there is no vital news interest. We have reminded outlets of this request in order to protect the privacy and security of these girls.
I’m not a parent and don’t play one when writing either.
However, what makes Rick Santorum’s criticism of Pres. Obama galling is that he doesn’t even care whether he has correct information before offering judgment.
There is no travel warning where Malia Obama has been reported on spring break.
From the State Dept. Mexico travel warning page, which Glenn Beck’s website also noted:
Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are the major cities/travel destinations in Oaxaca -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: No warning is in effect.
The strongest warning about Oaxaca comes from an official Mexico travel site and focuses on political protests, urging foreigners not to involve themselves, but also the dangers of swimming along the Oaxaca coastal area.
Oaxaca (coastal): There have been a number of drownings along the beaches of the southern coast of Oaxaca, namely Zipolite Beach. Professional lifeguard training has contributed to a drop in fatalities, but swimmers are advised that currents can quickly become treacherous, even for accomplished swimmers.
A 7.4 earthquake hit the region yesterday, with the White House releasing a statement that Malia Obama is safe.
The comments on many pages revolve around the cost of 25 Secret Service agents to protect Malia Obama, as well as the usual comparison conversation on the Bush daughters.
Ron Paul has weighed in on the use of Secret Service calling it “welfare.” We got it, white man.
However, the best Secret Service story comes from Jezebel on the code names chosen by Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. It’s positively phallic, but then it would be. It’s about Republicans.
I honestly, don’t understand why the media even reported on Malia spring break. The secret service will have to follow this child around even when her parents leave the White House. I would assume those crying about their taxes being spent on Malia do know the child has no choice but to have secret service follow her around.
I swear – if the girls or Mrs. Obama went on a retreat to a nunnery they’d still have something negative to say about this. I happen to agree that anyone in the limelight needs mental health time off if only to feel normal again. She is safe and I resent that the Obama family has different standards set for them when it involves time off. Leave the kids alone.
I think they should leave the daughters alone end of story. Now, that being said I think Michelle Obama opens herself up to a lot of criticism by the vacations that she does take to places like Aspen. The nuts on the right are always going to yell about any vacation bu the fact of the matter is that Obama is preaching austerity and with the UE so high, Michelle’s vacations are usually a PR disaster for her. I wonder if she’s considered just going to a cabin somewhere there are no cameras or no press?
I agree with Ga6thDem 100%.
This is all a bunch of bullshit, and any sane person knows it. We had president Bush who took more vacations then all the rest of the presidents combined during two full blown wars, and there wasn’t a peep out of these wing nuts. All the nuts do is show how extreme there hatred is for anything Obama. The sad thing is that the MSM feeds into this crap by paying any attention to these wing nut gas bags.
I’m so glad you remind us of the Many Vacations of W. Of course, most of his were on his “ranch” in Texas, where he used a chain saw to whack down cedar trees and rode his dirt bike.
Who is a nut! People have differing opinions on things, even liberals like me. I have the same opinion no matter who is in office. Sanity indeed… I think that the Obamas are entitled to their vacations just as any other president would be. I think it is insensitive to do lavish vacations when much of the country is suffering. Just some restraint would be nice. Again, just an opinion, which I am entitled to.
Malia and Sasha should be OFF the table — period. They should not be in the news. But I disagree with Taylor… I think if the Obamas should not use them in photos for political gain. Again, just my opinion. (Again — I would feel this way about anyone in office).
Agreed. Politicians who use their kids as electoral props are asking for a double-standard to then call them off-limits.
Kids are off-limits. Period.
The same can’t be said regarding Mrs. Obama’s indulging in lavish living over-seas while our workers struggle at home.
Yawn!
Andrea Mitchell said it was a school trip. People seem to forget that these girls are only going to be the ages they are once. If their parents want them to have broadening experiences and can afford it they should.
I agree that Michelle should tone down her exotic locals while so many are suffering here. Take breaks away for sure but there are lots of nice places to go that are lower key.
I could not care less what Rick Santorum says about this.
However, I care a whole lot about this story, on several levels. First, she shouldn’t have gone. Whether there are warnings for that area is immaterial — if it requires 25 S Service agents to guard her, she shouldn’t be there. Period. That’s an appalling waste of taxpayer money. The optics on this trip are bad, which has to be one of the reasons the WH is trying so hard to keep it under wraps. Don’t care if it’s a school trip and her other classmates are going. Don’t care if her parents want her to do what the other kids do. Obama shouldn’t have run for president then. As being the kid of a prez affords opportunities, it also means you sometimes have to sacrifice.
Secondly, come on — off limits? Don’t use your kids as props (Sandra Fluke comes to mind) when it suits you then. You don’t get it both ways.
Third, and absolutely most disturbing, the compliant media that scrubbed the story. Really? The details were already out there, and countless media outlets simply rolled over the let the president and WH dictate to the news media. Appalling. Absolutely appalling.
Just wonering Beth if you felt the same way about one of the Bush girls and her work in South America? I’m sure it took the same numer of SS to guard her. How did the shopping trips Laura and the girls took to NYC hit you? They went to plays and did the designer fashion show scene. What about both Bush girls or Chelsey Clinton trying their best to have “normal” college experiences? That had to take many SS agents. Should they have been forced to sacrifice going to college?
No, Lake Lady, and I note that those three girls did NOT sacrifice going to college. And I don’t recall anyone every complaining about it. This is not college. This is a trip to Mexico. On top of a trip to Aspen or Vail. On top of 2-plus weeks in Hawaii. On top of Martha’s Vineyard. All these things cost lots and lots of money. At some point, we should get to say, “enough!!” (And yes, I would definitely say that to George Bush, too.)
I did not vote for George Bush, and I thought the Bush twins’ efforts to leave their agents behind deplorable and childish. But please — the publicity on the Bush girls’ trips was widespread. Instead .. this egregious waste of taxpayer money is brushed under the rug — and everyone here (mostly) seems to think it’s OK, because it’s a Democrat.
And I still say, the fact that media outlets scrubbed the story is a frightening example of the over-reach of the Obama administration.
wondering….
I think if the Bush girls required 25 Secret Service men for a trip we would have heard about it. The media hated Bush and would have never pulled a story for his White House.
Obuma has more control over the media than any president in my lifetime. It really is disturbing because his followers have no problem with it. It reminds me of a third world country…
Sasha — ditto, ditto, ditto.