(Jake Turcotte)
DC area schools actually open - Obama goes to visit daughter
By Jimmy Orr | 01.29.09
Demonstrating Chicago toughness to DC folk today, Barack and Michelle Obama trudged through a blizzard uphill – both ways – to get their daughter Sasha to school this morning.
Well, OK, it was sunny. And their daughter wasn’t with them. And they took a 15-car motorcade. But they did go to her school.
(Unlike other motorcades, by the way, where they get to blow through stoplights, this one observed traffic rules. It was an unofficial trip, so they obey laws).
Show and tell
No word on what the president might have said at the school, except we’re told there was a class presentation. Perhaps Sasha was presenting the President of the United States. This would likely clobber any other show-and-tells today.
Toughness
Of course, this comes a day after President Obama lampooned Wednesday’s school closings, stating that in the Windy City, “My seven-year-old pointed out that you’d go outside for recess in weather like this….. You wouldn’t even stay indoors. So it’s – I don’t know. We’re going to have to try to apply some flinty Chicago toughness to this town.”
The tough Chicagoans arrived back at the White House shortly before 10am.
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2. WIDTAP | 01.29.09
There is nothing wrong for calling for kids to be in school, even in less-than-ideal weather.
I have to ask, however, were his kids Chicago-tough enough to go out and shovel the driveway?
3. JTW | 01.29.09
DC schools were open. It was the private school where his daughters go that was closed.
4. Linda Cartwright | 01.29.09
A 15 car motorcade?! That seems excessive, even for the president,as Americans tighen THEIR belt!
5. Cut the Spending | 01.29.09
Does Obama really need a 15 car Motorcade? I’m sure Bush had a large Motorcade himself, but with a deficit like we have is it really necessary? I’m sure a 5 car motorcade would have gotten him there just as safe.
Ridiculous spending in DC…
6. Deal with it | 01.29.09
15-car motorcade, Chicago weather, whatever, everyone who did not vote for him, still have their bloomers in an uproar and anything to whine about. Get over it, he is going to do a good job and he is proving it. Stop crying. Grow up. Just like he said in his acceptance speech, lets put aside our petty differences.
7. no_offense | 01.29.09
Mr.President,
Why did you choose a private school for your kids? Oh, I think, public schools are not good for president’s kids but just for the general population. FOR A CHANGE, you should have chosen to send them to public school and make sure they provide just like private schools.
My illusions.
8. Dennis Reiley | 01.29.09
“Widtap”, I never expected my daughters to shovel snow until they were in their teens. Same with my son.
To the others, I’ll bet there was also a helicopter gunship close enough to respond in less then three minutes; probably a flight of fighters was within ten minutes range also. The Secret Service is very security conscious; justifiably so.
9. john | 01.29.09
I’m sure the size of the motorcade is determined by the secret service and is for the safety of our president. They are the experts as to what is needed to insure his safety. Let’s not second guess the pros.
10. Ken | 01.29.09
I think a 15 car motorcade is just right, have you ever been to DC?
Anyways, Chicago probably has a better system with dealing with ice and snow on the roads, but it doesn’t snow often here and thus our performance and preparations suffer.
11. Duke Calaway | 01.29.09
Does Obama really need a 15 car Motorcade?
First off our newly elected president at day 8 is receiving more Death threats, more criticism than George W at day 2919. most notably thx to those bias, racist, ignorant right wing conservative liars, war mongers, and just plain dirty people. . .and especially thx to laxy daisy nra gun laws that those hillbillies, tundrabillies, and neos blatantly enjoy the world is a much more dangerous place for blacks, muslims, jews, asians, hispanics, gays, and straights
then there are the proud ignorants the ones who is even questioning whether our new president needs a 15 car motorcade the ones who dont think race crimes are still being committed, or that school shootings only happens on tv. WELL HERE NEWS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW THERES A jeb and joe trenchcoat with a mini militia in their basement waiting for the right opportunity
SO GOD Bless Barrack and his family -and Mr President do what ever you need to do to keep yourself and our country safe.
12. Lisa | 01.29.09
if the madmen in your country would ease up on the death threats the secret service wouldn’t need a 15-car motorcade.
13. French | 01.29.09
Did you know the DC public schools did not close — if he had his daughters in DC public schools instead of an elite expensive private school, they would not have had snow days!
14. Li Tai Fang | 01.29.09
What’s wrong with motorcade to protect our president?
If there were a lunatic with an AK-47 spraying bullets at the president’s car, we’d all be crying where was that 15-car motorcade.
As for sending president’s children to public school…. they’ll require a battalion of NAVY SEALS to go with them to ensure their safety in crowded public areas. No need for the drama: send them to private schools.
15. Bruce | 01.29.09
If he gets a smaller motorcade, there would be more layoffs. Then the stimulus package might increase it to 20 vehicles. 
16. Beardsley IV | 01.29.09
I didn’t vote for Obama, but I’m not going to waste any energy over the motorcade issue. He did all of DC a favor by letting them know they are all a bunch of whiney weather wimps.
17. Ed | 01.29.09
Tough and flinty is one thing, but egging people on in dangerous conditions is another. Four people in my state of Arkansas died in the ice storm we just had, and more died in other states. Not everyone has the luxury of living in an urban setting where cars aren’t needed and a school is just a few buildings away.
I’d rather have school closed than have my child mourn the death of a classmate or teacher. It’s not guaranteed to happen, but why increase the odds?
18. Gina | 01.29.09
You can’t expect not only the president of the united states but the first BLACK president of the united states to feel like his daughters would be SAFE in public school systems!! Seriously! The school they chose is well versed dealing with security issues for past presidents children and other diploments. The safety of his kids was his primary concern. His decision was the same decision ANY of you would have made in the exact same situation.
19. dejavu nj | 01.29.09
Stop hating!!! his children are where they are because past presidents have sent their children to private schools. Why should he do anything differently. And yes, it is less drama in the private school. If he placed them in the public schools than you would start crying about all of the protection that they are getting in the public schools. Again, Stop Hating!!!!
Yes, it does take a 15 car motorcade as others have said. Hate crimes still exist and if you’d get your head out of the bubble you would know this. There are still too many people who can not get pass color. At the end of the day, He is still a human, color shouldn’t matter. But AMERICA is still IGNORANT!!!!
Change must come…accept it! AND STOP Hating!!!!!
20. Tim | 01.29.09
“you should have chosen to send them to public school and make sure they provide just like private schools”
All you crazy racist internet types would just LOVE to find out that Sasha goes to a public school, so you could barge in and shoot up the place, to make some sick point.
21. Laura Hayes | 01.29.09
Is there a reason for the 15 car motorcade? He seems to think things though before acting and I doubt if he deliberately will waste money.
22. Linda Cartwright | 01.29.09
Boy, isn’t this interesting after ALL the VICIOUS things said by the far left, here they are telling conservatives to “stop hating”, it was THEM that have shown the most vulgar HATE I have seen in all my 50 something years to Bush……..Well, Obama for 4 years, then when the Democrats are done spending us right into bankrupcy………the Repulicans will return:)
23. Ms. Marshall | 01.30.09
I would like to say to all, we have a President that has the BEST interest at heart for ALL American’s. Let’s STOP making comments and statement that does not edify or uplift us as a people. Now is the time to pull together, EVERYONE, and let’s help this President get the economy back where it should be, so our kids can enjoy life and we can provide for our families a decent and comfortable life. The Bible states, “He who without SIN cast the first stone”. So I guess WE all have SIN and have fallen short, but Thanks to our All Mighty God that we can be forgiven and live an Abundant Life. Be Forever Blessed. My Prayers are constantly with our First Family. God Bless
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. law ed | 01.29.09
01 29 09
Well - this is exactly what all others should be doing. Teacher’s unions; politicians are biased toward convenience - Do we have a recession? From the way things are - IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT. Mr. President - YOU NEED TO CRACK DOWN HARD - children are being initiated into the world of ’sloth; convenience & a whole lot of junk.
Law ed