FGOTUS A Political Weapon
Yahoo! has run a feature article on Marian Robinson, mother-in-law to the President, also known as FGOTUS (pronounced "fuh-GO-tus"), First Grandmother of the United States.
It's heartwarming to read how this 72-year-old woman--winner of the 50 and 100 meter track events in the 1997 Illinois Senior Olympics, no less--reluctantly allowed herself to be uprooted from her home in Chicago, the only home she had ever known, to help look after her two granddaughters. Sure, the job comes with perks, but it's widely recognized that 72-year-old women generally don't like to do that sort of thing.
Putting this sort of story out there is also politically astute. With the possible exception of his wife calling her daughters fat, President Obama's home life is exemplary. With his healthcare agenda in peril and Democratic Senators dropping like flies, Obama is wise to focus on the positives. And few things are more important than modeling a healthy family.
This strategic message from the White House media office has been consistent and sustained. So far all the Republicans have mustered to counter this storyline is Massachusetts Senator-Elect Scott Brown offering his daughters free to a good home and the saga of the star-crossed governor of South Carolina that won't seem to go away.
Wasn't it the Republicans who not long ago sold themselves as the party of family values? While the Democrats had the vibe of freewheeling, do-as-you-please baby-boomers? Funny how things change.
And they will probably change again.
Follow Technorati