News That Isn’t News: Michelle Obama’s Shorts « Frugal Café Blog Zone

News That Isn’t News: Michelle Obama’s Shorts

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on August 21, 2009

When the Obamas vacationed to the Grand Canyon last week, Michelle Obama wore shorts, apparently a 'fashion first' for a FLOTUS riding on Air Force One

When the Obamas vacationed to the Grand Canyon last week, Michelle Obama wore shorts, apparently a 'fashion first' for a FLOTUS riding on Air Force One


At least the media’s weird lovefest over her arms has subsided.

CAPITAL CULTURE: Michelle Obama’s shorts flap
By LISA ORKIN EMMANUEL
August 21, 2009

By now, Michelle Obama has firmly established her sartorial right to bare arms. But baring thighs may be another matter.

Photographs of the first lady descending the steps of Air Force One in shorts have the media in a sweat. Some are saying Mrs. Obama — on her way to the Grand Canyon for a family vacation — may have revealed too much skin.

Mrs. Obama is no stranger to public scrutiny over her fashion decisions, including exposing her bare arms or wearing expensive sneakers to a soup kitchen. When Anya Strzemien, style editor at The Huffington Post, saw Obama’s shorts, she knew there would be interest.

“I thought the fact that she wore shorts was newsworthy because she’s the first first lady to wear shorts on Air Force One,” Strzemien said. “I was interested as a newsperson because it was a first. A lot of things the Obamas have done have been firsts…”

“Interested as a newsperson”? Because Michelle O wore shorts during triple-digit temps in Arizona? While visiting a canyon?

And to think I thought that HuffPo was all liberal fluff and hit pieces on conservatives. My bad.

The weirdness about the media’s obsession about Michelle O’s shorts, though, continues. Apparently, there are people who are OUTRAGED, yes OUTRAGED, over this. Heck, here in Arizona, shorts are worn about 11 months out of the year, 12 months out of the year by those visiting from Minnesota. Some folks even swim on Christmas Day here, although I’m not one of them. During the summer, we get excited and look forward to any sudden cold spell… of 99 degrees F.

In other words… ARIZONA IS HOT. Crikey, this is silly stuff.

Who are these mysterious outraged people? The Amish? Al Qaeda? The Pope? Helen Thomas?

From Newsweek, Who, Exactly, Is Outraged At Michelle Obama’s Shorts? :

Michelle Obama wore shorts to visit the Grand Canyon. Have you heard? Everyone is up in arms—if by “everyone” you mean no one, or rather a large, shadow-y group of no ones.

According to the Today show, “some” are calling her fashion choice inappropriate—but the article quotes only those who support the look or, in the case of Washington Post fashion writer Robin Gihven, those who are “ambivalent” about bare legs for an August hiking trip in Arizona.

The Examiner declares Obama beautiful, then bemoans the fact that “some members of the media and the public” are upset. Who are those members of the media and the public? We don’t know—the article then goes on to endorse Obama and rebuke the nameless attackers.

Much ado about nothing… the MSM must be bored ignoring the town hall ObamaCare protests…

Other Michelle-O news that ISN’T news: Michelle-O’s “Cheeseburger Paradise” Binges Off Limits Now to Cameras… Let The Masses Eat Arugula!

Additional:
Michelle Malkin: And now for some hard-hitting reporting on Michelle Obama
Needs of the Many: Media Completely Manufactures Outrage Over Michelle Obama’s Shorts
Dvorak Uncensored: Back to real news: Michelle Obama wears shorts, oh no!
Track-A-’Crat: Michelle Obama, Fashion Disaster and Yours For Just $12.99! and Look The Part, Be The Part and A Law Unto Herself
Empty Suit: Michelle Obama’s Short-Shorts
Washington Post, Givhan on Fashion: A Judgment Call That Comes Up A Bit Short
Blatherings Blog: michelle obama’s state dinner dress (photos)
Lupe Lasano’s Dirty Gossip Burger: Michelle Obama Wears Short Shorts
Jim Blazsik: Nice Move Michelle!
Fire Andrea Mitchell!: The latest media craze surrounding America hater Michelle Obama? Her shorts!
Deadenders: Oh My, Hell Must Have Frozen Over
blonde sagacity: …And We’re Talking About Shorts?
Empty Suit: Michelle Obama’s Weight Problem
Gateway Pundit: They Feel Your Pain… Michelle O Wears $1850 Frock to Watch Hubby at SOTU Address
GayPatriot: Another Day, Another Democrat Insults Obamacare Opponents
Tarheeltalker: I Want to Have It Both Ways, Please
Arabiadeserta’s Blog: Of Shorts, Burqas, Clunkers, and Middle East First Ladies
Garnette’s View: Michelle Obama clothes and jewelry
NewsMax: Michelle Obama Accepting Fashion Freebies

About the author

Vicki McClure Davidson

I'm a conservative frugalist. My priorities: Watchdogging the government, making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely, living within our budgets (at home and in Washington, DC), and adhering to our Constitution and the conservative principles upon which it was developed by our founding fathers. Also, loving God, my family, and my country. Be wise, be frugal. God bless America!

Comments

4 Responses to “News That Isn’t News: Michelle Obama’s Shorts”

  1. Suzanne says:

    Because Michelle O wore shorts during triple-digit temps in Arizona? While visiting a canyon.
    Nothing wrong with that, we women all wear shorts. HOWEVER Michelle is not we the average women, she is the first lady. perhaps, from now on we should call her \FIRST WOMAN\ not \FIRST LADY\ who represents the U.S.A.
    Also, she needs take the \ETIQUETTE\ lesson, lady should not be climbing into the car showing her butt to the viewers, It’s disgraceful. she should had slide herself side way into the car, her butt first then lift her legs together into the car.

    • admin says:

      Good points, Suzanne, and these are shared by other people and news services. I’m not sure I agree with the “double standard” of Michelle-O dressing casually while vacationing at the Grand Canyon during the summer, but your point that she represents the USA is an excellent one.

      The media already has gone gaga for months about her “well-toned arms” and her being sleeveless at formal events, even during February, which is freezing cold in DC. They’ve called her a fashion maven for being sleeveless when common sense, to me, says you should wear sleeves, especially if it is to formal presidential-type events. They’ve herald her chicness and daring… sigh. That has bothered me much more than her wearing shorts to the Grand Canyon… the casual bare-armed thing when touring the UK seemed really inappropriate to me. Like going to a picnic or swim party rather than being on the international stage with a thousand international newspapers taking your photos. Just MHO.

      Thanks for your input. :)

    • arlenearmy says:

      Suzanne,
      you sure said that right. A grown woman wearing shorts needs to be careful how she gets in the vehicle. Especially w/the news cameras all over the place.

  2. Suzanne says:

    I’m So glad that someone agreed with me.
    Her bended hip with a short facing the entire world really bothers me, it’s disgraceful. She needs etiquette lesson.