Almost walking on water
I got a very funny email from someone today, although the humor was entirely unintentional. Read the email, and then, if you like, stop to read my comments at the end.
CHICAGO – President-elect Barrack Obama and his wife took their daughters to work at a food bank on the day before Thanksgiving, saying they wanted to show the girls the meaning of the holiday, especially when so many people are struggling.
Ten-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha joined their parents to shake hands and give holiday wishes to hundreds of people who had been lined up for hours at the food bank on Chicago ‘s south side.
Sasha wore a pink stocking hat over her pigtails and Malia had on a purple striped hat as the family handed out wrapped chickens to the needy in the chilly outdoor courtyard. Those seeking food on Wednesday at St. Columbanus also received boxes with potatoes, oranges, fresh bread, peanut butter, canned goods, oatmeal, spaghetti and coffee.
The president-elect, dressed casually in a leather jacket, black scarf and khaki pants, was in a jovial mood, calling out “happy thanksgiving” and telling everyone “you can call me Barack.”
He told reporters that he wants the girls “to learn the importance of how fortunate they are, and to make sure they’re giving back.”
The soon-to-be first lady said the Obamas wanted to give their children “an understanding of what giving and Thanksgiving is all about.”
The Obama family’s activities in the courtyard quickly drew the attention of schoolchildren whose windows overlooked the courtyard. They put up a sign against the glass that read: “We love our prez” and screamed when the president-elect waved to them.
Obama then turned to his wife and suggested they go visit the kids. Secret Service agents, looking surprised, disappeared inside the building to accommodate his request.
Minutes later, hundreds of children were brought down to the school auditorium, and Obama loped onstage as they screamed and cheered.
“I just wanted to come by and wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving,” he said. He then asked the children what they would be eating for Thanksgiving dinner.
So lets recap.
He took his kids to work in the cold…? Instead of getting someone to line up and dish the gifts? Instead of telling them ‘You are kids of a VIP. Therefore there are things that you can’t do.
To show the kids that people are suffering? Yes, that people are suffering? They have to live understanding the importance of giving back to the community.
Let us learn from this great family… and for those who have children, this is a wonderful example of raising our kids.
Have you read it all? Good. Now I’d like you to let me know what politician doesn’t do photo ops showing him/her and family engaged in some heart-warming charitable activity. It’s a shtick as old as politics itself, right up there with kissing babies. Normally, we recognize it for spin that it is — unless, of course, the shticker is Barack Obama, in which case an ordinary photo op with family is suddenly elevated to a unique act of charity, unparalleled in the history of American politics.
Please understand that I am not denigrating the fact that his mere presence brought a thrill to the people in that community, and I think his daughters are charming. Nevertheless, I find it creepy that a man who has built his career on doing nothing and his campaign on promising to use government strong-arm tactics to “redistribute” wealth is practically canonized for spending an a little time handing out food (donated by people other than himself, of course) and shaking hands.
