While lunching at the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery in Detroit today, Obama told his lunch companions that he turned down a request to speak at Malia’s graduation, saying he will be too emotional.
“Malia's school asked if I wanted to speak at commencement and I said no,” the president said. “I'm going to be wearing dark glasses ... and I’m going to cry.”
You know after the last couple of days it's nice to hear how a REAL parent responds to their children.
And I am totally with the President on this, I get all damp around the eye sockets every time I even look at a picture of my daughter from when she was a little girl, or hear about how well she is doing today.
The President is a good man, and clearly an even better father.
If any of $arah's kids had graduated highschool, can you imagine the speech she'd give? LOL I'm sure it would all be about HER.
ReplyDeleteNever thought of that, but you're right.
DeleteI feel sorry for Malia's classmates, but I understand Mr. Obama's ferlings. He and Michelle are great parents and havr every right to be proud of their beautiful daughters. I can't wait to see the great things every member of the family goes on to accomplish in the future.
She did speak at a coupe of commencements (remember the $1 bills she and Toad taped to their chairs?) and yes, the speeches were all about her. Always.
DeleteThis man is a marvel. We are seeing the very best President ever in office. I am so happy to be alive now (except for the ignorance on display from the Republicans on a daily basis.)
I'm guessing that either Malia asked him not to speak, because then the whole thing would have been about him, or else he demurred for the same reason. It's her moment, not his. It's the mark of a good parent, to know this.
DeleteIt speaks volumes that Sarah has not spoken at any graduations.
Deleteagree with 5:07. I also imagine that the askers felt obligated to ask, everyone found a graceful dance to resolve it.
DeleteSarah doesn't value education so why would she speak at a graduation. Only losers graduate high school or university.
DeleteAlso their is no graduation for GED's so she couldn't speak at her own children's.
I think the reason she belittles the "elite" university educated is because she is envious.
It is something she or her children will never be able to accomplish.
Sarah spoke at Track's graduation, May 2007.
Deletehttp://www.frontiersman.com/news/largest-ever-valley-class-graduates/article_f65d1bde-9f6b-543e-bcdb-cf3b6ef82cf5.html
He's absolutely right! I cried like a baby at my kids' high school graduations. It is such a proud moment for parents and child alike. We've all accomplished so much and the future is bright!
ReplyDeleteExceptional man.
ReplyDeleteIts a sad and wonderful time when your children graduate from high school. I'm sure its even more emotional for the Obamas as they have had to protect their children from an unhinged conservative media and its lapdogs who have tried for seven years to vilify their children.
ReplyDeleteIts also bittersweet if you realize that you did a good job---your children will soar. But if you messed it up like some sadly do--- your children will be in for a life of waste, corruption with no discernible healthy future in sight.
Good because nobody wants their own parent speaking at their graduation, even if her parent is POTUS.
ReplyDeleteTHat's what I was thinking. Being too emotional is the excuse. I wonder if the real reason is he wants this to be Malia's day, and not have the focus on him as the president, bringing lots of extra attention to his daughter that she never asked for. But he didn't want to insult or reject those asking by telling them it was a request that violated his values and obligations. Such grace and wisdom and putting his daughter first. Lucy
DeleteYes, there are times to put your child first. Palin would have recognized positively if she had returned to AK and issued a statement. Instead she showed true colors and put her self in bad light.
DeleteShe has no regard for others. She could not imagine choosing for her and her son,
I'm sure he also doesn't want to pull attention away from the graduates.
DeleteHe is not a "ME, ME, LOOK AT ME!" attention seeking sort of guy like some ex-half term governors we could mention, also too.
Family values on display DEMOCRATIC style!!
ReplyDelete5:23, I would suggest you learn the difference between "Democratic" and "Democrat".
DeleteAs for your intent, she deserves everything thrown at her for lying through her teeth and attempting to blame Obama, stupid little ignorant fool, that she is.
Why is 5:23 wrong? Maybe the word "with" or "in" is missing, such as: "Family values on display with DEMOCRATIC style." But I'm not seeing the issue with DEMOCRATIC. It also could be read as a pun, in a declarative statement. The adjective form is correct. Please explain, Leland, why it's not. Thanks.
DeleteThat's as it should be. "Dad" should be totally free to drink in and savor the moment, holding "Mom's" hand as each of them fight back tears.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was 18 when Watergate broke, 20 when Nixon resigned, and never believed I could revere a president again, but Obama taught me different. As I've said before, after a lengthy deserved rest, I truly hope Hillary will offer Obama the first vacancy on the Court.
I don't see Mr. Obama headed for the Supreme Court. I thought Hillary would be a good candidate, but I see Mr. Obama going into negotiating international issues. Or something like that.
DeleteElizabeth 44
If Sarah Palin's children officially deserved to graduate anything, her speech would be something like
ReplyDeleteMy name is the first woman Republican Party Vice-presidential candidate nominee, famous book writer, SarahPac owner, Miss Wasilla, Governor Sarah Palin-Trump,
Welcome to GED graduation, I, I, I, ME, ME, ME, I hate Barack Hussein Obama who is responsible for my son's arrest because he has PTSD which has publicly embarrassed me , ME, ME, ME, I, I, I,
Thankk you.
You forgot to add that the reason they are getting a GED instead of a high school diploma is all Barack's fault.
DeleteIf any of $arah's children had graduated high school they would have posted pictures. After all, some of them post selfies nonstop.
ReplyDeleteNailed it.
DeleteMy youngest child graduated high school in 2015. I did not expect the feeling of accomplishment I experienced that day. It was like a natural high.
ReplyDeleteAll three of my children had jobs that offered health insurance within 1 month of graduating.
Why has Sarah not spoke at a University of I-dee-ho graduation?
ReplyDeleteBecause most universities don't invite random jackasses to speak at their commencement ceremonies. It's not like she's an alumna.
DeleteMaybe because I D Ho doesn't want to be associated with birdbrain and her false claims of a degree that never was.
DeleteMotivating young people to be con artists is probable not what they have in mind for a commencement speaker.
DeleteAlso the graduates have already accomplished more than Sarah, they graduated university.
President Barack Obama ~ always a shining light, always a classy act, always a loving father and husband.
ReplyDeleteBoth the President and the First Lady have been very active in their children's lives. And now Malia will graduate from high school and go on to college.
ReplyDeleteMalia is well educated and extremely well mannered. Just like Chelsea Clinton.
You see some people talk about family values and their family is really messed up (Sarah). Others actually have family values and live those values everyday.
The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Obama's daughters have turned out very well. Sarah Palin's children, not so much.
Don't forget Jeb!???'s children being involved with drugs.
DeleteI love President Obama and I understand how he feels about this. Maybe he can come back later to Sidwell Friends and give a commencement address. At a time when he will not be so emotionally involved.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
What a contrast between these quietly accomplished, focused girls and the screeching, brawling, drunken trainwreck that is the Palin family. It has not escaped me that the white people most likely to claim that black people are somehow mentally inferior are the same folks whose lives more closely match the Palins'.
ReplyDeleteSarah Palin isn't loved by her (admittedly and fortunately dwindling) base just because of her "policy" stances. She's adored because she's a fuckup just like they are.
That girl is drop-dead gorgeous! And very smart and well-mannered. She'll be a success in life.
ReplyDeleteMalia Obama, at 17 or 18 years old (not sure exactly when her birthday is), has never given birth, never been pregnant, never been drunk in public, never attended a drunken orgy where a house was vandalized, never been in a public brawl, is about to graduate from high school, and is in the process of selecting which of several reputable, respected colleges she will attend.
ReplyDeleteMust chap the ass of the Tundra Twat.
Hey Anonymous 7:35 -- not everyone can live up to your impossibly high standards. It's Obama's fault that Track beats women and Bristol has so many baby-daddies. The only reason Malia seems better than them is because the Lame Stream media is so biased. Rill 'Merican Bitter-Clingers know the truth. BENGAZI!! Trump will make America great again or at least enrich his friends. TRUMP 2016!!! (Where's my gun?)
DeleteShe's 17, going on 18. Pretty soon she'll formally be an adult, no wonder the Pres is feeling sentimental.
DeleteBoth Obama girls have parents who clearly love them and are proud of them and who display that love openly.
ReplyDeleteWe can expect good things from both girls and we can expect them to have the tools and the values to create satisfying lives for themselves.
DeleteWha?? He's not going to take the opportunity to slam the Republicans and the false Americans and ask for money for his superpac? He's not going to embarrass his daughter in front of her classmates and friends wearing slutty clothes and wink at old leering women in the audience? What kind of politician is he????
ReplyDeleteOh, that's right, he's just the President of the United States with more class in two cells than the whole Palin klan has put together.
President Obama has a lot of the qualities that I look for in a leader of my country. He inspires people to be the best they can be and values education. He is intelligent, thoughtful, respectful of others opinions even though they may differ from his and he deliberates the pros and cons of his decisions.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why he wouldn’t want to speak at his daughter’s graduation, he maybe the President of the United States however I am sure he feels being a good father is a far more important role and wants to enjoy the accomplishment of his daughter just like every other ordinary father would.
As for the uncouth thugs from Wasilla, they do no merit being mentioned in the same sentence let alone the same post as the Obamas.
Hear, hear!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Palin is a lying fuck. Never graduated from any college or university and should give a blow job to every single journalist everywhere on earth for not revealing it.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how good parenting leads to productive, well-adjusted adults. Too bad the Palin kids missed out. But when you have a self-absorbed mother and a regularly absent father, you get kids with the problems the Palin kids have.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy the Obama girls, having to grow up in the spotlight of the White House, especially with the additional burden of all the racist hate that's been aimed towards the whole family.
ReplyDeleteAll of the Obamas have demonstrated nothing but class and dignity, and it is clear that they all care for each other deeply. Their strong values have been evident in the work they have done with charities and veterans organizations.
The President and First Lady have given Malia and Sasha as much privacy as they could manage under the circumstances, and a strong ethical foundation for their lives. I expect that we will see great things from these two young ladies in the future.
I also applaud the President for making Malia's graduation all about her instead of an opportunity for him to get some more media attention. For that day, at least, he will be Dad and not Mr. President.
Don't forget Jeb!???'s children being involved with drugs.
DeleteApplause for Barack Obama, father.
ReplyDelete