TresSugar

On the Newsstand: Barack and Michelle Open Up to the Ladies

LibertySugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:00:24 -0700

Barack and Michelle Obama sat down with Ladies' Home Journal to talk about marriage, parenting, women voters, and what it's like to run for President of the United States.

I have to admit, I love getting a behind the scenes look into how busy politicians try to maintain some remnants of normalcy. Stay tuned for a peek into the McCains' marriage, as LHJ plans on sitting down with John and Cindy, too. The Obama interview will be the cover story for the September issue of the magazine.

Here are some highlights:

On Michelle becoming a part of his administration:
Barack: "She is my chief counsel and adviser. I would never make big decisions without asking her opinion. Certainly about my career and my life. My sense is-and I’ll let her speak for herself here-that she’d probably be more interested in having a set of projects that were driven by her interests and her desires, as opposed to me handing her some sort of portfolio, and saying, 'Here, do this.'"
Michelle: "There are a ton of issues that I care deeply about. But the notion of sitting around the table with a set of policy advisers-no offense - makes me yawn [laughter]. . . . I’d love to be having more conversations with military spouses."
On marital problems:
Michelle: "There were a lot of things time-wise that he couldn’t provide because he was not there. So, how do I stop being mad at him and start problem solving, and cobble together the resources? I also had to admit that I needed space and I needed time."

To find out Barack's views on being a father, the presidency, and the role of the female voter this year, read more.

On the Presidency:
Barack: “It’s a big job. The thing that keeps me awake at night is not the prospect of losing. It’s the prospect of winning and governing.”
On women’s roles in this election:
Barack: “In this election the issues of the economy are ones that women are going to particularly feel and be concerned about. But I also think the fact that Senator [Hillary] Clinton ran such an outstanding campaign and inspired so many women to think about that glass ceiling-not just in politics but in all walks of life-makes the women’s vote particularly important this year. ”

On what to look for in a leader:
Michelle: “It touches me when our girls touch him. Whether it’s with a story or a word. You can see it in his face. That’s the leader I want: somebody who is so moved by his own children that he’ll go out there and fight for everyone else’s.”
On being a father:
Barack: "As somebody who didn’t grow up with a father in the home, I like having men come up to me saying, ‘You know, I’m really glad you’re a good father.’ I like that maybe some little boy somewhere who doesn’t have a dad in his house sees Michelle and the girls and me out somewhere and is going to going to carry that image in his head with him somewhere down the road."
On raising a family:
Michelle: “It’s a unit that raises a child. As far as I’m concerned, in this couple, Barack is the person who has the skill, the inclination, the desire, the ability to be in politics. I have no desire. So that’s a good thing, in my view, since someone has to be focusing on the kids - and that’s me. But it could easily be him. There’s no reason why the nurturing has to come from Mom - it just has to be there.”
On the role of government:
Barack: “The government can’t solve every problem, but an enlightened government can make sure that people can work hard for their dreams and achieve them. Government can knock down barriers so that families are in a stronger position. And that’s what we’re going to be fighting for in this election.”

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Say What? Nicole Kidman Knows Life's All About Relationships

TresSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:03 -0800

“I think that we’re in the world to connect. Because that’s what you’re left with. You’re not left with your house or awards or money, you’re left with the people that you built relationships with.”

- Nicole Kidman tells Ladies' Home Journal that despite all her success, it's the special relationships in her life that are important to her. Right in time for Thanksgiving, this sort of sentiment reminds us to appreciate the things that really matter.

Say What? Paula Abdul Talks Pills

TresSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:30:00 -0700

“I could have killed myself. . . . Withdrawal - it's the worst thing. I was freezing cold, then sweating hot, then chattering and in so much pain, it was excruciating. But at my very core, I did not like existing the way I had been."

- Paula Abdul, in the upcoming issue of Ladies' Home Journal, on overcoming her addiction to painkillers last Thanksgiving.

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Dudes For Palin? What the Times Is Saying About the GOP

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:00:58 -0700

You know how there are just some girls who always seem to have a pack of guy friends? According to the Times, Sarah Palin is the candidate equivalent of that. With crowds that seem to be tipping heavily male (I suppose the legendary Joe Six-Packs?) the vocal man-fans aren't afraid to be heard. With calls of, “You tell ’em baby,” and “You rock me out, Sarah,” Palin seems to be comfortable with the demographic saying, “I feel like I’m at home."

At one rally a female supporter taking a snapshot said of the ratio, “This is not a ladies campaign. There seem to be lots and lots of guys here. I’d guess 70-30, maybe 65-35, men to women. It’s quite noticeable to me.”

To see what the Times had to say about another woman on the trail, Cindy McCain, as well as Christopher Buckley, read more.

This weekend also saw a piece on Cindy McCain the response to it has vacillated from "humanizing" to "gutter journalism." Touching on her challenges as the second wife in Washington, her substance problem, and ties to the Keating scandal, the piece also notes: "Mrs. McCain has exhibited the signal trait of the political spouse: a burning desire to win."

Christopher Buckley also got his time in the Times sun this weekend, with a feature on his now famous decision to back Obama. In the piece one friend says, “When you live in that Buckley bubble all those years, you’re not really allowed to say what you think. This is probably the last liberation for him. He put his flag in the sand.”

What do you think of the Times' coverage of the Republican Party recently?
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