Regulating the First Lady

[FourScore]

Source: Politico

House Republicans are pressing for a change in federal law that could force Michelle Obama and future first ladies to do more of their policy work in public. But Democrats warn President Obama may take the attempt personally “as an attack on his wife.”

The GOP effort is being led by the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose initial salvo was rebuffed recently at a contentious committee markup session. Under Issa’s amendment, any government policy group that Mrs. Obama or another first spouse regularly participates in would be subject to a law requiring meetings to be announced in advance and, in most instances, public.

At the March 10 markup, Issa’s proposal triggered more than 35 minutes of impassioned debate. I’ve linked video of the exchange below, but Democrats clearly seemed to be recoiling at what some viewed as an effort to target Mrs. Obama...

SNIP

...“We are trying actually to protect the historic role of the first lady,” Issa insisted, repeatedly invoking the “transparency” mantra of the Obama administration. “I believe this is open government at its finest.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0309/Regulating_the_First_Lady.html#comments

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This is outrageous! Pelosi needs to kill this.

[robinlynne]

1. Issa calling for open government is quite laughable....

[47of74]

2. I hope Obama does take this personally

Because I sure as hell do. Look here, Republican assholes. You had your turn and you fucked up royally. Now it's the Democrat's turn, and if Mrs. Obama wants to do her part to help that's her decision.

[Posteritatis]

30. Agreed; this *is* an attack on her directly (nt)

[liberal N proud]

3. wtf?

:wtf:

[lamp_shade]

4. Doesn't congress have better things to do than waste taxpayer money on this kind of shit?

[Demeter]

8. Evidently Not

[Captain Hilts]

16. MO's enemies really do her credit, don't they? nt

[babylonsister]

5. Damn good thing yet another rethug has no more pressing issues

to worry about. I too hope the president reads them the riot act.

[undeterred]

6. The first lady is supposed to be a Stepford Wife like Laura Bush

and that should be the role for women everywhere. :puke:

[closeupready]

27. Right. This is just to remind her to stop acting up.

:puke:

[Captain Hilts]

29. Michelle, meet Eleanor, Rosalyn, Hillary...and the shit they caught. Good company! nt

[Joe Bacon]

37. Let's put up the Murder Scoreboard again to remind people

Number of people killed:

Laura Bush 1

Michelle Obama 0

[Wizard777]

7. The First Lady has been elected to nothing. She appears on no ballot.

Besides her activities could easily be covered by Executive Privilege. Bush (R) has already established that "the White House is cooperating" means fuck you and your court orders. You're not getting dick shit from anyone. Soooooo.......

[Captain Hilts]

15. Most of the advisers around the prez weren't elected and aren't confirmed. nt

[CreekDog]

18. Michelle Obama doesn't have a formal job and has no pay

Mr. Obama's advisors have both.

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

19. LOVE Space ghost. nt

[COLGATE4]

9. Issa is a complete Asshole

One of the nuttiest of the California Rethug nuts, he is certifiable. Just more good old fashioned shit on Obama any way you can Rethug politics. FUCK HIM AND THE HORSE HE RODE IN ON!!!!!:mad:

[jb5150]

10. Un-fricken-believable

What would the Rushpublican's reaction have been if the Democrats has tried to do that at the start of Bush's term?

[shadowknows69]

11. What a bunch of childish vultures

Actually strike that. Most children I know aren't that petty.

[shadowknows69]

12. But it was ok when Saint Ronnie was taking advice from Nancy's astrologer probably.

[Captain Hilts]

14. Yes, that's perfectly okay. It's not okay for Democrats. nt

[Captain Hilts]

13. Funny, most of the prez's closest advisers aren't confirmed and don't work publicly, BUT if the 1st

Lady gets involved, everybody goes berserk because "we didn't elect her."

NEWSFLASH: you "didn't elect" most of the people around the P.

Crazy.

[tanyev]

17. Gosh, I don't recall Issa ever complaining when the Bush administration

trotted Laura out in front of a microphone to put a more "pleasant" face on some of their more heinous ideas.

[florida08]

20. seems to me

like a personal attack on the First Lady for political purposes. They want to know what she's doing and where she's going beforehand.
I think the public will view this as a personal attack as well with no validity.

[shanti]

26. EVERYTHING issa does

is for a political purpose. good good, he's one of the major backers to getting schwarzenfuhrer into the governor's office here in cali!

[Turbineguy]

21. They didn't seem to mind

giving Bush the authority to shut down Congress. How do these clowns get elected, fail an intelligence test?

[Politicalboi]

22. Obama should put Michelle

On the Supreme Court when there is a spot available. See how well that goes over. LOL! I actually think she would be a good choice.

[Captain Hilts]

24. that's priceless!!! nt

[Politicalboi]

28. I think Michelle

Would do a great job and she would look great in that robe.

[Ganja Ninja]

23. Whatever keeps them busy.

I doubt much will come from this other than a lot of RW media bluster.

[shanti]

25. if issa is involved in ANYTHING

it's suspect! screw him! he's NOT saying or doing anything for the benefit of the dems!

[WeDidIt]

31. What a FUCKING ASSHOLE

ISsa deserves sscorn forever on this. If he thought it was such a good idea, he should have proposed it in March of 2001.

[MichiganVote]

32. Yeah..all that standing behind the counter at the homeless joint was just so cloak and dagger like.

And that open kitchen garden stint at the White House. Who is this first lady kidding anyway? Everybody knows those seeds are too small for most of us to view on TV. But the kicker has been those visits to public schools. WTF is up with that? Like we could be sure she didn't just want to visit the school library. Pretty cheesy way to pump up reading to kids if you ask me.

Really. This is so serious. That time she very publically visited the troops and their families. Sure, it was on the news and there were pictures and shit. But afterall, how do we know she didn't try to influence the vast military industrial complex with her pumps or perfume?

Sure, she's a policy wonk and we all know it....that's why when she looks like something other than a bag lady from Texas we should be suspect.

Who asked for a nice looking, intelligent, sensitive, responsible first lady anyway?

WE DID! THAT'S WHO! WOOT!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

33. Government oversight would apply if she were elected or appointed to some paying position

She's not. Which makes this "transparent" as nothing more than a cheap shot at the president's wife.

[cap]

34. they are trying to bypass spousal privilege in legal matters

spouses can't be forced to testify against each other. If Issa can legislate a legal role for the First Lady, she can be forced to testify.

[No Elephants]

35. If she does not knuckle under, change her job description and cut her salary. Er, never mind.

[Vinca]

36. Heaven forbid the First Lady should help the families of service

members without the seal of approval of the Grand Old Perverts.