My brother Doug and his wife are featured in a story in today’s NY Times about undecided voters. I’m proud of my brother — he’s a smart guy and an excellent jazz musician. (You can listen to a song he wrote and performed–complete with a political reference–using the link at the bottom of this post.) I feel like we are close, but we really haven’t discussed politics lately. It wasn’t until I read today’s New York Times piece that I realized: I am related to…gasp…an undecided voter.
For weeks I’ve been wondering who these undecided voters could possibly be, what more do they need to know? And then, I read today’s Times. After getting past the part about my brother and sister-in-law, I started reading quotes from other undecideds in the story. And, okay. I was wrong. There still is something to be learned about the upcoming elections.
A Florida woman quoted in the story voted for Gore in 2000 and Carey in 2004, but said she had misgivings about Obama – she is Jewish and isn’t sure of his stance on the Middle East and Israel.
” She also worries about his “share the wealth ideas” and says that Michelle Obama comes on a little too strong. (“And someone should teach her how to dress, too.”)
Michelle Obama needs help figuring out how to dress? Who knew?! After being told I look a little like Barrack Obama’s wife, I just assumed she dresses impeccably.
So a note to Michelle: I get a lot of help from shopkeepers, friends – and Mike – in figuring out what looks good on me. Ask for advice. Trust me: people are happy to give it.
And if it’s true that Michelle Obama comes on too strong, well…you read this blog. You might say that Michelle and I have a lot more in common than looks!
Speaking of good looks, though, everyone tells me that Doug and Shelley Finke make a handsome couple. Apparently the NY Times graphic designers thought so, too – link to the article and check out the big photo of them that appears with the story.
Nearly one-and-a-half million people read the Sunday Times. And so, it’s decided. Doug and Shelley Finke are famous!
Here’s a song Doug wrote for me–and performed with his band. It was Doug’s homemade Christmas present to me in 2007. Thanks again Doug! Just click the “play” arrow/button below to start the player. You’ll hear a little musician talk before the song begins, so be patient. (For screen-reader users, hit the JAWS key and F5 key simultaneously. When prompted by Macromedia Flash player, hit “Enter.”)
You can tell Doug it doesn’t matter if he votes or not. Kentucky is polling 14 points in favor of McCain, so his vote won’t change anything either way!
Well, just fyi, Michelle has been making all the best dressed/style lists. Of course, I think she would probably look great in a paper bag too, but I guess I’m biased! Go Michelle! She’ll be a classy first lady.
Wow! How cool is that? I had no idea Michelle Obama was making “best dressed” lists. As her lookalike(!) I am very proud to hear that.
To be honest I haven’t’ really heard much at all about Michele Obama since the convention, so was surprised to hear the woman in this NY Times story say Michelle comes on too strong.
Oh. Wait. I’m lying. I did hear one thing about Michelle since the convention. A guy who works in our building –his name is James – said his daughters go to the same dance classes as, hmm, what are the Obama girls’ names? Shana? Milea? ANYWAY, James works here on Saturdays so his wife is always the one to bring their girls to dance class. He said his daughters talk about him all the time, and a couple of weeks ago Michelle Obama told them to “tell your dad hello for me.” James has been on Cloud Nine ever since. Oh, and by the way: James doesn’t think I look a thing like Michelle Obama!
Beth, here’s more comment on the Michelle fashion front about her dress last night. I pasted this from some link, I don’t even know where! Not very responsible journalism!
Like me, LA Times blogger Elizabeth Snead was not a fan of the frock, calling it “disastrous.” Of course, not everyone agrees. BlackBookmag.com’s Alisa Gould-Simon found the dress to be shocking, but notes that it was “unexpected, uncoventional, and right on trend.” InStyle.com also applauded our First Lady-elect’s bold decision to wear something modern instead of a classic Oscar de La Renta number like many of the First Ladies before her. “Michelle Obama made fashion history last night,” writes InStyle’s Katrina Szish. “America, get ready to see what a true modern style icon is all about.”
Ha! This is too funny. I just got back from visiting my sister, I asked her what the Obamas wore last night. “Oh, he looked good,” she said. “A nice black suit.” She said his younger daughter wore a black dress, his older daughter wore a red dress. “And Michelle’s dress was red and black. They all looked nice together.”
Now, *that* is my kind of fashion review — what gets into people, describing a victory night dress as “disastrous”? I say, get a life!
I thought Michelle looked lovely on election night. And I’m with you: FIE to the people who call such a thing disastrous!
But I need to know: Is your brother pleased or disappointed with the outcome? Or (dare I ask) undecided?
I emailed my brother with your question but haven’t heard back from him. Hmm. I can tell you this, though – my 92-year-old mother, Flo, was with us when my sister described Michell Obama’s dress to me (see my comment #5). It was the day after the election, we all went out for a glass of wine and talked about McCain’s having chosen Palin as a VP candidate, about the lines at polling places, about the Grant Park rally. It wasn’t until we were getting up to leave that I thought to ask Flo if she was happy with the results. She didn’t hesitate. “Well, yeah!” she exclaimed.
Yes, I am happy with the outcome. President-elect Obama brings hope to a large majority of Americans. He has the best chance of restoring our confidence, a key component to revitalizing the economy. Also, while the power has shifted in Congress, no filibuster; at least not as of this AM. So I am at least hopeful that this Congress can be productive. Although naive, President-elect Obama asserts a desire to accomplish; requiring cooperation accross the aisle; requiring compromise; And now, I may be naive in thinking we can get something done without swinging wildly to the right or left. Yes, I believe President-electd Obama has the better chance of accomplishment. Of course, I voted for Jimmy Carter too, and well, you know the history.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Doug.
You Finkes are some smart cookies.
Well, the curmudgeon lives again and as Kramer would say, “I’m lovin’ it.” I’m hopeful and optimistic, but precisely because Obama is not in the least naive. His electoral “brand” and his actual practices are some distance apart, evidenced by his negotiation of Illinois politics. And his appointment of Emanuel. Obama is tough and cold and ruthless when he needs to be, which comforts me. It’s not, however, the character a lot of early supporters signed on for.
As for Carter, I stand by my vote for him. He made mistakes, imho, but not more than the usual. Two things did him in: His fellow Democrats, especially the left side of the party, who have a habit–as they did with Clinton–to abandon ship when they realize that real politics aren’t compatible with ideological purity. And then there was Carter’s chararacter strength–his honesty. He told us what we needed to hear but didn’t want to. Thirty years later, are we laughing at the notion that energy issue is “the moral equivalent of war?” Oh, and he appointed Paul Volcker, who’s monetary policies are now lauded pretty universally for stemming staglation. In essence, he sort of strangled the economy for a short while–the end of Carter’s term and the beginning of Reagan’s. Carter took the hit.
I’d like to think that what’s changed, as much as anything, is us. That we understand now that good leadership and good government is not a consumer product, that it requires our involvement and our investment–and compromise.
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