Washington’s Not So Secret Garden” is the title of a “Room for Debate” article in today’s New York Times. Here is the comment I posted.
Why should President Obama have to spend any of his time weeding? They may be just another American family, but the South Lawn of the White House is not just another American lawn. Obama is entitled to spend his spare time as he sees fit. I doubt that includes weeding, unless one means wheedling things out of Congress.
(end of comment)
Maureen Dowd, in her column today, “Toxic R Us“, writes:
“The tableau of Michelle Obama hoisting a pitchfork on Friday with her sinewy arms and warning that the commander in chief would be commandeered into yard work left me wondering if the wrong Obama is in the Oval.
It’s a time in America’s history where we need less smooth jazz and more martial brass.”
Give me a break! Have we lost the ability to distinguish symbolism from substance? Admittedly, George W. Bush tried to merge them whenever possible. President Obama has to do the “heavy lifting” for the country, but this does not mean he has to wield a pitchfork.
Tags: garden, Maureen Dowd, Michele, Obama, pitchfork, president, South Lawn, substance, symbolism, weeding, wheedling, White House
