Sidwell Parents Say Obamas are Cheapskates
First it was the British press all abub about Michelle Obama’s gifts to the prime minister’s children. Now fellow parents are claiming the president and first lady cheaped out on the gifts they donated for the auction at the school daughters Sasha and Malia attend.
Really? This is what we’re worried about in light of the disastrous global economy, a swine flu pandemic that’s taking lives and should I even point upward to that ever-widening hole in the ozone layer?
The Obamas reportedly donated a Rolling Stone with a picture of President Barack Obama on the cover, autographed by the president. They also gave a copy of Vogue Magazine with the first lady on the cover, autographed by Michelle Obama. Have you priced a presidential autograph lately? An Obama-signed baseball recently went for $1,500, but hold on to it and who knows – a recent estimate put his signature on a picture at about $6,000. Anything signed by JFK is estimated to bring at least $2,500 at auction. These were hardly dollar store trinkets.
But according to MSNBC, the parents were hoping for something more personal – then President Bill Clinton gave a golf outing with himself while Chelsea Clinton once offered up her own baby-sitting services. Cool experiences? Most definitely, although I will say an Obama autograph can be sold down the line – you can’t make any money back on having someone babysit your kids.
And while I understand Sidwell Friends is an exclusive school, as I understand it the cachet of having a president’s child attend is a big draw for the school in and of itself. So the Obamas send their kids there AND pay money to send their kids there, and they have to give their own time too? You know, the time OTHER than that used for running a country at war with a crumbling economy?
School auctions are not big in my very rural area, so I’m not familiar with protocol. Do parents really feel that everyone has to give something of equal value? Isn’t the point of paying tuition to a school sort of enough anyway?
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Lisa: You are completely correct! Those who do not have children in “parentally involved” schools are not aware of what is expected of the parents, or even the grandparents in some cases; think Bill Gates Sr.
The Obamas are very fortunate in that they have (1) protocol advisors to ask, and (2) the necessary funds.
This is NO DIFFERENT than adopting the mores of any of our particular communities. Those who refuse to conform are noticed and commented on; it has always been so. The Obamas either do not take the advice of their protocol advisors (or they do not have competent protocol advisors).
When the President and/or First Lady do things that are “out of the norm” it is more apparent than with average citizens; for the “other” parents at Sidwell Friends to notice means the Obamas need to speed up their learning curve.
Marj: Then WHY do we see him playing golf? He has an intricate work-out routine that is very time-consuming so that is not an excuse. In fact, look at ALL the Obama giving and it comes out very thin! (Cheap, as charged.)
The Obamas are going to have to take lessons in giving, or they will be mocked for their greed! They make millions, lived in a huge mansion (in Chicago) but just never learned to share. That may be a painful lesson, but they will have to find a way to cough up or be labeled.
In fact, Republicans are historically much more generous than Democrats; giving is not a big thing with Dems; they would much rather receive. Republicans realize that folks need help and that not everyone can qualify for government programs that often times come with restrictions.
well said Knitty!
@jennifer……seriously, I understand the bragging rights thing, but their children go to school with the damn President’s kids! They probably have seen the President and First Lady up close and personal. And that’s not enough bragging rights? Sure, most of their “friends” kids probably go to school there as well, but who really is gonna give a shit if the President played golf with you or not in 20 years? And if it still matters that much (when most of these parents will be in their late 50′s to 60′s) they need to get over themselves and get real lives. I would be excited to spend one on one time with the President or his wife, but I sure am not going to complain about them not donating enough…..that’s not the best way to chance getting to know them!
Sounds like a bunch of assholes to me.
I second Knitty’s comment.
You have to realize at Sidwell, (and other private schools in the DC area); you are judged by how much bragging rights your auction item is worth, not by the money. You could donate the Hope Diamond, and a chance to win tickets to Oprah, and Oprah would win every time. It’s not about money to these parents-they have more than enough of that. It’s about saying YOU won the chance to golf with the PRESIDENT.
PS-A lot of these kids have parents that don’t even vote, they can’t cause a lot of them are foreign nationals.
@ Feefeto, FYI, former president Clinton donated an autographed copy of the speech he delivered during the 93 inauguration that sold for 30,000. This was his very first contribution to the auction at Sidwell.
Oh for fuck’s sake.
Fantastic post! Right on the money (no pun intended). I can’t believe people would have the nerve discount a donation from the president and first lady. Hm…maybe the president doesn’t have time for a day of golf because he’s too busy actually working!
Yeesh. I think the Obamas have more important things to do than suck up to the chair of Sidwell’s PAC. It’s over $20K a year for tuition at the school — why are they even fundraising?
I have a hard time imagining what type of Sidwell parent would be this petty.
Methinks that a golf outing as a charitable donation to an exclusive school just might be frowned on my the press, particularly in these troubled times, no?
At the school my son attends (preschool -8), parents are expected to put in 10 hours of volunteer work a year in addition to paying tuition and participating in fundraisers.
Unfortunately, at any school, public or private, some parents will always find something to complain about. Plus, according to the article, Clinton’s golf outing happened in 1996, which by my calculation was four years into his presidency. Obama’s been president for 100 days.
I don’t know if they are comparing Obama to other presidents we have had, but currently I’d say the president does not have time for golf (or pretty much any other leisure activities.