Uh-oh...here comes the Mother-in-law...for how long?

[JANdad]

Obama mother-in-law to join family in White House

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090109/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_mother_in_law

WASHINGTON – Get ready for the in-law in chief.

Transition officials said Friday that President-elect Barack Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, is moving into the White House to join Michelle Obama and their two children.

It's not clear whether the move will be permanent.

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I don't know...I have mixed feelings about this. I thought the White House was supposed to be living quarters for the President and his immidiate family but OTOH, I suppose it speaks well of family values. The only question I have is this: Is this out of a financial necessity or other reasons...I would have thought MIL would be pretty well off...flame away!

[SharonRB]

1. It will be helpful to have her in the WH to help care for

Malia and Sasha. It also speaks to their family values. I have no problem with it.

[trof]

44. Yep. She's First Baby Sitter.

That's what us grandparents are for.
;-)

[Radical Activist]

2. 1) It's none of your business so your opinion about it is irrelevant.

2) In-laws often help out when their kids move or make a big transition.
3) Other people stay at the White House all the time.

[JANdad]

27. I guess your response would apply to about

99% of the rest of the trash that is posted here as well too huh?

Since it's none of my business and all...

[movonne]

40. Maybe you like Edwards better....he could of had his mistress living

with them...

[Radical Activist]

45. lol

zing!

[JANdad]

62. Yeah!

Then you could visit your mother at the White House then!....

[Retrograde]

32. 4) elders living with grown children is not uncommon

My grandfather lived with us. My mother currently lives with my sister. It's quite common for an older, single parent (not that I'd call mid-70s elderly) to live with his or her adult children for a variety of reasons. I like seeing an extended family in the White House.

[LynneSin]

3. The MIL is the one that kept the girls lives normal when Mom & Dad were campaigning

I've read where they would rather have her taking care of Sasha and Melia than hiring a stranger, which is allowed as part of being president.

[Kookaburra]

11. Can't fault them for that

Who better than your Nana to take care of you when Mommy and Daddy are away?

[Medusa]

58. She retired from her job as exec secretary to a bank exec

to take care of the girls while Obama campaigned for the presidency. The article I read said that she didn't want anyone else to take care of her beloved granddaughters. She'll help them have a sense of continuity and normalcy. And it's not like the White House is short on space.

[Subdivisions]

4. From what I understand, PE Obama adores her. n/t

[TahitiNut]

20. Yup. They have a very good relationship.

She's been backstopping care for Malia and Sasha and "2nd mom" for Barack, too. She's been resistant to moving INTO the White House, liking her own independence.

[argonchloride]

5. I hope this isn't indicative of who really wears the pants in their family...

:shrug:

[gblady]

15. Oh, I , no doubt....

believe that job is squarely in Michelle's corner.....

[MineralMan]

21. Why would it?

I really love my Mother-in-law. We moved from CA to MN to help her and her late husband.

My wife loves my mother, too.

[argonchloride]

25. I was trying to make a joke, but I see it wasn't funny

sorry
:-)

[MineralMan]

26. Your concern is duly noted.

[sandnsea]

33. Nobody "rules the roost" anymore

Good lord it's not 1909.

[sandnsea]

36. wrong place

[Lars39]

46. Whatsamatter....scared of a matriarch?

[Book Lover]

53. Dude, it's 2008. Wake up. n/t

[rucky]

55. Dames.

:eyes:

[Warpy]

6. Well, since both parents will be very busy from now on

it's a great idea to have Gramma move in to reassure the kids that someone will always be there for them.

Kudos for the new First Family to have included her.

[cali]

7. Hardly the first time. Truman's MiL lived at the WH

and Eleanor Roosevelt had all kinds of folks living in the WH.

[JANdad]

28. Did not know that...

thanks for the info...

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Good.

As for the White House being

"... the living quarters for the President and his immediate family ..."

define "immediate family."

[JANdad]

31. Mom, dad and kids is what I thought...as has been

For all the presidents in my lifetime anyway...

[peace13]

9. You are right.

I would rather have a hired nanny in the WH. What is wrong with people. hands full. This is really awful to bring up.

[Love Bug]

10. My understanding is she helped take care of the girls

during the campaign so the parents would be more free to campaign. Both are going to be very busy with their new responsibilities, so this is a good thing for the girls to have grandma there to help. There are security issues to consider, too. If she stayed in Chicago, there would have to be a secret service detail stationed there, just like they did for Jimmy Carter's mother. This way she'll only need to have them when she goes out of the WH.

It seems like a good idea to me.

[Fire1]

54. I remember Ms.Lillian! I loved her too!

[Love Bug]

56. She used to complain that the SS men wouldn't help her

carry groceries into the house. They couldn't, of course, because they need to keep their hands free at all times just in case. I'll bet she was a hoot to be around.

[Fire1]

57. I'm sure she was.

[gblady]

12. She was....

the girl's primary caretaker while Barack and Michelle
were on the campaign stump...they are very close.
I think it will help the transition.

I gather she's fiercely independent, and that's the hesitation.
I don't think there is any financial componant,
although I am, of course, not privy to that info.

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. I would think with the success of Obama's books, and his nearly

half a million dollar/yr. salary as President that money is not an issue. I think it's mainly for security reasons as well as stability for the girls. Mom & Dad are gonna be quite busy, and let's face it, nobody treats you like your own grandma, not even your parents.

[Bucky]

13. Who will protect the president from flying skillets and emasculating verbal barbs?

No, wait... I'm thinking of Fred Flintstone's mother in law. Never mind.

[spanone]

14. i like my mother-in-law....a lot.

[gblady]

19. MIL....

is another group that gets a bad rap in our society.

[my2sense]

16. Why would this present a problem for you?

Don't you think it would be in the best interest of the girls to have their grandmother help care for them rather than strangers. This is "strange" concern. Hell we had shrub in the WH for 8 fucking years....surely granny can stay there.

[JANdad]

34. I don't know...

It just seems odd to me to have such a "Real Life" situation in the WH I guess....Don't get me wrong, I do think it's great for the girls, I guess I just expected a Nanny thats all...

[notadmblnd]

17. I would think she'd be there to supervise the childern

when the parents can't. I know I'd rather have a family member looking after them along with the SS.

[wryter2000]

18. Obama really likes her

It'll be good for the family to have her there.

[peacetalksforall]

22. I can't believe your post. Do you want Michelle Obama to be a stay at home

and not taken on First Lady responsibilities. If you want her to be a First Lady, are you then pushing for her to hire nannies when the kids have a beloved grandmother? Think logically, unless your role is to push for more jobs for nannies.

[Uncle Joe]

23. It's about time, for the past eight years, we've had outlaws in chief. n/t

[Fleshdancer]

24. Knowing how close PE Obama was to his grandmother....

it makes perfect sense for him and Michelle to want their girls to have that strong of a bond with their surviving grandmother. I would love to have my mom live with my family. We all get along well and my daughter would love it.

[aikoaiko]

29. this is why they have mother-in-law apartments. close, but seperate.

[madokie]

30. I like the idea that Grandmother is moving in with them

I make a better grand parent than I ever did parent because of my added years and lessons learned. I like the idea that the girls grandmother will be a big part of their lives while they are there in the white house. Only good can come of it.

[Political Tiger]

35. I think it's great!

Children need the widest circle of love they can get, so I think it's a great idea.

[MiniMe]

37. Don't forget Miss Lillian Carter

[sandnsea]

38. Marian still lived in the apartment

where Michelle was raised. I think it's the upper floor of a building her sister owns. No, she is not well off. She worked as a secretary until very recently. None of that is the reason she is going to the White House, however, she likes where she lives.

The White House has 132 rooms. I think there's room for a little old lady who makes the kids happy.

[firedupdem]

39. Why do you need a reason? She's a part of their family. What's

it to you?

[CTyankee]

41. As a grandma myself, I felt hurt by your "mixed feelings" as expressed here.

They'd all been living in Chicago and to have the girls taken away would be horrible for Michelle's mom and the girls. My heart would ache if that happened to me. I am only 2 1/2 hours away from my granddaughters, two of whom are the exact same age as the Obama girls, and my heart aches when I can't visit them because of bad weather...

[Stinky The Clown]

42. This has been discussed for quite some time. Further, it is hardly without precedent.

Harry Truman's MIL lived there.

Now, with respect to the Obamas. Mrs. Robinson, Michelle's mother, has been the backstop for Michelle as she traveled with the campaign. She's been the kids' rock. I think it is a wonderful thing to have her there.

I bitch about lots of stuff, and lots of stuff having to to with Obama. This is not one of them. I like them all and I like and admire the family's closeness. The country will do well to have them model such behavior.

[FrenchieCat]

43. It is a great example of what people sometime do to make a family work.....

In this case, it helps all of those involved.

Barack and Michelle get the reassurance that their children will be with someone they love when they are the two of them are away.

First Mom in Law doesn't have to be separated from her grandchildren, and since she's a retired widow, I can imagine that this is a dream come true for her.

The kids benefit, because they love their Nana.

And we benefit by knowing that our President has piece of mind when it comes to his children.

We all benefit as well, because of the great example this set in terms of extended families working together to make things work, especially these days.

Excellent decision on all of their part!

[4 t 4]

47. I think it's rather nice. The house sure is big enough n/t

[L0oniX]

48. eh ..that's no problem ...just boink the wife on the living room couch a couple ot times...

and the in laws will leave.

[KitSileya]

49. I think that's great for the First Family

Wonderful to get that continuity for the girls, especially at that age. they have plenty enough other things they have to get used to - new city, new house, new school, new classmates, new security details and on and on.

Isn't VPE Biden's mother contemplating moving with her son to DC as well? It goes to show, the repukes talk about family values, Democrats embody them!

[qanda]

50. I would want my mother to move with me if I had young children and had to be away a lot

It only makes sense that the Obamas wouldn't want just anybody taking care of their children.

[Sanctified]

51. I think this is great.

Bring mom home instead of sending her off to some old folks home to be abused.

[Obamanaut]

52. I liked the idea from the moment I first heard it. Outstanding! nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

60. This is what you're concerned about? Really? It's official, DU has....

jumped the shark.

[Lil Missy]

61. I think it's wonderful. And nobody's business.

He's the POTUS, and doesn't have to answer to such petty nonsense.