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So President Barack Obama and First lady Michelle Obama opened up the White House to trick-or-treaters on Saturday, which is pretty cool. Kids from 11 D.C. area schools were invited to come by and meet the first couple as they handed out this administration's version of a Halloween treat: White House M&Ms, a sugar cookie, and ... you guessed it, dried fruit. Talk about boo.
Michelle is clearly dressed up for the holiday here, but what is happening with the president's costume? Here's what the Washington Post says:
The first lady was dressed as a leopard, with a smear of eyeliner, fuzzy ears and a spotted orange-and-black top. The president was dressed as a middle-aged dad, with a black cardigan, checkered shirt and sensible brown slacks.We get that the President of the United States can't dress up as something silly. It's a bad idea to make the guy a target of ridicule for no good reason. But dressing up as a middle-aged dad is not a costume. President Obama is a middle-aged dad. That's probably what he wears to family dinners most weekends. Which, if you think about it, is exactly the kind of Halloween costume decision every other middle-aged dad in America makes. So if we're feeling charitable, we could say the president went slightly meta and dressed up as a middle-aged dad dressed as a middle-aged dad. Which ... still isn't a costume. Maybe next year someone from NASA can send the man an astronaut outfit or something.
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I thoroughly support adults acting as such (but having fun watching children trick or treat) on October 31st. Thank you, Mr. President.
Our collective Peter Pan and repressed sexuality complexes are getting the best of us with these out of control adult Halloweens.
How's that for middle-aged Dad!?
A middle aged Dad with daughters, I'd wager!
Kinda dangerous for a black dude to be walking around this town in a mask, doncha think?
Good lord, would the GOP have had a field day if Obama had dressed up, or what? It doesn't matter if it's a serious costume or not - you could expect a photo of such a costume to have been plastered over every Fox News story that was about the president doing something "stupid." For example, the federal deficit has sky-rocketed this year (ZOUNDS!) and here's a photo of Obama TEH ASTRONAUTZ!
This was a wise choice - Michelle did the dressing up for both of them.
Smart smart smart.
+1
there was absolutely no way in hell he could have dressed up without it becoming a week-long field day for the wingers.
good move on the white house's part.
Of course the wingers are more scared of Barak as Barak than they would be of Barak as, say, pretty much anyone else.
Much ado about nothing. The man is the President for Pete's sake. Last year he dressed up as the dad walking his kids around for Trick or Treating so his attire was completely in character.
I agree that the GOP and their meat head screamers, Limbaugh and Beck would have had an absolute field day if the President wore a costume.
So what you are saying is he dressed as Dr. Huxtable!
That's a Cosby sweater! A Cosby sweateahhhhh!--said Barry. No, not that Barry, the Jack Black one from High Fidelity.
Check out these posts on the White House Halloween:
http://barackoflove.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/white-house-goes-orange/ and
http://barackoflove.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/orangeya-glad-youre-not-a-pumpkin/
I whole-heartedly agree!