On the Other Hand…

Someone needs to tell Michelle Obama that her kids are public figures.

Understand, I think it’s somewhat tacky that a toy manufacturer is producing a pair of dolls that share the name of her daughters. And if that’s what she wants to say–that it’s tacky–I’ve no problem with that. If she wants to say it’s mercenary, also fine. If she wants to say that she thinks a sizable percentage of the revenue generated should be donated to charity, that’s great.

The one thing she doesn’t get to say is that her daughters are private citizens. Amy Carter is a private citizen. The Bush twins just became private citizens. The Obama daughters just aren’t. It’s unfair, sure. They didn’t do anything to bring this on themselves. The spotlight is on them because of a decision made by their parents, one of whom is already an action figure and the other of whom will probably be a fashion doll before too long. But her parents DID make that decision, and if they didn’t want their daughters to become public citizens (so to speak) then they should have made a different decision.

I think as much privacy should be reserved for them as possible, particularly considering their age. I think the media circus that their first day in school became was ridiculous. But, well, they ARE the first family, and it’s not like the dolls are ugly. In four to eight years they’ll be private citizens. But now, well…they aren’t. And that was their parents’ call to make, and they made it, and you can’t unring that bell just because people can buy your kids and put them on shelves.

PAD

53 comments on “On the Other Hand…

  1. Barack Obama stopped being a private citizen when he was elected, and Michelle Obama has taken affirmative steps to use her position as First Lady to have a public voice. Their children, on the other hand, are simply children. Any publicity which could be forbidden regarding other private citizens should be forbidden regarding them. Until they get elected or take steps to cash in on their parentage, they are as protected as anyone else.

    PAD: It is either modesty or a dogged insistence on proving your point which makes you claim you are not a public figure. Your name appears on the covers of various media, you give speeches in front of paying audiences, and the presence of your name on a proposal or a finished product sways some people to view it with increased attention. Yes – you are a public figure, and you are paid for it. These children do not seem to be filling out any tax returns lately.

  2. What if someone who had no kids ran for office and, while in power the first couple conceived?

    They’ve not had to make that decision at the time, but if there is a pregnancy at that point, surely your argument doesn’t hold water?

  3. You can’t be a public figure if less than 1% of the population knows who you are.

    Therefore, Peter David is not a public figure.

    Anyone insisting elsewise doesn’t understand logical thinking.

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