The Obamas have been elected, if not anointed, to lead the American people in one of the toughest economic times since The Great Depression.  With 10 million single mothers desperately trying to put food on the table, millions of wives paying the mortgage while their husbands search for work, and almost 20 million firmly out of work, one would think the President and his family would set an example…of sacrifice.  Going without?  Spending the holiday SERVING those without?

Or how about just staying HOME?  Christmas at The White House?  Or Camp David?  Your personal mountain getaway?

Michele and Barack Obama seemingly have a tin ear for politics.  Otherwise how could The First Lady lead her beautiful daughters to a personal chopper, which delivers them to an expensive super 747 staffed with dozens and dozens of government employees,  who will GIVE UP Christmas with their families, and bullet-proof limousines which will deliver the First Family to resort living in Hawaii on a 4 million dollar holiday.  In THESE TIMES!

Of course then, our self-sacrificing President, will repeat the entire process and expense, because of his willingness to stay on the job for a few extra days!

The Obamas have an Oprah Winfrey lifestyle.  Unfortunately they should feel the weight of their George Washington-level responsibilities.

Mrs. Obama should be a compass of sensitivity for her husband Barack, instead she seems disinterested in trimming up the upper-class lifestyle the Obamas are accustomed to, and distinguishes them from most of the Democratic base they were elected to serve.

What is she THINKING?  A 4 million dollar vacation at taxpayer expense?

Michele Obama might dig through the history books and learn a thing or two from the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, mother of the present Queen Elizabeth of England.  She handled tough times for her people in a remarkable way.  When London was being attacked in World War II instead of thinking of herself and her children, she set an example for her people:

“Elizabeth publicly refused to leave London or send the children to Canada, even during the Blitz, when she was advised by the Cabinet to do so. She said, “The children won’t go without me. I won’t leave the King. And the King will never leave.”

Queen Elizabeth visited troops, hospitals, factories, and parts of Britain that were targeted by the German Luftwaffe, in particular the East End, near London’s docks. Her visits initially provoked hostility. Rubbish was thrown at her and the crowds jeered, in part because she dressed in expensive clothing which served to alienate her from those suffering the privations caused by the war.^[5] She explained that if the public came to see her they would wear their best clothes, so she should reciprocate in kind; Norman Hartnell dressed her in gentle colours and never black, in order to represent “the rainbow of hope”.^[65] When Buckingham Palace itself took several hits during the height of the bombing, Elizabeth was able to say, “I’m glad we’ve been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face.”^[66]

Though the King and Queen spent the working day at Buckingham Palace, partly for security and family reasons they stayed at night at Windsor Castle about 20 miles (32 km) west of central London with the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The Palace had lost much of its staff to the army, and most of the rooms were shut.^[67] The windows were shattered by bomb blasts, and had to be boarded up.^[68] During the “Phoney War” the Queen was given revolver training because of fears of imminent invasion.^[69]

The Queen Mother

Because of her effect on British morale, Adolf Hitler is said to have called her “the most dangerous woman in Europe”.

During World War II, when London was under attack, many wealthy families fled the city and sent their children away or abroad to be educated in a safer place.  But most Brits had to tough out the black-outs and the bombings of the Germans.

The Queen and King of England chose not to flee, but to stay in the castle in London and darken their windows with their people.  The Queen went among the people after terrifying nights of bombing raids, and comforted them and shared their pain and loss.

All of her life, the Queen Mother was revered for her efforts to serve her people. “

Perhaps the Obamas can learn something from leaders of another time, another age.  Leaders who put the needs of their people…first.

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Filed under: Economy, Featured, Inside The KC, Politics, Uncategorized by Sonja Eddings Brown, Dec 18, 2011