< Back to Front Page Text size – +

The first family, plus one

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 9, 2009 03:46 PM

President-elect Barack Obama's mother-in-law will definitely be taking up residence at the White House, at least for a while.

Obama's transition office announced this afternoon that Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, will join the family.

Katie McCormick Lelyveld, the press secretary for Michelle Obama, told the Associated Press that Robinson would decide in coming months whether she wants to stay in Washington.

Robinson played a key role during the campaign, retiring from her job as a bank executive secretary to help care for the Obamas' daughters Sasha and Malia, while the couple stumped across the country.

By all accounts, Obama has a good relationship with his mother-in-law, whom he has called one of the unsung heroes of his campaign.

When asked by "60 Minutes" if Robinson would move in, he quipped: "Well, I don't tell my mother-in-law what to do. But I'm not stupid. That's why I got elected president, man."

The AP says Michelle Obama also made another hotly awaited decision: She's keeping the White House chef. Cristeta Comerford took the job in 2005 and is the first woman and first minority to serve as executive chef.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
» Back to Front Page
.

I don't want to pay for the first grandmother to be in the white house.
first its the grandmother, then it will be the great aunt, then the cousins.

I voted for Obama, NOT his extended family.

Posted by anonymous January 9, 09 04:55 PM
.

A grandmother who raises your kids is not extended family - she is part of the nuclear family. Would you have the same response as if they had a live in au-pair or nanny?

As a working professional who lives with 3 kids, a husband and my own mother I find your comments horribly offensive. Relegating a grandmother to a separate house is common practice in the United States, but not in most other parts of the world. and even in the U.S. it is becoming much more common as families find that the lderly (living on a fixed income) and the young (often having to have two parents working to make ends meet) can benefit when the nuclear family is expanded to meet eveverybody's needs. Open your mind a little anonymous.

Posted by jmd January 9, 09 06:03 PM
.

I am so happy that the girls will have their grandmother there. What an excellent example of a healthy, functioning family.

Posted by Edna January 9, 09 06:22 PM
.

As long as he doesn't start parking the car in the yard, I guess it's OK.

Posted by JSmithVA January 9, 09 07:23 PM
.

I am Proud that family is important to our new president. It seems that america has lost since of it's self, and I consider myself blessed to know that my president still clings to family values. Bod bless you Barack, and know that my family and I will be praying for you and yours

Posted by Rev. Max A.Flaskamp January 9, 09 09:42 PM
.

You will not be paying for his family. The President pays their own bills (food, energy, etc.)

Posted by Greg January 9, 09 09:44 PM
.

I think it's great that Mrs. Robinson is moving into the white house to help with the children. If President elect Obama and Michelle are ok with it, then who are we to make any comments. Afterall they are family. Who ever wants to move in can move in. GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!

Posted by Eva Love January 9, 09 10:42 PM
.

Its the mothers job not the grandmothers. I thought they said family came first. What other job does Michelle have? She isn't the one voted in. Other past presidents didn't have someone else do their job for them. This really make me angry.

Posted by Linda T January 12, 09 08:15 AM
.

Let us take note from other cultures in reference to having the grandmother live in the white house. Her presence will offer such a wonderful experience for the entire family. She is a part of the family and the mother of Michelle. The white house is huge and she will probably have her own separate wing which will give everyone a sense of privacy. Our elderly are not throwaway people to be place in a home and forgotten about forever.

Posted by Lisa January 20, 09 12:38 AM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
see all Globe blogs

News from the Washington Bureau

In N.E. governors’ races, GOP sees a chance to build on gains

Invigorated by state house victories earlier this month in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are turning their attention to governorships in New England, where they believe the retirement of four incumbents and a competitive race in Massachusetts has created wide-open opportunities. (Globe Correspondent, 1:03 a.m.)

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)

FHA runs low on cash, fueling bailout concerns

The Federal Housing Administration, which propped up the collapsing housing market last year, acknowledged yesterday that it has drained its cash reserves to dangerously low levels, heightening concerns that it might need a taxpayer bailout. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

Powerful health care groups offer optimism on overhaul

Two leading health care interest groups, representing insurers and big business, struck a more conciliatory, even optimistic tone on the health care overhaul yesterday, emphasizing their support of the overall goal of increasing coverage and containing costs even as they warned that the wrong bill could cause great harm. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)
archives