Michelle Obama shopping at Target without notice!!!!

[nmbluesky]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-first-lady-target-20110929,0,6273132.story
An Associated Press photographer on Thursday snapped some choice photos of Michelle Obama in the checkout line of a Target store just outside Washington for what her office says was a "routine errand," the likes of which she does often.

The first lady appears to have been trying to pick up some items incognito. She is seen sporting a Nike cap and large, dark sunglasses.

[Firebrand Gary]

1. We love MO.

[donheld]

47. She's the best!

[JuniperLea]

2. I love her...

So down to earth.

[itsallhappening]

21. That's the purpose of the photos.

[tabasco]

27. At least she didn't harm any trees.

[TheWraith]

29. Yes, because I'm sure that she wants to be hounded by cameras everywhere.

Some people just can't refrain from trying to crap on anything positive.

[Solomon]

55. Yep. Nothing gets past the poutrage.

[JuniperLea]

64. +1

Clearly she is incognito... the hat, glasses. I don't care. Even if it was staged, good on her for allowing herself to be seen as "one of us." Most First Ladies would never allow such a thing!

[JuniperLea]

63. I loved her before the photos...

But if that was the intent, I love the ploy too! I can think of maybe one First Lady who would even consider allowing herself to be seen as an Average Jill. The photos may have been intentional to lead people to a conclusion, but it's not made up... we've long heard how she slips away to shop and mingle and have lunch as if she were just one of us.

I say good on her, regardless.

[dembotoz]

3. i wonder how she paid.

can you imagine a check drawn from a joint checking account?????

asking for her drivers license.

carding her is she bought some beer....

[TheWraith]

50. I'm guessing cash is best for deniability.

I doubt she'd have the problem of buying beer, though, that sort of thing the WH can order. More likely I'd imagine her buying household items, some stuff for the girls, and personal things like that.

[rurallib]

4. wouldn't there be a large group of security with her?

Would think that would be a give away.

[Inuca]

10. My first thought as well

Cool nevertheless

[DaveJ]

12. Secret Service arrived 30 minutes before her, dressed casually

More info here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20113611-503544.html

It also says the AP photographer was tipped off, so I wonder A) was this just a campaign photo opp and B) does she go out a lot more than what we would thing, when not being tipped off.

[TheWraith]

30. "Blending in" is one of the reasons the Secret Service exists.

There were probably at least half a dozen agents milling around. They just happen to look like everybody else.

[MADem]

32. They are VERY subtle. You don't see them unless you look.

They are in front, behind, over here, way over there, but not up her butt. Close enough, but not a phalanx, so long as no one is bearing down on her.

Al and Tipper used to wander around Georgetown in happier days all the time, usually in winter, all bundled up with scarves/hats. I saw Barbara Bush (the old one, not the daughter of the Wee Cowboy) going for a walk near the Vietnam Memorial once--she was with a companion, and when you LOOKED, you could pick out the security detail, but a casual glance at the scene would not have aroused any sense that anything was unusual or amiss.

[Missy Vixen]

38. I had a boss twenty years ago that was former Secret Service

He was great at the "blending in" thing, and one of the better people I've ever had the pleasure of working for.

He served during the Nixon administration.

[MADem]

42. I have a cousin who retired around the end of the Clinton administration.

He saw a lot of interesting stuff, most of which he couldn't tell us. He was often mistaken as a relative of his principals. They thought highly of him, apparently, judging by the geegaws, letters, pictures and stuff he had for his "I Love Me" wall. Of course, he's like the rest of us...the "I Love Me" crap gets stuffed in a box and tucked away in a corner of the attic. We're the type of folks who don't especially like to be reminded of work at home!

I think most of those guys are pretty easy to get along with--I think they pick 'em for judgment, fitness, intelligence AND social skills/civility.

[Missy Vixen]

72. I Love Me wall

At the risk of threadjacking, I think everyone should have an "I Love Me" wall. Maybe it's just because of what I do (high rate of rejection, most people toil alone for years before succeeding,)but the "I Love Me" wall can keep you going on some pretty dark days. ;-)

The most impressive thing about my former boss is the fact he never touted his resume to anyone in my earshot. I've worked for people since who couldn't wait to tell you how impressive they are. It wasn't his style. He encouraged everyone around him to succeed, including me.

[MADem]

73. Nyuck, nyuck.

I used to hang my advanced degrees in the "Throne Room" along with a picture of the British Royal Family--it got quite a laugh back in the day. That was about the extent of my self-aggrandizement. I have boxes and boxes of commemorative crap--I don't want to display it but I don't want to throw it away, either!

[Bombero1956]

51. that one of them in the ladies section

fondling the lacy undergarments, he didn't fool me for a minute.

[Liquorice]

49. Yes that and the camera people stationed at the checkouts. Oh well. I guess it makes people

happy to believe they just "happened" to catch Michelle Obama out shopping like your everyday average person. "I shop at Target too!! She's just like me!!!" :loveya:

Blech.

[MADem]

57. It was one AP photographer who took the pics--he was tipped off by the WH

They're not denying that, or trying to hide it--it's IN the articles accompanying the photographs.

You do favors for people who treat you well--obviously the photographer selects the nicer pics. He got a little bonus phone call for not being an asshole.

[dionysus]

61. i'm sorry this offends you. well, not really.

:rofl:

[pecwae]

54. Of course there would be.nt

[Evasporque]

56. The girl is her personal Agent......and the guy behind her Secret Service...nt

[gateley]

5. I've often thought that what we consider "chores" the WH residents

probably miss and yearn for -- like running to Target.

I can't imagine being that confined - SO glad she's able to escape periodically!

[Gin]

7. she's good for the economy....Target will see an increase in sales

imagine being behind her...and I wonder if the guy behind her is SS.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

15. Nike sales will see an increase too.

[gateley]

19. Somebody(s) around her have to be SS I would think, don't you?

I wonder how much of a surprise it really is - if the store even knows she's coming?

Yeah, I'm sure Target will benefit. Good thing she didn't drop into Hermes or Chanel. :7

[MADem]

35. I'd put money on it. NT

[madokie]

6. I love her and her family

I really really really really really love her husband as my President, her mother as my first grand mother.

[tanyev]

8. Awesome.

:applause:

[itsrobert]

9. Didn't Target donate to Anti-Gay Groups?

Or is that my imagination?

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Major Nikon]

20. I don't think so

I know they did donate to the campaign of a virulent anti-gay politician, then later apologized and changed their policy on such donations.

[rpannier]

41. Read Number 26

They seem to be in bed with the fundie class

[City Lights]

26. It's not your imagination...

Target's Anti-Gay Problems Look A Little Bigger Than Just One Political Contribution
By Susie Madrak

It appears that Target's anti-gay PR problems are getting bigger by the day. Looks like they have themselves a few "the Bible tells us it's wrong" fundies at the helm:

Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel wants us to believe that when his company threw money into Tom Emmer's campaign for governor last month, it wasn't because Emmer's a raging homophobe, but because he's a raging pro-business tax-cutter.

But Steinhafel's limp non-apology apology last week hasn't satisfied his critics, and now it's getting harder to take his "no homophobe" plea seriously.For one thing, the apology came out the same day that the Huffington Post pointed out that Target employees had put quite a bit of money behind California's Proposition 8 measure. It's not really fair to hold a company responsible for the actions of individual employees, but the news served to muddle Steinhafel's message of (sort-of) contrition.

It's gotten worse from there. This weekend, The Awl noted that Target's work against gay equality goes well beyond the $150,000 it gave to the Pro-Emmer MN Forward fund. Steinhafel sent his daughter to Wheaton College, a Christian institution where being gay will get you expelled. The younger Steinhafel also studied at the Focus On the Family Institute, one of the leading proponents of therapy to cure gayness.

more... http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/targets-anti-gay-problems-look-little

[geardaddy]

65. Yep, and this.

Retailers Are Put on the Spot Over Anti-Gay Aid

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/us/companies-get-gay-rights-heat-over-christian-donations.html
snip
A handful of advocates, armed with nothing more than their keyboards, have put many of the country’s largest retailers, including Apple, Microsoft, Netflix and Wal-Mart, on the spot over their indirect and, until recently, unnoticed roles in funneling money to Christian groups that are vocal in opposing homosexuality.

snip
Snip
A few companies that briefly left the network have been persuaded to rejoin, including Delta, PetSmart, Sam’s Club, Target and Wal-Mart.
Snip

[Manifestor_of_Light]

69. Lady Gaga withdrew from a contract with Target.

They were supposed to donate a certain percentage of the sales of her CD to groups helping LBGT youth. They didn't do that, so she canceled her contract.

[geardaddy]

71. Good!

[malaise]

13. Love it

You go girl!

[Glimmer of Hope]

14. I hope she didn't buy anything from that ugly Missoni line.

[RebelOne]

22. Hey, I have bought from that ugly Missoni line, so I hope she did. n/t

[MADem]

36. Is that the crap that looks like really fugly place mats and wallpaper from the seventies?

Partridge Family psychedelic stuff?

They did a news piece on it on the tv, and it gave me a headache. I don't normally get headaches!

[HipChick]

16. We see Michelle Obama or her mother out shopping often in Northern Virginia

A lot around Tyson's Corner especially...I'm glad POTUS doesn't show up, because he kills the rush hour...

I loathed having to stop for Bush..

I don't mind waiting for POTUS...I once found myself alone of I-66 for miles, I knew something was up, when I saw marksman on the overhead bridges, and all the exits closed off. I missed the signs telling me to get off the road, and had to ride it out all the way to Dulles Airport, as POTUS was coming up right behind me. It wouldn't be the first time, SS has run me off the road..

[malaise]

18. LOL

They ran you off the road?

[ellie]

25. That happened to my husband!

It was during Poppy Bush's term and Quayle was in town. He couldn't figure out why he was the only one on the highway.

[Generic Other]

33. Happened to my mom too when Reagan came to our town

He waved at her. YUCK.

[Generic Other]

34. And now for some comparison shopping

Condi's thousand dollar shopping sprees at Ferragamo's.

[MADem]

43. Remember Columba Bush, sneaking Paris couture through customs and gettin' busted? NT

[MADem]

37. Something similar happened to me in the Clinton era! nt

[AsahinaKimi]

17. Just saw this on THE LAST WORD with Lawrence O'donnell

cool she could sneak out!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. I have that exact same shirt. She bought it from Old Navy!!

I knew that there was a reason I love this woman!! :toast:

[madrchsod]

24. the guy in the background is her ss guard...

[Recovered Repug]

52. I don't think an SS guard would be leaning on a counter

and have anything in his hand. He looks like he's just a customer with the blond girl.

[jberryhill]

60. Compare

He's doing the same thing with his lips, too.

Same guy.

Now find Waldo in this one:



And again with the lip pursing:

[tnlefty]

28. Not an intentional threadjack, but I do admire her for supporting

American designers. At an event in NYC she wore stacked bracelets with a stunning dress, but the jewelry was designed by Katie Decker, a young woman in Houston. FLOTUS may help another young designer yet.

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-21-11-09-26-michelle-obama-dazzles-wearing-diamond-bangles-by-h-towns-katie-decker-23/

[applegrove]

31. She's such a great first lady.

[roody]

39. Disappointed to see the Nike hat---I love her

[Honeycombe8]

40. That is so cool! I love Target....she made an excellent choice! Look how she's dressed....

I don't look nearly that good, when I go to Target. I am ashamed. :blush:

[FreeState]

44. Kinda disappointing - Target should be boycotted for it's anti-gay activism n/t

[provis99]

45. Target...

for shoppers too snooty to shop in WalMart, but having the same taste as WalMart shoppers.

[Retrograde]

53. Only place I know of where you can get clothespins

At least around here. I don't go there much, but I have bought basic housewares there. However, MO has two young girls who are probably growing like weeds, so I can see how she may need bargain clothes, and school supplies, for them.

[glinda]

59. I shop at Target and not Walfart.

[KatyMan]

62. y'know, fuck that

People saying not to shop at Target because of the anti-gay episode(s) is one thing, but to denigrate people as lowbrow because of where they shop is over the line. Nothing wrong with Target products, it's convenient, their store brand is pretty good, and they're usually pretty clean stores.

[Shagbark Hickory]

66. LOL. Ohh noo you di-int.

nt

[DesertFlower]

46. love her. i shop at target and old navy.

[Obamanaut]

48. . nt

[Zywiec]

58. Just like one of the 99%. n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

67. It's election season. If she shopped there on a regular basis, they'd never release a photo of it.

But a good way to counter the opinion some have of her being elitist.

[mikelgb]

68. *GASP* PLASTIC BAGS!

shouldn't FLOTUS be setting an example with reusable bags?

:sarcasm:

but really, would it hurt?

[librechik]

70. It's addicting--how I love Tarzhay

had to give it up years ago, though. You go Michelle--