Arianna Huffington Says First Lady Should Drive Through South Central To See Poverty
Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington has some advice for first lady Michelle Obama: be more like Eleanor Roosevelt, and visit South Central, L.A.
The multimillionaire editor-in-chief offered the advice during an episode of her Both Sides Now with Huffington and Matalin radio program, on which she appears with Republican strategist Mary Matalin. Echoing what has been a criticism of Mrs. Obama from the right, Huffington said the first lady should avoid lavish trips and fundraisers, and focus on demonstrating her compassion for people’s suffering.
Huffington, Matalin, and host Mark Green were discussing the “caricatures” of Mrs. Obama, and her portrayal in the book “The Obamas,” by longtime New York Times reporter Jodi Cantor. Said Arianna:
I’d love [Michelle] to be more [like] Eleanor Roosevelt right now, because the country needs an Eleanor Roosevelt who’s going to go around and at the same time that she’s doing fundraisers in Beverly Hills and Bel Air … she should go to South Central [Los Angeles], I mean, if I were Michelle Obama right now, I would not go anywhere for a fundraiser without going and seeing the places where there is pain, where there is struggle, where there is homelessness, where there is unemployment, because we need to bring that conversation to the center of the debate and there’s nothing like a first lady or … a candidate to take us there.
Matalin in response, praised Obama’s work with military families, and called her a “great mother,” but said she thought there were “more important issues” than obesity that Obama could have tackled.
Read more at TheGrio.com
I am glad Arianna Huffington recommends First Lady should drive through South Central to see poverty. I think Arianna does not remember First Lady is a Black person raised in poor neighborhood. First Lady Michelle Obama and her husband clearly know what’s to be poor and living in poor neighborhood. That’s why President Obama and Michelle Obama are working hard to bring jobs back from overseas shipped by greed CEOs. President Obama is also working on initiatives to create needed jobs here. Unemployment now is at 8.5%. I have no trouble with First Lady doing so. In fact that could increase votes for her husband in November.
I would add A Hoff should give a bit of ‘sage’ advice to the Party of NO. She seems to think her advice stops with ‘the first Lady’ , Of course . we ( people of COLOR ‘}
are the only ones who need advice. White folk are Free to say & do as ; they see fit, Their world , their Blacks , etc, Take her OWN advice: of ‘doing the Eleanor thing’ through the POVERTY Zones , The recipients of her generosity will leave the plantation and join her in prosperity .
Why are people so quick to “state” what some one else should do. That same shoe fits her, we are all responsible for our fellow man. Who is Ms Huffington to dictate what is important and what isn’t. When was the last time she and her social circles were in South Central implementing programs to help erracticate proverty.
Those that do nothing often sit back & criticize those doing something. Be like Eleanor Roosevelt? how idiotic is that?
You are right on! And its extremely idiotic that she would huff that foolishness in public. Multi-mill Huff needs to focus on her ability to better society. First Lady does not need to physcially travel to or through South Central to know a dire need exists. h**l DMV is certainly not without poverty. First Lady is focusing on the greater society.
Clearly we do not see moneybag A. Huff offering to use her resources and wealth to improve the one area that appears to be dear to her heart nor is it evident that she has reached out to, called on or out some of Hollywoods finest.The nerve of her.
Ms. Huffington should take her own advice. You can be sure she’s not been to one neighborhood in Poverty probably, I would bet NEVER
SO MS. HUFFINGTON TAKE YOUR WON ADVICE BECAUSE OUR FIRST LADY LIVED IN POVERTY AND SAW MUCH SUFFERING, YOU USUALLY DO WHEN YOU ARE BLACK IN AMERICA
HOW DARE SHE TELL BLACK FOLK ABOUT POVERTY.
WHRE WAS MS. HUFFINGTON WHEN BLACKS WERE BEING BEATEN, HOMELESS, SERVING IN THE MILITARY ONLY TO COME HOME WITH NO RIGHTS, NO FREEDOM AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AFTER PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR A COUNTRY WHO DISTAINED THEM
MS. HUFFINGTON, WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK AMERICA, BE SILENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS PEOPLES LIVES, FAMILIES, AND BLACK FOLK IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE AND KNOW AND HAVE LIVED THE POVERTY EXPERIENCE OR KNOW SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS WHO HAVE
BLACKS ARE THE LAST NEIGHBORHOOD OR PEOPLE THAT YOU SHOULD BE GIVING ADVICE TO ON UNDERSTANDING POVERTY
AND THIS ARTICLE’S TITLE IS PURELY MISLEADING AT BEST
White people being white people. Always talking about black people, telling black people about our reality, our lives, and etc. Black people, black people, black people. That’s all folks like this imbecile know. In their world this is a game and simply a fun little talking point for their cohorts to laugh about over their $5,000 per plate dinners. Not one of them even been near South Central, let alone care about the daily poverty, discrimination, and police brutality endure by innocent black individuals in any predominately black community. Lord knows when blacks openly discuss our reality in this racist a*s country we are met with craze, overly defensive hostility and dismissive answers to belittle and lessen our concerns. Our reality is only convenient when these pale face f***s want to cherry pick our struggles. Rest assure, The First Lady knows the black struggle all too well and lived it. She d**n sure don’t need some wrinkle face, ignorant, patronizing white b***h try to tell her to be more like … A WHITE WOMAN.
WOW!!! Well said.
Renee? here! here! well said,well said……
Does the Lion tell the eagle how to fly? Does the cop tell the pilot how to fly a plane? Michele Obama survived poverty and a silver spooned half assed wench who can’t even begin to comprehend the complexity of poverty in America (particularly in the inner city) has the audacity to make totally insincere suggestions?! Really Jizzabelle?!?! This is the arrogance, hypocrisy, disregard and condescension that rules the perspectives of her and her like minded colleagues on black people especially! I’ve been waiting for the faux pas that would reveal her true colors and here is that moment, ha! Love it when I read a foul person correctly!
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Arianna Huffington must not know that most of Chicago is poor. h**l most of anyplace is poor now. I know I am not the one who will walk away from a fight. Arianna Huffington should understand how to fight and where to fight. Before she makes a speach on poverty she needs to give up who she is and go live in poverty first. Come hollar at me when she is hungery and President Ronnie is not giving anymore free cheese and butter. Then when she wants to eat and nothing is there and they throw her on the streets b/c there is no money to pay the rent and no money to put in the car to sleep in it with the heat on. Tell us then about how it is to be poverty stricken.
Mrs. Obama can drive into the ghetto of DC and see the poverty right in her own backyard. Any large urban city in America has poverty. The one difference these days is that poverty has moved out into what was once suburbia. Few people seem to talk about the new lower class which is former middle class members who have lost jobs, savings, homes, and sometimes all hope. Ms Huffington has to remember that the First Lady is black and grew up in Chicago, where there is the “Southside” with all of its elements of life that Mrs. Obama had to deal with daily.