Obama Girls Students Here? No Big Deal!

Fellow Students At Their New, Ultra-Elite D.C. School Say Hubbub Over Their Presence Likely To Subside In Hurry

(CBS)  The Obamas have moved to Washington, and one aspect of moving to a new town is having the kids start in a new school.

Today's the day for Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, their first at the ultra-elite Sidwell Friends School.

And, reports CBS News correspondent Kimbelry Dozier, while their attendance will be on the lips of everyone, that's likely to die down quickly: Sidwell students tend to take the presence of kids of the rich, famous and powerful very much in stride, since so many of them fit that category, too.

It's the same school once attended by former first lady Nancy Reagan, and by former first daughter Chelsea Clinton.

"In every grade at Sidwell, you have the children of diplomats and of wealthy parents, but you really don't notice a difference," says former Sidwell student Delaney Kempner.

"I think everyone's pretty excited the that the Obamas are coming," concedes Sidwell senior Piera Kempner, Delaney's sister.

She says the Obama buzz is all over campus, but it's not likely to last much longer than recess.

"Students, especially in the upper school who don't go to school in the exact same building, will want to catch a glimpse of them in the lunchroom, for example, but I really do think it'll settle down," Piera observed.

That, says Dozier, may be one of the main reasons the Obamas picked Sidwell -- the students are kind of used to this.

And the school's two campuses are just about custom-made for kids of the rich and famous.

The upper campus is ringed by fences, and the lower school is geographically out of the fray, set way back.

"Reliable Source" columnist Amy Argetsinger of the Washington Post says, "At a public school, it would have been that much easier for ... photographers to camp out across the street to try to get pictures of them on a playground. At Sidwell Friends, you've got a long driveway, a lot of trees -- you've got a real buffer of privacy."

And that, says Dozier, enables kids to be kids, and power politics of the playground to assert their natural supremacy over parental ones.

"We have our own politics going on in the hallways," remarked Aliza Kempner, Delaney and Pierra's sister.

Sasha and Malia will have to learn how best to take charge and fit in, just like their dad, concluded Dozier.

[starleo146]

What is wrong with the media advertising these girls school showing pictures etc. All you see on television, on the morning programs, this should be kept private, never saw pictures of the school before, when Chelsea went to school, get real media there are nuts out there, and these girls are innocent to all this political mumbo-jumbo. You can announce it, but leave out the pictures.Not one stone will you leave unturned no matter what will you?

[credibility2]

This is more of the same Obama hype. It''s no big deal, really!

[xlib]

Gee, what did they have for? breakfast?? What kind of backpacks do they have?
Golly, this is soooo exciting.
Hey, starlo, do you really think the school is "secret"?? Get real.BTW folks, I''m taking my cat to the vet today. Isn''t that interesting???

[Cas2dy]

As an African American mom, I am not very happy with the big deal they are making of these girl''s attending this elite school. They should be treated with the same courtesy as other president''s children ahve been treated with. After all, if he were not the firts African American president, his daughter''s attending such a school would not have been such news fodder. So, in effect, they are on display because of their race by virtue of their father''s arce. Let the girls grow up amongst their own the same way that chelsea, Amy, the Bush twin''s, Caroline and John-John and so many other presidential children did. Without so much darned spotlight. Tt''s nice to see them here and there, but goodness, I''m starting to see Malia so much that her face is as familiar to me as my own 8 year old daughter''s is. (And they are all so cute, but even my child wears thin on me sometimes.)

[TheDiplomat78]

These girls have no clue who you people are and never will! Yet you sit on the bottom of a random news article complaining about them and their coverage.

You think they are better than your children?
Posted by TheMasses100 at 11:10 AM : Jan 05, 2009

Obviously they must be better than all of you peoples kids. You don''t have anyone complaining at the bottom of any news articles about your kids or Xlib''s kids or Credibility2''s kids.

[cbsnews55]

Stop putting these average children on a pedistal. They''''re no better than Joe The Plumber''''s kids.

Posted by TheMasses100 at 11:10 AM : Jan 05, 2009

Joe the plumber has kids??? Nooooooo!!!!!!!

[vittoria1]

Cas2dy, Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter received quite a lot of attention, because they were children in the White House. On Amy Carter''s first day of school, photographers were everywhere. The Clintons were much criticized for sending Chelsea to Sidwell Friends instead of a public school. By the way, the media were obsessed with the Kennedy children when their father was President. I don''t know how old you are, but perhaps you''re simply not old enough to remember these events.

[clouburns]

Earache4: I despise Sarah Palin''s politics and I don''t like her personally, either. But I despise even more what you have said about her grandson and the descriptive term you used to do it. I have reported you for abuse and asked cbsnews to hold you accountable by removing you from their site. I pray they do so, as accountability needs to become part of our national fabric again, and we might as well start with you!

[miscomposed]

I registered just to post this comment.

How is it that a website like CBS News can run a headline that is so blatantly grammatically incorrect?

[erasmus606]

What is wrong with the media advertising these girls school showing pictures etc. All you see on television, on the morning programs, this should be kept private, never saw pictures of the school before, when Chelsea went to school, get real media there are nuts out there, and these girls are innocent to all this political mumbo-jumbo. You can announce it, but leave out the pictures.Not one stone will you leave unturned no matter what will you?

Posted by starleo14672 at 09:53 AM : Jan 05, 2009

The girls will probably survive the school, but will they survive the media?

[glidescube]

This is more of the same Obama hype. It''''s no big deal, really!

[erasmus606]

Posted by clouburns
In total agreement
Posted by MindURownBiz at 01:06 PM

Was I inaccurate? Is he not a basstird?

Posted by earache4 at 01:25 PM : Jan 05, 2009

What did I miss?!:)

[libra217]

CBS has shown pictures of the Obama girls and haven''t shown Palin''s grandson yet....

Posted by earache4 at 01:55 PM : Jan 05, 2009

I hope you are joking with this comparison, but in case you hadn''t noticed, the Obama girls'' father is President-Elect. Palin''s grandson''s father is....well, who cares? No one with half a brain is interested in a photo of Palin''s grandson.

[erasmus606]

Yes, I was joking....

Posted by earache4 at 02:16 PM : Jan 05, 2009

See, I knew you were joking. That''s because I get your humor. We''re the same, you and I. Some people just don''t get my humor either.:)

(I shouldn''t be saying that, because I have no idea exactly what you said in that DELETED post.):)

[Cas2dy]

Cas2dy, Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter received quite a lot of attention, because they were children in the White House. On Amy Carter''''s first day of school, photographers were everywhere. The Clintons were much criticized for sending Chelsea to Sidwell Friends instead of a public school. By the way, the media were obsessed with the Kennedy children when their father was President. I don''''t know how old you are, but perhaps you''''re simply not old enough to remember these events.


Posted by Vittoria1

LOL!!! Thanks for the heads up. Actually, I am old enough [47] so I am thinking that I must not have been paying attention in those days. The C-a-s-2-d-y stands for "clean and sober today" (12 years) and I am guessing I wasn''t at the time in question.
Pay attention young people...

[apdepetris]

I guess they are making a big deal about it because public schools was a campaign item for Obama. That is why they had the whole "will they go to public school or not" thing. I thought it was ridiculous because I never thought in a million years that these girls would go to a public school. The security alone would be a hassle. I heard that no president''s child since Amy Carter has gone to a public school. They were going to private school in Chicago so it makes sense they would in DC too. Hey, isn''t that the way it goes - rich, elite people send their kids to rich, elite private schools.

[Meg003]

I registered just to post this comment.

How is it that a website like CBS News can run a headline that is so blatantly grammatically incorrect?

Posted by miscomposed


It is an especially glaring error, even for CBS.

[tripster101]

I even e-mailed CBS and told them that words are sometimes left out of stories, making them difficult to read at times, along with some of what you just said here Meg001. That was a couple of months ago, so it didn''t do any good at all.

[erasmus606]

You think that''''s funny, you should read my post on "Trooper: Politics Held Up Alaska Drug Case"....


Posted by earache4 at 02:31 PM : Jan 05, 2009

Did you read my post?:)

[tmittelstaed]

I voted for Obama but I frankly don''t agree with the notion of people running for POTUS when they have children under 18. It''s not anything I would ever do to my own kids. There''s time enough in life to raise your kids and once you get them out of the nest, you have plenty of time to indulge yourself running for public office and the like. Sasha and Malia simply are not going to see much of their father or mother during the next 8 years, to their detriment. But, that is the Obama''s personal choice, not mine. And unlike the Republicraps, I happen to believe that people should be able to have control over their bodies and any children that may result.

[xlib]

earache4-and why would a picture of a newborn be posted?? She is the governor of Alaska and these kids are the children of your potus. Seems to me the media always post pictures the potus kids. Besides, hasn''t he had them on stage?? Didn''t they do a photo op for magazines.
You know, your post with question has to be one of the most ridiculous posts, even for a lib. Why the fixation on Palin?

[nolalou]

The Obamas will pay $30,000 per year, per child, for tuition at Sidwell.

And Obama is going to give you a $500 per year tax break.
Here''''s your "Change"..."Hope" you like it...
Posted by CBSisPravda1

Your comment makes no sense, unless your point was to prove to the world what a complete utter IDIOT YOU ARE!

[xlib]

cas2dy-congrats!! Keep up the good fight.

[xlib]

clouburns-you "despise" someone you don''t even personally know?? Seems pretty childish. I don''t agree with the chosen one''s political stand but I certainly don''t despise him.
You do realize that one''s politcal view is thier right, correct? You do realize that we still have a two party system but we are still one country.
To hate someone because of poltical views is a bit sick.

[caligula1--2008]

The REASON the Obamas picked Sidwell is obvious, the Washington DC school system is the very pinnacle of traditional liberal education, and the Obamas, like anyone else in Washington that can afford it, want their children to get a REAL education to separate them from the masses and ensconce them firmly in the "we know what is REALLY best for you" ruling class of the DNC.

[poohbearcole]

i wish i went to a school that nice, but i have to say public schools are not that bad. i mean the food was ewww..and the books were old and out dated. the teacher are under paid. but there was always something there... great people, and you know what i learned so much about different races and culture. i also learned when you dont have everything you can make and find stuff and make it yours.
I feel bad for the girls b/c there dad is going to be busy all of the time and they might be on the back burner until we get the country where it needs to be but their mom will be there wth them holding there hands and telling them thats its okay. i hope the girls grow up knowing that their dad is helping so many people and we are greatful for him to take his family time to help us in so many different ways. GOD BLESS YOU OBAMA FAMILY!!!!!!

[dragonmouse-2009]

I really don''t believe the "average" public school will provide the "security" these girls need and fer shore in a public school they''ll be subjected to more than "average" attention both positive and negative by the students and the parents so...OBVIOUSLY it''s a no brainer that they attend a more "elite" school. I''m good with that...and wouldn''t have it any other way...BUT...

What happened to the "keep the family out of the media" that Obama requested while he was running? Most presidents had children while in office...I don''t know WHY we''re hearing so much about these two girls.

I recall Former President Carter saying "Well I asked my daughter Amy..." Will the kids be in "charge"? Stay tuned to see if this phrase gets repeated and quickly "sanitized" by the Democrats like a "pig in lipstick".

Are we really hurting that badly for news that we can''t find anything better than these girls going to school and where they''re going to get a friggin'' puppy?

Now give us some REAL news like do they carry Hello Kitty or Hannah Montana lunchboxes.

[Cas2dy]

i wish i went to a school that nice, but i have to say public schools are not that bad. i mean the food was ewww..and the books were old and out dated. the teacher are under paid. but there was always something there... great people, and you know what i learned so much about different races and culture. i also learned when you dont have everything you can make and find stuff and make it yours.
I feel bad for the girls b/c there dad is going to be busy all of the time and they might be on the back burner until we get the country where it needs to be but their mom will be there wth them holding there hands and telling them thats its okay. i hope the girls grow up knowing that their dad is helping so many people and we are greatful for him to take his family time to help us in so many different ways. GOD BLESS YOU OBAMA FAMILY!!!!!!

Posted by poohbearcole

Best post I''ve read in a very long time. I fully agree with everything you wrote. Your heart is in the right place and I thank you for that. Blessings...

[cassiusc1]

I believe, since they will be moving the grandmother into the white house free of rent, they will substantially offset the $60,000 tuition expense (Sidwell is a great school).