America is in love with the first daughters
Danielle Cox
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: Politics
President Barack Obama and his family took center stage in the media arena when he announced his candidacy for president two years ago. His two daughters, 10-year-old Malia and seven-year-old Sasha, will spend the next four, possibly eight years in the White House. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will have to make many decisions in the coming weeks that will set a precedent for how their daughters will be viewed in the public eye.
Many Americans, including celebrities, express interest in the Obama girls. Actress Anne Hathaway and singer Katy Perry are just two of the many who have offered to babysit Malia and Sasha. According to a recent survey on sittercity.com, an online database of babysitters, tutors, pet sitters, senior care specialists and house sitters, 93 percent of the site's sitters would take care of Malia and Sasha if given the chance and 90 percent would quit their current job to sit for the girls. After Obama's election last November, Billy Ray Cyrus extended an invitation to Malia and Sasha to guest star on Disney's Hannah Montana. At Disney Channel's "We are the Future" concert on Jan. 19, Malia and Sasha met many of their favorite celebrities including the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and Keke Palmer. According to a British newspaper, the Telegraph, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe invited the sisters to visit the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where he would be their personal tour guide.
Last week, the first lady released a statement that said her daughters would not socialize with any celebrities, according to the Telegraph. Sophomore Laura Payne agrees with the first lady's decision.
"I think that if she allowed her daughters to be seen with the movie stars…it would make the presidency seem more like a joke, more like a star trip, than the mission to hopefully better this country and the world," Payne said.
The Obama sisters have made their appearance on store shelves. In January, Ty Inc. released two bean bag dolls named Marvelous Malia and Sweet Sasha.
Katie McCormick Lelyveld, spokesperson for the first lady released a statement to CNN: "We believe it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes."
While Ty Inc. denied using the Obama daughters as inspiration, the company discontinued the dolls and released them under different names, Marvelous Mariah and Sweet Sydney, on Feb. 3, according to the New York Times.
This issue has sparked controversy.
Many Americans, including celebrities, express interest in the Obama girls. Actress Anne Hathaway and singer Katy Perry are just two of the many who have offered to babysit Malia and Sasha. According to a recent survey on sittercity.com, an online database of babysitters, tutors, pet sitters, senior care specialists and house sitters, 93 percent of the site's sitters would take care of Malia and Sasha if given the chance and 90 percent would quit their current job to sit for the girls. After Obama's election last November, Billy Ray Cyrus extended an invitation to Malia and Sasha to guest star on Disney's Hannah Montana. At Disney Channel's "We are the Future" concert on Jan. 19, Malia and Sasha met many of their favorite celebrities including the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and Keke Palmer. According to a British newspaper, the Telegraph, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe invited the sisters to visit the set of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where he would be their personal tour guide.
Last week, the first lady released a statement that said her daughters would not socialize with any celebrities, according to the Telegraph. Sophomore Laura Payne agrees with the first lady's decision.
"I think that if she allowed her daughters to be seen with the movie stars…it would make the presidency seem more like a joke, more like a star trip, than the mission to hopefully better this country and the world," Payne said.
The Obama sisters have made their appearance on store shelves. In January, Ty Inc. released two bean bag dolls named Marvelous Malia and Sweet Sasha.
Katie McCormick Lelyveld, spokesperson for the first lady released a statement to CNN: "We believe it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes."
While Ty Inc. denied using the Obama daughters as inspiration, the company discontinued the dolls and released them under different names, Marvelous Mariah and Sweet Sydney, on Feb. 3, according to the New York Times.
This issue has sparked controversy.