Obama's marriage was on brink of collapse, says book

The Telegraph ^ | 6/6/2009 | Leonard Doyle

[bruinbirdman]

Barack and Michelle Obama's fairytale love story of an adoring couple propelled on to the international stage has caught the imagination of millions.

Their regular Friday "date nights" make the television news, and there was a stir recently when they caught Air Force One for a night at the theatre in Manhattan.

This weekend, in the aftermath of the D-Day celebrations, they are in Paris with their young daughters - having turned down an invitation for dinner with President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla in favour of a more intimate family event.

But it was not always wedded bliss for the First Couple. A new book, Renegade, about Mr Obama's unlikely run for the presidency, recounts a tense period in 2000 when the Obamas' marriage was on the brink of collapse because of his restless political hunger and the family's shattered finances.

"There was little conversation and even less romance," wrote the Birmingham-born Mr Wolffe, who covered Obama's campaign for Newsweek magazine. "She was angry at his selfishness and careerism; he thought she was cold and ungrateful."

At the time, Mr Obama was stuck on the lowest step of the political ladder. As a mere state senator in Illinois, he had challenged a popular incumbent in a Democratic primary by running against Bobby Rush, a former Black Panther from Chicago. Mr Obama was trounced by a dismal 2-1 margin.

His wife was new to motherhood, at home with their first daughter Malia, just two years old at the time. "She hated the failed race for Congress in 2000, and their marriage was strained by the time their younger daughter, Sasha, was born. Politics seemed like a waste of time to Michelle," the book says.

Mr Obama's troubles were compounded when he discovered that he was not on the guest

[freekitty]

If they are perpeuating a marriage to be good and it isn’t then why should we have to listen to all the phony baloney media PR about it?

Besides last time I looked Obambi and his Mrs want to be super celebrities and we all hear and see headlines screaming daily the lack of class and moral values of our way overrated celebrities.

[kabar]

This thread is about an article in the UK Telegraph that is reporting about a book called "Renegade: The Making of a President" that was written by Richard Wolffe, a British-born writer who covered the Obama campaign for Newsweek. He is going to be on the Today show on Monday.

So the right and those of us on FR can't discuss or comment upon what is in the book without being accused of going after Obama's family? What kind of nonsense is that?

[Fred]

shattered finances

Must have been a downturn in the PAY TO PLAY business.

[506Lake]

He was so desperate to gain government control over every aspect of a persons life, and ultimately total control of America that he said and did anything to get elected... even if it made his marriage be in peril. And it worked. What a classy guy. But I agree, keep the family out of it. Until Michelle starts running the country.

At least Joe always displays a minute touch of class. Even when he is plagiarizing.

[freekitty]

Besides, they are certainly spending our money like there’s no tomorrow to make this fairytale acceptable.

[Star Traveler]

You said — Seriously...can anyone explain the purpose of these nights? Thanks.

—

Ummm..., it’s a “wife thing” actually.... LOL...

[anniegetyourgun]

Well, Angelina Jolie is waiting in the wings...

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/187058/angelina-jolie-thinks-barack-obama-is-sexy

[ExTexasRedhead]

Zero loves himself more than anything on this earth.

[Aurorales]

“And so they lied about their donor base—I doubt anyone here is surprised about that.”
________________________________________

So because we are not surprised by their lies, it makes it OK?

IMO they themselves opened up their marriage to public scrutiny. If they didn't want people looking into their marriage, they shouldn't have paraded it up and down like a perfect diamond for us all to see.
I guess if we look at it deep and long enough, it will probably start to look like a circus side show.

[UCANSEE2]

Does anyone on this board do “date nights” with their spouse?

No, but most of us don't have Jumbo Jets or Limos at their beck and call.

[kabar]

It reminds me of Obama saying during the campaign that any comments directed against his wife were out of bounds, despite the fact that she was on the hustings for him.

The Dems have always pushed this idylic couple routine whether it was JFK and Jackie, Bill and Hillary dancing on the beach, or the Obama's going on a $250K date to NYC at taxpayer expense.

Keep the family out of it my ass.

[television is just wrong]

He’s selfish and she’s ungrateful. Say it ain’t so!

mix in the mom inlaw and all the pressure with secret service etc all over the place, yeah, pressure is on.

[PhilDragoo]

Yes, Barry & Larry--that flavor of the month must have turned Kong's thermostat even lower.

And she's such a charmer: Michelle Obama to School Girl on Being First Lady: "It Doesn't Pay Much"

Many have commented no women have come forward as having been Hussein's tilth, main squeeze, brief indulgence, nothing, nada.

Metrochurian Candidate and Kong the Beard.

Having some quality time on the taxpayer dime.

Shattered finances.

Remarkably healed by her 300K hospital bribe and his Rezko Oil for Food grease.

Stir in Mansour-Talal and Soros, and voila, now all our credit cards are paid off thanks to the Manchurian-Get-Out-of-Debt program.

[DHSMostWanted]

People seem to have forgotten that right after the Vermont Primary, Michelle was given a complete makeover. She suddenly went from drab to having a makeup team and wearing designer clothes. The move was to draw away from her controversial statements in the Green Mountain State to, “Oh! Look how elegant she is.” Hollywood jumped on board by allowing MO to use the Queens’ speech in 300.

[Just mythoughts]

I think there is more there than just this 'book' as Mr. Wolffe is not just an author but a 'political analyst' or maybe one of the numerous czars on hand to 'write' the words Bama's teleprompter projects for him to 'speak'. Interesting what Wolffe has to say regarding 'Egypt' in the first linked below meet the press episode.

Note the lie in the NYTimes story (6th paragraph down) regarding Scooter Libby being the ONE to out CIA agent. Does anyone think that President Bush had this conversation with Bama on Inaugration Day regarding pardons?

Richard Wolffe — an MSNBC political analyst, who covered the Obama campaign for Newsweek magazine ..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28408003/page/5/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/books/02kaku.html?_r=1&em

[Salvation]

**the Obamas’ marriage was on the brink of collapse because of his restless political hunger and the family’s shattered finances. **

Tell us more!

[Churchillspirit]

Nailed it!!

[Salvation]

**Let me get this straight: in 2000 he was up to his ears in debt and couldn’t get a seat at the DNC, but in 2004 he was the keynote speaker and a shoo-in for the Senate, and in 2008 the great black hope?

What’s wrong with this picture?**

There are lies in here somewhere. Who knows where, be my guess. But the whole truth isn’t being told...................Oh, I forgot — they’re dimocrats! They don’t know what the truth is!

[GOP Poet]

Let me get this straight: in 2000 he was up to his ears in debt and couldn’t get a seat at the DNC, but in 2004 he was the keynote speaker and a shoo-in for the Senate, and in 2008 the great black hope?

Yes. It is all very disturbing.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Everything.