Congrats to Michelle Obama

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

I agree with Elephant Walk that this is just typical Obama style political pandering . . .

"Obama-style" political pandering, or political astuteness that just about any competent politician from either side of the aisle, would demonstrate? The latter, I think.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

"Obama-style" political pandering, or political astuteness that just about any competent politician from either side of the aisle, would demonstrate? The latter, I think.

Can you be my cyber play-cousin? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Actually, it isn't uncommon to attempt to use people's old or new affiliations, of any type, against them by ignoring the 99% that's good and highlighting the 1% that's bad.

These are hypotheticals. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Exactly. They have been trying to use all affiliations that the Obama's have with others ever since Rev. Wright

Rezko is another and the other guy on his staff who they said received some type of deal when he bought his home.

To think that they may not try n dig up something like this just to say that the Obama's affiliations are questionable is not far-fetched. We all know how the repubs like to do.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Sparklez1920

We all know how the repubs like to do.

That's a political thing. Not a Repub thing. The Dems are also grimey when they are desperate.

None of these parties are worth a damn.

[oldu]

Michelle Obama is not the first politico to accept membership in a Greek organization without fully knowing the obligations. JFK was made an honorary member of Phi Kappa Theta (sans an initiation) and widely touted by the fraternity but never recognized by him in any bio materials. As was Hubert Humphrey into Tau Delta Phi under similar circumstances. Truman was made an honorary Lambda Chi Alpha but evidently acknowledged it from time to time. He may have had an official initiation -- maybe a Lambda Chi can attest to that. No doubt more than one group has made a pass at Barack himself.

[Senusret I]

^^^ Do you know what year Hubert Humphrey became a Tau Delta Phi? We were having a discussion on him in another forum.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by oldu

Michelle Obama is not the first politico to accept membership in a Greek organization without fully knowing the obligations. JFK was made an honorary member of Phi Kappa Theta (sans an initiation) and widely touted by the fraternity but never recognized by him in any bio materials. As was Hubert Humphrey into Tau Delta Phi under similar circumstances. Truman was made an honorary Lambda Chi Alpha but evidently acknowledged it from time to time. He may have had an official initiation -- maybe a Lambda Chi can attest to that. No doubt more than one group has made a pass at Barack himself.

As far as the D9 goes, we don't have members that haven't been initiated, honorary or otherwise. At this point, Michelle Obama has only accepted the invitation but hasn't been inducted yet. She will not be a member until that happens so either Michelle or AKA could still decline/reverse the offer at this point.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

As far as the D9 goes, we don't have members that haven't been initiated, honorary or otherwise. At this point, Michelle Obama has only accepted the invitation but hasn't been inducted yet. She will not be a member until that happens so either Michelle or AKA could still decline/reverse the offer at this point.

Not sure that is going to happen:
Sorority Celebrates Michelle Obama’s Acceptance
Michelle Obama is sometimes compared to Jackie Kennedy, but she may now have something in common with another first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. The wife of F.D.R. became a honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, an historically black organization founded in 1908, and the group announced this week at its Centennial Convention in Washington that Mrs. Obama had agreed to join. ....
The sorority said that once Mrs. Obama is formally inducted into the organization, which has 225,000 members, she can’t become a member of any of the other “Divine Nine” organizations, as black sororities and fraternities are often called. Other honorary members of Alpha Kappa Alpha include the poet Maya Angelou, the late Coretta Scott King and former astronaut Mae Jemison.
But tonight a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, said: “Because of her respect for each of the historically black sororities and fraternities, her membership is
non-exclusive. She looks forward to working with all of them to help
bring change to their communities.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/sorority-celebrates-michelle-obamas-acceptance/?scp=2&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse

[DSTCHAOS]

Another blog.

[Senusret I]

Hi Jon, welcome to yesterday.

[DSTCHAOS]

haha...hey Jon.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Sparklez1920

Exactly. They have been trying to use all affiliations that the Obama's have with others ever since Rev. Wright

Rezko is another and the other guy on his staff who they said received some type of deal when he bought his home.

To think that they may not try n dig up something like this just to say that the Obama's affiliations are questionable is not far-fetched. We all know how the repubs like to do.

But, when you've got Rezko and Rev. Wright, who needs AKA? (and how can you say that Republicans dug those up? They were pretty public, longstanding relationships. It would sort be be like saying Democrats dug up McCain's friendship with Lieberman. What?)

What you've mentioned and honorary membership in AKA aren't comparable. I really doubt AKA honorary membership ever becomes an issue.

ETA: Fundamentally, AKA membership will be regarded as a positive. The work it would take to make it look bad because of hazing issues, was it? would also end up slandering basically every GLO and risk alienating anyone with Greek membership. I try not to underestimate the stupidity of any political party, but I just don't think it's going to be spun into a problem.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Another blog.

Seems as if some of the major papers are running a few of them on this subject:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dc/20...om_melody.html
Which includes this:
"The induction of the wife of Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee, will not take place during this week's convention, McKinzie said. Details have not yet been set."

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Hi Jon, welcome to yesterday.

Morning to you as well Senusret I
All I was doing was answering that posters comment. Nothing more or less.
And while the blog maybe dated the 14th or so, it is in todays NY Times. Take a look at the upper left corner of story.
Back to the future

[oldu]

RE: Hubert Humphrey and Tau Delta Phi. The fraternity's chapter at University of Minnesota closed in 1950. Humphrey was elected mayor in 1945 and to Congress in 1948, so it is likely he was made an honorary member sometime between 1945 and 1950.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

But, when you've got Rezko and Rev. Wright, who needs AKA? (and how can you say that Republicans dug those up? They were pretty public, longstanding relationships. It would sort be be like saying Democrats dug up McCain's friendship with Lieberman. What?)

What you've mentioned and honorary membership in AKA aren't comparable. I really doubt AKA honorary membership ever becomes an issue.

ETA: Fundamentally, AKA membership will be regarded as a positive. The work it would take to make it look bad because of hazing issues, was it? would also end up slandering basically every GLO and risk alienating anyone with Greek membership. I try not to underestimate the stupidity of any political party, but I just don't think it's going to be spun into a problem.

Oh good grief. It was a hypothetical.

We don't know and neither do you.