Obama's children's book: First reactions
Patronizing...exploitative...and likely to be regarded as "suspiciously socialist"? News of the president's latest literary effort has not gone over well in the blogosphere
Author (and President of the United States) Barack Obama will soon release his first children's book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, an illustrated volume written before Obama took office. According to publisher Random House, the book is "a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation from the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson...." Obama will donate all proceeds from the $17.99 book, due out Nov. 16, to a scholarship fund for the children of fallen U.S. soldiers. (Watch an AP report about the book.) Reaction to news of the president's latest work has been generally — if not entirely — bilious:
Obama should stick to "writing treaties": With its "patronizing, pseudo-didactic, blood-freezing smarm," says children's author Philip Womack in the Telegraph, the title of this book alone "makes me want to stick my fingers in my ears and scream." And I "can't help but feeling" that the entire premise is "woefully misconceived." Sorry, Mr. President, you can't just "wake up one morning and [decide], after your basketball practice," that you know what children want to read.
Bad timing: Random House says the book "'celebrates the characteristics that unite all Americans,'" says Dave Rosenthal in The Baltimore Sun. But with the book set to hit shelves "in the wake" of the midterm elections, "uniting Americans on anything" will be a challenge. So, "good luck" with that...
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Conspiracy theorists, start your comments: As "uncontroversial" as Obama's children's book appears to be, says Juli Weiner in Vanity Fair, "internet commenters will undoubtedly cry conspiracy at some suspiciously socialist font or marginally Muslim word choice." Which is why we should anticipate what the "incensed, deranged theories" will be, and "debunk them now" so we can "avoid the conversation later."
Breaking the rules: Since Obama began running for president in 2008, says Byron York in Washington Examiner, "there has been a general rule that Obama's children are off-limits for most public discussion." So why is he featuring Sasha and Malia on this book's cover?
Exploitation? Please...: The idea that Obama is "exploiting his young daughters to sell his latest book" is completely "ridiculous," says Luisita Lopez Torregrosa in Politics Daily. "It's a children's book, for goodness sakes. It makes sense that the likeness of his daughters would adorn the book's cover jacket." Please, can we give up this absurd "fuss"?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published