The Nancy Reagification of Michelle Obama -$94,000 Costco Ring

For all of the inane chatter comparing Michelle Obama to Jacqueline Kennedy, it looks like her run as first lady might look more like Nancy Regan's. Yesterday the top story on Drudge Report was that Barack Obama PURPORTEDLY purchased a diamond ring for his wife. This was newsworthy because the PURPORTED ring PURPORTEDLY cost a whopping $30,000. BIG MONEY! (NOT). Here are some blog reactions:

Bling bling! How generous of Obama! I’m sure this is his first step to stimulate the ailing economy and show he is a man of the people. Way to flash the cash while the rest of us are tightening our belts. True leadership! The ring costs what a lot of Americans make in a year! If you have that much excess cash, why not donate it to Michelle’s favorite charity as a thank you? What a waste! Stop the ACLU Here is another one Michelle Antoinette gets a new bauble: a diamond and rhodium ring worth over $30,000. Shown (close to actual size) above. Remember when she said Bush’s $600 rebate checks were a pittance that couldn’t even buy a nice pair of earrings? Well, now we know what sort of jewelry she’ll settle for. And it would sure take a lot of rebate checks to buy earrings to match that rhodium whopper. Which will look gorgeous when paired with any of Michelle’s signature fashion choices, made from only the finest old couches, of course. Hill Buzz,Diamonds are Michelle Antoinette’s best friends, And from Michell Malkin 2) Is it really a good idea to have let this slip just days after a Wal-Mart temporary worker died in a hyper-consumerist stampede? 3) Speaking of bad timing, is it really a good idea to be crowing about this extravagant present when — as Barack Obama so ably reminded us in campaign infomerical before Election Day — Americans are hurting in the midst of tough economic times that will only get tougher? 4) What is it with some women who feel entitled to receive lavish presents from their husbands for work that should be its own reward? Reminds me of this ridiculous “Push Present” phenomenon involving women who expect big-ticket gifts from their husbands for bearing their children (see Dr. Helen’s column here).

For those that missed it, they are attempting to compare Michelle Obama to Marie Antoinette. This harkens back to Lobster-gate. I said it then I will say if again...assuming the story is true, what's the problem? Nancy Reagan When I was a wee lass I vaguely remember that the rap on Nancy Reagan was that she was materialistic and  out of touch  because she purchased some new china for the White House during an economic downturn.  They are basically implying or outright saying the same things about MIchelle Obama. But back to the ring. You can get a $30,000 ring at Costco. Here's a Costco Ring for $94,000. You can buy it online along with those delightful blueberry muffins I love. These people are millionaires. They both graduated from Harvard Law. Michelle Obama brought home the bacon for years so that hubby could pursue his dream. Now they are both reaping the fruits of their labor. In the olden days, we used to call those kinds of partnerships "marriages". I have serious doubts about this whole $30,000 ring story. First, what jewelry designer would brag about a piddly $30,000 ring. 3,000,000, yes, but not 30,000. Second, would Barack Obama really be so careless as to purchase anything from a blabbermouth jeweler?  But even if he did, there isn't anything exceptional about rich people buying jewelry. Heck Kobe Bryant purportedly spent $4 Million on a tacky yellow diamond ring. If this story is true, at least Barack Obama had the sense to pay wholesale and not retail. SO what do these stories say about us? Is it the cost of the ring during these economic times? Or is it who the ring was purchased for? Do we expect Michelle Obama to serve baked chicken leg quarters with mashed potatoes and green beans at every White House state Dinner? The truth is that there is a long history of "folks" having a problem with Black people living well and for the next four years they are goign to have two Black folks living well right in front of their eyes. The real issue isn't whether or not Barack Obama got Michelle Obama a ring from Costco. The issue is why a $30,000 ring purportedly purchased by a multimillionaire bothers people. For the record. I thought the whole $150,000 Palin wardrobe dust up was silly  too. I've seen "ladies who lunch,"$150,000 is nothing to them.

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