Gallivanting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, escaping to a beach in Tampa, listening closely at a Cancer Research Center, feasting on Cuban cuisine in Miami -- Meghan McCain, Shannon Bae, and Heather Brand have returned from a brief break to give us front row seats on the Straight Talk Express once again. Great to have you back, ladies.
Barack and Michelle Obama chatted with Rachel Ray about date nights, helping Sasha and Malia eat right, and the girls' take on their Dad's exhausting campaign:
When you're on the campaign trail with your Mom, along with picking up mulch with a pitchfork, petting snakes, and putting on a fancy hat for the Kentucky Derby, you celebrate Mother's Day in a very public way:
Bridget McCain visited New Orleans during spring break, and I'll bet a father-daughter email exchange or dinner table conversation inspired Senator McCain. Listen to the passionate promise he made during a visit he made a few weeks after Bridget's return:
McCain said his teenage daughter Bridget had been there with a volunteer youth group a few weeks ago to help in the recovery.
"Never again, never again, will a disaster of this nature be handled in the disgraceful way it was handled," McCain declared, a pledge he repeated over and over during the day.
Just watched the White House Correspondents' Dinner live, with Craig Ferguson as special guest. On the way into the Hilton, C-SPAN showed Meghan McCain posing on the red carpet. Then she had to go in and listen to a bunch of jokes about her father's age. What's that like? Everyone around you craning their necks to catch your reaction, you're smiling, laughing, sitting with your head high, but inside you want to say, "Back off, buddy. That's my DAD you're talking about." Anyway, she looked gorgeous in an aqua halter dress, and Craig Ferguson did a great job getting that tough crowd to laugh (but I wondered WHY he kept fiddling with his nose -- he never does that on his show.)
Blogger Andrew Romano of Newsweek guesses that Jenna might be interested in learning about one candidate in particular -- Senator Barack Obama, joining a bunch of other First Daughter alums like Susan Eisenhower and Julie Nixon.
Among other interesting tidbits, Katie Couric discovers that Barack Obama's scheduler's main challenge is getting the candidate home to his family, and that the campaign's lead speechwriter is 26 years old:
It's a good thing they're all so young, because it's only about mile 13 in the marathon to the White House.
The limelight gives you power. Sure you get criticized and attacked, but people watch you, hear you, and sometimes even imitate you. That's why I love it when celebs take risks and drag the needs of others into the public eye. Meghan McCain seems to be thinking about this lately, youtubing even more about a recent visit to Sela Ward's Hope Village:
Chelsea's been stumping hard on college campuses like Duke and Swarthmore, and people are talking about the power of a daughter's voice convincing voters that Mom would make a much better president than Dad.
The media's talking about Malia Obama's asthma as proof that her Dad's committed to getting rid of air pollution. That's tough for a nine-year-old kid. Thanks to your political parent, even your personal struggles and sicknesses can't just be about you -- they've got consequences for the entire planet.
Only 200 guests are coming.
Only one bridesmaid will attend the bride -- her twin sister.
The mother of the bride didn't hire a wedding coordinator.
The First Daughter is keeping things simple for her May 10th wedding, and the Austin-American Statesman reports that she and Henry are settling in Baltimore, Maryland where they've bought a 128-year old house for less than $500,000.
Jenna's definitely doing things her way, and Sparrow wishes her all the happiness in the world.
The First Daughter is speaking today about Ana's Story here in Dallas for the HUGE Texas Library Association's Annual Convention. Hey, Jenna -- stop by the Penguin booth this afternoon from 2 to 3 and get your own signed copies of the First Daughter novels.
While she takes a break from blogging to get strategic about mccainblogette, Meghan's chilling in Arizona with her kid sister:
I'll be at home indulging in a few of my favorite guilty pleasures including, sleeping in my own bed; hanging out with Bridget; watching "The Three Stooges" (an obsession of mine since childhood); eating fish tacos; drinking strawberry margaritas; playing "Rock and Roll Jeopardy"; and taking in beautiful Arizona sunsets.The only public event she's planning to attend would lure anybody away from a vacation. Get this: People Magazine invited her and the other two blogettes to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner hosted by Craig Ferguson in Washington, D.C. on April 26th. Sparrow is green, because who doesn't adore Craig Ferguson? Take us along, Meghan, even if it's virtually.
CNN reports that Sarah's still representing her father, Mike Huckabee. She told reporters yesterday that she's not the only one with that job description -- Governor Huckabee's signed a contract to be represented by one of the biggest talent agencies in tinsel town, Creative Artists Agency.
I'm sad to announce that Meghan and the blogettes are taking a break from the trail and their blog (no, I don't know that they're heading to Hawaii; I'm just guessing), because the photos taken by Heather Brand are such a fabulous way to track the McCain campaign. Check out this one of Meghan and her younger brother Jack at the Naval Academy, for example.
Come back tan, blogettes, but come back soon. In the meantime, they've left us with a video produced by Shannon Bae describing Senator McCain's biography tour and thanking their blog readers:
Liz Crokin of the Chicago Tribune asked Chelsea why she doesn't talk to the press, and here's the answer:
Jodi Kantor of the New York Times gives us the rundown on Marine Lance Corporal Jimmy McCain's experience of fighting the war in Iraq. But not all of it, or any current photos:
To protect Lance Corporal McCain in case he is again deployed to a war zone, The New York Times is not publishing recent photographs of him and has withheld some details of his service.
Maybe this photographer thinks all blondes look alike, but the woman on the right is not John and Cindy McCain's oldest daughter. The real Meghan McCain's quite petite, by the way, as you can tell in this photo.
Note: The
When you hit the campaign trail for your parent, you're going to face people who put you on the spot. Chelsea's response to one tricky question has been something like, "Respectfully, sir, that's not your business." Now she's getting some heat for that answer:
I've been brainstorming other options for her. Hey, Chelsea, do you like any of these?
"Nice. That's the third time I've been asked that question, and it's baseball season. You'll have to ask my parents that one, sir. Next?"
"Thanks. I'm not sure I know the right answer, but I'll think about it."
"Good for you. Now I know I'll make the news tomorrow. More buzz for Mom."
"My mother's strength and grace through tough times is another reason why I'm voting for her. And you should, too."
Scott Helman of the Boston Globe describes how Marion Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, is taking care of the Obama girls (the real ones, his daughters) while their parents are on the campaign trail.
Grandma's good at following her daughter's strict rules while at the Obama house (organic food, one hour of television per day, 8:30 bedtime), but when they come visit her turf, everything relaxes:
"I have candy, they stay up late - come to my house, they watch TV as long as they want to, we'll play games until the wee hours," Robinson said. "I do everything that grandmothers do that they're not supposed to."
In North Carolina, Chelsea Clinton criticized President Bush and fended off another Lewinsky question. Meanwhile in Mississippi, Meghan McCain schmoozed with actress Sela Ward and the amazing Blue Angel pilots. Different styles, definitely.
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