I rarely watch the Today show, but happened to flip on the TV while I folded a load of whites this morning and caught an interview between Barack Obama and Matt Lauer in which Matt asked Obama about the "controversial" family interview the Obama's did for Access Hollywood.
(Incidentally the funniest part of this video was Meredith Veira all giddy and congratulating Maria Menounos of Access Hollywood for "scoring" the first Obama family interview. Careful, Meredith, your journalistic chops are showing.)
Now...should a presidential candidate be featured in Entertainment venues like Access Hollywood and the Us Weekly that I subscribe to (it's my guilty pleasure). Perhaps not. A part of me winces when I see them in there...and, yet, I scoop it up and read every word.
Ultimately, I thought the interview clip that I watched online this morning (linked above) was cute and I loved it. It's apparently one of a four-part series (gotta make the most of a big interview, you know) and if I had any clue what network Access Hollywood is on or when it's on...I'd probably watch it.
Apparently, some people are upset that he has said he wants to keep his family out of the spotlight and, yet, clearly, put them right in it in this interview.
He's said that if he had to do it again, he wouldn't. I can respect that. I'm a parent and I know that we sometimes we make parenting choices and decisions that we regret. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but...of course, later you realize it wasn't a good idea.
Like the time I disregarded all the parenting advice about not tying chores to allowance and clearly told the kids they wouldn't get allowance unless they made their beds and picked up their rooms, etc. They did it and each week, they got their allowance. Until they had enough to buy what they wanted. Then, my oldest said to me: "I don't have to make my bed anymore...I got my Webkin."
Uhhh huh...OK...right... should've listened to the experts.
Personally, I loved the inside look at the Obama family -- if only because they seemed a lot like my family. And, because it's clear that they must really understand the challenges facing middle-class families today.
And, he's honest enough to admit when he's made a mistake.