Ellen Sturtz, 56, a lesbian activist, interrupted her remarks to demand that President Obama sign an anti-discrimination executive order.
The First Lady apparently walked over to address Sturtz eye to eye, according to witnesses.
“One of the things that I don’t do well is this,” she said to applause from most of the guests, according to a White House transcript. “Do you understand?”
Sturtz was escorted out of the room. Sturtz said in an interview later she was stunned by Obama’s response.
“She came right down in my face,” Sturtz said. “I was taken aback.”I have to say - Sturtz was "taken aback" that the First Lady walked over to her eye to eye? So, Sturtz was hoping to have an anonymous, well-distanced protest?
“I said I want your husband to sign the executive order,” Sturtz said. “Her husband could sign this order tonight and protect 22 percent of the work force in this country.”
The proposed executive order that prompted Sturtz’s outburst would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. That would be a good thing. The First Lady, however, is not the person to protest.
I believe the President signing an executive order to outlaw LGBT discrimination in the workplace by federal contractors is a good thing. I do. But protesting the First Lady isn't the place to get the message across.
(source)
UPDATE - CNN has video of the heckling and Mrs. Obama's reaction:
If the First Lady had addressed her from the podium or ignored Ellen entirely, it still would have elicited some negative responses like just who does she think she is talking down from that podium. I suspect that Mrs Obama was only trying to respectfully diffuse the situation by going to speak directly to Ellen.
ReplyDeleteMrs Obama is a very smart woman and I'd imagine she was rather taken aback by the heckling - no first lady has ever been heckled at a private event with supposedly like-minded people. Not even Laura Bush was ever heckled by Code Pink. But I think that Mrs Obama chose not to reward this rude behavior by engaging Ellen.
If Mrs Obama had indulged Ellen, all future events would turn into such unpleasant yelling matches and free for all's to get the First Lady's attention and perhaps a one on one chat. A terrible precedence would be set.
If Ellen really wanted to engage Mrs Obama in an honest, productive conversation, perhaps she should have waited till the end and asked Mrs Obama a question instead of yelling at her. It was after all an intimate event at a private home.
Mrs Obama is a genuine supporter of LGBT causes and is very sympathetic and committed to doing as much as possible to make progress. But she is a behind the scenes action woman and is conscious of and very careful in her public role as Barack's surrogate. She never wants to be pitted against her husband or seen to be running the show.
She never uses her public appearances to compete with him, or to boost or elevate herself. It's always all about boosting him and his efforts. She's his biggest supporter and cheerleader, but in the most refreshingly genuine, realistic and honest way. She tries to never show up her husband especially where policy matters are concerned, but you can bet she is pushing hard for something worthy and permanent behind the scenes.
She really does get it and she cares, but she's also incredibly protective of her husband and will never let anyone denigrate or attack him in her presence or suggest that he has failed or failed to live up to his promises. That's the easiest and quickest way to lose her. She will however acknowledge that there's so much left to do and will be the first to share her impatience with the slowness of the process and D.C in general, in spite of which she'll assure you that it will all still get done.