Joan Ganz Cooney | 07/10/2008 1:05 pm

Barack Obama: Former Babysitter and 'Sesame Street' Watcher

Last night, I went to a fund-raising dinner for Obama and Hillary. The two stars of the evening went around the room, greeting each person. I’ve known Hillary for many years and she greeted me warmly as she did everyone. Obama I had not met before, and when I was brought over to meet him, I knew he would have been told who I was. I would have bet a million dollars that the first words out of his mouth would be: "My children watch Sesame Street." How wrong I was. He said: "I used to watch Sesame Street when I was babysitting my sister." How cool is that?

Read more about: Barack Obama, Election, Hillary Clinton, Politics, Sesame Street

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D.T., NO COMENTS!—-DANCEWU(DOT)NET

By GEORGE WU, A.I.A. on 07/10/2008 11:28 pm

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George, turn the Caps Lock off.

By Marjorie C. on 07/11/2008 2:34 pm

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Joan, My brother did the same thing, although I think he would roll his eyes having to admit it. I was at a women’s philanthropy lunch recently, and a bunch of us 30-something moms started talking about kids TV and how the only show we REALLY trust is Sesame Street. Yes, we all love Nick and the Mouse and DK, but we unanimously agreed that Sesame Street had something indistinguishably unique. I think its authenticity to the audience, and its ability to tell a great story for kids with little jokes for the grown-ups watching too. Today, with the magic of YouTube (and now the new Sesame Workshop Video Viewer) if I’m having an uninspired day, I’ll watch a couple of Grover bits to brighten things up. Thank you, thank you, thank you for me (and my kids).

By Ilana Bittner on 07/10/2008 2:04 pm

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Thank you Joan! Loved that sweet morsel…and would have loved to hear more of your impression. The Obamas seem like a nice family to me.

By No Way-No How -No McCain on 07/10/2008 4:50 pm

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Open, genuine, real…

By georgia fatwood on 07/12/2008 10:12 pm

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I think it’s nice to know Obama babysat his sister. I actually used to love Sesame Street as a child. Speaking of Obama and babysitting… I met a young woman who used to babysit for the Obamas’ girls for several years while she was attending college while working toward her BA in music ed.. She told me they were the great people and excellent with their children, very actively involved in their activities. Just a little, personal tidbit to share.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/10/2008 4:52 pm

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typo alert…. not “the great people”….”great people” (as a person with no patience to preview my posts, I am constantly correcting typos!)

By DeBúrca obj on 07/10/2008 4:59 pm

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On another note:

First McCain tells us we need a gas tax holiday and coastal drilling for a “psycological boost” and now his finacial advisor says were just a “nation of whiners” in a “mental recession”. What will Obama say? Obama says, We don’t another Dr. Phil, thank you very much!

Phil Gramm said in the Washington Times yesterday morning:

“You’ve heard of mental depression,” he said, “this is a mental recession. We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining…”

“Misery sells newspapers,” Mr. Gramm said. “Thank God the economy is not as bad as you read in the newspaper every day.”

Mr. Obama, in a town hall meeting in Fairfax, Va., referencing Gramm’s remarks said,

“Well, you know, America already has one Dr. Phil. We don’t need another one when it comes to the economy.”

“Let’s be clear, when people are struggling with the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries, when we’ve lost 438,000 jobs over the past six months, when typical families have seen their incomes fall nearly $1,000 since 2000, this economic downturn isn’t in our heads. It isn’t whining to ask for more than just psychological relief. ”

All in our heads, Indeed! Isn’t this what we have been hearing for eons? ‘There’s nothing wrong. It’s all in your head. If you’d just quit complaining everything would fine. It’s your damn fault everything sucks. If you were just more supportive. ..’ blah..blah..blah…blah…blah

By Deni G on 07/10/2008 6:25 pm

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Great post Deni. Yes, I couldn’t believe that McCain’s financial advisor actually SAID that. Of course McCain quickly denied agreeing with Phil Gramm’s comments, the fact that he’s his financial advisor I guess doesn’t mean anything. LOL I love Obama’s response.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/10/2008 6:40 pm

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Hi JC B!

But, it appears, before they disagreed with him, they agreed with him! LOL!

” in an initial statement published by Politico and then, seemingly, removed from its site, a McCain campaign aide actually stood by Gramm’s remarks, saying the interview as a whole was merely meant as a preview of the Senator’s economic agenda.” ~Huffington post

Although how that makes any sense at all, I am not sure. Unless the Senator’s economic agenda is going to be more psychological remedies.

Loved the ‘we don’t need no Dr. Phil’ remark!

By Deni G on 07/10/2008 6:56 pm

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Deni, I wonder if the “mainstream media” will actually address the fact that his campaign initially agreed with the statement. I’ll bet they don’t. Also, Gramm’s statement really isn’t too shocking because it reflects the GOPs view on the economy anyway. The only reason McCain’s backing away from it is because he’s working on the Independents, the Republican base I’m sure isn’t bothered at all by the comments.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/10/2008 7:52 pm

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JC B……..Yesterday appears to have been a “mouth overload your A—” for both sides. How about the Rev Jackson and his “open mike” remark directed at Obama. Gee, what a guy!! Looks like there should be a large supply of “Ivory Soap” bars (for mouth washing) for both sides.

By Lady Gator on 07/11/2008 11:34 am

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L Gator, No comparison. Gramm is McCains Number One Economic Advisor. McCain can’t dismiss what he says because all that tells us is 1) either McCain is lying and really does agree with his #1 advisors economic views or 2) is running such a disorgainzed, shoddy campaign that he doesn’t even know what his #1 Economic Advisor believes as far as the Economy goes. Don’t they talk to each other? As far a Jackson goes, he’s not part of Obama’s campaign and Obama doesn’t have to answer for anything he says on or off mic. Also, do you believe for a minute that Jackson’s comments hurt Obama in any way?

By DeBúrca obj on 07/11/2008 11:39 am

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Also, Gramm wasn’t caught off mic ranting to a buddy, his words were thought out and intentional.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/11/2008 11:42 am

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JC B…..You know you get way too emotional about all this. I’m sorry you must have misunderstood me. I didn’t post for you or anyone to take it as a comparison. To be perfectly straight here — and, this is only my opinion — there is just a lot of “talking” on both sides. At this point in the campaign — it just doesn’t mean a thing! Also as Rep Morris Udall (d-Az) once said …”Everything has been said, but not everyone has said it yet.” And, at one time (eight days before an election) and I quote Sen Chris Dodd (D-CT) …”Eight more days, and I can start telling the truth again”. And many years ago then Jerry Brown was running for Governor of California, and after several blunders within the organization his Campaign aide (Jacques Barzaghi) stated…”We are not disorganized. We just have a kind of organization that transcends understanding”. In my humble opinion — nothing much has changed on either side with candidates or their people.

By Lady Gator on 07/11/2008 12:31 pm