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    lynn-sweet

    Lynn Sweet

    Columnist

    Michelle Meets Elmo and Big Bird

    Posted:
    05/5/09
    Filed Under:The Daily FLOTUS with Lynn Sweet
    10 Comments  + 
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    First Lady Michelle Obama hit Manhattan Tuesday afternoon, visiting the Big Apple for the first time since the inauguration telling folks at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations she was "thrilled" about a visit to the Sesame Street studio.

    "I never thought I'd be on Sesame Street with Elmo and Big Bird and I was thrilled. I'm still thrilled. I'm on a high. I think it's probably the best thing I've done at the White House."
    Now, the background: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice welcomed Mrs. Obama to the U.S. UN Mission-across the street from the UN and the Mrs. Obama spoke to about 150 employees for about ten minutes.

    Rice-- one of President Obama's earliest supporters-and a former Clinton White House official-- introduced theFirst Lady "It is a great honor to welcome the First Lady of the United States," Rice said. "The folks gathered here are truly the foot soldiers on the front lines of the new administration." She called the group "tireless, talented and tremendously dedicated" and said they are "making the change in our foreign policy real every day," according to the pool report.

    Rice then went on to praise the First Lady. "You insist on reminding people that your extraordinary life is rooted in the ordinary women that surrounded you," Rice said. "We love your style, your warmth, your brilliance."

    More from the pool report by the Wall Street Journal's Amy Chozick (who profiled White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers in the WSJ last week)

    Rice "called FLOTUS "wicked smart" and said she had a gift of UNICEF children's books, light-up pens and soccer-related stuff to Sasha and Malia.

    "Because they don't have enough," Mrs. Obama interrupted in the background. "I am thrilled to be here," FLOTUS said, wearing a black print dress with three-quarter length sleeves by Tracy Feith.

    She talked about a     Tuesday visit to Sesame Street where she talked about healthy eating and nutrition. "I never thought I'd be on Sesame Street with Elmo and Big Bird and I was thrilled. I'm still thrilled. I'm on a high. I think it's probably the best thing I've done at the White House." FLOTUS thanked Rice and called her a "trusted advisor and friend to the president." She returned the compliment and said Rice is "wicked smart."

    "Obama told the crowd she has been trying to get to know her new neighbors in Washington. This is Mrs. Obama' s first visit to New York since she became first lady and her 10th visit to a government agency.

    "Her mission, she says, is to put a spotlight on the nation's employees who may feel underappreciated. 40 long-time U.N. employees sat to the left of the stage. These included Ivan Ferber who has worked at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. for 47 years. "Longer than I've been alive," Obama said, as she thanked Mr. Ferber.

    "Other honored employees included: Bruce Rashkow who has worked at the USUN for 38 years and Raymond Boneski who has worked there for 36 years. FLOTUS talked about her recent meetings with schoolchildren in DC and read a letter sent to POTUS by Jack Turner, a first grader and son of Scott Turner, a USUN employee. "Dear Mr. Obama, Can you come to New York " the letter read. "People are doing bad stuff in New York."

    "FLOTUS joked that Jack has the potential to become the next NYC police commissioner. Obama told another story about the time Ambassador Rice's 11-year-old son-visiting his mom's office during take-your-child-to-work day-threw away his ice cream so that he would make a good first impression on the South African ambassador. "That's diplomacy right there, for an-year-old to dump his ice cream," Obama said.

    "FLOTUS said people who work at state agencies are willing to "sacrifice and roll up their sleeves" and cited the H1N1 virus. "We know now we cannot wall ourselves off from issues that are challenging our neighbors," she said. "We are rooting for you and we need you, so thank you so much," Obama said. After the remarks, FLOTUS posed for photos in an eight-floor foyer with employees. Mass. Sen. John Kerry's sister, Margaret "Peggy" Kerry, works for the U.S. Mission to the U.N. and was in attendance. "I think it's great" that the first lady is here, she told reporters. "She made the rounds in Washington and now she's in New York."
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    Lynn Sweet

    Lynn Sweet is a columnist at PoliticsDaily.com and writes the Daily FLOTUS blog on Michelle Obama. She is also Washington Bureau Chief of the Chicago Sun-Times.... more

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