INSULT TO INJURY – AT 10:45 A.M. ET:  Her Michelleness is in Spain, her luxurious, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar trip becoming increasingly controversial.  But now there's even more.  From London's Evening Standard:

A young London fashion designer has been commissioned by US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Bunmi Olaye, 27, who runs Bunmi Koko with her partner Francis Udom, was given the honour after sending a prospectus of her designs to the White House.

Soon after a call came to the couple from Washington asking if a coat could be made for Mrs Obama.

Mr Udom said: “Someone said they were from the First Lady's office and she was interested in a cream coat we had featured and could we make it for her.

“We were stunned but kept calm and said we would make her a coat in September. I hope she likes it.”

Ms Olaye, whose company is based in Plaistow, first gained national exposure when former Spice Girl Melanie Brown asked her to make her a dress for this year's Brit Awards. Pictures of the singer wearing the dress alongside former bandmate Geri Halliwell featured in newspapers the following day.

COMMENT:  Huh?  Is the first lady of the United States serious?  We have a fashion industry in the United States that's hurting.  And she commissions a coat from England?  Why can't she just buy one off the rack in America?  Boost our own industry?

What has gone wrong?  First, the Obamas take a raft of vacations, one right after the other.  Then the first lady takes 40 intimate friends on a lavish trip to Spain.  Oh, she's also dropping in on the king of Spain, so the White House is trying to spin this as a semi-official trip.  Yeah, right.  Michelle and the king will solve the problems of the world.

And then Michelle orders this DARLING coat from this exciting, oh how exciting, young designer in London.  I can't wait to see her in it.

All this right before an election.

Something is off kilter here.  It sounds like the Obamas just don't care about public perception any longer.  Or maybe it's Michelle who doesn't care.  Or maybe, just maybe, the president won't run again and has nothing to lose.  Whatever it is, this is bad behavior, and Americans, especially those out of work or hurting, do notice.  I'd love to see the poll numbers.

August 7, 2010