Obama divorce story: What’s the hullabaloo?

Obama divorce story: What’s the hullabaloo?
Sara McGinnis
7 EPIC DAYS
posted: 05/18/2012, 9:11 am

in: You and Your Family, Gossip, Relationships,Celebrities

15 comments

Have you heard about the Obama divorce story? Today is a much better day for Edward Klein than for Barack and Michelle Obama, as his book detailing the time their marriage almost bit the dust is trending on the web. Yes, inThe Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House, Klein alleges the President and First Lady had a rough patch.

Gasp! Scandalous, right? Or not so much.

The Inquisitor reports on Klein’s book:

The Obama divorce story is just one of a few questionable claims made in the book by former New York Times Magazine editor Edward Klein, who also alleged that Michelle Obama is cripplingly jealous of other women, that she feuds with media queen Oprah, and that President Obama and his entourage have “gone to elaborate lengths to hide his dark side.”

At the heart of the Obama divorce story is gossip that claims the First Marriage nearly ended in 2000. At that timeMichelle Obama allegedly considered leaving Barack.

An Obama relationship timeline:

• Summer of 1989: Michelle Robinson meets Barack Obama at their law firm, Sidley Austin, when she is assigned to mentor him as a summer associate. Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her. The couple’s first date was to the Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing.
• October 1992: They marry.
• July 1998: Malia Ann Obama is born.
• – 2000: Alleged relationship issues occurred.
• June 2001: Natasha Obama (known as Sasha) is born.

Sounds about right, eh?

Eight years into a marriage with one toddler under foot and a second baby on the way (not to mention a budding political career) sounds like stress central! My only question is…why is the Obama divorce story even news?

I detest the idea that famous people, no matter if they’re Hollywood celebrities or politicians, are supposed to be infallible. I actually rather enjoy the idea that our leaders are human too, prone to relationship highs and lows — and not only that, but if the Obama divorce drama is true, we know now the couple worked through their hard time. Kudos!

Just recently I read an interview with a celebrity offspring  (she is famous as well as both of her parents) in which an actress shared she once asked her mom and dad how their marriage has lasted so long. For the life of me I can’t remember who it was, and Google has failed me this morning, but I can tell you the response from memory: “We never both wanted to get divorced at the same time.”

Hilarious! In an ‘it’s funny because it’s true’ kind of way. (UPDATE: It was Gwyneth Paltrow. Thanks to Erin for helping me out by leaving a comment!)

Considering all the drama surrounding President Obama at any given time, this divorce story is almost laughable in insignificance. Barack and Michelle Obama are, at the end of the day, apparently just as human as the rest of us.

What is your reaction to the Obama divorce story?