Did First Lady Michelle Obama Go Fake Target Shopping?
Last week pictures of Mrs. Obama shopping in Target (in Alexandria, VA) hit the web and she was applauded for still attempting to do ‘normal stuff.’ However, some are not buying it. Although there is no evidence to prove that the photo op was planned, there has been some speculation on some manipulation of the media to improve the first lady’s image as in tune with the American community. The prime question is how is is that only Associated Press had a picture of her unless her people contacted Only them to be there? And what about the fact that corporate chains like Target prohibit news photography on company-owned premises without prior permission. AP spokesman Paul Colford defends photographer Charles Dharapak who released the picture saying,
“All I can say is that it was the result of good source work on his part.” Fox news and syndicated radio host Sean Hannity tweeted, “First Lady Michelle Obama shopping at Target with an AP photographer in tow……..planned? I think so.”
Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called it,
“a phony-baloney plastic banana good-time-rock-and-roller optic photo op.”
Ouch. Kristina Schake, a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama, avoided addressing how the photos became available but released a statement saying,
“It is not uncommon for the First Lady to slip out to run an errand, eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates.”
Do we think her PR people planned the trip, to improve her image?