President Obama and Michelle’s (Other) State of the Union Address

In the midst of everything going on in the U.S. right now, there is one question weighing most heavily on our minds:  How the heck is President Obama and Michelle’s love life holding up these days, anyway?

The New York Times Magazine probes into this vital issue.

Michelle tells the magazine in an interview to appear in Nov. 1 issue that “the strengths and challenges of our marriage don’t change because we move to a different address,” adding that “the bumps” happen to everybody all the time “and they are continuous.”

“The last thing we want to project,” she said, is the image of a flawless relationship.

“It’s unfair to the institution of marriage, and it’s unfair for young people who are trying to build something, to project this perfection that doesn’t exist,” Michelle said.

Of course, I’m guessing THEIR “bumps” don’t include arguments about replacing the toilet paper.

President Obama took the opportunity to blow off some steam about their much-criticized “date night” in New York City, lamenting that:

“People made it into a political issue… If I weren’t president, I would be happy to catch the shuttle with my wife to take her to a Broadway show, as I had promised her during the campaign, and there would be no fuss and no muss and no photographers. That would please me greatly.”

Conservative commentators and Republican officials criticized the president for doing so, because the date cost taxpayers $250,000.  Presidents, however, don’t travel by any means other than secure government aircraft or vehicles.

Obama added: “The notion that I just couldn’t take my wife out on a date without it being a political issue was not something I was happy with.”

I appreciate their desire to keep the flame alive, if you know what I mean, but a $250,000 date in this economy…?  Whatever happened to old-fashioned romance — like a ten-dollar plate of ravioli at the Olive Garden?!

The article explores the effects of the presidency on the couple’s 17-year union, and revisits well-documented tension between them in earlier years as Obama pursued his political career in Illinois, leaving Michelle largely home alone in Chicago with their daughters.  Yeah.  Not fun.

No word on whether The Times delves into other urgent topics, such as The State of Michelle’s Arms.