Future shock? Sen. Michelle Obama, D-N.C.

Future shock? Sen. Michelle Obama, D-N.C.

Sources claim post-presidency home purchased by president, first lady

Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama

http://www.wnd.com/2014/06/future-shock-sen-michelle-obama-d-n-c

WASHINGTON – Why is the first family buying a home in Asheville, North Carolina? Do they like the weather there more than Hawaii?

Or could there be a post-presidency political motivation for the Obamas similar to the one that saw Bill and Hillary Clinton relocate to New York?

At least one well-placed source – and all kinds of scuttlebutt –suggests the latter. Residency in North Carolina is a pre-requisite to the launch of Michelle Obama’s political career.

Specifically, the smart money says, Michelle is likely to seek a Senate seat, the one currently held by Republican Richard Burr, who is retiring in 2016.

Republicans believe Democrats will want to run a high-profile candidate to try to capture the open seat – and who could be higher than someone named Obama?

Now, sources are reporting the Obamas are purchasing a home in Asheville, N.C.

One source, for the Wall Street Cheat Sheet, said the property being purchased is in Asheville, but the White House wasn’t confirming anything yet.

The decision to pick Asheville is considered very telling by some GOP insiders, because it is one of the few liberal strongholds left in North Carolina.

Barack Obama discussed retirement there last year during his trip to North Carolina during a speech in Asheville.

“Love coming to Asheville,” said Obama. “Michelle and I always talk about how after this whole presidency thing, we’re looking for a little spot to –” here an audience member said, “Come on down” — “Come on down? Play a little golf, do a little hiking, fishing, barbecue,” said Obama. “There’s two things that keep bringing me back here. Number one is I really like the people. And number two is 12 Bones, which I will be stopping on the way back to the airport.”

The Cheat Sheet noted that the local Chamber of Commerce has been bragging about the Obamas for some time, with an online posting saying, “Find out for yourself what makes the Asheville area a vacation destination worthy of a president!”

That came after the White House reported the Obamas were to spend one of their many vacations in that area.

The family also has repeatedly vacationed in Hawaii, at an expense to taxpayers of millions of dollars for air travel each way, since they’ve been in the White House.

Last winter, taxpayers even paid for a separate flight for Michelle Obama, who was given a few extra days to relax over her 50th birthday there by her husband.

The Obamas have an extensive background in Chicago, but analysts have concluded that moving into a big pond like that may not be their first choice.

Michelle Obama would not be the first First Lady to follow the path to the Senate. After Bill Clinton left office, the family bought a home in New York from which Hillary Clinton launched a successful Senate bid, which she followed with an unsuccessful presidential run in 2008.

She then served as Barack Obama’s secretary of state until recently. She now appears to be preparing to announce a presidential bid for 2016.

That Michelle Obama has higher aspirations than a quiet, reclusive retirement is commonly reported. Just over the weekend, commentator Jeff Crouere wrote at Canada Free Press, “Despite Barack Obama’s disastrous record as president, there are many Democrat Party leaders in his adopted home state in Illinois who are longing for his wife to run for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

“They point to a 2012 Public Polling Policy survey which showed Michelle Obama leading incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, by a comfortable 51-40 percent margin.”

He described Michelle Obama as “not a shrinking violet” and noted her new, bolder profile.

“She has cultivated the media spotlight since her husband’s election; however, her public profile has recently reached a new level. Last month, she traveled to China on a mission that drew international attention. She has also launched a Twitter campaign to rescue the Nigerian school girls kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram.”

She’s also attacked Congress for trying to make adjustments in the government-mandated school lunch program she supported.

“By engaging her political opponents in a high profile manner, Mrs. Obama is entering a more combative phase. It seems she has an increasing interest in debating Republicans, possibly signaling an interest in running as a candidate for public office,” Crouere wrote.

“If she enters the race for U.S. Senate as First Lady, it will be a tremendous advantage for Michelle Obama. She could raise millions of dollars from liberals nationwide, while the media will fawn all over her. Sadly, she shares the same poisonous liberal philosophy as her husband. She is a true believer, who sat in the pews of the Trinity United Church of Christ as Rev. Jeremiah Wright spewed his racist, anti-American sermons.”

North Carolina’s WCNC-TV in Charlotte even speculated on the Obamas moving to North Carolina as far back as early 2013, saying, “Who knows, it could become his new home sometime down the road.”

ABC reported when the Obamas were in Asheville preparing for the October 2008 presidential debate with Sen. John McCain and then vacationed in Asheville in 2010.

The report said, “For Obama, the city also offers something else: a chance to appeal toe everyday families and generate favorable publicity in a potential swing state” heading into the 2012 election.

For several days there has been increased speculation about a senatorial bid by Michelle Obama.

Like Hillary Clinton, Michelle is an attorney of some repute. She also served as assistant to the mayor of Chicago in the early 1990s, as well as an assistant commissioner of planning and development for the city.

After running the Chicago branch of the nonprofit Public Allies, which gets young people engaged in nonprofit and government leadership, Obama moved to the University of Chicago, eventually rising to be vice president of the university’s extensive hospitals network.

There has been speculation recently about a run in Illinois in 2016 for the seat held by Republican Mark Kirk. He suffered a stroke in 2012.

Reuters reported that if Michelle Obama won a Senate bid, “She would quickly become the most recognizable face in the Senate. Her fame and fundraising ability would command deference in a body that normally operates on seniority.”

Barack Obama has denied rumors that his wife was going to run for public office. In an interview for Live with Michael and Kelly, for instance, the President told host Kelly Ripa, “One thing I can promise you is Michelle will not run for office.”

In August last year, Michelle flat out denied rumors that she might run for the presidency.

North Carolina Senate

Kay Hagan was a senator for the North Carolina Senate, is a senator for the NC congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

Note: Thomas R. Carper is a senator for the DE congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

Christopher Coons is a member of the DE congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

Claire McCaskill is a senator for the MO congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

Jeanne Shaheen is a senator for the NH congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

Mark Udall is a member of the CO congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and an honorary co-chair for the Third Way.

William M. Daley is a trustee at the Third Way, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Susan McCue was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

James S. Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Sidney Harman was a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and married to Jane Lakes Harman.

Jane Lakes Harman was married to Sidney Harman, is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and her son is Brian L. Frank.

Brian L. Frank is Jane Lakes Harman’s son, and a trustee at the Third Way.

William D. Budinger is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a trustee at the Third Way.

Reynold Levy was an advisory board member for the Aspen Institute (think tank), a trustee at the Third Way, and is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Georgette F. Bennett is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a trustee at the Third Way.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama is an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Susan McCue was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

David B. Heller is a trustee at the Third Way, and a director at the Acumen Fund.

Michael E. Novogratz is a trustee at the Third Way, and a director at the Acumen Fund.

Andrea Soros is a director at the Acumen Fund, and George Soros’s daughter.

George Soros is Andrea Soros’s father, the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress, and the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the New America Foundation, the Urban Institute (think tank), and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Jennifer M. Palmieri was the SVP for the Center for American Progress, the national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and is the communications director, assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration.

Peter B. Lewis was a director at the Center for American Progress, and a trustee at the Third Way.

Kirk A. Radke is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and a trustee at the Third Way.

Bernard L. Schwartz was a funder & director for the New America Foundation, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Julian H. Robertson Jr. was invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP was his lobby firm, and his sister is Wyndham Robertson.

Wyndham Robertson is Julian H. Robertson Jr’s sister, and was a VP for the University of North Carolina System.

Erskine B. Bowles was the president for the University of North Carolina System, and is a trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is Vernon E. Jordan Jr’s great niece, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William M. Daley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a trustee at the Third Way, and was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

Susan McCue is a trustee at the Third Way, and was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama is an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Kathleen Brown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the California state government governor Jerry Brown’s sister, was the California state government treasurer, and an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.

Ronald A. Klain was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, the chief of staff to the vice president for the Barack Obama administration, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Zoe Baird was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and married to William D. Budinger.

William D. Budinger is married to Zoe Baird, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a trustee at the Third Way.

Kay Hagan is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, a senator for the NC congressional delegation, a U.S. Senate senator, and was a senator for the North Carolina Senate.