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What is Nancy Gibbs talking about?

November 24, 2008 4:42 pm ET by Eric Boehlert

The Time mag writer seems to be reading way too much into the Obamas' decision to send their daughters to the Sidwell Friends school in Washington, D.C. Gibbs claims it revolves around the school's Quaker background and then quickly gets bogged down in Quaker dogma:

Unlike many Quaker schools, Sidwell is not attached to a particular Friends meeting, but many of its trustees are Quakers and the emphasis on open-minded pursuit of excellence and understanding is enforced by weekly Meetings for Worship.

The headline also suggests Time, which received no insight from the Obamas about this choice, can read minds: "Why Sasha and Malia Will Go to Sidewell Friends".

In truth, Time has no idea why the Obamas chose Sidwell Friends. And the magazine ought to probably just say so.

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    • Author by moondancer (November 24, 2008 5:09 pm ET)
         
        It's known to be a fine academic school, and the choice of many families of politicians.  That might be a reason for the Obamas choice.  Or it could be a diabolical conspiracy of Barack and a rogue sect of Ultra-violent Quakers out to destroy America.  Who Knows?  We'll just have to wait and see.
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      • Author by ericfree (November 24, 2008 6:42 pm ET)
           
        Can't add much to Moondancer (or express it better) except to say that Sidwell Friends is a well known and much admired DC-area school (it's actually in Maryland). It caters to the upper-class but unlike many of its counterparts isn't obsessed with it, probably because of its Quaker leanings. If I recall correctly, Amy Carter went there.
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    • Author by Dem02020 (November 24, 2008 11:41 pm ET)
         

      The more that anyone at all, especially the privately owned and controlled corporate media, talks about President Obama's young daughters, and talks about and publishes where they attend school, the more IT'S WRONG.

      Like so wrong, it's threatening and even perverse, and should be criminal.

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