FLOTUS & The Heckler: South Side Chicago In The D.C. House!

First Lady Michelle Obama at a fundraiser before a heckler interrupts. Photo by SJSB.

Late last night and well into this morning, everyone has been talking about First Lady Michelle Obama and her immediate shut down of a heckler during a fundraiser at a private D.C. residence. The first reported account came from the Washington Post (WaPo), as they identified the heckler as 56-year-old Ellen Sturtz, a lesbian activist.  According to the WaPo, Sturtz shouted remarks and demands in reference to the anti-discrimination executive order, which President Obama has not signed into law as of yet. The WaPo states that the executive order would “prohibit federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”  Naturally the WaPo article went viral. Not for the simple fact that the usual hum drum of a heckler disrupted a low-key political affair, but that the First Lady actually confronted the heckler, which has a lot of us “sista-girls” either raising our fist in solidarity or shouting our “AMENs” as if were are on the front pew of the Last Baptist Pentecostal Church of Christ.  A few blogs ensued with their paraphrased version and spin. The funniest, of course, coming from the blog Awesomely Luvvie. However, there is an element that is missing from each reported and paraphrased postings and I don’t need a hot topics team to dig around (Sorry Wendy). I got something better. My MOMMA!

Ok so… members of the D.C. Federation of Democratic Women (an organization that my mother and I are members of) were invited to the fundraiser.  A selective few attended, including my mother. The fundraiser was at the private residence of a lawyer and veterinarian, both are originally from Chicago.  I actually drove her to the event immediately after picking up my daughter from school. A couple of hours later I noticed she posted photos of the event on Facebook. I downloaded one of the pictures she took of the First Lady and shared it on Twitter; to say that the members of the D.C. Federation got to hang out with “FLOTUS” (First Lady of the United States – you’d be surprise to know how many don’t know that acronym). An hour or so later, I checked Twitter and saw that a reporter and editor from ABC News had reached out to me.  They asked me about the heckler and the editor immediately followed both my accounts on Twitter; my Mahoganie_Jade and professional account. We emailed back and forth for a minute as I explained that I wasn’t at the event, but my mother was and could best give an account about what happened.

And she did…..

According to my mother:

 There were two hecklers. The first heckler was a guy shouting at DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. His yelling seemed to have shaken Schultz. She was thrown off track for a minute, but as the crowd called for him to stop, the guy must have noticed that Secret Service had pointed him out. One of the officers literally pointed at him and the guy quieted down. Right after, the second heckler, a woman, yelled “Let him speak I want to hear what he has to say.” The crowd tells her to hush and she quiets down. Schultz is able to continue and finish. Once Mrs. Obama was on the podium to speak, after naming all the policies and initiatives President Obama has done, second heckler interrupts Mrs. Obama. Mrs. Obama steps back from the lectern and with arms raised she says “This is what I don’t well.” Second heckler keeps going and Mrs. Obama proceeds to walk away from lectern with arms raised repeating “I don’t do this.” Crowd tries to get the heckler to be quiet or leave. After a few guests instigate “South Side Chicago is in the house” (referring to Obama’s home) crowd starts to chant “South Side Chicago.”  This seems to pump or energize Mrs. Obama. She comes down from the podium and looks at second heckler and tells them “It’s either going to be you or me. If you want to speak, I’ll leave.” Crowd almost immediately commands that heckler leaves and Mrs. Obama stays. Heckler is escorted out.

And THAT’S  what went down!

I did share this with ABC News, but I’m not sure if they are using the information I shared. They do have a story posted, but nothing that includes information from me.

What I didn’t share with ABC News is…

1. As one of the hosts introduced the First Lady, she mentioned that FLOTUS was “maxed out.” Meaning, she was tired of the non-cooperative Republican party.
2. The First Lady made reference to being from the South side of Chicago earlier in her remarks in the middle of acknowledging that a few guests in attendance were from Chicago.
3. Though this was a small affair with informal invites, it was a paying event. It was $100 to convene in the backyard of the residence for a reception and to see and hear FLOTUS speak. It was $5,000 to not only meet, greet and take personal photos with FLOTUS within the actual house, but it is a believed dinner was served as well (haven’t been able to confirm the dinner part).

According to the WaPo, Sturtz paid $500. Sturtz is quoted in the WaPo as saying she was “taken aback,” that the First Lady actually approached her. Oh really? Did you think she is docile even as the First Lady of the United States? No ma’am.

As my mother and I chit chatted about it a little bit more, I asked where were the homeowners who was hosting. Not only did both hecklers disrespect the honored guests, but the whole house.  My mother’s belief is that they probably were a little hesitant because Secret Service was there and wasn’t sure if the officers would get “froggy” with the hecklers or not. However one of the hosts did ask Sturtz to leave as well as the crowd. It was then that she was escorted out.

While this was certainly entertaining, as a native to this city I’m sort of numb to this kind of thing. Living in D.C. you are accustomed to almost having a front row seat to organized or vigilante protests. However, last night’s incidence found me with my mouth open and then a few “Amens” myself. It was unique because it is the first time (Is it? Have to research this…) that a First Lady has confronted a heckler and offered them the mic. First Lady Michelle Obama, though annoyed and had to go into her South side stance, graciously commanded respect and she got it!

Yeah… that heckler….”she tried it,” and was to told to have several seats without actually saying it.

Tagged: Chicago, FLOTUS, fundraiser, Luvvie, Michelle Obama, Washington DC, Washington Post

Posted in: regular