Michelle Obama Visits HUD

By Rachel L. Swarns
First Lady Michelle Obama at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times)

First Lady Michelle Obama promoted President Obama’s economic stimulus plan on Wednesday as she rallied hundreds of government employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The government workers clapped, cheered and snapped photos in a packed auditorium as Mrs. Obama told the crowd that the stimulus plan would expand the availability of affordable housing, weatherize homes and help families hurt by the foreclosure crisis, among other things.

“We know times are hard right now,’’ said Mrs. Obama, who thanked the HUD employees for their hard work. “There are so many families who have lost their homes.’’

Mrs. Obama’s visit marked the second in a series of trips that Mrs. Obama plans to make to federal agencies in the coming weeks as she expands her profile as first lady. (On Monday, she visited the Department of Education.)

Comments are no longer being accepted.

Roz February 4, 2009 · 3:13 pm

It’s surprising how the Obamas continue to go out into the public to talk with citizens about the changes they are wishing to implement and what they mean. The online movement is still in effect, keeping people informed as thing evolve. This campaign-style approach to keeping Americans informed is refreshing!

Not so long ago, the WH was highjacked by a fella who was more “do as I say” and Americans were told – only after the fact and when evidence proved – what was happening in America.

It’s only been a couple of weeks and I can see the change.

Gary February 4, 2009 · 3:47 pm

Aren’t subprime’s one of the larger factors in the current crisis? Only fairies believe that qualifying low income people for huge mortages is good for anyone, with the possible exception of the real estate industry and developers.

John D. February 4, 2009 · 3:50 pm

I don’t know…all I can see in Michelle Obama today is hypocrisy. Her husband announced high standards for his administration…and then turned around and used the same old Chicago style politics to get things done. I’d like her better if she was on television scolding Gov. Blagojevich today. :)

Barbara February 4, 2009 · 4:22 pm

When are the Democrats in Congress who were elected to help Pres. Obama get us out of the mess the Bush year put us in going to come to the microphones and start helping him?

Democrats please wake up. Bush is gone. You have the majority!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kayt February 4, 2009 · 4:22 pm

John D.
You’re right , you don’t know .

AV February 4, 2009 · 4:36 pm

Mrs. Obama’s visit today was a huge morale booster and a great way to show support for the Department’s mission. Everyone here really felt motivated after the mini-speech.

As for @Gary: first, HUD does many things besides homeownership policy, including housing programs for veterans, overseeing critical community development grants that provide infrastructure, implementing foreclosure mitigation strategies, working towards lead based paint abatement, and managing grants to fight homelessness.

Secondly, even if we consider homeownership, HUD’s FHA is not the culprit. In fact, FHA took a back seat as borrowers preferred subprime, private market loans during the housing boom. If you know anything about FHA, you know that their loans don’t have teaser rates or prepayment penalities, like subprime loans have.

Anyway, that’s not to say that FHA doesn’t have plenty of problems, but to conflate HUD with subprime loans misses a lot of the story. First, HUD does a lot more than homeownership policy. Secondly, FHA is not the main culprit, and most of it’s failings come from statutory limitiations rather than bungled internal management.

Lee February 4, 2009 · 4:54 pm

Hypocrisy? No way! Thank God for all the sunlight that President Obama has brought to Washington, D.C since he has arrived as the commander-in-chief. Yes, that sunlight has exposed the dark side of Washington politics. Indeed, the president has even exposed his own mistakes. But this was done through integrity, not hypocrisy. So go Mr. President and Mrs. First Lady and lead this nation to a brighter future with your integrity and vision. By the way, the president’s stimulus package will pass. Does anyone care to bet otherwise?

Marisa Landau February 4, 2009 · 4:58 pm

@ John D. , # 3
Your comment is off topic. The story is about Mrs., not Mr. Obama. In what way is *she* a hypocrite for going to HUD?

Joe M February 4, 2009 · 5:18 pm

Marissa, you’ve just got to forgive John D. Every time he sees the name Obama, he flips his lid.

Gmania Reports February 4, 2009 · 5:22 pm

Michelle is going to be the biggest Asset the President has and is currently unveiling to the public.

She was probably not going to be visiting until the end of February, but because of the slight unrest of Republican politics she has to get out and kill the crap!!

Can someone shut “Dick” Cheney up!! This guy is harming our National Security by giving terrorist hints on how to strike America!!!!

Charles B. Tiffany February 4, 2009 · 5:22 pm

I watched that horde of GL 10s scream their guts out as she talked gibberish about keeping people in their homes. I have yet to have anyone tell me why it is in my interest to keep people in bettter homes than I have. We keep hearing about helping America`s families. This is another piece of liberal clap trap.
Over 50% of all kids are raised in single parent families. The Amercian family has gone the way of the do do bird. The reason our schools, businesses, IRAs and government is so screwed up is that over half of us have never had our behinds kicked by a father. When Michelle and the rest of the povery pimps start talking about this genocidal time bomb, I may get around to helping folks keep in homes worth 100gs more than mine.
Charles B. Tiffany
Kissimmee, Florida

drawlings February 4, 2009 · 6:30 pm

Bigger government, higher taxes, and more frivolous spending are the essentials of the Democratic philosophy. I spent 30 years in public education and found that as the government spent more money and the teachers’ unions gained more power, the less effective and efficient the schools became.

Linda T February 4, 2009 · 8:30 pm

#12:

Teachers are not the (only) problem — the bloated public school adminstrative system needs a major overhaul, including staff reductions and pay reviews. Here in LA we just had to pay an underperforming school superintendent $500,000 to buy out his contract to get rid of him. Why are we signing contracts with adminstrators that require us to pay them even when they do a lousy job? (Seems like our education system has learned some bad lessons from Wall Street.)

Steve Hunter February 4, 2009 · 10:36 pm

It’s is nice to see that unlike obedient subservient Laura Bush, Michelle Obama is not afraid to be out there up and front. Eat your hearts out Republicans! Thinks have changed. There is a new sheriff in town.

eddie February 5, 2009 · 8:23 am

Is there rules, regulations or law the people can’t come into state or federal buildings to campaign or give speechs on goverment paid time to the employees???? Mrs. Obama did just that. I understand she was educated on our tax dollars and should know better. If anyone came in off the street the police would be called. She is using who she is married to for this. She is no better than the person on the street.. The news media is bias. Lets see if this is put out for the world to see, for you did not put the orginal e-mail on. President Obama need to put a stop to this abuse by his wife..

Sue February 5, 2009 · 11:28 am

The stimulus passed the house. It would pass the senate too if Reid would call for the vote. Pretending Republicans are holding up this bill is baffling to me. It is the greatest spending bill ever and Democrats are afraid to own it. Baffling, indeed.

John D. February 5, 2009 · 11:19 pm

#16 — Sue

I’m surprised too…but I think it was just a bad bill. If they had the votes to jam it through the Senate I think they would… I think the problem here is that Obama didn’t pay much attention to what was tossed into the House version. He was too removed from the process and now he’s stuck in a bad situation.

trudy February 8, 2009 · 1:51 pm

— Sue

A little arithmetic lesson. The stimulus bill needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. Right now there are 58 Democrats in the Senate.

trudy February 8, 2009 · 1:52 pm

— John D.

Sure, Obama has been surfing in Hawaii, not paying attention to the stimulus bill. I offer my condolences on your Alzheimer’s.