Michelle Obama, Jill Biden Take Part in World Series Pre-Game Ceremony with Yankees legend Yogi Berra
EmailABC News' Karen Travers reports: First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden escorted Yankees legend Yogi Berra out on to the field tonight at Yankee Stadium as part of the World Series pre-game ceremonies paying tribute to the nation’s veterans. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden, both sporting maroon windbreakers that said “WORLD SERIES” across the front, walked arm in arm with Berra, who served in World War II. The crowd applauded as they made their way towards the pitchers mound. The trio was joined on the field by retired Army Capt. Tony Odierno who threw out the ceremonial first pitch, a little high but right over the plate. Odierno is a West Point graduate who lost his arm while serving in Iraq. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart and now works for the Yankees in Stadium Operations. Tony is the son of General Raymond T. Odierno, the current Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq. MLB has dedicated the first four games of the World Service to promoting community service and today’s theme was outreach to the country’s veterans. Tonight’s game in New York highlighted the work of welcomebackveterans.org, an organization that has awarded $5.8 million in grants to non-profit agencies across the country targeting veterans’ greatest needs, including mental health and job training/placement. Yankees captain Derek Jeter met the First Lady and Dr. Biden on the field after Odierno’s ceremonial pitch and greeted them both with a kiss. Dr. Biden, a huge Phillies fan, and Mrs. Obama will stay to watch tonight’s game. Dr. Biden was not wearing any visible Phillies gear during the pre-game ceremonies. –Karen Travers
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I really admire Mrs. Obama..
Posted by: JJ | October 28, 2009, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
On the local radio they were recommending that you arrive 5 hours before the start of the game because security was going to be unprecedented. If you leave your seat you will be required to go through security again. Couldn’t the ladies just have simulcasted their message and made it easier on the folks?
Posted by: ctmom | October 28, 2009, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
Glad these two are on the bandwagon to serve and support the troops . Their husbands might come along now .
Posted by: nat turner | October 28, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
Dr. Biden? How pretentious.
Posted by: Czarface | October 29, 2009, 12:22 am 12:22 am
I think it is sad that politics and the politicians are being acknowledged as part of the show at the World Series tonight. Sports are an American past time that all people should enjoy and it should not be in any way used as an opportunity for publicity for politicians and elected officials. I was very disappointed to see Michelle Obama and Jill Biden on the field. They are not in any way a sport legend or war hero to be show hosting such an event. If they wanted to attend the game, simply as a spectator, that is one thing. However, I am disillusioned with the fact that the greatest national past time was used as a publicity for political reasons by these two fairly new wives of political figures. You can’t just show up and expect the respect of the American people. Maybe they should be working on making the United States of America a better place to be, putting their ability to gain public attention by raising awareness for homelessness or illiteracy. Stop spending American tax dollars at the World Series.
I would be interested to know how much money Michelle Obama and Jill Biden spent tonight to attend game one of the series and who paid for it? Did they fly up to New York City on Airforce One all for a photo opportunity?
Posted by: AG | October 29, 2009, 12:43 am 12:43 am
I am disillusioned with the fact that the greatest national past time was used as a publicity for political reasons by these two fairly new wives of political figures. You can’t just show up and expect the respect of the American people. Posted by: AG
With all due respect, you really need to get a life and find some real issues to concerned about. Were you equally disillusioned when Bush threw out the first pitch at some games?
And in case you were steaming to hard to notice it, they were cheered by the crowd.
What makes you think that both women were there ‘demanding respect’ from the american people?
Posted by: Oh Yeah | October 29, 2009, 12:51 am 12:51 am
I have a lot of respect for Dr. Jill Biden and Mrs. Obama. It was not a publicity stunt walking out Yogi Berra. They were paying respect to a living legend who is also a veteran and whose Yankees were playing in the world series. Good for you both, keep up the good work.
Posted by: Chuck Scott | October 29, 2009, 1:49 am 1:49 am
Michele Obama’s personal staff:
1.. $172,200 – Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 – Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3. $113,000 – Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)
4. $102,000 – Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 – Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 – Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 – Lel yveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 – Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 – Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 – Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 – Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 – Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 – Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 – Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 – Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 – Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 – Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 – Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 – Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 – Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 – Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 – Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)
(total = $1,591,200 in annual salaries)
Posted by: dean | October 29, 2009, 6:58 am 6:58 am
Total Personal Staff members for other first ladies paid by taxpayers:
Mamie Eisenhower : 1 paid for personally out of President’s salary
Jackie Kennedy: 1
Roseline Carter: 1
Barbara Bush: 1
Hilary Clinton: 3
Laura Bush: 1
Michele Obama: 22
Posted by: dean | October 29, 2009, 6:58 am 6:58 am
Dr. Biden? How pretentious.
***
Intimidated by smart chicks? How provincial.
On a more serious note, we’re already well aware that many on the far right loathe advanced education and revel in ignorance– no need to broadcast that further though I know teabugger-slurp ‘n burp-types wear it as a sort of badge of “honor.”
Posted by: Olivia | October 29, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am
“Total Personal Staff members for other first ladies paid by taxpayers:”
“Laura Bush: 1″
Laura Bush’s Staff UPDATE WASHINGTON POST
2008 White House Office Staff List – Salary
Published Thursday, July 24, 2008
McBride, Anita B. Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady $172,200.
Armstrong, Sara Assistant to the President and Duty Chief of Staff to the First Lady $102,000.
Miller, Sonja Marie Duty Chief of Staff to the First Lady $88,500.
Ballard, Deanna M. Director of Scheduling for the First Lady $78,400.
McArthur, Nikki L. Speech Writer for First Lady $63,000.
Knutson, Lindsay Special Asst. and Personal Aide to the First Lady $62,700.
Marshall, Misty C. Director of Correspondence for the First Lady $62,400.
Adams, Julie E. $57,500. Deputy Press Secretary to First Lady $57,500.
Mende, Kirstin M Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady$53,000.
Etter, Marisa Leigh Deputy Director of Scheduling for the First Lady $52,200
King, Kristin N Deputy Director of Advance for the First Lady $52,200
Segura, Millicent Deputy Director of Correspondence for the First Lady $47,000
Miller, Kasdin E. Assistant Press Secretary to the First Lady $43,000
O’Connor, Erin M Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff to the First Lady $41,800
McBride, Anita B. Assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first lady $168,000.00
Harder, Cherie S. Special asistant to the president for domestic policy and director of project of the first lady $108,000.00
Niemiec, Sally M. Press secretary to the First Lady $90,000.00
Miller, Sonja M. Deputy chief of staff to the first lady $84,700.00
Ballard, Deanna M. Director of scheduling for the First Lady $75,000.00
Marshall, Misty C. Director of correspondence for the first lady $59,700.00
Etter, Marisa L. Deputy director of scheduling for the First Lady $50,000.00
Lineweaver, Lindsey M. Special assistant and personal aide to the first lady $47,500.00
Donoghue , Tarah C. Deputy press secretary to the First Lady $43,000.00
Block, Jonathan F. Assistant press secretary to the First Lady $39,000.00
The lesson as always? Right wingers lie.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 29, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Yes, I would like to know how much it cost taxpayers for MRs Obama and MRs Biden to photo op at world series…did they use AirForce 1…..How many secret service present paid by taxpayers…..
And no surprise or objection to sed GWB throw out the first pitch at games….HE was the President and quite obviously a great baseball fan…..
Did michelle’ or bidens staff attend game with them costing taxpayers multi-millions….
guess they need to milk it for all they can …..they are only a one term administration :)
Posted by: Howard | November 11, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm