First Lady Michelle Obama is a usual, favourite target of proper-wing ire, but infrequently, the First Woman attracts the attention of Washington, DC’s society journalists. The most recent purple-scorching scandal entails Mrs. Obama’s store-the-date playing cards to a Jan. 18 “Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert” experience at the White Home, and its guide for friends to “Devour earlier than you come,” which has led to a mini-ettiquake in the society press.

The Chicago Tribune‘s Katherine Skiba unwittingly kicked the whole thing off with this lone nugget, embedded inside a prolonged article concerning the First Lady:

The White Home has been sending out keep-the-date emails for a Jan. 18 gala dubbed “Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert,” sources instructed the Tribune.

Guests are being told: Wear at ease footwear, eat before you come and follow your dance moves. Who’s invited and who’ll entertain remain below wraps.

The Chicago Tribune‘s Katherine Skiba verified, by way of electronic mail this morning, that the email, as learn to her by way of her supply, mentioned “Do put on comfy sneakers, do eat sooner than you come, do follow your dance strikes and do e mail the social place of work.”

The Washington Submit‘s Dependable Source gossip weblog went with the passive/aggressive headline “‘I Don’t Think It’s Impolite, However…’ Etiquette Specialists At a loss for words Over First Woman’s Birthday Party Plans,” and tapped etiquette professional and Emily Post granddaughter Lizzie Post to evaluate the email:

“I don’t think it’s rude, however I do assume it’s somewhat . . . completely different than what individuals are used to. How’s that for striking it delicately?” joked Lizzie Publish, nice-great-granddaughter of Emily Submit and co-writer of “Nice Get-Togethers: Informal Gatherings and Based Events at Dwelling.”

…“My recommendation to folks could be to not put ‘eat earlier than you come’ on an invitation,” Publish stated. “And this isn’t a selected etiquette thing. To me it just sounds so instructive. I’m nonetheless within the camp of allowing them to understand what is going to be served at the birthday celebration instead of what they will have to do.”

The Reliable Source also tapped a number of other etiquette consultants, who took neatly-mannered pictures on the First Girl. ““I’ve by no means considered it said straight out. That’s definitely new,” DC-house planner Andre Wells advised RS, and also counsel that “I know lots of people can be satisfied about it. They’ll say, ‘Well, if the President and First Lady mentioned it, we will without a doubt say it on our invites.’ ”

Colin Cowie, described as Oprah Winfrey’s go-to leisure guru, also threw some well mannered colour in Mrs. Obama’s course.

It’s unclear whether this kerfufflet will make the species leap to the conservative media, which should make a choice from two facets it abhors equally, but the classist nitpicking is unlikely to dissuade the overwhelming majority of Americans who view her favorably, and certain delight in the realness she brings to the place.