16 First Ladies Gather, but Not Michelle Obama

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The first ladies in Africa holding a summit in LA is only riduculous.Why hold a summit right in the US and not in Africa.This just shows thier extravagancy,instead of using this money to help their respective contries.Countries like Cameroon are suffering because of modern dictators like Biya who squander the countries revnue for his personal interest.

metuge esambe 7:03AM May 27, 2009

I wonder why this should be a debate, Mrs Obama is a woman of integrity and equality, always practising what she preaches, Mere sighting the headlines, 1st ladies or whatever they are referred to holding African concerns in LA, what BS, what are they discussing when their countries are all "on fire". I am Nigerian and everybody knows how God has blessed that country immensely, but for the severe corruption, over 95% Nigerians abroad will stay home and be very comfy. These good for nothing women go everywhere galivanting with resources that can best be utilized on providing quality lives for the entire citizen. What a BIG S-H-A-M-E.

Damilola of IL 11:47PM May 03, 2009

The first lady of Swaziland is actually the 3rd of 14 or 15 wives.
Readers should be aware that the USA, on Mar 9th, gave Swaziland US$30 million through the PEPFAR fund.
Obama’s E300m ‘gift’ to Swaziland Mar 9, 2009
Two days prior to that the Swazis papers reported that over $10 million would be spent on royal residences refurbishment.
Over E100 million for Royal Residences Mar 7, 2009
In Swaziland political parties are banned.
In Swaziland the courts have recently ruled in favour of primary education but the king's government is defying that order. They say they don't have funds....... So one of his wives goes begging for funds while the king is the second richest man in Africa.
To follow events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/CURRENT+NEWS

t debly 4:52PM April 20, 2009

And why will Obama want to associate his government with those whores, who have ruined Africa!!!! did you ask yourself why a conference on African issues is being held in Hollywood? And who is paying for it?!?!? These crooks are just out for a "ladies night out" in the name of Africa...They should spend the millions of dollars that will be wasted on actually helping Africa...which by the way, the only help Africa needs is for these tyrants to step down and let democracy reign in Africa. I wish they a;ll get assassinated, on the some dog gone street in LA and their corpses feed to dogs!!...IDIOTS!

ALEX of NV 3:39PM April 19, 2009

Why should a princeton graduate and a lady of class like Michelle go out and be rubbing shoulders and mingling with prostitutes and grade 12 drop outs like Chantal biya wife of pual biya, one of Africa worst Dictators in recent history all in the name of empowering women and fighting HIV ? Most of this Women are wives of Africa Worst Dictators like Mrs Obiang of Equatorial Guinea.IF these first ladies are serious about fighting for women issues then they start from their home countries where women are suffering and a lot of prostitution has been in the rise due to the economic situations that their husbands have put the populations into. The monies spent to attend this events are monies that should be directed to the poor women in villages in the respective countries. Say this crab to someone in the west who may not know what is going in their countries but don't dare try to deceive africans in the diaspora that this event is in the name of helping women in Africa .....BS

NGU of NJ 1:57PM April 19, 2009

There must be a very good reason why Michelle Obama is not attending the Summit. These are 2 areas that she is very intereested in, and I'm sure if her schdule allowed, and if the Secret Service thought it was Okay she would atten.
She can't attend everyhing that people ask her too. Let's leave it up to her good judgment--OKAY?

Lady Marie of CA 6:16PM April 17, 2009

I'm sure a lot thought went into the decision, some considerations that are not part of the average person's realm. We should defer to the diplomats this time and perhaps next summit our 1st Lady can appear by video hook-up.

merletta lue of FL 9:55AM April 17, 2009

We all may have our opinions and comments but has Michelle Obama announced anything publicly about it?

Warren 9:08AM April 17, 2009

There is a moral imperative here. Michelle Obama, as a respected representative of this Administration's more enlightened and sophisticated approach to foreign affairs and diplomacy, should attend to bring attention to this nation's support for this hugely important effort. Michelle Obama can and should focus America's attention on the valuable work being done by African political leaders, and American doctors' organizations. UCLA's Center for International Medicine has done a fabulous job, along with other sponsors, in highlighting what can be done at very little cost. When coalition efforts like these are successful, all participants and their supporters win. In short, it is a win-win game. Further, it is time to regain American prestige in Africa and in the rest of the world, by being a leader in hugely needed humanitarian efforts. The creation of a reliable infrastructure for the efficient and cost-effective delivery of medicine is a precondition to long-term peace in Africa. This Summit would highlight the American policy to support coalition-building and would be a low cost investment which would yield in both near and long-term dividends.
If the American First Lady believes that her presence in LA at this Summit would undesirably create security issues, an alternative method of appearing would be by satellite video hookup. A non-appearance would really be unjustifiable.

Frank Z. Leidman of CA 2:08AM April 17, 2009