Since President Barack Obama first took office in 2008, the mainstream media has been bombarding him and his family with negative attention. As the Obamas get ready to leave the office, it is important for Americans to be aware that the mainstream media is often unfairly critical of the Obamas in ways that previous presidents were spared, in part due to Obama’s race.

When Malia Obama was accepted to Harvard University, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook erupted in a frenzy. Some users claimed that she only got in because of her connections. This epitomizes the double standard; people forget that children of influential parents typically go to prestigious schools, but they do mind when it’s Obama’s daughter. President George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara went to Yale University and was praised for her acceptance to the highly regarded university.

Junior Kayla Lopez commented, “It’s like a double standard. They both were accepted to an Ivy League school and yet one received praise while the other received backlash.”

Malia was once again criticized for attending Lollapalooza instead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), even though the Bush girls, had skipped events such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum opening.  However, in Malia’s case, she was criticized; a major factor that separates her from the presidential children is that she is black. It is also important to remember that Malia is 18 years old and wants to do regular activities that other teenagers do. President Obama not forcing Malia to attend the DNC shows that he recognizes that his daughter is not a political pawn.

Sasha Obama was criticized for getting a job at Nancy’s Restaurant. GOP staffer Elizabeth Lauten said that Sasha should not be working at a “bar” and that she was not the right person in the “role model department” and that she needed to act as if “being in the white house matters.”  Lopez said, “It’s ridiculous that Sasha getting a job isn’t appropriate but that when Bush daughters are seen partying it’s just them having fun.”

Michelle Obama was told by a conservative voter, Bobbie Lussier that she does not “dress like a first lady” and that her dresses are far too “extravagant” and expose “too much arm.” Michelle Obama is well known for her Get Fit programs for schools and is usually involved heavily in the program but Lussier claimed that a “first lady should not be doing pushups.” Michelle Obama’s program has been spread across many schools in the nation and instead of choosing to focus on the kids that she has helped, people feel the need to point out that she shouldn’t be exercising in public. In this case, it now shows misogyny.

Senior Lara Olson said, “This is definitely misogyny. They are talking about her outfits and conduct and are making it seem bad that she is getting involved.”

Although the media initially attempted to portray the Obamas in a positive manner, most media cases continue to contrast it with a negative portrayal instead. The Media puts it in a way that seems to say that a president of the minority race, cannot do his job properly and needs to be monitored even more carefully.