pinterestingly enough

The Obamas’ Big Day: Pinterest and Cherry Blossoms

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (3rd R) takes part in a 1912 Cherry Blossom tree planting re-enactment ceremony with Yoriko Fujisaki (2nd R) near the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. 2012 marks the 100th anniversary since the United States received 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees as a gift from Japan symbolizing the friendship between the two countries. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Michelle planted a cherry blossom tree while Barack dived into the world of Pinterest. Photo: Win McNamee/2012 Getty Images

As the debate over the Affordable Care Act intensified in the Supreme Court today, Mr. and Mrs. Obama kept busy, both online and off.

Barack Obama — or rather, Obama’s 2012 campaign — finally made a Pinterest, not to be outdone by Ann Romney’s meatloaf-cake recipes. Things have already gotten slightly dicey. On one of Obama’s eight boards, Faces of Change, an Obama supporter holds a sign reading, “I like ObamaCare because it provides healthcare cost relief to small businesses.”

One Pinterest-er wasn’t having it: “You mean because it FORCES small businesses to buy something they cannot afford? Seems strange to run on something that the Supreme Court is currently deciding the Constitutionality of RIGHT NOW.” Another commenter quickly responded: “It’s so nice to see people that are against health care for everybody.” Yikes.

The animosity doesn’t stop there. The Obama Family Chili Recipe, posted in Obama-inspired recipes, inspired some anger. “This is SO NOT how you make chili,” one commenter noted.

Back in the somewhat realer world, Michelle Obama reenacted the first planting of Japanese cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., in 1912. Michelle planted a five-year-old cherry blossom sapling and spoke about the “magic” of the blossoms. That magic has been particularly brief this year, owing to recent June-like temperatures in March. The trees bloomed for a mere nine days this year, and most of the blooms are already gone.

The First Lady was joined by Japanese ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who wore a white cowboy hat.

The Obamas’ Big Day: Pinterest, Cherry Blossoms