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The Obamas

Entry 4: I would never assassinate anybody without talking to you first.

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Should Barack have told Michelle he was plotting to take out Bin Laden?

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Darling Jacob,

First of all, I appreciate your little post-sexist switcheroo on the question by turning it around to ask if I were going to take out a terrorist, when of course you likely did that for the benefit of the readers when in fact you were thinking, if you were going to take out a terrorist, would you tell your wife? But to go along with your question: I would tell you because I simply can't imagine trying to assassinate anybody without talking to you first.

Our roles are much like the actual Barack and Michelle: You could easily make that decision without me. But I have faith you would discuss it with me because we are partners (another awful word), even if you did not require my counsel. I think I would be awfully hurt if you Baracked me in this way. And even though I can be quite a blabber-mouth and that would definitely be a good piece of gossip, I know that you know that when it comes to stuff that matters, my lips are sealed.

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Your loving partner (barf!),
Deborah

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Deborah Needleman is the editor in chief of WSJ Magazine and the author of The Perfectly Imperfect Home.

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