Last night's Academy Awards made political history, surprising the claimed one billion viewers with an appearance by a gowned Michelle Obama via satellite from the White House to present the Best Picture Oscar®.   While anyone who pays attention knows that Hollywood has become source of funds, propaganda, and social ties for the progressive movement, the institutional body language was startling. It was a symbolic form of vassalage, signifying the switch of the entertainment industry from a mission of speaking truth to power (see Reagan and Bush presidencies) to one of support. We no longer tap shoulders with swords, we swoop in on the top award of the most prestigious event of the entire entertainment industry, and award it from the presidential palace.

Speaking of that venue, who were those young men and woman wearing uniforms with braids, framing Mrs. Obama?

I don't know much about uniforms, but they look kind of military to me. If that's the case, what kind of event was going on at the White House that night? The President's schedule doesn't include any mention of a formal event at the White House.

By the time the program was over, it was almost midnight, so I am pretty sure the president wasn't out playing golf. I wonder what was going on in the First Family's residence that night? 

An Oscar confers legitimacy, prestige, and standing on its recipient. Now the White House, via the First Lady, has conferred legitimacy, prestige, and standing on the award itself. Any question about who stands on top of this pyramid?

Update: There was a White House dinner for the nation's governors last night, so the unoformed personnel were probably aides.  It would have been nice for Mrs. Obama to acknowledge them, instead of treating them like supernumeraries at an opera performance.