The
first family has turned more than a few heads at this week’s Democratic
National Convention, where the president, as he greets delegates and
waves to crowds of supporters, is often accompanied not only by his wife
and two daughters, but also his rarely seen 19-year-old son, Luther.
The
shy, slightly overweight teenager, who has lived his entire life with
his mother in central Illinois, seldom appears in public with the
president, with whom he has reportedly shared a somewhat distant and
occasionally strained relationship.
“When I saw that kid with
President Obama, I had no clue who he was,” said Georgia delegate Kathy
Tyson, stating that the teen appeared to have difficulty sustaining eye
contact with others and stood uncomfortably alongside his father when he
shook hands with voters Thursday. “I guess he does kind of look like
the president, though a bit shorter and stockier.”
Luther was
born in 1993 to Andrea Pletcher, then a 24-year-old diner cashier whom
Obama, a young law professor at the time, met during a brief trip to the
state capital of Springfield. While the president’s son is said to have
faced numerous obstacles during his childhood, including academic
troubles, repeated emotional outbursts, and his mother’s bouts with
alcoholism, family friends have stated that overall he was a “good kid”
who “genuinely meant well.”
White House aides said the president
sends money to Pletcher each month for Luther’s care. After he became a
U.S. senator and moved to Washington, Obama reportedly visited his
11-year-old son every other Saturday afternoon, playing wiffle ball with
him or taking him out to a movie matinee and then dinner at the local
Applebee’s.
When he became president, however, Obama’s contact
with the boy reduced markedly, though sources confirmed he would still
send Luther a birthday card and speak with him on the phone every month
or so, often talking him through his schoolwork or asking about his
son’s interests in music and online gaming.
According to reports,
the two have often struggled to find common ground, owing largely to
their sharply differing levels of motivation and expectations for
academic and personal success.
“There was a rough patch during
Luther’s early and mid-teens when he and his dad didn’t get along at
all,” said Pletcher, speaking from the $600-a-month ground-level
condominium she shares with her son and live-in boyfriend. “But Barry
came to Luther’s high school graduation last year, and that was a big
step forward for them. And now that Luther’s rebellious phase seems to
be winding down, there’s definitely a greater respect between them.”
“I’ll
tell you, though, Luther was a real handful for a while there, with his
ADD and all,” Pletcher continued. “But he’s doing okay now. And I’ve
been with [boyfriend] Ian [Williams] for the past three years, so
Luther’s had a male figure he can look up to a little bit.”
In a
sign of their improving relationship, Obama is said to have
congratulated his son heartily upon learning Luther was giving school
another shot this fall, enrolling part-time at Lincoln Land Community
College. Additionally, Obama expressed optimism that his son could have a
“real bright future” in the field of sales or, if he applied himself,
computers.
With Luther now slated to join the first family on the
campaign trail, staffers confirmed the president has encouraged them to
entrust the frequently expressionless teen, who often dresses in
all-black clothing, with some minor tasks to help him learn about
responsibility.
“We’ve got Luther stuffing envelopes and handing
out pins to the delegates, and he’s doing a great job,” senior campaign
aide Stephanie Cutter said. “It takes a while for him to come out of his
shell, but once he opens up he’s a real nice kid. Plus he’s just so
great with Sasha and Malia. They really love their half-brother.”
“Luther
may not have his father’s smarts or gift for rhetoric,” Cutter added,
“but he tries. And he’s got a good heart—a real good heart.”
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Despite comments that interactions
between the president and his son have remained noticeably stiff and
awkward, Obama said he was excited that he and Luther were spending
quality time together and “finally starting to get to know each other.”
“I
can’t say I was the perfect father by any means,” said Obama, admitting
candidly that he “wasn’t always there for Luther.” “While my son has
battled his share of problems, his mother really did the best she could
raising him, and I think she did a fine job. Now Luther and I are ready
to move forward and make up for lost time.” “I’m real proud of my boy,”
he added, putting his arm around his son, who flinched ever so slightly
at the physical contact.
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