Michelle Expands Role As First Lady

The White House is deploying a major weapon in the form of Michelle Obama to drum up support for the stimulus bill. The First Lady has embarked on a federal agency listening tour that includes pushing the case for the massive package. The Politico has more and The Washington Post has a report on Michelle's visit to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Wednesday:

From The Politico:

As she makes a "get-to-know-you" tour of federal agencies, Obama is using her considerable platform to amplify the message coming out of the White House: pass the stimulus plan, and pass it now. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has ramped up his efforts as well, reaching out to Republicans one-on-one, doing back-to-back TV interviews and tapping his grassroots network through the Internet.

The White House seems to be betting that Michelle Obama can work some of her old campaign magic--she was nicknamed "the closer," because she was so effective at getting undecided voters on board.

From The Washington Post:

Yes, there are a lot of cubicle-dwelling bureaucrats here, and yesterday they all wanted to see the most famous woman in the world. The Michelle Obama Federal Agency Tour made its second stop, at the huge headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Southwest Washington.

"She looks just like she does on television," observed Robin Hawkins, one of about a thousand employees who lined hallways and pressed excitedly into an auditorium to welcome Mrs. Obama. "It was just the best feeling to see her up close in person." The first lady's remarks also were beamed to 83 field offices. On Monday, she went to the Education Department, where a crowd of about 350 hailed her.

Comments

[Tulka2]

01:08 AM on 02/07/2009

My heart goes out to her. This is a huge sacrifice she is making for her country. Bless her and keep her. She is one for the ages. Long after i am dust, they will be telling the story of Obama and his lady.

[ChrisBroe]

09:20 PM on 02/06/2009

We need to keep expanding Michele O's roll because she's America's biggest supporter of President Obama, and a very elegant first lady. (isn't it great we can say Michele O, like Jackie O?) or not? idontknow. yes? no? oh darn, i wish i hadn't clicked on post a comment......

[Joslynb]

05:50 PM on 02/06/2009

Is it coincidental that most of the time pictures of Michelle Obama are shown or appearing darker than in person (yes, I've had the good pleasure of seeing her up close) and also, some of the shots on CNN and other stations always seem to show her in very unflattering offguard shots - I don't believe these are coincidental at all . . . not every time.

[ZimboChick]

06:50 PM on 02/06/2009

dark is extra beautiful....the darker the berry the sweeter the juice

[mrsnet]

06:58 PM on 02/06/2009

Oh please - appearing darker is not unflattering. She looks great in these photos. Chocolate Brown skin, nothing's prettier. I remember Obama said the first time he kissed her it taste like chocolate ice-cream, :).

[michaelndayton]

08:51 PM on 02/06/2009

...he probably thought that because he was high!

[JannieMoonbeam]

03:22 PM on 02/06/2009

Really big mistake. She needs to save her power and not jump into this fray

[missinginminnesota]

01:08 PM on 02/06/2009

Go get 'em, Michelle!!

[igorz]

11:52 AM on 02/06/2009

From the article: "She looks just like she does on television," More intelligent (and probably more capable) than the current POTUS, and the ONLY statement is about her looks? Please. She wasn't elected but she deserves more respect than that. The woman is hugely bright and accomplished. A little recognition of that would be nice, instead of her fashion sense and appearance.

[missinginminnesota]

01:12 PM on 02/06/2009

You are just as shallow in your comment tthat she's more intelligent than the president. They are both very intelligent and very respectful people. Why "dis" one over the other? Why create a competition that isn't there?

[spartanmom]

04:39 PM on 02/06/2009

Law school professors who taught them both say Michelle is the smart one.
One guy said he pegged her as future president and him as a really good mayor some day.

No need to get nasty and I don't think you can judge much about igorz from a single post. If you can, then the WH vetting office needs you

[Bitsko]

11:36 AM on 02/06/2009

Old Irish guys like me shouldn't be allowed to say this, but You Go Girl!

[punkindmb]

03:47 PM on 02/06/2009

LMAO!

[spartanmom]

04:40 PM on 02/06/2009

Old Irish guys are usually cute & charming enough to get away with an awful lot ; )

[heal57]

02:44 AM on 02/07/2009

Us old Irish women don't always think so!

[unite4change]

11:32 AM on 02/06/2009

I thought this deserved a repost:

http://www.openleft.com/showComment.do?commentId=146670


Short and interesting read.

[Spesabsquemetu]

10:27 AM on 02/06/2009

To the poster above using quotes by the First Lady asking: Is this your spokesperson?

""But, what we've learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something. For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am proud of my country."

Answer: YES. That is a model of a powerful spokesperson,an intelligent, reasonable, educated individual, the kind who can see the HOPE through the smoldering buildings of a failed administration that ignored reason and logic provided PRIOR to 9/11, and instead, chose a path to the imaginary WMD that has now led to the loss of thousands of U.S. American soldiers and a lack of vision and planning for the future of this country....aka the current "Bail me out" government subsidized program for FAILED LEADERSHIP.

But you want to mock a First Lady with class, and the audacity to speak the truth.
Try hope.
It just might educate you, while its fierce dedication ends up protecting you and preserving your cherished FREEDOMS.

[Bitsko]

11:37 AM on 02/06/2009

Well put.

[ndnndpendent]

01:13 PM on 02/06/2009

She should have said that then, instead of running down her country.

"And let me tell you something. For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am proud of my country."

I don't agree with Republicans very often, but I agree with Cindy on this one, "I have always loved my country."

[movecenter]

01:31 PM on 02/06/2009

Love and being proud of are 2 different things....ask some parents.

On election night, that was the first time in a long while that I felt "deeply" proud of our country. But I've always loved the country. We have done some pretty boneheaded things in recent years, far from prideful, if you hadn't noticed.

Stop being so petty. Good grief!

Go Michelle!

[LibKitty]

01:35 PM on 02/06/2009

"I really didn't love America until I was deprived of her company" John McCain

[benne]

08:14 AM on 02/06/2009

If she's going to take on this public role in policy, she's going to have to be prepared to be criticized.

[prtypoison]

10:42 AM on 02/06/2009

This isn't the campaign silly. She's giving support with education and military families and doing things that all first ladies did.

[Bitsko]

11:38 AM on 02/06/2009

Criticized by whom? Folks like you whose first instinct is to critique?

[toypiano]

01:58 AM on 02/06/2009

Great. I'm glad to see Michelle O is helping us out this way. She's very intelligent and highly educated -- we're lucky to have such an accomplished woman as an advocate. And it's nice to see her getting out of the house!

[catalyst09]

12:55 AM on 02/06/2009

I hope the stimulus package will help the military families, veterans...Michelle has already mentioned this on one of her speech this week.

Just look at the article below...Army official: Suicides in January 'terrifying'
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/05/army.suicides/index.html

She is the closer...brings it down to people.

[spartanmom]

04:56 PM on 02/06/2009

At some bases you hear about soldiers losing it and the local police get involved. It always ends with the soldier dead.

These are not counted as suicides but I am assured that they really are--Suicides that preserve the benefits for the survivors.

I am so glad she has taken this up.
I emailed her with my own experiences as a military mom. Anyone else please do the same.

[Dianethegardener]

12:39 AM on 02/06/2009

Michelle Obama ancestors were slaves.

I can understand her comments.

I am a daughter of an immigrant from Ireland and I married and immigrant.

I am not proud of the anti immigrant rantings of the republican right.

[ndnndpendent]

01:43 AM on 02/06/2009

Lot of our ancestors were abused by this government, but not all of us are a potential First Lady.

She has turned her husband's supporters like me----off and permanently off----because she made those remarks. That statement will go down in history in textbooks, right alongside pictures of Jeremiah Wright.

I will continue to support Obama's policies for as long as I agree with them, but I don't have to like Michelle Obama and frankly, I don't.

Anything she does seems incredibly disingenious---until she is frank about making those regretful statements, she should be kept out of the press.

[PlantGod72]

02:16 AM on 02/06/2009

You've taken her comments totally out of their context, and portrayed her as somehow unworthy of the position she occupies. That's a sad statement on your own narrow perspective of the world, and history. I suggest you educate yourself, and knock off the sweeping condemnations of those who only seek to better this country.

As opposed to seeming "disingenious" (sic), I find her refreshingly open, honest and deeply devoted to her family, and this country.

[noudidnt]

06:26 AM on 02/06/2009

Youre not an Obama supporter.

[DelvinMcGee]

10:23 PM on 02/05/2009

Even though I continue to post this response, completely relative to the article, I keep being deleted. It is sad that Huff Bots don't want opinions from non sheep.

Is this your spokesperson?

"But, what we've learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something. For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am proud of my country."

- Michelle Obama

Video Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYY73RO_egw

[midwesthousewife]

11:11 PM on 02/05/2009

I have no problem with her statement. What's yours?

[Tim303]

11:27 PM on 02/05/2009

Me neither. Michelle rules.

[sticksnstones]

11:18 PM on 02/05/2009

The woman was stating a sentiment I share. No story here, bubba.

[ndnndpendent]

01:45 AM on 02/06/2009

Well people will always disagree with her statement, a poor choice of words for such an intelligent lady----it is our right to disagree.

[lbrillante]

08:36 PM on 02/05/2009

Rock on! I am so grateful that we have a powerful, beautiful, eloquent, and heartful woman like Michelle as our first lady.

Time to get the stimulus passed and start focusing on what works in the american economy... create more job, new industry, get creative and start working smart.

WARNING!!! We do not need to respond to the encomic downturn the way we responded to 911 with fear and selling ourselves short!

NEVER sell yourself short!!!
NEVER
Never, sell us short!

[arrtimus]

09:26 PM on 02/05/2009

Obama says "bad situation will become dramatically worse" if congress doesn't pass his stimulus bill. Isn't that using fear to get what he wants?

[yellowdoggie]

09:39 PM on 02/05/2009

What he wants is to help America avoid a full-blown depression. He's telling us what we need to know. What don't you understand?

[valkyrie607]

10:10 PM on 02/05/2009

Yes. Politicians do this all the time, because fear is an excellent motivator. It's up to us citizens to use our critical thinking abilities to discern whether the fear is based in reality or not.

Are things clearer now?