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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[mrsnet]

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]

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

[rebelzz]

What's the problem with dark skin? At least she's still filmed sounding intelligent and refined.

[JannieMoonbeam]

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

[missinginminnesota]

Go get 'em, Michelle!!

[igorz]

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]

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]

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]

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

[punkindmb]

LMAO!

[spartanmom]

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

[heal57]

Us old Irish women don't always think so!

[ZimboChick]

lol u r cute

[reno1190]

BITSKO I LUV YA

[unite4change]

I thought this deserved a repost:

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


Short and interesting read.

[Spesabsquemetu]

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]

Well put.

[ndnndpendent]

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]

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]

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

[KatDawgATL]

We need to come out of this self-delusion thinking that "They hate us for our freedom" and "Ending the war (Iraq) is a WHITE FLAG to turrests" crap.

Loving ones country, means doing so with "open eyes". Pride (by our own actions, by coersion with mis-presented facts or flat-out lies) tends to blind us, or cause us to make excuses for the blatant wrong doing by our country (and it's elected leaders) both to IT'S OWN citizens, and to other countries around the world.

Michelle is an exemplary american. Without a doubt she has always LOVED her country, but it should be NO SURPRISE for anyone (with a conscience) to not have always been blindly full of PRIDE about it, and it's less than stellar practices.

Pride goeth before the fall, just look at where we are.

[huntunseasun]

Are you still on that? Here's a link to the whole thing, you ignorant person "ndnndpendent". She did say that the first time, if you had taken the time to check the false statement instead of seeing for yourself the truth. Here's some truth. Anyone with an iota of brain function will be able to understand this. But you do have to be intelligent. I know. I know. Most Americans refuse to use what they were born with and many have, unfortunately, lost what they had. Maybe you have lost what little you had. But here's a chance to redeem yourself, if willing. A second chance. the video is one minute and fifteen seconds long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYY73RO_egw&feature=PlayList&p=8B9C720FF75D3905&playnext=1&index=28

[spartanmom]

Loving someone/thing and being proud of them/it are two different things.

I have always loved my children but I'm not proud of them unless and until they do something good.

I am older than Michelle and an Irish-German-English-Dutch American but I shared her sentiments entirely, though perhaps for different reasons

[benne]

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

[prtypoison]

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

[Bitsko]

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

[ndnndpendent]

She needs to be more positive. I like the First Ladies to be bubbly, especially times like now, when the country is hurting. Instead on her first few days in office, she was firing off pissy statements over dolls.

She has already demeaned the Office of the First Lady and she makes people constantly feel bad. I feel bad for the doll makers being treated so harshly. I'm not saying making those dolls was right.

She just exemplifies pettiness.

[LibKitty]

Oh... You mean like Stepford Laura? She never spoke for herself and always walked behind Georgie. Or Cindy McCain who keeps quiet even when her husband calls her the C-word and offers her up for a topless beauty contest?

I prefer an intelligent, strong woman as First Lady and a role model to my daughter.

[sticksnstones]

Sorry the First Lady ain't " Bubbly " enough for ya. Your other comments are right there on the edge of being a misogynous rant.

[Provit2me]

he,he,he,he - I think that kind of thinking went out in the 50's when the mother's stayed home and baked and cleaned and took care of the man...he,hehehehehe - touch pearls here.....put apron on here.......smile....! I can not wait until some of these backwards thinking people are gone and the real, 21st century people come into their own..gawd, these people exhaust me. "I like my 1st lady to be bubbly" urgh...what a line.

[Pambie]

Are you fricking kidding me? Bubbly?

We have the most intelligent, educated First Lady in history ... bubbly?????

[spartanmom]

LOL!!!

[spartanmom]

I think she can take it. I am sure she is well aware of what Eleanor Roosevelt went through.

[heal57]

She'll do just fine. She's an asset to her husband.

[toypiano]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Youre not an Obama supporter.

[prtypoison]

I don't blame her, most black people wasn't really proud of their country until Obama was elected and so what. that was the truth. There are black families still trying to convict the murderers of their family members that were killed by the KKK. What did we have to be proud of when it came to America but know we can say it and mean it when we say we are proud of our country. Check this out http://www.emmetttillmurder.com and explain why black people should have been proud of their country before the election of President Obama.

[amistad]

You sound like many other fair weather Obama supporters. That is okay. Whatever floats your boat.
However, you need to educate yourself about the plight of black people in this country. Michelle is within her rights to say those remarks.
For the first time in my life I can say that I am proud of my country. I am a black woman and I feel exactly like that.
I can still support and work where I can to ensure that America recovers from this mess, even though there are many in America who don't like me or think me inferior and discriminate against me because of the color of my skin.
First Lady Michelle is not disingenious; I think you need to revisit what you think you know about the history of America and how America still has a long way to go with regards to race.
Look at how many of these post show that there are still problems.
Loot at how President Obama is being treated in other boards and in the media.
No. First Lady Michelle has nothing to apologize for.

[CinnamonCola]

African-Americans dealt with laws that were embedded into society that systematically eroded families and caused unnecessary economic hardships. Racism created unfair policies that made it difficult for education, housing and employment. In a lot of races there were those who could pass for white and they did so because it would make life easier for them and their children. So please don't take such a complex issue and just say, "everyone had it hard". No one should do this to any group of people.

The scars of what happened to AA are fresh. At my age of 40 I remember discrimination that I experienced and that my mum and father shared with me. I in no way was beaten, spit on, not allowed to eat where I wanted like they had been, but I sure did get comments, stares and vibes that clearly indicated that "my kind" was not welcomed. This has happened when I have been out with my boyfriend (who is European/non-US) walking down the street holding hands or out at an restaurant. He is shocked because he had never experienced this sort of bias and racism until his visits to US.

So, I wish Madame Obama well and that she continues to work with representing ALL Americans.

[DelvinMcGee]

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]

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

[Tim303]

Me neither. Michelle rules.

[sticksnstones]

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

[ndnndpendent]

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

[StillIRise]

I remember that statement from Michelle, and I completely agree with her. She was speaking not only for herself, but for many Americans who love their country, but were not always very proud of it.

Michelle is an extraordinary woman, and we're so fortunate to have someone like her and President Obama who are not afraid of truth and who are willing to face the challenges that the truth demands of us ... even when others would rather pretend that those challenges don't exist.

[DelvinMcGee]

Don't change her words to benefit your point. She didn't say "I am not often proud", or "my country does things I am not proud of". She said, in fact, at the age of 44 she was proud of her country for the first time.

She wasn't proud when we went to the moon?
She wasn't proud when a female was appointed to the Supreme Court?
She wasn't proud when the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed?
She wasn't proud when MLK day became a national holiday?
She wasn't proud of American citizens's reponse to the Indonesian tsunami?
She wasn't proud when the Cold War ended, the Soviets were gone, and the US still stood?
She wasn't proud of Kennedy avoiding WW3 during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
She wasn't proud when a woman ran for President?
She wasn't proud when Congress passed ADA?
She wasn't proud when Congress passed FMLA?

Huh? Never? Not once? Until 44?

[weatherwaxx]

I have been ashamed of the US since the Supreme Court voided the Florida election and handed power to bush, cheney, and halliburton.

YES. IT IS PATRIOTIC TO BE ASHAMED OF SOMEONE WHO THINKS TORTURE IS ALL RIGHT.

Michelle Obama is as intelligent as her husband and she is not stupid enough to be proud of George W Bush and his attempted destruction of the Constitution.

[lasublime]

Thank You. Since when have we lived in a perfect country. Since when has their been a gag on criticizing. I really am perplexed about this. Why have people gotten their knickers in a twist about her comments. Maybe they should go to zimbabwe or some other such place where criticism of the government is punishable. They would probably feel more at home there;

[ndnndpendent]

So being the intelligent and articulate lawyer that she is, why didn't she say that.

Her way of putting it was antagonistic, and disdainful of the COUNTRY.

There is a world of difference between Bush and the Country--or is she not intelligent enough to articulate the difference?

[toypiano]

And? I'd say she has a right to be proud of her country and her husband. She spoke for a lot of us when she said that, by the way. If she didn't speak for you, so what, it's HER experience and she has the right to speak her truth.

[lbrillante]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[Tim303]

You should be afraid. Very afraid. If the stimulus doesn't pass, will the last person to leave America please turn off the lights?

[StillIRise]

The difference is that the fear that defines the context of his words is rooted in reality, not in lies.

[weatherwaxx]

That is telling people the reality of the mess Bush created and covered up with lies.

The truth is frightening.

This isn't a bogeyman somewhere "out there." This is our own, greed-spawned nightmare.