Michelle Obama's Shorts: Does The First Lady Have The Right To Bare Legs? (PHOTOS, POLL)

UPDATE 8/20:

The results are in! Nearly 13,000 HuffPost readers voted, and the majority said that Michelle Obama does indeed have the right to bare legs. See results below.

If you still have an opinion on this matter that you'd like to share, please do so in the comments below.

8/17:
Michelle Obama took a lot of flak for baring her arms in February, but now she may be the first first lady to descend the steps of Air Force One (or appear in public for that matter) in short shorts. After all, can you imagine Laura Bush or Patricia Nixon doing the same?

There's no doubt Mrs. Obama has gorgeous gams, but do you think it's appropriate for her to bare so much of them? See the results and photos below.

Here are the final results:

• • • • • • First lady Michelle Obama debuts her shorts as she steps out of the presidential limo at the Phoenix airport on Sunday.

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Comments

[ditchdigger]

i have been to pheonix in the summer. i know i would be wearing shorts.

[dissapointed]

MO showed her arms, then too much legs and now her boobs. what's next? i need to buy sun glasses.
he rolder daughter is always dressed like a lady. I love it.

[Eva Lili]

I agree that there are more pressing issues for discussion - I also agree that the first lady has freedom/options to dress as she pleases - I agree she ought to feel comfortable but she must be dressed appropriately and she is old enough to make the transition because she IS the first lady. Her husband rarely makes these gaffes. Often her outfits do not fit well which is an important part of dressing regardless of social position or occasion. It does not matter if she prefers not to be seen as a fashion maven but she must consider her appearance represents the U.S. at all times and why not look chic, comfy, fabulous - the three at not exclusive one from the other - her options are endless - I wish she would excercise them.

[prepmom]

There is a certain decorum that the first lady should adhere to....maybe capris or a sundress would be more appropriate in this situation. Shorts......not so much.....esp with her body type.....if she thinks her arms are so gorgeous then flaunt them.....but please, hide those lower extremities!!!!!!

[kidall]

Michelle Obama is a real woman, a mother of two active children and she was vacationing at the Grand Canyon in August! What would we have her wear? A burqa?

[Thomas Murphy]

Ridiculous....

[NEWLYPOOR]

Dress Code IDIOTS are worse than the TALIBAN!!!!!!

[Retrofuturistic]

Of course, she has the "right" to wear shorts--- even if it makes her look like she's on the way to the 7-11 for a six pack.

Personally, however, I think that if you are a public servant, or married to one, that you then become a representative of the entity that employs you. And therefore, it behooves you to follow certain standards of behavior and not invite criticism that might reflect on the employing entity.

After all, the rest of us have to dress a certain way when we go to work. And we even have to conduct ourselves a certain way in private, so that it doesn't reflect on our employer. If we want to keep our jobs, that is.

[hekowacz]

Oh, here we are again. Not important, we still are allowed to keep our taste. So far. (Until Pelosi will want to be proclaimed Miss USA and loses it against MO). Sure, Ms. Obama can get distasteful, but, she was on hers, and the daugter's trip to hot AZ, right? So far so good. Some, yet not to many still look worse than her in shorts around here. But, the point is, if she wants to claim the right to offend us by looking at her so questionable bares, she should do it outside Airforce and particularly without all dress code minded guards we all pay for.

[TivoliEclipse]

What on earth are you talking about? Spell/grammar check your work!

[anastomosis]

I'll lay odds that all ex-flotus and their daughters are saying: YESSS!!

[Aquarius]

Why does the media have to make such a big deal about Michelle Obama wearing shorts? Big stinkin deal. The fawning over her by the media is sickening. There's so much more going on in this country. Why are we talking about her legs? Seriously they're not even worth discussing. This is just another example of the dumbing down of this country, people being obsessed with silly things like someones outfit and the media spreading ignorance. If you want to talk about Michelle Obama then talk about the worthwhile things that she's doing. The media should be educating the public about the healthcare plan instead of spreading ignorance with these dumbass stories.

[NEWLYPOOR]

Critizers are wannabe TALIBAN!!

[Blackbuddah]

I could understand if she was a fifty yeart old woman . Michelle is still young and i applaud her ability to wear shorts and look good in them america needs to take an example from her and start working out so we all could look so good in shorts.

[PaiaGirl]

Hey wait! I resemble that remark!

[Blackbuddah]

I didnt mean it that way but if you're a hot cougar i'd date you :)

[zeezan]

In the first place, those are NOT short shorts. Daisy Dukes are short shorts. In the second place, it's no one else's business what she wears. Some people seem to expect her to be dressed at all times in high heels and pearls like some TV housewife of the 60's.

[dingmanschoice]

i'm not gettin it. this is 2009. do you want a modern woman to hike in the grand canyon in a suit? hmmm . . .

[wisemonkey]

Not that this should even be something that is commented on if it wasn't for Michelle trying to sell herself off as a hip first lady sex symbol.
She needs to do a bunch of work on her midsection. Frankly she is too scruffy and needs the help of a personal trainer.
Now if she would lay off of the trying to look like the French PM's wife then she looks fine the way she is but stop going along with people treating her like a sex symbol.

[lennix]

wtf who in the hell cares boy these black people are in the white house and everybody has lost thier damn minds that moron bush sent women and men to thier deaths and we talking about shorts man are we crazy.