Yes She Can! 59% Of HuffPost Readers Say Michelle Obama "Absolutely" Has The Right To Wear Shorts (PHOTOS)

When we asked readers on Monday whether it was appropriate for the first lady to wear shorts on Air Force One, nearly 13,000 opinions poured in. In response to the question "Does Michelle Obama have the right to bare legs?," 59% of readers voted "Absolutely," while 25% believed it was fine, but suggested she wear longer shorts next time. Only 17% said that shorts are inappropriate for a first lady.

Here are the final results:

PHOTOS:

• • • • • • 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

[mykebee]

Booty shorts all around. Life is too short to miss a mass media opportunity to hang out your cheeks.

[usha]

I don't understand why there should be different standards of dressing for the first lady. Aren't shorts de rigeur everywhere in the United States when the weather is warm?

[impatient]

No. That's why there are skirts.

I personally wouldn't have worn the shorts. I'd have worn hippie clothes (an indian print skirt or something) but that's MY problem. I am uncomfortable about my legs. They aren't perfect, I have saggy knees and cellulite in my thighs.

More power to Michelle for not having the same body dismorphic issues I, and a good many other Americans who go to the grand canyon, do.

[SukNg]

U don't get out much?
So you're outta touch;
Michelle's shorts,
Offend u.

Her legs are bare,
Let them stare;
It's 2009,
And she's so fine.
But don't feel blue,
She wears flat shoes.
Cos She Can!
She Can, Can, Can, Can, Can!

She's got appeal,
And she's his equal;
This is the deal,
So, keep it real.

Eat your heart out!

[SukNg]

Songs of praise should be sung about those charming shorts, a symbol of higher standards of decency. The message is: u can trust your men to behave themselves, not jump u when they see bare legs!

To the rest of the world, Michelle Obama, in those shorts, either private/public capacity, represents all that is GOOD about America. That's exactly why people want to go to America

[communitycountry]

MO should see queen Rania in shorts: it is the perfect length the perfect place and the top is very fashionable ans simple. not a crumpled shirt and a baseball hat with hair all pinned back. Please MO listen: don't dress so shabbily. you should command respect: like Laura Bush did.

[communitycountry]

POTUS wore pants ans shirt in the scorching heat in AZ, why MO could not be as well dressed as her husband. He looked dignified. MO could have worn a nice cotton skirt. I really wonder why she dresses the way she does. does she not have any respect for the position of First Lady or is she saying " in your face" . during her London trip she wore the argyle sweater with the buttons all done wrong. it was embarrassing to see her picture. MO please take care or ask someone to help you with good dressing sense.

[lil11]

I think it was the hairstyle that down dressed her overall look. (Of course the shorts were down dressed already). With her hair combed back like it is in the photo, it does not make her look pretty. Bangs would have amped her look up and made her look more like a "hottie".

[nilotic]

She's the First Lady, not a "hottie." Grace and sophistication are more appropriate aspirations.

[Bluebell123]

She can aspire all she wants, but she isn't graceful or sophisticated and won't be.

[communitycountry]

compare MO to other first ladies around the world and see the difference:MO looks very common and unsophisticated. Laura Bush was always impeccably dressed and very gracious and so were the other past first ladies. why cant MO take a cue from them? getting down from the Air force one in shorts and crumpled shirt is not acceptable by any standard, Sorry MO, you need to take care.

[PaiaGirl]

Her husband is from Hawai'i. We wear nothing BUT shorts...usually surf shorts...wait! That came out wrong :0

I wear shorts to work, to testify at County Council meetings, everywhere. It's too freekn hot not to.

[sarah2010]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the shorts. I wish she had pressed them though and worn a different shirt but other than that she looks fine.

[LisainNYC]

I'm sure they started out pressed. After a trip to the Grand Canyon and 2 rides in a helicopter, anything would get wrinkled.

[ObamaGirl09]

Madame First Lady's shorts were appropriate for the day's event. She was touring the Grand Canyon with her husband, our Commander-In-Chief and their children, so whats the problem?? Did people
expect her to wear a turtle neck and wool pants?!! Puh-leeze people, go get a life!

[chocoicecream]

lolololol..and ugg boots? looool

[chocoicecream]

Ok! Carla Bruni wore a bikini , and everyone ooh and aaahed over it. Michelle Obama where shorts..and its the second coming? Double standard much.

[nilotic]

Carla was not stepping off an air plane, she wore swim wear where it was appropriate. There is no double standard.

[chocoicecream]

people wear shorts all the time..it's not like it was an official visit..she was going to national parks. I bet if she wore jeans, people will call them mom jeans.

[Whycee54]

The Good thing about this discussion is the fact that SHE REALLY DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN what you all think. I LIKE THAT

[chocoicecream]

here here

[PaiaGirl]

So true. I absolutely LOVE this woman. First time we've had a real person as First Lady. Not an anorexic, stiff, clothes horse.

[votedpresent]

So not true that she is the first real person we've had as First Lady. To quote Barney Frank "what planet have you been living on?"

[ripp]

The First Lady looks much better in the length she wore on the trip out West than in the longer shorts she's wearing in the June 14th photo linked to this. That longer length doesn't flatter her proportions at all; it makes her torso look too short. The hiking-short length chosen for the trip, paired with the torso-lengthening, yet fitted shirt over a tee made for a wise choice that well-toned women of all ages with "real" bodies should study and emulate.

[memphis55]

what is wrong with you people,just because she is the first lady it do not mean that she do not get HOT like the rest of the world,after all it is summer,she is on vacation.there is nothing wrong with her shorts.what do you wear on vacation in the summer time.it is all about being comforable and enjoying your vacation with your family.do not get mad at her because you do not have the legs or the shape to dress like her.you people need to understand that the president,the first lady and their children are still human .all of God children get hot and have a right to be comforable. so instead of taking about what she wear,why not get off of the couch and get youself in shape so you can look great in your shorts

[nilotic]

Some of us are a lot thinner and in better shape...MO is a large woman (not fat), but she does a great job of staying toned.

The shorts are not the problem, it's the quality of the clothes. Also, she did not compliment the president's more dignified casual attire. By the way, shorts are not the only option in hot weather.

[shorelive]

yes, we have your dubious word for all that don't we? Shorts are an option for her that she prefers occasionally on an outdoors trip in summer weather. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill.