Michelle Obama: Democrats Roll Out the OS X Leopard of First Ladies

Last night I thought sleepily: If Michelle Obama is going to speak to the women of America, she better darn well do it before 10 pm [ET]. As 10 p.m. came and went, I grappled for the remote and was about to turn off the television when her bio video began to air. Okay, maybe I could last a few more minutes, see the top of the speech, get the feel of it, and go to sleep -- because really, how interesting ever are these canned, cynical speeches by candidates wives? (The eccentric Teresa Heinz Kerry aside: I thought our country missed out on a highly entertaining First Lady by rejecting her husband).

But from the moment Michelle Obama began to speak, I realized we were witnessing something historic -- and unrelated to the fact she is an African American. Michelle Obama is the first woman to embrace/embody a post-feminist view of a presidential spouse.

Think of it this way: When was the last time a nominee's wife stepped forward to assert her children and her marriage were more important and satisfying to her than her career? Indeed, to speak of the necessity of putting her career aside for her husband's political ambition--and to do so without a whiff of resentment? Heck, when was the last time you saw a candidate's wife- -any politician's wife! -- proclaim her love for her husband without that husband having been caught cheating on her first? And to do all this without driving the media into a hissy fit: "OMG she's setting women's rights back a generation!"

For neither is Michelle Obama some retro caricature of a "desperate housewife." How could she be, with her pumped figure, her confident, outspoken manner, and the way she sometimes looks, when goaded, like she's chewing on marbles? This is not a woman to be messed with. This is not a woman who feels inferior to her husband. This is not a woman without ambition or dreams. But she seems to possess the modern understanding that women's ambitions and dreams aren't always realized on a straight trajectory; that marriage and family are as much a part of those ambitions and dreams as a promotion or job title; and that when a husband succeeds politically, it does not negate her importance but amplifies it.

It was refreshing, too, to see a woman on the convention's stage wearing a soft, sexy dress. This is more post-feminism. Call it the "Sex and the City" effect. I've been struck by how many young career women today eschew the boxy suits and sensible heels of their female bosses for fitted dresses, high heels, and low necklines. There seems to be no contradiction in their minds that they can be effective at what they do in their public lives, but still be feminine and unabashedly open about attracting male attention.

Thus one of the most striking aspects of Michelle Obama is seemingly the most superficial: the sundresses she's worn throughout the campaign. I was simply transfixed by the sight of her in that girlish, black-and-white number she wore on "The View" -- girlish except for the powerful, trim triceps poking through the armholes. It was like looking at a lioness wearing something Paris Hilton would put on her chihuahua.

We hear often of women shattering glass ceilings, but Michelle Obama has shattered a plaster mold: the mold that casts all female public figures -- and potential First Ladies -- into either/or figures. You are EITHER an independent career woman in your own right (Hillary Clinton) OR a traditionally minded woman in the background of an ambitious man, the shadow in pearls (Cindy McCain; Laura Bush). You are NOT this hot, buff mother at a lectern moving a crowd to tears with your force and passion.

I'm not trying to idealize Michelle Obama. The speech was carefully crafted. It of course had a political agenda. And as with any political family, we have no idea what goes on in the Obama household or private life. We have no idea what she's really thinking when she closes her eyes at night.

Still, it's the public image that interests me. And Michelle Obama has just upgraded that image into one we GenExers can identify with and admire.

Comments

[ex-pat]

C'Mon Anne Couler I double dog dare you?

[loax]

Carmencameron - you put the turh right out there and I agrre with you 100& Michelles Obama is the epitome' of what we wrked so long and hard for. As a woman in my mid fifties, I look at Michelle and can say those of us who worked so hard to prove women are equal should be proud. The hard core feminists need to step back and get rid of the anger. Michhele is the very best of what we hoped!

[outsidethebeltway]

I watched Michelle Obama last night with a full range of emotions--pride, joy, admiration, hope, and wonderment at the history that was unfolding before my eyes.

Like Michelle, I was born in 1964. I too grew up in a working class African American family memorizing Brady Bunch episodes, working hard in school and graduating near the top of my class. I was the first in my family to go to college, and I remember sitting in my dorm room with my friends—all “firsts” like me—watching the “Cosby” show and dreaming that, one day, we’d live a life like that. We dreamed of being professional women, married to handsome professional men, living in beautiful homes on tree lined streets, where our children would play.

And as I watched Michelle from my beautiful home, on a tree lined street where my three children and husband were quietly sleeping, I could not control the tears.

Michelle’s story is my story. It’s the story of countless black women who worked hard, did what we were supposed to do and attained a dream that our parents and grand parents couldn’t have imagined.

I'm proud today. Proud of how far we’ve come individually; proud of how far we’ve come as African Americans; and proud of how far we’ve come as a country.

Somewhere last night a group of young African American women were sitting around a college dorm room watching Michelle Obama and who today, are dreaming a bigger dream than we dreamed.

[CarmenCameron]

As a white woman rapidly approaching my 60th birthday next March, I am completely worn out by the still-angry feminists of my youth who are so focused on their "victimhood" and am SO READY for younger women like Michelle Obama who represent the culmination of the fruits of our labors in the 60's and 70's. THANK YOU, MICHELLE OBAMA, AND GOD BLESS YOU! I have dreamed of American women like you since I had to fight a college professor for the right to be in his class when he said I "should have been home having babies". My generation fought the good fight and you're our reward. I, for one, am pleased as punch today!

[dawlishgal]

Me too, thanks for saying it so well.

[naewing]

Your description of yourself is a good fit for me, too. And I couldn't have said it better. I love the confidence and freshness of this woman.

[Independent voter]

Wonderful comment. Thanks for writing it

[MaracaKabob]

As a white man in my forties and a father of two little girls, may I say...Well put!

[Pupadup4oBama]

Thank you thank you thank you...you are around my mom's age...and you paved the way for our generation - I for one will be forever grateful to you all for the opportunities that we've had because of that.
I hope that the rest of the women can learn to move on.

[ojim]

Great post, and her academic qualifications are just icing on the cake.

[judesuper]

Michelle, you did great! You looked fabulous and your speech was moving. You should be very proud, I know I am.

[Charmed]

Great Article...­..

[eden4barack08]

A real 21st Century First Lady, she will be.

[Citizenofreality]

Michelle Obama is an exceptional human being. I would be proud to have my two daughters turn out the way she did.

[Thron]

Good blog Danielle!
I saw her last night and felt her strength. I did listen carefully and heard her density and consistency. She is as unique as Obama is. These are one of a kind Americans mind and soul. Even Opra Winfrey doesn't have this irradiating charisma, and probably not her brain. I think it is time to put back into the white house some educated leaders we can be proud of. The world need to see that America still have a reservoir of exceptional individuals and great leaders.

[RCLGuard]

Michelle is a delightfully interesting figure and I don't even think she realizes it. She's so natural and graceful at the same time. And this looks like who she really is and not what she puts on for the media.

Even if you don't love her (but how could you not) you have to at least be captivated by her. She's so opposite of Laura and Cindy. I can't love this family enough.

[JJ30]

Thank you Danielle for a wonderful article. I thought I was the only one who was moved to tears when "Uncle Teddy" gave his speech. It was a very powerful and moving speech but the tears did not stop there.

Michelle Obama gave a wonderful, emotional and moving speech. The sexy dress she had on complimented her figure and the way she spoke, showed just how strong and confident this woman really is. I appreciated the fact that she let all of America into her family life and how she showed what an ordinary person and family they really are. Her brother gave a moving introduction as well.
She has inspired millions with that speech including me.

[oldcitizen]

Michelle Obama delivered a magnificent speech that no female politician and very few modern male politicians have ever matched! The right-wing pundits and "true believers" will do everything possible to dismiss the speech and/or continue to smear the Obama's, but none of the Republican orators will even come close to matching the quality and sincerity of Michelle Obama's speech. Hopefully, Hillary Clinton took notes and will thus vastly improve the quality of her upcoming speech.

[edwarvir]

GOD BLESS THAT BEAUTIFUL FAMILY! Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, You hit
the ball right out of the park.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Well she does not need the Video Professor, that is a huge plus.