Making Michelle Who She Isn't -- Risky Obama Campaign Move

Many people, especially in politics, think the bad things that happened to the other guy (gal) aren't going to happen to them. "That was different," they reason. "That was then and this is now."

Well, politics is, as Michelle Obama has observed, "a game and a sport." And while there are new moves all the time, some tried and true ones are evident in every political campaign. One of those is about to happen to Michelle Obama unless she heeds her own counsel.

I've written about "slippery criteria" applied to women and minorities. Since they're often relatively new to high levels of organizations and less privy in most cases to how others got there, much of what goes on behind the scenes to block them is not accessible. Usually they're sent off on some wild goose chase seeking one additional accolade, one more element of proof that they're the best person for the job or promotion. And just when they achieve that goal, the game is changed -- new criteria emerge.

In an interview, Michelle Obama noted this about her husband's campaign. "The pundits said there was no way Barack could raise the money and that was the test -- raising the money -- until Barack raised the money and then that wasn't important." She described how they said "he couldn't build the political organization to outmatch opponents who'd been building theirs for years. He did and then that wasn't an issue."

Hillary Clinton tried to get ahead of constantly changing criteria. It cost her. Now Anderson Cooper (June 17) tells us that Michelle Obama is going to be remodeled. Based on what? According to whom? Not again!

I'm all for tweaking and even an occasional dramatic change in order to get where you want to go. We should all be constantly learning. But being someone other than who you are to please, especially media commentators, only displeases you. Besides, we are who we are, and our gestures and micro-expressions belie our lies. When we act as if we're someone other than who we are, we are on shaky ground and it's noticeable. It's also impossible to lead for long from such a precarious perch.

When women or men start reinventing themselves based on the latest "criteria" -- it's risky. Change is what Obama's campaign is largely about. But changing his wife shouldn't be -- not beyond recognition or even close to that. She has much to offer and has said she's looking forward to changing the lives of women for the better -- the women who don't have the back-ups she and Barack have, who work long hours for too little money and are just too tired to think. That will, in turn, change the lives of thousands of children at risk who are shamefully overlooked in our society.

I don't get the sense that Michelle Obama will sell her soul to help her husband become president. But she'll do some tweaking, learn to think even more before she speaks, reflect upon the various interpretations of her words, and, as she has said about big decisions, "go down every dark road" before doing or saying something potentially dangerous. That's just using political wisdom. But once they start trying to make her a composite of first ladies of the past -- a woman who looks lovingly spellbound at her man - perhaps someone who does cute, adorable things (to soften her image), then change will have gone too far.

Michelle has said about politics as a game: "We have to focus on not doing that. If you want to change it, you can't become part of it." Good words to remember. Very good words to remember when they start sending her off to become one more thing, then another -- to get it right.

More about "slippery criteria" at bardscove.com

Comments

[karela]

Geesh guys, you might be sexist if you think Michelle Obama is such a weak sister that anyone would even dare to try to "remake" her. If, and we don't know there is, but if there is any tweeking going on, it is Michelle Obama driven. Michelle has said many times that she never wants to say or do anything that makes her the story instead of the issues that Barack is fighting for. In that vein, she might perhaps decide to take a little coaching, but nobody is going to change Michelle Obama into someone she isn't. She has far too much integrity. And Barack wouldn't stand for it if anyone tried. Anyone with eyes can see that after all these years, they are still wildly in love with each other. Barack Obama is deeply proud of his wife and she is hugely proud of him. It glows out of their very pores. Don't do Michelle, OR Barack, so small. Michelle will be in charge of Michelle. In that vein, she might seek advice while picking her way through presidential politics for the first time, but it won't be because anyone else is trying to "remake" her. As David Axlerod said on Morning Joe today, "There's no need."

[mythster]

The author of this column (whoever she is) has obviously still not gotten over Ms. Clinton's failure and subsequent faltering before she conceded and pledged support of the Obama campaign. Truth is, her "wonder woman" was re-invented several times before the prototype was marketed.

[08politicaljunkie]

I remember what they did to Hillary Clinton, and what she allowed them to do to her, during Bill's campaigns and administrations because she got negative polls and some people didn't like her. She kept changing her hairstyles, wardrobe, how she spoke, and what she spoke about. We almost forgot that she even had a brain. Now look how screwed up she is.

I, for one, appreciate Michelle's intellect, attitudes, and abilities. Yes, she is a mother but she also had her own professional legal career. She also has a strong sense of personal and ethnic identity which I'd hate to see her give up. Personally, I don't like white bread and rarely eat it. I prefer whole grains! It's healthier.

Lastly, Michelle's heavy makeup is not needed and detracts from her natural beauty. Instead of more glamorous, which it is attempting, it makes her look older and harsh. And that lighter color on her cheekbones make her look sick.

[rationalthought1]

Michelle is not Hillary. She doesn't need , and won't tolerate, advisors screwing her up with trends and poll-tested manipulations of her basic personality. All women aren't victims.

[LollieDotCom]

Picky, picky. I thought she was beautiful and if you want to see too much make up, go check out fox news. (think 'sex in the city' makeup times 5) They troweled it on Elizabeth, then air brushed on top of that. She was still beautiful, just with garish makeup.

Somebody let me vote in the Emmy's. I never had any idea how good The View's make up and lighting people were until I saw our girls on H&C and LKL!

[duze]

I agree, who ever is doing her makeup should hire someone else to do it. She needs a professional stylist (and this is only to keep her hair in place) other than that a little lip gloss and perhaps, a little light lipstick with a dark brown eye liner and she's fine. Hell, she's fine anyway.
What she shouldn't do is become a clone of what others expecd her to be. No, she can't be black and come off white to please the jealous whites. She's only what she is A BLACK WOMAN OF POWER!

[Spokane]

Michelle Obama stint on the View was for the most part interesting and reflected real person. There were some comments by her that looked very much like they were planted or scripted. The biggest mistake she can make ( of course that only counts is you believe that candidates wifes influence the election) is for her to listen to the folks that want her to reflect something she isn't.
At first I thought I was looking at Angela Davis right out of the 60's but now I see her as a well spoken ( and highly paid..earn­ing several hundred grand a year on her own) young lady. The Minute you try to change her into something else will be the minute she becomes generic ! Another flatliner. Don't change her. I don't have to agree with her all the time. All I have to do is respect her.

[clearthinker2008]

I thought she did wonderful.

[zull2]

Obama's only feeling like he should stand up for his family. That's it, and all it is. When you're the politician running for office, you prepare yourself the most to take the attacks, and when the attacks go at people you love, it's only human nature to want to stand up and protect them. He knows full well Michelle can stand up for herself just fine, that's probably why earlier in the campaign he said that if he had to run against her, she'd beat him easily. People are really overanalyzing this...it'­s much simpler than it seems. There doesn't seem to be any kind of strategy here to make Michelle into something she isn't. Just human nature. If it was a strategy, it'd probably be obvious that it was. This is Michelle Obama we're talking about. She's a high powered lawyer with as much credibility and experience in that profession as Hillary Clinton ever had at the same age. She made twice as much as Barack made per year, in salary (if you disregard the book deals).

[KELLI2L]

So why did Bill Clinton get such flack for try to stand up for his family!????
What's good for one candidate should be good for all. . .

[nomobull]

because of how he stood up for his family. he wasn't defending his wife but the candidate who was complainuing because she was receiving the same treatment as a candidate. michelle is not running for office.

[Gma11]

Still resentful of Barack Obama?

[rasthedestroyer]

Mrs. O seems to be rather secure in who she is and what's at stake. Maybe America just isn't ready for the kind of honesty the Obama's bring to game. Real people with real talk. It's a Chi-town thang, so you might not get it.

[KELLI2L]

Honesty is good - Hate is bad. . .

[XME]

I'm not sure where you're claim is coming from that the campaign is trying to portray Michelle as someone she's not. I think all they're trying to do is show people who she REALLY is, rather than allowing them to decide based soley on some sound bites that have been spun and respun.

[hosshoss777]

Is it really that outrageous for a formerly private figure to go get a little "schooling" on how to speak and present herself to a National or rather Global audience? I doubt but that few are ever born that need not adapt to that role in life.

But as for selling out, the Obamas have already left a trail of abandoned friends and Churchs that expressed views that didn't sit well with an Establishment Media and Power structure. In fact this Campaign is nothing but an insight into who runs America and how they ideologically purify the Candidates to fit into their "agenda". Let's see, what are some of the "compromises" that have been made so far. I don't mean the candidates, I mean the power structure. How about a truce with Hamas that should last through the election? My favorite so far, an investigation into the Oil Futures markets to identify places where "gaming" the system is going on.

Instead what will we get? Off shore drilling, Bush's terrorism requests, Global Warming etc., everything but what's really going on.

[MiraMcB]

"How about a truce with Hamas that should last through the election? My favorite so far, an investigation into the Oil Futures markets to identify places where "gaming" the system is going on.

Instead what will we get? Off shore drilling, Bush's terrorism requests, Global Warming etc., everything but what's really going on."



Nice to see somebody else gets it...

[kellygrrrl]

I bet MO will still be sneaking off the Target even when she's living in the White House.

She is so REAL!!!

what a breath of fresh air

[egal]

It seems presumptuous to interpret Michelle Obama's actions and increased wariness over wording as a reinterpretation of herself. She and her husband said they're reintroducing her to America, not changing her to be what America thinks it wants in a First Lady.

Why assume she lacks the strength and wisdom to simply be herself and let that be more widely seen, stripped of exterior bias and stupidity?

If, instead, you assume that she's toning it down, I'd ask what makes you think that? Her history is as a thoughtful and intelligent person passionate about what she believes but not closed-minded or vicious or temperamental, eager to learn more, to become a better person and more understanding. How is it insincere to show this truth to the world?

Yes, there are pitfalls of creating a public persona or image, a risk of losing oneself, but Michelle appears to be simply trying to show more of what she really is, and increased caution in her words is wise and hasn't moved her from her own identity; rather, she seems to be cementing that and thinking carefully about how she says what she believes, not too foreign a task for someone who has studied law and navigated race issues, education issues, gender issues, and far more in her lifetime.

[dknsn]

We won't convert all the racists. We just have to beat them, plain and simple. There are enough smart, good people in this country who won't let them demonize Michelle Obama.

[sayno]

Once again, an Obama supporter labels those who do not support him, a racist. That has been the tactic from day one. Demonizing those who do not fall in line and vote for him because he is black. Nice campaign tactic. And you people spend your time being critical of others? I have been a Dem for many years and, news flash, do not support your candidate. Go ahead, call me stupid: however, I already have my degrees. I also no longer support the DNC because of the tactics used on May 31. If that had been done to Obama you would be screaming racist and the NAACP would be marching in the streets!

[Sixtwo]

Uh? This column is not about Obama, it's about his wife. Is she being demonized?

[bbrecht]

Great post, I agree. Does anyone remember what they did to Hillary Clinton (and what she allowed them to do?). I remember as a young woman being very discouraged by her "makeover.­" In particular, the media tore her up when she said she had "better things to do as a woman than stay home and bake cookies." After the negative media cycle, and her makeover, she ended up Barbara Bush to a cookie bake off at the white house.

To give her a fighting chance, we need to stick up for Michelle-- when fox news does crap like "Obama's baby mama" Hillary supporters, women, feminists, where is the outrage? Where is the movement?

[eden4barack08]

Hillary Clinton "......end­ed up Barbara Bush to a cookie bake off at the white house. " ????

Wow, that's the first time I heard that one!

[Herekitty]

In 1992 Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush both submitted chocolate-chip cookie recipes, but "Hillary had a better feel for what the readers wanted," Clinton's modified tollhouse cookie recipe used rolled oats, semisweet chocolate chips and vegetable shortening. "Barbara Bush used butter, but I can honestly say that if you want crispy cookies, go with Crisco or lard."

[ilovemydoggy]

Michelle seems strong -- it will be interesting to see what happens. She must find that delicate boundary between the "public" and "private" self. Not easy.

For some interesting insights on strong women, visit http://www.Vaboomer.com

Cultural anthropologist Virginia Cornue explores these boundaries.

[UrsaMajority]

What a pointless article! There's nothing in it that gives any indication that anyone is asking Michelle Obama to be anything other than what she is. In fact, I think some of her gaffes in the past have come when she's tried to be more of a candidate's spokesperson and less like what she is -- a very bright businessperson, lawyer, wife and mother who'd like to be first lady. When she acts like who she apparently is -- you know, the parts of her public statements that don't get on Faux News -- she's quite charming. That's all that she needs to be, as her relationship with Barack and her family life are a great testament to who he really is... and more importantly, that he's a far cry from a womanizing, self-centered, misogynous husband like McCain.

[ramara]

I started out supporting John Edwards (has anyone noticed how wonderful the wives are?) and it was seeing a c-span showing of Michelle Obama talking to a rapt group of women in I think Iowa that made me look seriously at her husband. She was sitting and talking simply about her family and the values shared by her father and his grandfather. She spoke without sentimentality, and with humor, depth, and warmth. Her intelligence was obvious and 'so was her realness. I didn't see anything today that seemed any different. I don't think she is changing who she is, just broadening the audience.

[pkrishna]

Who are these "pundits", and when did they announce qualifying tests for Barack Obama?

Michelle Obama says the "pundits" said -"there was no way Barack could raise the money and that was the test " - she implies that that was a necessary and sufficient test for her husband's candidacy. Which is patently not true. And that "they said "he couldn't build the political organization to outmatch opponents who'd been building theirs for years. He did and then that wasn't an issue".

Whoever the pundits are, they are by no means authorized to make declarative statements as to the sufficiency of these "tests". If some TV columnist said something, she can't base her statements on that.

Michelle Obama is best kept home, baking cookies, if she is able to do that. She only solidifies her husband's support from his hard core base, who lap up any statement by him or her. And she makes some extraordinarily stupid statements.

Good luck with her "extreme makeover". Can't wait to see the "kindler and gentler" Michelle.

[RatgurlSD]

Still stuck in the dark ages? Michelle's place is not at home, baking cookies, it is wherever she feels her talents are best utilized, including - if she so deems - in the spotlight, speaking on behalf of her husband. It saddens me to see that some people haven't graduated to the 21st Century.

And BTW, her statements aren't what's stupid - rather it's the spin they've obtained from the media that make them sound that way

[dtrobert]

Whoa whoa whoa!!! How do you know what Michelle Obama's like in real life? Are you not simply falling for the Right Wing narrative of an angry, militant woman? Isn't that a tad sexist?

What if Michelle Obama has simply been given a chance to show who she really is?

[Forsetti]

My thoughts exactly. It seems the questiion out there is, "Who is Michelle?" and they are just providing situations and opportunities to answer it. There is a difference between trying to control the image versus trying to manufacture one.