Michelle Obama's Rocky Road to the White House

Now that Barack Obama is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, it is time to focus on a woman that could have a lot of influence over his life.

No, not Hillary Clinton.

Michelle Obama.

In early May, when ABC's "Good Morning America" asked Obama about an online video attacking his wife, he told the local Tennessee GOP to "lay off" her.

"The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record," said Obama. "If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family."

The video focused on a remark Michelle Obama made during a speech in Wisconsin in February. "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country," she said in the speech. The quote is played six times during the video, interspersed with video of Tennessee residents saying why they love their country.

This was one of the first real attacks on Michelle, and while Sen. Obama's attempt to extinguish future criticism was admirable, it was also unrealistic.

Sure, in a perfect world, the wives of presidential candidates could be protected from the harsh criticism of rival campaigns and the media. But in reality, attacks on significant others are as old as elections themselves. In 1828, Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel came under severe scrutiny when it was discovered that their marriage was not legal because Rachel had never divorced her previous husband. Critics said that if Jackson couldn't understand simple divorce laws, how could he possibly run the country?

The modern-day system of criticism began with another career woman who was very active in her husband's campaign--Eleanor Roosevelt.

When her husband was running for a third term, Eleanor became the first wife to address a political convention. Soon after, "We don't want Eleanor either" buttons started appearing on the jackets of Roosevelt's critics.

Sen. Hillary Clinton also faced severe criticism for some of her remarks during her husband's campaign. "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession," said Clinton in 1992. She was called culturally dismissive and insensitive to the plight of the domestic realm.

The bottom line is that Americans believe that they are not only electing the president, but also a first spouse. Therefore, every action and every word hers will be just as severely scrutinized as those of the candidate.

Michelle Obama is a confident, educated woman who can hold her own. Her speeches are persuasive and poignant. There is no reason she can't handle the scrutiny of the press and the GOP, just as long as she knows what she's in for.

Comments

[Moose49]

Impressed as I am by Michelle Obama, I think the idea of a spouse becoming a major campaign issue is ludicrous, though of course, never underestimate the media's ability to turn a presidential campaign from a debate about substance to drivel about trivia. It already happened all too often in the primaries.

That said, if this becomes an issue, equal scrutiny must be paid to both sides. And I guarantee you, for whatever controversy Michelle Obama might generate, she'll look like a model citizen next to the beer heiress who refuses to release her tax returns, Cindy McCain.

[Denni]

I've been fascinated by the treatment of Michelle Obama, by the supporters of both Democratic candidates and by the right. It's been interesting to see that outside of the Obama circle, Mrs. Obama has been a high profile target and that those who decry sexism in this campaign have either ignored the treatment she receives by many in their camp, or excused it. Michelle Obama has maintained her dignity and risen about it all.

[JulianDamanas]

Interesting theoretical outcome to ponder # 200,000,000:
Can anyone actually imagine the White House with Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton in it at the same time? Imagine the contrast: Hillary: dignified, stately, poised, pantsuited and regal while Ms. Obama wanders around in her sloppy, somewhat unflattering "I shop at Macy's. doesn't everyone?" dresses and grins broadly and chatters indiscreetly while loping along like a slightly bow-legged gazelle beside Obama The Great?. It would be a hilarious contrast.
Hillary would be queenly. Michelle would be Ms. Uncongeniality.
Imagine the two of them at a function together. Everyone would naturally defer to the Clintons. The Obamas would be the little gauche people on the sidelines.­Think Ms. Obama will allow it? Not a chance! If Obama has the utter audacity of hoping to get Hillary on his ticket, he'll be in the dog-house forever.

Score:
Hillary: Graciously Coping
Obaba: Audaciously Hoping

[walk0nwalls]

That's really mean.

[walk0nwalls]

And more than just mean you play into this age-old racist stereotype, knowingly or not, that the blacks are illegitimate heirs to a station that does not belong to them. You stoke with your image the age-old racist paradigm that says in spite of their advances, black people will always be compared unfavorably to white people.

It might not be your intention, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but be aware that your choice of adjectives in contrasting the Obamas and the Clintons,

"Imagine the contrast: Hillary: dignified, stately, poised, pantsuited and regal while Ms. Obama wanders around in her sloppy, somewhat unflattering "I shop at Macy's. doesn't everyone?" dresses and grins broadly and chatters indiscreetly while loping along like a slightly bow-legged gazelle beside Obama The Great?. It would be a hilarious contrast."

Is so subtextually racist that I don't even think that I could really accuse you of such an audacious pursuit of division. So, that's that really.

[meanguy]

'subtexturally racist' means nothing more than 'something the terminally offended can imagine to be racist in their paranoid little minds'

[MarilynBB]

This is not only mean but an indication more of the person who wrote it than the intelligent Michelle Obama,

[Selbourne]

The lady in the pantsuit has revealed herself as a person who cannot be trused to keep a signed agreement , an unethical racist, disloyal campaigner. Those of us who are neither racist nor blind to the importance of character do not see her as in any way superior to Michelle.
Michelle is a woman who raised herself up by her bootstraps from poverty to graduation from a top law school. Then moved from a prestigious law firm to public service at lower pay out of desire to give back and serve her old community.
You really have a strange set of superficial values that revolve around pantsuits, so I guess you would not recognize Michelle's claim to fame, but the more intelligent people that lead this world will.

[ladychicago]

Hillary: Graciously Coping

You just summed up your own false contrast. Hillary has proven herself to be infamously ungracious.

[dora rice]

There is no relationship left between those two. I can tell. I am an old fox at this. Big pretense in public.
He didn't even take her in his arms after their announcement they won. They touched knuckles. Even though that seems hip and young, it shows something much more sinister. A realtionship that is only a front in public. No wonder he livens up when he sees Opra.

[MarilynBB]

If you watched the eye contact and the sincere smiles you might see something quite different in the Obamas relationship. Not everyone shows their feelings in the same way and there are lots of hugs between Barack and Michelle in other instances.

[teller]

"...someth­ing much more sinister..­." - like what?

[XME]

Ugh...Repu­blicans...

[JoyceBains]

Actually, he DID take her in his arms, long before the pound.

[Yansher]

They have a deep understanding and affection for each other and it shows. It is more than I can say for some people.

[erykah]

A bit lopsided. Why haven't you included Cindy in this. Is she fair game too?

[StephenJK]

What do you think? **shakes his head**

[edhillfiker]

probably because Cindy doesn't have the built-in negatives that Michelle has. Don't get me wrong, I am avidly rooting for Obama, but Michelle may very well be his biggest hindrance.

HRC didn't start getting those high negatives until well into Bill's presidency.

Michelle's negatives are already much, much higher this early in the game and,unfortunately, Michelle seems ready, willing and able to give them plenty of fuel for the ammunition.

[Sixtwo]

Don't forget, negatives are exposed by the media. Hillary had more negatives when she first became First Lady than Michelle probably will ever have, they just did not get exposed until later. You can begin with conduct at the prestigeous law firm....

[kgb999]

Because Cindy isn't married to the guy who just knocked Clinton out of the race.