Michelle Obama has been so likeable because she reminded ordinary American women of themselves. She was a working mom, grew up in a blue-collar household, and didn't let her husband get out of line. Her preference for J. Crew over Prada said it all.
Up until her vacation to Spain Michelle Obama was like us. Now Michelle Obama's image has been irrevocably tarnished. She is not Marie Antoinette and she has not called on jobless Americans to eat tapas. She did not travel with a South Beach style type of entourage of several dozen friends and staff -- in total the group was less than 12. However, the relatability of the first Lady as someone who had a grip on reality has been lost.
What is most surprising about the Andalucian excursion and the "who cares what the media says mentality" is the 180 degree shift from just a short time ago. Image matters and no one better than Michelle Obama knows that. This time three years ago, Michelle was seen as too abrasive and not relatable enough because of her grit. The Obama team determined that if her image were not changed she would become a dangerous liability to the then presidential candidate. The campaign needed to quash the spreading frame of Michelle as an "angry black woman" and do it fast.
Michelle Obama underwent a painstaking transformation to recreate her image. She not only successfully shed the "angry black woman" descriptor, but she became the modern day Jackie O. Michelle O. actually seemed to surpass the qualities of Jackie O. Not only was she feminine and smart, but she also had a firm grasp on the realities and hardships of everyday Americans because she herself had experienced them. The success of her recrafting was such that even her gaffe about "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country ... " was forgotten in the happy, feel-good, Gap-chic image that was established. Michelle Obama became a role model for black women, white women, and Latinas of ALL income levels.
It seems the image pendulum has swung to the other extreme. The Spanish vacation together with the current Martha's Vineyard outing provide too much fodder for the stereotypes of Democrats as latte-drinking out of touch elites. The current economic climate together with the Gulf Coast disaster demanded a response from the First Family that was sensitive to the realities of millions of Americans. The choice of destination in and of itself did not matter, but the timing could not have been worse.
All extremes are bad, but in the current economic and political climate it seems that the tough as nails image rather than the champagne and caviar image would better serve the First Lady and her extended partisan family. The First Lady of the United States flubbed and will either drop off as a role model or have to undergo a transformation yet again to return her to the Michelle O. the United States and the world fell in love with.
Candidates Request Michelle Obama's Star Presence
Flashback: Obama, White House repeatedly said they value pressure from left
FLOTUS 'living large' in Spain while 9.5% unemployment at home
War Losses, Economic Misery No Distraction to Elitist FLOTUS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/10/michelle-obama-spain-vacation
Anyway, Michelle made a big mistake taking her daughter to Spain; so, that she could learn about other cultures. She should have taken her to California. What? California is just about as far away from DC as as Spain? But, all that security was so expensive? Huh? The security travels with the First Family no matter where they go? So, the cost is the same?
Anyway, I think that Michelle should pay attention to what I think because I have a degree in Political Science. What? According to Gallup, Michelle Obama's Favorabilty Rating is 66% and no one on the politcal scene even comes close to matching it?
Her husband's ratings are in the basement, this makes matters worse, it hardly seems worth it.
2) It is not the FLOTUS' job or responsibility to make (so-called) "ordinary American women" feel good about themselves. In the arena she plays in, it is her responsibility, yes, and opportunity, to provide a most excellent example of how wonderful life can be through hard work and high standards for oneself and one's family. I prefer a walking, talking example of possibility over a dumbed-down "I'm just as small and powerless as you" sentiment. I think if she inspires women and girls by showing how it's done in the big leagues, then, that's a good thing. Women have been kept down for millenia. It's time to celebrate a woman who has taken responsibility for her situation in life instead of knocking her for making some people feel exactly like who they are.
I only listed all of the awards she received as FLOTUS and Senator and Sec of State..nothing offensive and against the forums rules...so why delete them I was responding to another poster validating my point.
There's NO reason *anyone* on this entire post should have been deleted.