First Lady Steps Into Policy Spotlight in Debate on Health Care (NYT)

[jefferson_dem]

First Lady Steps Into Policy Spotlight in Debate on Health Care



WASHINGTON — She has become one of the Obama administration’s most visible surrogates on health care, announcing the release of $851 million in federal financing for health clinics, calling for tougher nutritional standards in the government’s school lunch program and urging Democrats to rally around the president’s efforts to revamp health care.

The high-profile emissary? Not Kathleen Sebelius, the health and human services secretary, or Nancy-Ann DeParle, the White House health policy adviser. It is the first lady, Michelle Obama.

“We’re at a critical juncture in the debate about health care in this country,” Mrs. Obama said at a clinic here in June. “The current system is economically unsustainable, and I don’t have to tell any of you that. And despite having the most expensive health care system in the world, we’re not necessarily healthier for it.”

After several months of focusing on her family, her garden and inspiring young people, Mrs. Obama is stepping into more wonkish terrain. She is toughening her message and talking more openly about influencing public policy as she works to integrate her efforts more closely with those of policy makers in the West Wing.

In June, Mrs. Obama traveled to San Francisco with Melody C. Barnes, the president’s domestic policy adviser, for the start of the administration’s initiative to promote volunteerism.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/health/policy/19michelle.html

[PretzelWarrior]

1. cool. the wife and I were just talking about her lack of portfolio

and now I see she's stepping up big time on this. GREAT!

[Merlot]

4. I figured she'd start taking a higher profile on issues after a while

It would have been a mistake to come on to strong at first. Now people have gotten to know her, and they like her.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[jclincali]

3. Is is 1993 all over again? Geez, at least then we were pushing for a decent plan.

[JeffR]

9. And of course that all worked out brilliantly.

Ah, the good old days...

I get the impression you're pining. I don't disagree with you at all that the country seemed a much more optimistic place in 1993; I wish we could wind the clock back.

Thing is, we can't. We're in the now, and human lives depend on something halfway decent happening soon. A first step, rather than 1993's politically maladroit misstep, is better than no movement forward. A lot of us have political axes to grind, and I can understand that you have yours, but here we all are. Pine as you might, the landscape has changed in 16 years, and not at all for the better. But here we all are, yes?

[Jennicut]

10. Huh? Michelle is speaking out for reform while Hillary had a direct role

in making the policies. Very different.

[Cha]

12. To answer your question..

no it's not fucking 1993 all over again.

[Hutzpa]

5. Give her a platform on Oprah n/t

[MichiganVote]

6. Sorry...unless she has a policy position I'm just not interested in 1st ladies taking

part in the plan.

[Blasphemer]

7. Great!

I hated Laura Bush's stepford-ish approach to being First Lady and Michelle Obama seemed to be playing it safe, taking note of her predecessor's "popularity" (inoffensive apparently = "popular"). I'm glad she is being more aggressive in carving out her own niche and making the position of First Lady her own. Unfortunately, post-Hillary Clinton, there has been this idea propagated in the media that a First Lady taking a more politically involved role means interference and usurpation. I believe that a First Lady can be an effective public servant and even an activist, if she so chooses, without unduly encroaching upon the denizens of the West Wing.

[boppers]

8. A brilliant legal mind with a medical services background...

Taking on Michelle on this topic would be akin to taking on Hillary on retail sales.

I sense some whoop-ass cans being opened, coming soon.

[Cleita]

11. Maybe I've been writing to the wrong person about the

health care issue. I should be writing to Michelle.