Michelle Obama blazes a new trail

[City Lights]

Michelle Obama blazes a new trail

By Stacy St. Clair | Tribune reporter
9:14 PM CST, November 8, 2008

When Michelle Obama walks into the White House on Monday for the traditional post-election tea between the first lady and her successor, she'll be taking the first steps along what many historians believe could be a groundbreaking path.

As she enters the White House, the country will get its first inkling of how Obama will fill a ceremonial role undefined by the Constitution yet still considered one of the most influential in the land. As first lady, moves she makes will be dissected by a public intent on judging everything from the issues she champions to the dresses she wears.

It can be an overwhelming experience for political wives, and some have stumbled famously. But historians and associates say Michelle Obama's self-discipline, intelligence and commitment to family may spare her from repeating others' mistakes and, in turn, help redefine the first lady's role in the 21st Century.

"There's really no other first lady that you can compare her to in terms of her background," said Bonnie Angelo, author of "First Families." "More than anything else, she will blaze her own trail."

Predictions of her revolutionary role reflect Michelle Obama's own story. An Ivy League-educated lawyer and a descendant of slaves, Michelle Obama has a background unlike any other first lady. In addition to being the first black presidential spouse, Michelle Obama will rank among the youngest, the most educated and the most accomplished.

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[Tarheel_Dem]

1. Terrific piece, thanks for posting. Recommended (nt)

[Skittles]

2. a lovely lady

she impressed me from the start

[Booster]

6. Me too. I was impressed with her before I was impressed with him.

[Skittles]

11. same here spenbax!!

:hi:

[Booster]

12. We got good taste.

:toast:

[eleny]

3. "the youngest, the most educated and the most accomplished"

I can hardly wait. Rec'd

[Jackpine Radical]

4. She and Hillary..."the most educated and the most accomplished. "

Let's face it--Liberal guys like smart, competent women.

[northofdenali]

5. K&R. I am looking forward to having a First Lady who

is intelligent, capable, focused and committed to the nation that her husband must try to heal. I can't think of anyone who could do it better!

Here is my welcome to the beautiful Michelle and her equally wonderful children, the Alaska state flower (forget-me-nots)


We are all with you 100%, Michelle Obama!

[City Lights]

8. Lovely!

:thumbsup:

[Olney Blue]

7. Thanks for posting. Great, positive article.

[Mind_your_head]

9. I'm so excited! Eleanor Roosevelt +++++ ?

I don't mean to put pressure on Michele, because she (as well as Barack, of course) has children who require her 'top priority', but I feel so 'hopeful' now that such two competent people like Barack and Michele will set an example for America, et al....how one handles 'all of those responsibilities' WELL.

It can be done and I think these two can/will do it!

*sighing happily* in anticipation.....

[Vapor Trails]

10. Great article. K&R

[Orrex]

13. Forgive me for seeming like a typical shallow male

But Ms. Obama is really kind of hot.

Very pretty, a killer smile, and really freaking smart. Yowza!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

15. She's the kind of woman that men & women love - she's so darn genuine.

Palin, on the other hand, is pretty - but women dislike her. We can immediately see that she's a "tart" - she uses her good looks to get places. This behavior evokes jealousy & disdain.

[DavidDvorkin]

16. Interesting comparison

You've described my wife's reaction to the two women. She's not jealous of Palin, but she certainly does feel disdain for her.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

22. Palin's far enough away where she wouldn't evoke jealousy, but if her type lived in my neighborhood.

or worked in mine or my husband's workplace, I'd be watching her. She's the type that "does what it takes" to get what she wants. Which kind of explains the winking and meeting her handlers in "nothing more than a towel wrapped around her."

On the other hand, my husband once had a secretary at his workplace who was absolutely gorgeous, and charming, and smart, and caring. The men and women all loved her - she sadly passed away at a young age. Her funeral at the large church overflowed with all the people who she touched. As I type this I think of Princess Diana - a very genuine, beautiful, loved woman.

[Orrex]

40. Please tell me that you made up the handlers/towel story...

Please?

Please?



Please?

[lunatica]

21. Your last sentence is what makes it OK for you to say she's hot

What we don't like is when a woman's other attributes are ignored when she's described as hot. As a 60 year old I think Biden is hot. And his brains and his humor have a lot to do with my thinking he's hot.

[Orrex]

39. A pretty smile is just a skull with lips if there's no brain behind it

Ms. Obama, on the other hand, has plenty to back it up with. Hence the 'yowza!'

:hi:

[AwakeAtLast]

14. What a great role model she will be!

I can't wait until the Obamas move in!

[DavidDvorkin]

17. Some DUers will criticize the dress Michelle wears for the occasion, however.

[lunatica]

24. She isn't her clothes and no woman here thinks she is

Men don't criticize men's suits because they're all basically the same. Women get to wear a huge variety of styles and fashions and therefore women will talk about the wardrobe. What a lot of men don't get is that not liking the dress has nothing to do with not liking the person. It's apples and oranges and just opinions on styles.

I find it very refreshing that Michele, who is All Woman (wife, mother and a professional role model and now First Lady) doesn't feel she needs to wear the ubiquitous suit that women have adopted in order to fit into a man's business world. She wears dresses. She thinks for herself.

I hope I've given you some insight into why women talk about clothes. Men don't have much of a problem since they don't experiment or have to show any imagination or personal taste in style of clothing. For example, Bush may wear very expensive clothes but they aren't one iota different from much cheaper suites. So it's just boring to comment on anything he wears since that's exactly what all the GOP wear.

[DavidDvorkin]

27. Nice rationalization

But it doesn't excuse the DU attacks on how Michelle dressed for the acceptance speech.

[lunatica]

28. Sigh....

You obviously don't get that it was the dress people were talking about. No one attacked Michelle. People commented on their like or dislike of the dress. You are the one on the attack. I'm sorry I bothered. What a waste of time. It seems that nuance is lost on you

[DavidDvorkin]

29. Focusing on what someone is wearing is petty and small minded

It's the person who counts. No, nuance is not lost on me. An understanding of what really matters is lost on those who focus on clothing.

[lunatica]

31. Whatever...

Blanket condemnation of the type you've done here is small minded. Especially when someone attempts to explain the obvious and you still slap it down. You will not be deterred by anything since you've obviously already made up your mind. Glad not to know you.

[DavidDvorkin]

32. Then we should put each other on Ignore.

I'll do my part now.

[lunatica]

34. Be my guest

But I don't put people on ignore

[Lifelong Protester]

38. Hey, I agree with you

women don't necessarily dish other women's dress because we are casting aspersions on their character! I wasn't a fan of 'the dress' because it seemed like a real diversion from that really classy outfit she wore in St. Paul on June 3rd.(The problem with the acceptance night dress was that the designer tried to deconstruct a cocktail dress that was a little too outre for the event; this almost never works)
Our house was divided 50-50 on the dress. My husband liked it!

[malaise]

18. Nice

K & R

From our paper

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081109/lead/lead4.html

[City Lights]

20. Great article...thanks.

The deepness of their relationship is written all over their faces and body language.

A White House baby, eh? We shall see. ;-)

[lunatica]

19. It's so obvious that she's Barack's sanctuary and his rock

And she's doing a terrific job with Malia and Sasha. This photo says it all. Here she's making sure he's presentable just moments before he went on stage to announce he was running for President. With his eyes closed it shows he's perfectly calm in her hands in what had to have been one of the most nervous moments of his life. It's obvious to me that he draws tremendous strength from her.

[givemebackmycountry]

23. Michelle is quite a contrast from Laura Bush is she not?

And what a breath of fresh air.

Has there ever been a worse first lady than Laura Bush?
What did she accomplish that will stick with us for a generation?
Nothing.

Yeah, she tried some half assed reading programs and some gang initiatives, but it was like she HAD to not because she really wanted to.

I see Laura knocking back cocktails and smoking cigs all day long, and generally just laying around watching soaps.
Not very curious or learned, just like her husband.
Laura was the worst first lady in my lifetime, and I've been around since Eisenhower.
And right behind her was that beast "Babs".

[lunatica]

30. Laura was a smiling appendage like Cindy McCain

Michelle stood out from the beginning as being her own person, and perfectly comfortable with herself, and totally committed and involved in the campaign. She didn't stand around looking like a backdrop to her husband with a vacuous, glazed smile plastered on her face. Right off the bat she irritated the GOP and the banshee pundits. She a Democrat, not just a lump in his life

[shireen]

36. i like Laura Bush

Don't agree with her politics, but I've always liked her.

[mdkilkenny]

25. She makes me smile

Her kids are so happy-it shows.
As the nation's problems from Bush get tallied, it will be nice if she has something to say. People out of work will need any comfort they can find. I predict Michelle will be great in all regards.

[lonestarnot]

26. Woohoo Michelle!

[goforit]

33. Michelle, a descendant of slaves vs, Obama who is not. He is only a generation

once removed immigrant from Kenya and his Mom is several generations removed as immigrants
to this Big land of opportunity.
Hopefully they will unite in purpose.

[shireen]

35. nice article.

However, I think that it's unfair to put such major expectations and judgments on first ladies. Just let them be.

[CTyankee]

37. She has said she wants to do something for military families.

She feels they have been greatly neglected and actually spoke and met with groups of them.

What a wonderful thing that these people who sacrificed the most now have a strong supporter in the White House! That speaks volumes to me about her integrity!