NY Times: ‘Mom in Chief’ Touches on Policy, and Tongues Wag

[marmar]

‘Mom in Chief’ Touches on Policy, and Tongues Wag

By RACHEL L. SWARNS
Published: February 7, 2009


WASHINGTON — The government workers greeted Michelle Obama like a Hollywood celebrity, whooping and cheering and oohing and aahing over her slate gray power suit. But when she took to the podium, the nation’s self-described mom in chief quickly turned policy wonk.

The first lady pitched her husband’s economic stimulus package, including plans to create 15,000 affordable housing units, weatherize 2 million low-income homes and repair military housing. Such investments, Mrs. Obama told employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, would prevent “an increase in homelessness during these tough economic times.”

In her first weeks in the White House, Mrs. Obama has been the gracious hostess and loyal spouse, welcoming visitors to the Executive Mansion and accompanying President Obama to a prayer breakfast and to a charter school to read to second graders. But in a departure from her predecessor, Mrs. Obama has also begun promoting bills that support her husband’s policy priorities.

Last month, Mrs. Obama celebrated the enacting of a pay-equity law with a reception for women’s advocates at the White House. Last week, she supported the economic stimulus bill on her visit to the housing agency and another to the Department of Education. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html?hp

[Mari333]

1. oh christ they did that shit with hillary clinton way back when

and she succumbed to it by shutting up about health care and fixing her hair and making cookies. I hope Michelle Obama doesnt back off and start baking pies to appease the tongue waggers. I would like to think people have learned from Hillary's mistake.

[glowing]

2. There's a big diff. Michelle is extremely popular.. Everyone wants to be her.

She's a great mom, sexy as all hell, has a husband who after 16 yrs still looks at her with sex eyes, and she's living in the Whitehouse. Its different than with Hillary. Hillary is super smart, but she's one of those trail blazers.. she had to work harder and prove more longer ago. Its not unusual at all for women to be Dr.s or lawyers or have some womenly expression or freedom. Mrs. Clinton reminds me of my mom.. strong and not willing to give an ounce because she had to knock the doors down. They are open now. Its ok to be ourselves in our work environment. Its ok to be us. Its ok to have it all. That shit doesn't fly. Many women cannot have the luxury of sitting at home and baking cookies anymore.. and in this economic crisis, women are now the workers, the men are the laid off.

[MADem]

4. Huh? No, everyone 'doesn't' want to be her.

Hillary Clinton was young and attractive when she became FL, but that didn't help her at all. What people didn't like was that she wasn't "demure" and "submissive"--not that she wasn't "sexy" or "pretty" enough. And plenty of people just don't think that large boned/tall women are attractive--there are more than a few people I've heard who do the little kid looking at the "Emperor's New Clothes" routine when people try to suggest that Mrs. Obama is especially "sexy" or "beautiful"--she "makes a nice appearance" but she is no fashion model. My neighbor's teenaged kid (a strongly pro-Obama family, FWIW) thinks she looks like a younger version of Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son.

Mrs. Obama is a citizen and free to speak out. However, I think, because SHE was the one who plastered that "Mom In Chief" moniker on HERSELF, that it's too soon for her to start wonking--at least if she expects to avoid criticism. If she doesn't care about the criticism, fine, but she should expect it. It's a bait-n-switch, what she did--she was the one who said her role was MOM, not ADVISOR, and in saying that, way back when, she had a motive--that whole set-up was a dig at Hillary Clinton during the primaries.

Also, she just isn't as popular as her husband; that's just the simple truth. And she wasn't elected.

Finally, there's the simple reality of sexism in America--women have to work twice as hard to get half the respect. It's always an uphill climb for First Ladies--the one who did it most stealthily was Laura Bush--she crept along, and after awhile, people just made the usual (as always, appearance-based) "Joker" and "horrible clothes" jokes, but didn't have too much else to rag her on. She didn't overreach, but she did focus on areas that she cared about (libraries, reading, Afghan women, Burma, e.g.).

[glowing]

5. I would have to say that the impression Clinton makes walking into a room

and Obama makes are too different things. AND Obama wouldn't be where she is without women, like Clinton, who made it possible first. There is a difference between my mother and myself. There is a difference in generations because there were firsts. Having a first lady with a strong opinion also prepared the country for another lady with a strong opinion. "MOM in Chief" sounds to me like a momma bear... protecting her children, husband, and country. It doesn't surprise me that she would make a couple of speaches supporting her husband and this bill... its not like she's off in left field making differing statements... she's supporting the bill and sticking up for her husband and sticking up for those of out here with very little power to our voice.

[MADem]

9. Look, she's going to do whatever she wants.

I would have held off if I were advising her. It's just one more thing for critics to carp about. Right now, he needs to use the people on the payroll to deliver the message, I think. Use the "family and friends" to tell/sell warm anecdotes and human interest stories--give the press a more palatable bone to chew on. If they're talking about the family dog, or live-in granny's pancakes (I don't know if she even cooks, that's just an example I yanked out of the air) they aren't talking about unvetted spouses getting involved in POLICY. It's just a rocky road...IMO.

[firedupdem]

14. And she does a good job of it. She can be both a mom in chief

and a person with an opinion who can stand in support of her husband.

[Mari333]

7. on the other hand

someone like Karl Rove wasnt elected either but he was given all kinds of serious attention. yes, being a woman makes you work twice as hard.

[MADem]

8. Well, Fox News sure did--and tons of people let him talk out his ass and off the record

as a "senior administration official" but his day will come, I suspect. Here's hoping.

[ConsAreLiars]

10. You're always so very "right" in your views.

They say consistency is a virtue. I say not always.

[firedupdem]

11. I'm sorry that you felt the previous poster was saying something

deragatory about Hillary Clinton. I'm even more sorry that you felt the need to add the following:

"And plenty of people just don't think that large boned/tall women are attractive--there are more than a few people I've heard who do the little kid looking at the "Emperor's New Clothes" routine when people try to suggest that Mrs. Obama is especially "sexy" or "beautiful"--she "makes a nice appearance" but she is no fashion model. My neighbor's teenaged kid (a strongly pro-Obama family, FWIW) thinks she looks like a younger version of Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son."


That was really nasty and uncalled for to prove your point. Glowing seemed to point out a generational gap and the chemistry Michelle and Barack seem to have. She also pointed out that Hillary was a trailblazer and times have changed. The personal insults you included about how some feel about Michelle was wrong and probably more but I'll leave it at that.

[EraOfResponsibility]

17. WOW...Aunt Esther...really?

I want to say something about your son, but I'd be banned for life, so I'll just leave it be.

Aunt Esther..damn... :mad:

[Beacool]

19. Yeah, that Aunt Esther slight...........

It seems to be a favorite in Freeper world.

:(

[EraOfResponsibility]

21. We should tell her to be careful...her white robe is showing

[Missy Vixen]

22. Oh, so that means she should just sit down and shut up?

>And plenty of people just don't think that large boned/tall women are attractive--there are more than a few people I've heard who do the little kid looking at the "Emperor's New Clothes" routine when people try to suggest that Mrs. Obama is especially "sexy" or "beautiful"--she "makes a nice appearance" but she is no fashion model. My neighbor's teenaged kid (a strongly pro-Obama family, FWIW) thinks she looks like a younger version of Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son.<

I know I base all my decisions of someone else's worth on the opinion of a teenage boy. :sarcasm: Perhaps Britney Spears could move into the White House, huh?

Considering the fact that the day Michelle Obama appeared on "The View" in a dress from Black Market/White House (clothing store similar to Chico's,) the dress sold out across the country almost immediately, the teenage boy seems to be wrong. "Fashion model" or not, women identify with Michelle Obama. She went to a prestigious college, but if I remember correctly, she went on scholarship. She had a career, unlike lots of First Ladies who didn't think it was important. I'll bet she knows how much a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk are at the store. Her husband obviously adores her. She and her husband are raising two adorable (and age-appropriate,) children. She's also supporting her husband in his work, which makes me think it's as important to her as it is to him.

Being "tall" and "big-boned" has nothing to do with it. She is lovely, inside and out. She has a lot to say. I hope she continues speaking on the things that affect us all.

I might also add that there are a long line of American women whose hard work and sacrifice shaped our nation, and none of them were fashion models by any stretch of the imagination. Eleanor Roosevelt wasn't a hottie. Barbara Jordan never made the cover of "People". Helen Thomas doesn't wear Prada.

Those who think less of their contribution because of what they look like are people who will always be more interested in style than substance.

[Beacool]

18. There's a big difference?

Hillary was 46 years old when she entered the WH and quite pretty, she still is. You must be very young......

There are many similarities between Hillary and Michelle, both are bright, ivy league educated women who happen to have strong opinions. Even 16 years later Michelle will get plenty of criticism from some quarters.

:eyes:

[crikkett]

6. Mrs. Clinton's health care flop was 16 looooong years ago. Mrs. Obama will prevail, unperturbed,

because the times have changed. Almost an entire generation has passed since Hillary was her husband's policy wonk.

[asjr]

3. Well, the media have to gripe about something.

Michelle has as much right as anyone to a personal opinion.

[firedupdem]

12. These writers kill me....

Celebrity, whooping, cheering.

They are so transparent. It's clear to see what they are up to. They, along with others cannot stand the fact that the Obama's are who they are and where they are.

[EFerrari]

13. MIchelle Obama is going to be a fantastic surrogate for the president.

She's beautiful, smart and funny. The waggers will just have to wear themselves out. :)

[lukasahero]

15. "she dreamed of becoming first lady,"

"...a little girl at the charter school visited by the Obamas announced that she dreamed of becoming first lady..."

Someday maybe, little girls will dream of becoming President... :(

[EFerrari]

20. If she were President, she would also be the First Lady.

lol

[Winterblues]

16. Remember when Clinton ran for President he billed it as getting "Two for the price of one"

They started right off saying Hillary would make policy decisions. That right there set off the right wing. Women are supposed to stay in their place don't you know..Michele was never billed that way and that is why tounges are wagging.