Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

How Michelle Became the Popular Obama

First lady stays above the fray, elevating her image

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 18, 2009 1:47 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – Her days as a lightning rod on the campaign trail firmly behind her, Michelle Obama has polished her image in a paradoxical way for a political wife: by steering clear of politics. She's a familiar presence on the national scene, and her poll numbers are robust, even among Republicans. "She has done this by framing herself as a wife, mother, daughter and sister, not trying to redefine the role of first lady, limiting interviews and staying militantly noncontroversial," Lynn Sweet writes for Politics Daily.

"She hasn't gone the Hillary Clinton or Eleanor Roosevelt route of becoming a shrill policy advocate," says a presidential historian. If she's in the news, it's because of her work for military families, her fashionable wardrobe, or her role as "first mom." What's more, Americans seem to appreciate her effect on the president: She "seems to be keeping him in his place; that's the image you get," he observes. "And people kind of like that in general."

First lady Michelle Obama walks the family dog, Bo, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Sunday, June 14, 2009.
First lady Michelle Obama walks the family dog, Bo, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Sunday, June 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
First lady Michelle Obama hosts an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, celebrating women in the military.
First lady Michelle Obama hosts an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, celebrating women in the military.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
15%
0%
8%
8%
54%
15%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 43 comments
Cher
Dec 21, 2009 10:56 AM CST
What has Michelle done exactly? I don't see anything "neat" about her. What has she done? She does not have any interest in doing something to make her stand out like the other first ladies. She is a total looser too because her law liscense has been suspended. The papers on that are sealed, but I tell you what, it takes alot to loose your law liscense. If you don't believe me just go to Snopes.com. It doesn't tell why but it does tell that her liscense has been revoked. She must have thought she was above the law. No, I don't like her. I have no respect for her. Her statement about not being proud of her country.......makes me sick. Like READER said, she went to a wonderful college, became a lawyer, made big money, lives in a $1.6 million home with a piece of land that cost over $600,000 attached. This woman doesn't know what it's like to be ordinary. However, she is just as stupid as they come. SHE was not proud of her country? WHY? That's the shame of it all. After alll she has gotten because she is an American (in no other country could her life be possible) and she is not PROUD of her country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She really needs to face reality.
CHRiSTFELD
Dec 19, 2009 12:58 PM CST
Blue: This midwestern-raised WASP totally agrees. However, your nuanced explanation might be 'pearls before swine'. ('Swine' who won't approach 2050 gracefully, by any means.)
BlueAyez
Dec 19, 2009 12:45 PM CST
If you were African American you would understand why she said that. I'm not and it made perfect sense to me. But then I grew up in the 1950's and 60's. I was there and I studied history in college. A little review: just 150 years removed from slavery, still dealing with institutionalized discrimination our nation needed to have a minority president. It will make us a better place. And I'm predicting there will be more as we get closer and closer to 2050.

 
Hillary Clinton • Michelle Obama • White House • Eleanor Roosevelt • first lady • Obama administration • President Obama • Douglas Brinkley

More Newser Stories

A Year of First Lady Fashion

Meet Michelle's 'Body Woman'

Official Portrait of Michelle: Gun Show

'Mom-in-Chief' Readies Her Bully Pulpit

Gibbs Likely to Go In White House Shakeup
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne