Michelle Could Be Dems' Secret Weapon

Conservative watchdog slams first lady's 'technical violation'

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama may have violated Illinois election laws by seeking support for her husband’s agenda at a Chicago polling station, holds the Daily Caller . The first lady was talking with voters, and reportedly urged them to support said agenda—but state laws ban political discussion near polling places, the site notes. Sure, it may be a mere “technical violation,” acknowledges a conservative watchdog, somewhat gleefully. “But what are mere technical violations of voting laws to the Obama administration!” More»

First ladies to honor United Flight 93 Victims

(AP) - Michelle Obama will join former first lady Laura Bush in ceremonies marking the ninth anniversary of the United Flight 93 crash in Pennsylvania during the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush had previously confirmed her participation, saying we "must never forget the brave sacrifice of these extraordinary men and women." More»

Michelle Obama's project exaggerates the issue, for starters

(NEWSER) - Kate Harding loves 90% of Michelle Obama's childhood obesity initiative—but she has a real problem with the 10% that is "whipping up fear and disgust of the very fat children you're supposedly trying to help." Her objections, in Salon :

• Exaggeration: Childhood obesity is painted in the most frightening possible way. ("Our children may live shorter lives than their parents.") The truth is, childhood obesity levels are no longer rising—so enough with the "fear-mongering."

First lady's approval rating soars over her husband's

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s approval ratings are sinking, but Michelle Obama’s remain sky-high, with 71% of the country holding a favorable opinion of her. Only 16% of respondents in a new Pew Research survey held a negative view of the first lady. That puts her well above Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, who had 60% and 64% favorability ratings, respectively, after their husbands had been in office for 1 year. More»

Former first lady addresses school speech controvery in CNN interview

(NEWSER) - President Obama's doing a good job, Laura Bush tells CNN during a wide-ranging chat yesterday about life after the White House. "I think he has got a lot on his plate, and he has tackled a lot to start with," she said, "and that has probably made it more difficult." And of the controversy over Obama's upcoming address to the country's schoolchildren, the former first lady says it's "really important for everyone to respect the president of the United States." More»