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All Michelle Obama, all the time

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor August 7, 2008 01:36 PM


Talk about possible overexposure.

A poll out Wednesday suggested that Americans believed they were hearing too much about Barack Obama.

But his wife Michelle is on the cover of three national magazines at once: Ebony, Essence, and Ladies' Home Journal.

And she is also the subject of "A Day in the Life" feature on ABC that aired today in two parts on "Good Morning America" and will conclude with a third part tonight on "Nightline."

From the Obama campaign: "Meeting in Norfolk, Virginia, Michelle and Robin [Roberts of ABC] discussed balancing campaigning and family, focusing on the women’s roundtable discussions Michelle has hosted all over the country, and the military families focus that some of her discussions have taken. As a working mom, Michelle’s campaigning revolves around her daughters, and whether she’s traveling to neighboring Indiana or farther away Virginia, her travel is structured primarily into day trips. Continuing the conversation with military spouses Michelle started months ago in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Michelle met with folks from the Norfolk community. These women are serving right along with their husbands -- juggling the same pressures their non-military peers are facing with rising gas and food prices, as schools are failing and quality, affordable healthcare is harder and harder to come by. All the while, these women are coping as single parents with their husbands’ deployment overseas, and the added emotional pressure that takes."

Michelle Obama drew critics from some quarters who questioned her patriotism after she said that she was proud of her country for the first time with her husband's success. She later clarified her remarks.


In excerpts of the ABC segments released by the Obama campaign, she said she hasn't paid much attention to the negative ads lobbed at her husband by Republican John McCain, or the New Yorker cover that portrayed her as a radical fist-bumping Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

"You know, you think, 'This is tacky,' " Michelle Obama said. "But then, you know, you move on. Then I pick up this great article about me in Ebony. You know, so there's up and down, good and bad. You know, I just don't emotionally go to those high highs or those low lows."

Asked about critics who will call her visit with military families a political photo opportunity, she replied, "I’ve been doing this for a while. And, you know, for me this is real. This is personal because, you know, when you think about the quality of support that you would want for families, the assumption would be that the military families are getting that, right?"

6 comments so far...
  1. Hi ! I think Michelle is classy, down to earth and genuine. Her interview with/on Larry King a while back was the best I have EVER seen..what a woman and as we all know behind a great man is a great woman..(or vice versa?) Anyhow I have been in this country for 41 years and still own a green card for I never felt like thesuccessive presidents this country has had over these long years have offered both America and the World the kind of MAN or WOMAN who could grasp the needs of both. When an american president is finally elected who understand the world as it is black and white and everything in between and knows the laws of this land as well as the character of this land then I shall finally become an american while still being a french citizen by birth and by virtue of the agreement
    between the 2 countries.Mr.Obama and his wife as well as the rest of their family (families) willdothis country and the world proud...Remember EL CID "La valeur n'attend pas le nombre des annees..." so his age is irrelevant while his
    opponents is relevant ie when you mistake Iran for Irak etc etc !

    Posted by yolande A Vincent August 7, 08 02:47 PM
  1. Who are the "Americans"? What bias! The implication, of course, is that those who don't agree or those who say they don't "really know" Obama are not Americans or are "anti-American"? Your biased innuendos are showing.

    Posted by G. O. 71 August 7, 08 03:48 PM
  1. This is not newsworthy and the pretend outrage at getting attention via covers is greatly exaggerated. It's also hardly happening "all" the time.

    Michelle according to your article made it on 3 covers this month. I'm sure Cindy made it on a few of them as well. In the grand scheme of things this is irrelevent.

    Can you blame folks for wanting to learn about both the potential first ladies of the next election?
    There is over 10K magazines published in the USA alone. Your begrudge 3?!

    Posted by Mark from Maine. August 7, 08 04:08 PM
  1. are you jealous? do you want to be on some covers? I thought the running meme was that she was in hiding. Make your mind. What is the point of this post? are you suggesting that she is a celeb? elitist? arrogant? Please tell us which is it this week. BC barack and his wife can't breath w/o criticism

    Posted by esqmmm August 7, 08 10:43 PM
  1. "We don't really know anything about Michelle Obama," has been a consistent, persistent, and constant complaint.

    Now everyone can choose a variety of media in which to get to know Michelle O. And likely look for something else to complain about at the same time. Enjoy!

    Posted by Donna August 8, 08 05:53 PM
  1. Who cares about Michelle Obama.
    One only wishes that if indeed she tried to get Barack not to run she had succeded.
    BTW,,,,,how many times can the woman say "you know" in an interview?

    Posted by Lynn August 10, 08 01:16 AM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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