During the State of the Union last week, President Barack Obama announced that the first lady, Michelle Obama, would be waging a campaign against childhood obesity.
Once again, I felt disappointed that the President is treating Mrs. Obama like this. Why should she be wasting her time and intelligence on some nickel and dime issue like childhood obesity? I do not mean to belittle the issue, but she is far above that.
Michelle is a very accomplished woman in her own right. She overcame the despair of poverty to attend Princeton and Harvard Law. Then she worked as an associate attorney at one of the nation’s largest law firms, Sidley Austin, in Chicago, where she met her future husband. Later, she joined the respective boards of the University of Chicago Hospital and Treehouse Foods where she earned a higher salary than Barack.
Childhood obesity is an issue that is more suitable for first ladies like Barbara Bush or Nancy Reagan who didn’t have anything important to contribute to the issues of the day. Michelle has far surpassed anyone male or female in terms of accomplishments and should be treated as such.
We began to see her shackled to the role of “traditional wife” during the campaign. The media created a ridiculous controversy after she said, “for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.” I knew instantly what she was talking about. She was merely expressing her rebirth of patriotism because her black husband was reaching a milestone in electoral politics that not too long ago was unthinkable. I felt the same way. I love America, but I must balance that love of this nation with my black heritage.
Even Laura Bush knew that Michelle did not mean that she felt disliked by America but only began embracing her patriotism once her husband began winning. She even mentioned that that was not the case, but that did not stop the right wing from brutally attacking her. The Tennessee Republican Party made a Youtube video mocking her. Cindy McCain referenced her in a disparaging manner. Even the supposed Fox News liberal Juan Williams called her “militant” and “Stokely Carmichael in a dress.” Clearly, she has distinguished herself in that she has shown much more class and dignity than her disgusting detractors have.
Since that controversy, she has been reduced to playing the role of the typical first lady. She has been championing non-controversial issues like supporting military families, promoting national service, tackling childhood obesity and being a role model for women and young girls. While all of this is certainly admirable, it is not appropriate for her to be doing just this. The media is tethering her to these noncontroversial issues because everyone is afraid that more controversy could arise. Her critics will always caricature her as the angry black woman. There is nothing that they can do about that, but they can allow her to have a more prominent role.
There is no reason that she could not have participated in the healthcare debates. I believe that she could have had a positive effect and possibly had some influence on some. She did work on the University of Chicago Hospital Board. She has knowledge about what happens inside hospitals and the struggle that working families must endure to be able to pay for their medical care. She would of course face absurd criticism and ridiculous questions such as, “Is she qualified to speak on this issue?” and “Is it appropriate for a First Lady to do anything else besides wave her hand and smile?” The right would increase their vitriolic attacks on her. (Obviously, they prefer their women to be ignorant and lacking any depth like Sarah Palin or vile and vindictive like Ann Coulter.) She is clearly in a league of her own.
This administration should utilize her to her best abilities. She should be tackling issues like health care and promoting better ways to help solve the issue of unemployment. She has amassed an approval rating in the low 70s and she should use that popularity for a more productive use. Michelle is a stunning example of what one can accomplish. Let Michelle be Michelle.
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