Politics | 02/20/2009 8:50 am

Michelle Obama Forging Own Path as Nation's First Lady

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Michelle Obama’s definitely settling into her new role as First Lady!

Although she says she’s still trying to figure out exactly how it feels to be in such a glaring spotlight, Mrs. Obama apparently learned some lessons in her first days as our nation’s leading lady. She’s sitting with husband Barack’s top advisers and listening, more than speaking, for now (in comparison to Hillary Clinton’s more aggressive policy attempts from the get-go). Her advisers are mum about any sort of formal policy role she may have in the administration, but stress she’s there to help in any way she can, particularly if it’s helping bring the voice of Americans’ concerns to the White House.

"She’ll be doing a lot of listening and identifying and focusing on the needs of Americans," Jackie Norris, the first lady’s chief of staff, told The Washington Post. "If policy comes from those discussions, her role will be in bringing those voices back to the president. What we are thinking through is how she adds value to the White House. It’s a process that doesn’t need to be rushed."

But for now, Mrs. Obama’s spending much of her time visiting schools and agencies, meeting with the people her husband was elected to serve. But, that doesn’t mean her name’s not in the political mix — she did make headlines when she helped President Obama push his economic stimulus package through Congress. Should she eventually decide to take a more activist role — which we have no doubt she will — the country is expected to be more than accepting. Perhaps, even, wanting to hear what she has to say.

82 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I really hope that she HEARS what military families say to her. Her husband doesn’t have a huge following of our military. Closing Gitmo is most definately not going to close the gap between the WH and military families. I don’t feel safe with these people just running around. And honestly, if I were from another country, I wouldn’t take them either. I honestly fear that he’ll remove benefits from the military. My husband said the military was most benefitted in the Clinton Admin. While I think the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy should be removed, immediately, our current military needs to be heard on this issue. I really hope she is a good mediator for our families.

By Noelle Norton on 02/20/2009 9:33 am

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Noelle Norton,

You know this, how? It seems to me that President Obama during military briefing got some new intell on Afghanistan, and we need more troops there because of all the mess going on with Kirkhastan, and Pakistan.

Until President Obama is able to get more perspective on things, and get this country under better financial footing there isn’t a lot more that can be done.

Good grief, he’s only been President for a month. It took the previous one only a few short months to muck up the country, it is going to take awhile for this President to restore it back to health.

As I understand regarding the guantanamo prison, most of the people left are not such a serious threat - we just don’t know where to send them. And, there seems to be the issue of some countries still not wanting them back. Thanks a lot georgie!!!

By Ro H on 02/22/2009 6:14 am

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I base my thoughts and opinions based off of my hubby (YNC), by brother (PFC) and the support group for military families that I attend. I am soooo willing to give Obama a chance and I am very happy that Mrs. Obama is very "hands on" when meeting with miltary families. However, the mastermind behind the USS Cole bombing was just SET FREE off of a techincality. We also don’t know how much of a threat the remaining people at Gitmo are. I am NOT condoning what W did, I’m just trying to be very cautious seeing that some of his words (not policies) are a little unnerving to us. Let’s see what his actions do…If you read some of my other posts (I don’t think they’re on this article), I come to the Pres. defense. We can’t expect him to be a miracle worker but I do what him to put the money (literally) where his mouth is. We’ll see. See you on the next post.

By Noelle Norton on 02/22/2009 6:55 am

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Why would you fear he will try to remove military bennies? The Military Officers’ Association is the largest group looking after us and our benefits. they send out a weekly email telling what is going on, You would be suprised at how many bennies were trying to be cut during the Bush administration, and thanks to the MOAA they were NOT allowed to happen. You can be thankful that you have such a powerful group looking out for our best interests and not allowing the gov. to screw us over, as they have so many times in the past. Right now they are working on TriCare which the gov. wants to change. When our legislators get thousands of emails from active duty and retired officers re something they want to reregulate, especially in treatment of Iraq vets they sit up and listen. Thank god they are our protective watchdog, and thank god my husband is a participating member.

By Lizzie R. on 02/22/2009 3:51 pm

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There is a RUMOR (nothing fact,yet) that he wants to take all our pay (BAH, BAS, Sea, Sub, etc) lump it in with base and tax it. Has your husband heard that? I’d be interested to know. Also, my husband isn’t an officer (he’s a YNC), does your husband’s assoc. take care of enlisted issues, too? I guess I could ask my husband, but while I’m here, I might as well ask. Thanks for the info!

By Noelle Norton on 02/22/2009 7:04 pm

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This is just a rumor, as the president has no authority to do anything with the pay. This would have to go before Congress if it were to happen, and, never fear, in this period of war, many deployments, there is no way it could happen as they would lose their military. The Military Officer’s Association is composed of retired & active duty officers from all branches of the services, and is a watch dog and lobbyist for all things military,including enlisted, retirees, medical etc. etc., They have prevented many things from getting passed that were counter to the best interests of the military, including pay and much, much more.

By Lizzie R. on 02/22/2009 7:21 pm

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Thank you so much for the info and encouragement. See you on the next post!

By Noelle Norton on 02/23/2009 8:35 am

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I have also heard that the military was disappointed on how Obam recently approved the troop deployment to Afganistan. In past times when a President does that he goes to the bases involved and speaks to the forces personally as to why he is asking them to go and what their mission is.

In Obama’s case he justt signed the papers an left it to the commanders.

Someone needs to give him some Commander in Chief etiquette lessons if he wants a snowballs chance of getting their respect as their leader.

By S.J. Morgan on 02/20/2009 9:46 am

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S J, it’s "on the job training" for both of them. I’m sure things haven’t gone the way Obama’s new team expected. Obama has swung from being consillatory to badgering Congress to act, from courting the opposition to taking partisan swipes. He is fighting to keep from losing control of the message. And all of this is playing out against a background of Cabinet problems, economic distress and global distractions.

We can only hope, through Belinda’s soap opera eyes, that the first lady is engaging in meaningful "pillow talk" with the president to elicit some form of Commander in Chief etiquette lessons in reaching out to our troops.

By deber B on 02/20/2009 10:09 am

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Noelle, SJ and Deber…you three have great posts. Chief etiquette is much needed for obama to learn and he had better learn it very fast…his inexperience with the military is really showing through…and this is sad. He proved that by not going to the Veteran’s ball! I read some of the military comments have been how they feel they don’t have confidence in their mission because obama has no clue what he is doing. And closing Gitmo before having a plan has proved a BIG mistake…Like Sen. McCain said…it was putting the cart before the horse! Thank you for all of your excellent posts!

By Libra Lady on 02/20/2009 10:30 am

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I was very disappointed that he missed the Veteran’s Ball! While he can’t be in a million places at once, he could have forgone one of the more frivolous balls and honored our military.

By Noelle Norton on 02/22/2009 6:57 am

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She is a wonderful first lady and will really make a difference for a lot of worthwhile causes, of this I am sure. She has that special "something" that her husband has, in that they are charismatic and dynamic people. When they speak - people listen.

When I think of pillow talk among our presidents and their wives, I envision George Bush and his wife saying goodnight and then turning over and falling asleep. Yet with Michelle and Barack, something tells me pillow talk consist of lengthy discussions about how their days went, frustrations over administration issues, the kids, their relationship….I can just hear him encouraging her to take a more proactive role in her position as first lady. That thought brings a smile to my face.

By Belinda Joy on 02/20/2009 9:52 am

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"When I think of pillow talk among our presidents and their wives, I envision George Bush and his wife saying goodnight and then turning over and falling asleep.’…..

Belinda…only because you WANT to think that!

Laura Bush is a wonderful woman..you do not have to drag her down in your totally fantasy Obama-lot world where you think you KNOW them personally!

By S.J. Morgan on 02/20/2009 10:57 am

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This violation is absurd. I, in no way, violated one of the ten commandments. I was responding to a post. Someone is not following the rules and it’s not me. I’m sure Majorie C’s post didn’t break one of the rules either.

By deber B on 02/20/2009 4:31 pm