Politics | 07/02/2008 5:00 pm

Voters 65-Plus Go Negative on Michelle

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

The public feels pretty iffy toward the wives of the presidential candidates. According to an Associated Press Yahoo! News poll released Wednesday, people are torn over whether they like Michelle Obama. Meanwhile, more than half of adults don’t know enough about Cindy McCain to really give their opinions.

Of the 1,759 adults surveyed, 30 percent responded favorably toward Mrs. Obama while 35 percent responded unfavorably. With Mrs. McCain, 27 percent saw her favorably and 17 percent unfavorably.

Regarding the Republican’s wife, people don’t know jack.

Fifty-six percent said that they knew too little to say much about her — compared to the 34 percent that said they were in the dark about Mrs. Obama. Half of Republicans said they don’t know Mrs. McCain, while three in ten Democrats said that about Mrs. Obama.

Other Poll Results: Michelle Obama fares better with unmarried people and college graduates but is viewed poorly by people age 65 and older. McCain is seen more favorably by older people, marrieds and the more affluent, but is less well-received by singles.

What do you think of the wives of our presidential candidates? Tell us below.

Read more about: Cindy McCain, Michelle Obama, News, Politics

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

I’m over 65 and I like Michelle. I’m impressed with her intellect, her charm and I believe she is in touch with the core of American Citizens. I like that the Young People of our Country are responding to her in a positive manner. They are the future of our Country. I’m not impressed with Cindy…..As time goes by I’ve learned more about her husband that I don’t like. I don’t think she has the slightest inkling about what the common person in this Country has to deal with. I’m disappointed in her as a woman who lets her husband verbally abuse her in public. I understand a lot of women have abusive husbands and they “Stand beside their Man” but most of those women don’t have the finances to change their lives. They tolerate. She doesn’t have to tolerate anything she doesn’t want. This doesn’t make her less of a person (as I’m sure the Republicans reading this will think I’m implying) I just know that she disappoints me. I don’t see her as a First Lady at all………….nor do I see her husband as our President. God save us from 4 more years with Republicans at the Helm.

By Dona Howlett on 07/02/2008 6:04 pm

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It’s her support for Obama that persuaded me he could do as well as Hillary. Go Michelle!

By Connie Godin on 07/02/2008 6:52 pm

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The WIVES of the presidential candidates? Do any of us actually know them well enough to make more than a fast judgment? Aren’t we smarter than that? How many of us would like - I mean really like to be on display at all times - to become a presidential wife? Michelle has moved high up in the professional field - up there by that glass ceiling and at the right age to crack it. Would any of us that have achieved so much want to give it up to be a pretty thing in the public eye? Would any of us want to raise YOUNG children in the White House — are you kidding???? I feel for her as the choice was out of her hands and there is no doubt about it. Cindy McCain has her own name recognition socially and oodles of money - and I am sure she already is leading the life she wants. To wear a different bright-colored outfit every day and wave when she gets off still another plane is work of a kind that she otherwise just doesn’t want or need. Isn’t our world advanced enough now that the would-be leaders can stand alone on their own platform and merits — and not have this a package deal?? Let the wives show up for state dinners and such, but how about giving women a chance to rise to the top in the ways they have chosen already. I happen to want a very smart and still young woman to make it big in a profession that will serve her long-term. I pray the Obama team is far thinking enough to let her continue to have a life of her own. I will be the first to cheer her on — and up!

By joan larsen on 07/03/2008 1:27 am

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Joan: “Isn’t our world advanced enough now that the would-be leaders can stand alone on their own platform and merits — and not have this a package deal??” I agree most totally with this observation. I don’t know why the wife has to be dragged around like a piece of luggage all the time. Generally, the spouse doesn’t participate other than smile, wave and applaud on cue. But times are achanging. From what I can tell, it appears that Michelle Obama is more an equal partner in her marriage, so I think she will bring a new definition of first lady to the White House. Cindy McCain might appear more traditional, but I think she will be an active first lady as well. She travels a lot without her husband and I think she would continue to do that more in the fashion of Hillary Clinton. As for the statement that more older women dislike Michelle than Cindy, based on an AOL poll, is a little silly.

By Marjorie C. on 07/03/2008 6:13 am

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I don’t think we’ve advanced at all… remember when Bill Clinton was running and all the flack Hillary took for not being the “typical” First Lady, just supportive, smiling in the background, wearing pastel suits and pearls, mouth shut except when smiling, hostessing teas, etc.? Then we got Laura Bush and the public was all ga-ga over her “grace and poise”. It’s the same with Michelle and Cindy. Michelle threatens the American view of what a First Stepford Lady should be, and Cindy keeps her mouth shut and smiles and that’s good enough. Also, this is why there were so many jokes and so much speculation about Bill being a “First Gentleman”… how can a man POSSIBLY act like a Stepford Wife?

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 11:11 am

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I agree with Joan. I hope they both can continue to progress in their own lives. They both appear to be accomplished and I would hate to see them throw away their accomplisments away to just be the WIFE. It is time for us to move into the twenty first century.

By beverly linens on 07/03/2008 3:29 am

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I wonder how all the 65 s and older feel about Cindy McCain thinking she doesn’t have to pay property taxes on one of her 7 houses? Or… do most people even know that? The media has called itself “McCain’s base” and I believe it’s true. That’s why people don’t know a lot of the facts about McCain and his wife.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 10:59 am

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I forgot to mention one important detail on my previous post… the McCain’s didn’t pay property taxes for FOUR years in a row on one of their SEVEN homes.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 11:00 am

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And elderly relative was living there and her people did not get the bill—but I agree, one needs “people” who notice such things. (My people have four legs.)

By Star Lawrence on 07/03/2008 12:41 pm

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Well, the buck stops with the McCains, people or no people. If they were to drop the ball on an important economic issue in the White House would they blame their “people”? Also, I read that the bill had been repeatedly forwarded to a wrong address. That is no excuse. The McCains, as priviledged as they are, are as responsible for seeing their property taxes are paid as the rest of us. Can you imagine giving a lame excuse like that for not paying YOUR taxes… and still having your house? Like them or not, property taxes are an important part of the financing of such things as community schools, public works, libraries, etc. and for the McCains to default for 4 years not only deprived the community of money they owed (just as everyone else in the community owed) but I think the story is far more important and says a lot more about the McCain’s values and ability to manage their lives than whether or not some candidate wears a flag lapel pin or a wife is outspoken or even makes a mistake in speaking in public.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 1:07 pm

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Get real! If the property tax is not paid yearly the property owner pays interest on it until it is either paid or the county forecloses and takes the property! It isn’t about patriotism. It is about accounting.

By beverly linens on 07/03/2008 3:26 pm

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Get real yourself! It’s about cheating or at best, it’s about thinking you’re above the law. The average person would never get away with “sloppy accounting” or “not being aware they hadn’t been paid” as an excuse for not paying FOUR YEARS of property taxes… and still have their home! Also, we’re talking about someone who wants to be our president.. he’s run a sloppy election and now it sounds like he runs sloppy personal finances. Face it, if it were Obama who hadn’t paid his property taxes for four years, this would be a story running 24/7 on FOX and probably in the rest of the media. THAT was my point about patriotism… Obama not wearing a flag pin is front page news, but not paying your taxes, when it comes to McCain, isn’t even a story.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 6:50 pm

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J Burke, I just checked my property tax statement and it takes four years for the property to go into foreclosure. It was an accounting decision, I know investors who always paid property taxes late because it was the cheapest interest around, of course that is no longer true since interest has gone so low and not many county’s have adjusted. McCain received no particular special consideration if it was only four years arrears. I also think the buzz about the lapel pin was stupid too. I wish we were talking about what each candidate was proposing about our future.

By beverly linens on 07/03/2008 7:23 pm

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Well, there, you’ve made my point. He chose to keep his money from the community for FOUR years so he could save on interest and for the wealthy to pay a few dollars in fines is no big deal. Most people lose their homes if they don’t pay the taxes…. but like Leona Helmsly said, “Taxes are for the little people.”

By DeBúrca obj on 07/03/2008 8:36 pm

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J Burke, how silly can you be? I’m an ordinary person and I have the same privilige. It’s not fines, it is interest. Let’s keep this smart instead of petty and small. Leona Helmsly meant income taxes and you know it, quit tryin to pull a fast one on the nice people here. I don’t even intend to vote for McCain and I find myself defending him against Idiocy.

By beverly linens on 07/03/2008 8:47 pm