TIME: The Meaning of Michelle Obama
EmailABC News’ Yunji de Nies reports: Michelle Obama has landed another magazine cover – TIME Magazine features a photograph of the First Lady’s face looking straight into the camera with the title "The Meaning of Michelle Obama." Asked about the change in public’s perception of her, she says, she has stayed the same, but people have simply been able to get to know her much more they had during the "narrow prism" of the campaign. "I’m pretty much who I’ve been for a long time. So that … I just think that people have the opportunity to see all of who Michelle Obama is over a longer period of time. And hopefully they like what they see. And I think they actually … to the extent that they saw all of me … liked what they saw then," she tells reporters Michael Scherer and Nancy Gibbs. Mrs. Obama says like any spouse, she talks with the President about his work, but she does not try influence policy. "I don’t want to have a say. Really, there are a lot of times when I’m like, don’t tell me what happened today at work. I just don’t want to hear it, because I want the home space to really be free of that," she said. As she has in recent speeches, she talks about wanting to open the White House and make more Americans feel included. "I have probably dedicated more of my life to trying to break down those barriers for people. I think that might be one of the small themes in my professional life, is to try to be the bridge so that more people feel like they have access; that their voice, that their faces, that their worlds count in places like this, and that there is understanding across those divides," she said. "That’s why I’m so touchy with kids, because I think if I touch them and I hug them, that they’ll see that it’s real, and then they’ll relax and breathe and actually kind of enjoy the time and make use of it." She says all living former first ladies have reached out to her, offering advice and support. She talks about how her kids keep her grounded and how much she enjoys being in the same city as her husband, after living apart for so long. She reveals small details about their life – she takes Bo for his first walk of the morning, the President does the final walk at night, around 10pm, right before they turn in for the night. She keeps her mornings free before the girls go to school and works out with a personal trainer who moved to Washington from Chicago. On her new role, the First Lady tells the magazine, "I tried not to come into this with too many expectations one way or the other. I felt like part of my job — and I still feel like that — is to be open to where this needs to go." –Yunji de Nies
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“I don’t want to have a say. Really, there are a lot of times when I’m like, don’t tell me what happened today at work. I just don’t want to hear it, because I want the home space to really be free of that,” she said.
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The First Lady is contradicting another article that said she was well versed in policy.
Posted by: mad | May 21, 2009, 11:30 am 11:30 am
I’d rather see an article evaluating why the press and some citizens are so infatuated with her.
She seems to me to be like many other women.
Posted by: MayBee | May 21, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Said the spider to the fly…
Posted by: ConservativeWoman | May 21, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
What the …………. what is the love affair ya’ll gots wif da First Lady?
BIG DEAL!!
Posted by: American Infidel | May 21, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
“Meaning”???
Why are they so desperate to be in the public eye constantly?
She was one nasty ***** during the primaries, so which is the “real” Michelle? The 50′s mom we get now, or the career mom in the overpaid,sinecure job which no longer exists in Chicago, or the person who trashed Hillary Clinton? Nothing “real” about Michelle, and not much to brag about either.
Posted by: Keith | May 21, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
mad – Then post the link to that article. Because she is well versed in policy doesn’t mean she wants to make it! So how is she contradicting herself?
Many of you still dislike her for the EDITED faux news statement that was PROVEN wrong! She has been a wonderful example as a First Lady! As was Laura Bush.I only wish she had come out and done more.
Posted by: try the truth | May 21, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
try the truth- that you have the idea that Laura Bush didn’t “come out and do more” is evidence of the press’s infatuation with Michelle.
Posted by: MayBee | May 21, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
try the truth, you should, occasionally.
It’s sad, but seemingly quite typical, that you judge “doing more” by the number of times you see them in the media. Generally, those who are always in the media and therefore in your face, are not doing much other than talking about doing things. Laura Bush did a lot, you just didn’t hear about any of it because she was busy “doing” it rather than having her picture taken.
Posted by: Keith | May 21, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
17 times an Obama has been on the cover of Time? I can’t Time from Teen Tiger any more.
Posted by: drjohn | May 21, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Like many others first lady before her, Mrs. Obama has done a great job.
We voted for her husband, NOT her.
She is very much a private citizen married to the president of the united states. She does not have to do anything if she does not like. So move your fat behind off the chair and do something that useful instead of picked on Mrs. Obama.
Posted by: keith | May 21, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Good Afternoon, Everyone!
We just can’t understand that Mrs. Obama…She is sooo very confusing and such a walking contradiction to herself. She says she is pretty much who she has been for a long time…First she didn’t like her country and now she is okay with it??? Sista and I had better send her a very BIG gardening hat for when she is out in her White House “garden”, because we think maybe the sun is getting to her….Better yet, maybe she should stay out in the garden where the only silly comments she makes are to her carrots and peas…lol..
So much to say and so little time…
Time to run….ta…ta…kiss…kiss
Posted by: The Rip Sisters | May 21, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
“Many of you still dislike her for the EDITED faux news statement”
You’re so right, I mean NBC and MSNBC doesn’t edit any right wing comments at all…Rush Limbaugh said, “I want Obama to fail” and that was it right?
They only took 5 words from a whole paragraph to quote him!
Nice job of the media there… way to keep it honest.
Posted by: unrepresented_american | May 21, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Why did she need her personal trainer to move from Chicago? Aren’t there any trainers in DC
Posted by: mymy | May 21, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Oh my goodness, the hate that is beind expressed is DISGUSTING! I mean whether you voted for Obama or not, the fact is his wife is charming, and has a wonderful amazing American story. Look how many young people she has inspired, especially young minorites. You all are PATHETIC!!!
Posted by: T | May 21, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Yeah, she’s a real charmer. I loved her comment “If you can’t run your own house, you certainly can’t run the White House”. That’s when I knew we had a real classy lady on our hands.
And it’s nice to finally have a Jackie Kennedy impersonator who isn’t a guy in drag. As far as we know.
Posted by: paul | May 21, 2009, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Remember the good old days when first ladies spoke grammatical English?
Posted by: MaryD | May 21, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Re: “I don’t want to have a say. Really, there are a lot of times when I’m like, don’t tell me what happened today at work. I just don’t want to hear it, because I want the home space to really be free of that,” she said.
She doesn’t want to know about those war crimes he’s covering up.
Posted by: bubbles | May 21, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
We love our schmoopie.. doesn’t mean we like her hubby..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 21, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
Michelle is a smart, classy first lady. Those of you constantly seeking fault or name-calling probably need to take a hard look at yourself. The deflecting is getting old.
Posted by: Dr. May | May 21, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
Seventeen times, Time.
Seventeen times in the last year, one or the other or both of the Obamas have been on the cover of Time.
Just change the name to O-Time magazine and joing OTV at the White House.
Posted by: Mongo | May 21, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
unrepresented_american – Actually he did. He backed off the second day but he did! Go on the net and do your research.
Keith- No honey, Laura was in TX alot. Please tell me 3 things that Laura Bush championed and the state of those projects now. Trust me the press loved her, she actually could speak in full sentences that had meaning!
Posted by: try the truth | May 21, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
“Please tell me 3 things that Laura Bush championed and the state of those projects now.”
Laura Bush worked on literacy and that should be commended.
Why she was part of the anti-gang initiative is a mystery up there with Karen Hughes being our PR director in the MidEast.
Posted by: Ryan C | May 21, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
The media, especially the news/entertainment magazines seem to have a vested interest in the repackaging of Mrs Michelle Obama.
Only a few months ago was known as the candidate’s “bitter half”, with a consistant image problem.
She was kept out of the spotlight for much of the latter part of the campaign due to such long, sincere, consistent and hurricane force blasts of grievances such as describing America as “just downright mean”, “a nation of struggling people who are barely making it every day”, and, after an Obama primary win in February, declared that: “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.”
Which left millions of good folks from coast to coast wondering what she felt about the winning of the Cold War, the space program, computers and medical breakthroughs.
She’s not a bad person. She appears to be a loving wife and a good mother but why is the press so vested in wanting us to adore her? What’s in it for them?
Posted by: Skittles | May 21, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Michelle shares her husband’s popularity .. to some extent.. we will know, over time, if she can convert this capital to worthwhile results.
She, of course, is a young, vibrant and attractive woman with two beautiful children and a remarkable Mother and Brother.. it’s all good.. did I mention intelligent and capable?
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 21, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
While lovely Michelle is “gracing” the cover of TIME and making headlines on ABC, her husband is out imposing his Marxist policies of mass spending, mass taxation and mass government control which all enslave the American people. My goodness, how lucky can we be?
Posted by: Mihann | May 21, 2009, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
Michelle is a model wife, mother, and career woman for all American women to emulate.
Posted by: Pearly | May 21, 2009, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Just three things that Laura Bush accomplished?(Google The Other Bush Legacy, Kathleen Parker):
“Women’s gains around the world, in places like Kabul and Riyadh, are occurring in no small part because of Laura Bush’s quietly feminist maneuvering as wife of the U.S. president…”
“Mrs. Bush said she intends to continue helping women and children through her education and health initiatives. She also hopes to include women’s leadership training as part of her husband’s planned Freedom Institute at Southern Methodist University…”
“In Burma, Mrs. Bush played a leading role in pushing for release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had spent more than 13 years under house arrest…”
“Mrs. Bush (traveled) to the Middle East to advance the State Department’s breast cancer initiative, I’ve been privileged to watch her in action, as well as to appreciate the life-saving results of her efforts. Largely because of her, and the breast-cancer-crusading Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, women in that harshly patriarchal part of the world have been given an empowering voice…
“Before Mrs. Bush began meeting with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, 80 percent of Middle Eastern breast-cancer victims died. Already, those figures are expected to drop as women relieved of shame seek earlier diagnosis and treatment.
“The First Lady, who is an honorary ambassador for the U.N. Literacy Decade, spoke earlier this month at the U.N. about the importance of closing the gender gap in literacy. “If women are educated, everything across the board improves for their families,” she said…
“In Afghanistan, where Laura Bush has traveled three times, impressive strides are being made in education and equality. Today, one third of the more than six million Afghan children in school are girls…”
I’ll stop now, you can read the rest if you’d like. The press knew about all of this, but they did not put it on the front cover of magazines every other week because they hated her husband. Go figure.
Posted by: Mongo | May 21, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
Coming from a young African American woman (me:) I would just like to say that I couldn’t be more proud of Michelle Obama. Dispite her designers, hair do’s, or mag covers she has given our young woman a positive image and voice. I don’t want to make it a racial or gender issue, but our young women of color (and not) many of them don’t have anyone to look up to. When my mother was my age she had the Jackies, and Rosa’s we unfortunatley don’t. Michelle Obama is the closest we are gonna get for now. Like it or not, that’s what we see in Michelle. I beg that you don’t take that away from me. A lot of young girls who see her don’t see all the negatives that adults throw at them. It’s US (not Michelle Obama) that ruin it for our children when we ridicule and judge others. We have failed our children enough. Instead of trying to dig for negatives, why not try to find the positives in her?? (she has many) I may not agree with everything the Obama’s do, but as a free woman living in the United States of America it is my duty to support my president and make my country as brilliant as I know it can be (again)
Posted by: Nicole | May 21, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
OH and another thing. We keep comparing first ladies to one another. It doesn’t matter who’s better at what, or who did more than the other. What is wrong with you people? Negative negative negative. And we wonder why our children are the way they are? How about we dig for the things they ALL HAVE DONE instead of all the things they didn’t.
Posted by: Nicole | May 21, 2009, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Nicole……you are a bright and wonderful young lady from the sound of your post. You are to be commended.
Michele on the other hand shows up at food bank collection point wearing $540.00 sneakers….how gosh! She could be the leader for all the black young ladies out there that need a good role model but….where is she? She could stand up for abstinence and unwanted teen pregnancy but where is she? Michele is only in it for Michele and as for being a First Lady …… well….nothing to brag about as far as doing ANYTHING yet!!
You may still hold out for hope but I doubt she will change!!
Posted by: American Infidel | May 21, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
American Infidel -
Do you think when she shows up at food pantry’s and such, the first thing our less fortunate says is, “oh thank you so much Michelle for taking the time out to come/help us. But we would rather not because your $500 shoes” Come on? Do you think when she goes and sees little kids they think “gosh Mrs. President I did look up to until I saw your Gucci sweater” WE, YOU are the people that put a negative connotation on our young people. I hope if you have children you keep your negative opinions to yourself?
Posted by: Nicole | May 21, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
My opinion like yours’ is still just….an opinion. It wasn’t negative and it wasn’t positive….it was just an opinion.
She could do this and that but what we have at face value is…….what it is!
Maybe you want it all sugar coated and fluffy like in a dream world……wake up! It is what it is and you can’t change it! So….can you deal with it?
It’s just the way it is, kiddo!
Posted by: American Infidel | May 21, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
WHAT IN THE HECK IS “SCHMOOPIE”?
Posted by: MJ | May 21, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Stuck Up and in love with herself !!!
Posted by: Keith | May 21, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
first lady is a “joke” of USA.”first time in my adult life…” shame on you…
Posted by: lu | May 21, 2009, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
“She could stand up for . . . unwanted teen pregnancy . . .” hahaha
Posted by: danita | May 21, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
@ maryd,
Yes, I remember the days when first ladies spoke grammatical English; and the First Lady who moved in the White House on January 20, 2009, speaks grammatical English as well. What’s your point?
You naysayers need to stop trying to find faults with Mrs. Obama. She is going to live her life whether you choose to make yourselves miserable or not.
Mrs. Obama is doing a wonderful job reaching out to her new neighbors.
So what if the sneakers she wore to pass out food to the “needy” cost $540; the sweater she wore probably cost $200; Mrs. Biden’s entire outfit may have cost $600. Who cares? These people are rich; “dress down” clothing to them may not be the same price range as “dress down” clothing to me or other average Americans.
Those people who received the gifted food items were not worrying about the price of no ones clothing; they simply needed and wanted and appreciated the food that was being passed out to them.
I love my first family. I loved the Bush’s. Why not?
Posted by: Janice | May 21, 2009, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
17 times on the cover of Time for King and Queen Obamma. Who is buying this crap???
Posted by: palamino | May 22, 2009, 1:13 am 1:13 am
The death of journalism is a sad thing to watch.
Posted by: Thank God for Karma | May 22, 2009, 2:00 am 2:00 am
SEEMS pretty down to earth so far
Posted by: reneesatri | May 22, 2009, 5:21 am 5:21 am
Certainly a first Lady with “class, intelligence, looks and relevancy. Stop comparing Michelle to any prior first Lady. She wasn’t born or married In wealth, and had to “endure” alot as a person of color to accomplish what she has…..how I know……..me too.
Posted by: tychisum | May 22, 2009, 7:39 am 7:39 am
“The Meaning of Michelle Obama”?…It is still in a constant state of unfolding. The meaning will be different based on perspective (Wife, mother, friend, public, political; as well as to herself). Sorry folks, but the final report card doesn’t come out until the “Twelth of Never”. That’s when any impact(s) can truly be evaluated; as the ripples continue throughout the universe.
Posted by: Nardeeisms | May 22, 2009, 8:17 am 8:17 am
Let us be proud of her and our country and what it stands for -diversity. So what if her shoes cost so much? She’s not stealing the money and spending it on herself like Ruth Madoff has done. She can do with it as she likes. She is a true example of ordinary Americans and did not grow up spoilt by wealth and the me-me only syndrome. We are all different and as long as we do not steal and do evil, let it be. Let us keep on being proud of our country and its citizens, regardless of status and differences which is what makes us a great country.
Posted by: Karen | May 22, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Nicole (and other Obama haters and negative people),
Please keep in mind that Laura Bush was the First Lady for 8 years; whereas First Lady Michelle Obama has only held the title for 100+ days. Therefore, there is no way you can compare the two first lady’s at this point. So Google that knucklehead(s)!
Posted by: Eve | May 22, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Can anyone tell what Jackie O. did as 1st lady at the White House? All I can remember is that she always looked pretty.
It is not Michelle’s fault she is on the cover of those mags.If she did not accept the interviews, they would have called her stock up. Can we give the woman sometime to just be. Being in the glare of the spotlight is no small thing, every word is being recorded, every gesture interpreted and every look a meaning. Just let her evolve.
Do we remember how bad press Hilary Clinton got because she had tried to be in the politics of her husband’s White house.Americans have short memory.
…But I do agree with the poster who mentioned teen pregancy; that’s a subject i’d like not only Michelle, but all of our influencial leaders/speakers/activist/preachers/philanthropist/mag editors and TV networks.
Just in case we have not noticed,it is not only black teens & hispanics who are having baby daddies. we just had one in the very media spotlight.
Instead of addressing that issue we masked it as being pro-life or pro-choice. Let’s all the deal with the real issues plaguing Americas children.
Believe me no one is safe.
Posted by: Tatie | May 22, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
The degradation of journalism and the trivialization of politics is spectacularly evident in this primitive adoration of the wife of a president.
Posted by: pickleramoji | May 22, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
The First Lady is a tragic figure.
Posted by: Kate | May 22, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Michelle and Oprah worked hard and got things on their own. Mama may have, papa may have, but God bless the child who has his own–No huge inheritance, just hard work and grit, even with racial discrimination in the way.
Posted by: paula Wesley | May 22, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
The jealously that some of you people astound me! Michelle Obama is a warm, classy, intelligent woman who studied hard, worked hard and made something of her life. Why does she have to be the Poster Person for Teen Age Pregancy? Let’s leave that to Sarah Palin! Michelle, people love you and those who do not, resent your color, education and the fact that you are the FIRST LADY! Even Queen Elizabeth loves her and asked Michelle, according to the British Press to “stay in touch” When was the last time the Queen said that to any of you?
Posted by: Andrea | May 22, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
She is like her husband, she needs a teleprompter. He (and everyone gloats at what a speaker he is ) well, just take the teleprompter and he can’t even talk. Cheney just walked and talked all over him yesterday and poor Michelle she just doesn’t have a clue.
Cheney showed how inept he is to be President. I fear for all of us.
Posted by: Jane | May 22, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Why does the photo with this article image Mrs Obama with lightened skin color? There have been other photos in other media with the same issue.
I am not a fan of Mrs Obama but her natural skin color is beautiful, thank you very much.
Posted by: Kate | May 22, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
I believe that this First Lady is more connected with the public than any has ever been. Not only is she more connected to the country and the people but, also to the President and his role. I have never seen a Campaign ran with the American People being able to speak as was Barrock’s and Michele’s. I say both of them because they are as one. But, I am pleased to have both of them in the White House and serving the People as we should be served. Michele seems to bring a significant amount of social power that is needed to support the United States of America as it should be done. I thank her for serving us and I believe her and her husband will have this “temporary” position this term and the next.
Posted by: David Willmon | May 22, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
I’m very proud to have Michell Obama as
my country’s first lady. I know many don’t agree with me, but the jealous and predjudice remarks must keep you awake at night. Deal with it or leave the country.
Posted by: elsie crawford | May 22, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Oh KATE! That’s not a picture of Michelle – it’s the writer of the story, Yunji de Nies! A little sensitive while inattentive are we? Honestly, I don’t dislike Mrs. Obama, but I keep waiting for her to obviously state something really GOOD about the United States. Until she does, I give her a thumbs down all the way as a leftist poseur.
Posted by: Craig | May 23, 2009, 12:09 am 12:09 am
For sure she looks different because she has lots of make over.
Please don’t yell at me.
Just to be honest.
Posted by: cilla | May 23, 2009, 12:52 am 12:52 am
she is more connected to american people than any other first lady just like Hilary Clinton.
Posted by: john | May 23, 2009, 8:25 am 8:25 am
I have watched a lot of First Ladies come and go and can’t really remembering disliking any of them but I have to say Michelle Obama is my favorite. She is just so real. Her intelligence and compassion and honesty make me proud.
They are a mighty impressive couple.
Posted by: Annie | May 23, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
She is really a mighty lady.
She is my favourite.
Good..
Posted by: Michelle | May 23, 2009, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm
michelle should stop trying to outshine the president in her outrageous bright colored outfits and big hair. she needs to tone down. She is no fashion model.A ist lady’s role is one that is low keyed. Mchelle loves the camera too damn much and sometimes it brings out the worst in her,stop overdressing so much, she looks good in regular clothes. Out with the fly young people’s outfits, she is not a teenager,
Posted by: emalyn | May 24, 2009, 5:01 am 5:01 am
Is the Time Magazine out yet? I heading to the store to buy it. It’s strange to me that all the Obama Haters seem to be always reading about them. If you dislike them that much, why are you wasting your time reading and commenting about them. I guess you have nothing better to do. I wouldn’t read a darn thing about Limbaugh, and listen to his show, NEVER!!!! I don’t mind telling anyone that I am proud of my First Lady. Keep on keeping on Mrs. Obama. Everyone is not going to like you, we know that, the point is not to let HATERS like that stop you from making your dreams come true. So far I think the First Lady has done a darn good job.Proud of you Mrs. Obama!!!!!
Posted by: A.Darton | May 25, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm