‘Top Line’ — Can the Obamas be Role Models Through Their Marriage?

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Among the very many interesting things about the cover story about the Obama marriage in the forthcoming issue of The New York Times Magazine is the fact that the Obamas chose to be cooperate with the story at all.On ABCNews.com's "Top Line" today, we asked the author of that article, Jodi Kantor, about the decision by the Obamas to agree to an extended interview about their marriage — something, it's fair to say, the First Lady Michelle Obama, Kantor said, felt strongly that it was important for people to realize that there is no such thing as a perfect marriage."She said that if being honest about her own marriage can help younger people then, it's worth putting herself on the line to do it," Kantor told us. "And she also says that she doesn't want people — she basically doesn't think that perfection exists in a marriage, and she doesn't want people to think it does. And I think the Obamas are highly aware that there are all of these beautiful, kind of lovey-dovey images out there of you know, the two of them looking unbelievably happy and content.""They were elected in part because they didn't seem like regular politicians, they seemed more like the rest of us and yet, [yet] everything in the White House is perfect and buffed to such a high shine," Kantor added. "So I think this interview was part of them … trying to serve as role models and connect with people."One of the most interesting exchanges came when Kantor asked whether it's possible to have an equal partnership in a marriage, when one of the partners is president of the United States.
Writes Kantor: Michelle Obama gave what sounded like a small, sharp "mmphf" of recognition, and the fluid teamwork of their answers momentarily came to a halt. "Well, first of all. . . ." the president started. His wife peered at him, looking curious as to how he might answer the question. "She's got. . . ." he began, but then stopped again.
"Well, let me be careful about this," he said, pausing once more.
"My staff worries a lot more about what the first lady thinks than they worry about what I think," he finally said, to laughter around the room.
The question still unanswered, his wife stepped back in: "Clearly Barack's career decisions are leading us. They're not mine; that's obvious. I'm married to the president of the United States. I don't have another job, and it would be problematic in this role. So that — you can't even measure that." She did add that they are more equal in their private lives — how they run their household, how they raise their children, the overall choices they make.Said Kantor, of that exchange: "I've interviewed the Obamas before separately and they're so eloquent. And it's very rare that a question surprises them, but they had kind of a moment."Click HERE to watch the full interview with Jodi Kantor.