Michelle Obama on Oprah: Military Families Need to Be Reconnected to The Broader Community
EmailABC New’s Sunlen Miller Reports: First Lady Michelle Obama will redouble efforts to shine a spotlight on the nation’s military families, in a campaign formally launching in March. In an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” airing today, Mrs. Obama says that it’s not that Americans won’t help military families; it’s just that they are not aware of the pressures of deployment on families. This is something that she hopes to remedy. “We’re going to ask the country to get ourselves together and be a part of reconnecting these families to be a part of the broader community.” So often, Mrs. Obama says, people see a happy homecoming between military families on TV but do not see the other “ramifications” to the deployment that are not talked out. “And these families need some help and support to get through it.” On Monday, President Obama announced new initiatives to help support military families across the federal government and declared that they are now “upping their game” in support. Mrs. Obama said that there are a lot of simple things that people can do to help – if you’re an accountant, helping a military family prepare their taxes for example, she said. “A lot of these women can use a girl’s night out, a manicure, a pedicure, a break,” she said, “There are things we can do as a nation big and small.” Mrs. Obama first took up the issue of helping and highlighting military families during her husband’s 2008 presidential campaign. “Everywhere I went there were stories that were completely unfamiliar,” Mrs. Obama told Oprah in an interview taped last week, “and those were the stories of military women.” The First Lady said that in these families months go by where birthdays are missed, parents are struggling to raise kids alone and have to answer the questions for their children when mom and dad are coming home. “Their stories took my breath away,” Mrs. Obama said, “and I vowed then that if my husband had the honor of serving our country that I would be that voice.” The First Lady said that whenever she is feeling bad or sorry for herself she thinks of their courage and sacrifice. “I suck it up because of these families,” the First Lady said, “Part of the challenge of getting the message out about military families is they never ask for help. They never ask for help because you don’t do that when you’re in the military. You get it done. That’s how you’re trained. That’s what you’re taught.” Mrs. Obama is in Columbia, South Carolina at Fort Jackson today, for a series of events that highlight the intersection of her Let’s Move! campaign and military readiness. Watch Robin Roberts’ interview with first lady Michelle Obama Friday on “Good Morning America” at 7 a.m. ET
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Mrs. Obama is in Columbia, South Carolina at Fort Jackson today, for a series of events that highlight the intersection of her Let’s Move! campaign and military readiness.
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I think the First Lady trying to get America’s youth fit for “military readiness” is downright creepy.
Posted by: MayBee | January 27, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Tthe idea of reaching out in small ways is very nice. She should stick to that.
Posted by: MayBee | January 27, 2011, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
I applaud the First Lady for supporting those who have given their all for country on the battle field. Very worthy cause!!!!
Posted by: One Nation | January 27, 2011, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Just bring them home! THEN tell them how to live their lives okay Michelle!?!
Posted by: CBA | January 27, 2011, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
Girl’s night out? Manicures? Pedicures? Excuse me??? The majority of military wives I know are not that shallow.
If the Obamas want to help the military family they will demand an end to the PC nonsense that endangers our loved ones. Get rid of the Nidal Hasans, affirmative action promotions and social engineering programs.
And stop moving families unnecessarily. Give them a ‘home base’ assignment for longer periods of time and stop PCSing them so often. Instead use TDY for periods of training and overseas duty giving their families the option of remaining at their home post. It will reduce stress on the families and save the military the cost of moving them.
Give them a commissary and post exchange that is comparable in price to Kmart, Walmart or Target. And stop bragging that they save on sales tax. The surcharge is higher than Kentucky taxes.
Demand the post housing contractors meet minimum standards. There is no excuse for soldiers and families to be without heat in freezing weather.
Meet the obligations you already have to the soldiers and their families. Keep your manicures, pedicures and empty promises.
Posted by: BamTN | January 27, 2011, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
I wish this would come on again. I only saw 15 minutes of it. This should be played again for families that work. We are military and it would do my family and many families good to see how we live
Posted by: mona tramonte | January 27, 2011, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
@Mona: I’m sure if you check out Oprah’s website the show would be there for viewing.
What Mrs. Obama is doing is to be commended.
Posted by: jas | January 27, 2011, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
How do we get a blue star. Our son is in Afghanistan and we are very proud..
Would love a blue star
Thank You
Riita & Jack H
Posted by: Rita Hurley | January 27, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Mona I think you missed the point when Michelle Obama said treat them to a manicure- girls night out-that is hardly shallow. You obviously have a personal agenda but you have are not on the same page.
The young woman who was on the show responded positively when Michelle said those things. Keep it in prospective.
Posted by: Judy O | January 27, 2011, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Looking for a blue star. Our son is a catholic chaplain in Afghanistan, we would be proud to have one.
Thanks
Jack Rita H
Ma
Posted by: Rita Hurley | January 27, 2011, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Thank you Mrs. O!!! Your support will make a difference for our troops and their families!!
Posted by: natFrankie | January 27, 2011, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
Americans are detached cause they dont believe the reasons our goverment give us for war. It’s not for our freedom, it’s strickly about money and who controls the debt of all the destuction!BEST WAY TO ROB YOUR OWN COUNTRY IS TO CREATE A WAR!
Posted by: former soldier | January 27, 2011, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
People have stopped watching the news, and reading newspapers, that’s why so many people are ignorant to the on going of the war. I’m Canadian and go thru the windsor detroit tunnel often. I thank the military ever time I get thru safely. They protect us in so many ways, that people do not see.
Posted by: heather | January 27, 2011, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Thank you Michelle Obama for sharing with all the Oprah viewers about the military families. The one thing that was not addressed is all the returning
military men and women that are unable to find employment. These heroes are overlooked and should be given first consideration. Employers should be looking for these dedicated service people. I would want sevice members on my team.
Posted by: Judy Cox | January 27, 2011, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
I volunteer at our local V.A. Hospital and a month a ago a young veteran came in for some mental help. He was turned away because his papers were not in order. He shot himself that afternoon in his home in front of his wife. We need to pay attention to the needs of these young men and women coming home now.Susan Martin
Posted by: Susan Martin | January 27, 2011, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Michelle, how about taking yourself and the “entourage” to a less costly restaurant and donating what was saved to a good cause.
Just empty words from an empty heart.
Posted by: 2smart4u | January 27, 2011, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
I am proud of Mrs. Obama – she’s still mean, but much less than she’s used to be. But you can tell it’s bottled up.
Posted by: young_voter | January 27, 2011, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
Now if you want to close the picture, look into the Former Spouses’ Protection Act and help the millions of active duty and retired members repeal the act!
Posted by: Mike Buckley | January 27, 2011, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Why on earth did it take Oprah this long to have some Military Families on the show discussing things like this?
“What is a blue star”? Shame on you Oprah.
Posted by: Charlee | January 27, 2011, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
Hey, folks. Let us give the lady a break. She was using the example of manicure, night out, etc to say that the families could use a break in their hard-working lives. Her terminology was meant to say, I am certain, a baby sitter, snow shoveled from the walk or driveway, a meal furnished or whatever. What ever is done is a help. Why be so picky with terminology? Those with 24/7 illnesses in the family are in the same situation. A little kindness goes a long way. Try it, you may like it.
Posted by: sharon myers | January 27, 2011, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
that is great what mrs obama is doing, just giving you aIdea what I have done, not much but a little go a long way, a few years ago, I sit up gifts from my small coffee shop,for family to pick up and send to their love ones in war. I felt so good. and when they sent letters, what little I did and they was so impressed. this year our waitress. husband was comming home before christmas and we gave 100.00 so the 3 chrildren could have a better christmas, the hug that mother gave me will allways stay with me. you want the whole world to know, and it’s not that you want to be known. it’s that people start thinking about what they can do, even if it is as small as sending coffee,hot choc. chai, what ever I could find in the shop, I love reading the letters,it makes me feel good to touch their lives. vic. ps. what can u do?????
Posted by: vickie fitzgerald | January 27, 2011, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
Why not only deploy the military when its well and truly necessary AND actually allow the military to defend itself? We have the best technology in the WORLD yet we are fighting a ground war and losing at least three Americans a week over there because POLITICIANS who have never served in the military are directing the way this war will be fought. Imagine being shot at and being told you can’t shoot back because there may be a civilian in that area. this happens EVERY DAY for US Marines in Helmand.
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW IF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEM MR AND MRS. OBAMA.
Posted by: Marco | January 28, 2011, 6:31 am 6:31 am
vicky, thank you for what you are doing for our troops, but isn’t it sad, that you need to give a military family money so their children have a better christmas?? time to let the military have equal pay to the private sector! i understand what BAM meant with the post. i’m a military wive for almost 16 years, my husband is getting ready to retire in a year and we are worried if he finds a job in this economy after 23 years in the military. i do agree that manicure and pedicure is a nice touch, but what the military families really need is more stability, having to pull children out of one school in the middle of the school year, almost every other year to travel across country and start at another school where they are at a totally different part in learning..bring back DOD schools that are on the same page at the same time!
Posted by: Yvonne | January 28, 2011, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Thank You so much for the Bluestarmother organization..after the Ophra show, I wrote a letter to let the bluestarmother. I would be glad to be a volunteer. I have some ideas to give, and hope that in some small way it will help the families of our military….If you have a son or daughter in the military, look into being a volunteer for the Blue Star Mothers.
Posted by: Becky | January 29, 2011, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
from President Obama,
regarding our young veterans:
“Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and transparency Act of 2009.”
“Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010″
“Caregivers & Veterans Omnibus health Services Act of 2010″
“successes were the passage of Bills that affected nearly every Veteran in America.”
+ schooling for our veterans, retraining and rehabilitation for our men and women, so they can enter society again.
+ Start: Nuclear Treaty with russia
“dont ask, dont tell” repeal
Posted by: not bad for vets | January 31, 2011, 4:36 am 4:36 am
To all: I would like to thank Mrs. Obama for her words and support of our military. As a military mother, I do what I can. I just recently became president to our local chapter of Blue Star Mothers. We send packages to the troops and also help out all of us mothers with any support that we can give (and yes, that could mean taking them to get a pedi/mani). After joining BSMA, I found that I was not alone in the way that I felt and found that I had others that I could talk to. This was the real support.
Posted by: Amy | February 1, 2011, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Thank you mrs obama for the good work you do you are the best example of a woman,mum and wife.mat GOD bles you and keep you for a long time
Posted by: pessshy | February 7, 2011, 8:11 am 8:11 am
I’m really interested in finding out what women service members, veteranas, spouses and/or dependents need? I am the veterans ourtreach counselor at the Women’s Rights Center in Englewood, NJ. We offer free services to the women I just mentioned. Please visit our site at We want to know what these women need? Our center was given a grant by the Oprah Network of $10,000 in 2004. We were able to help many women with our free services. We are reaching out to the military. Do ask and do tell.
Posted by: Rebecca Miller Pringle | February 8, 2011, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
Folks, don’t get on me about the typos. I was so excited to get the word out I was thinking quicker than I was typing. Forgive my errors :)
Posted by: Rebecca Miller Pringle | February 8, 2011, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
I have my own story to tell and i am so glad that i found some one that will listen and maybe i can help others. people who think Mrs Obama is wrong have no clue what us military families go thru I think all of America should wake up and try help any one or any family member any way they can it’s very lonely and hard.
Posted by: army wife | March 26, 2011, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
Unity Church of Sarasota would like to join your commitment to help support military families in our community. Please let me know what we can do to have an impact on this important initiative. We too would like to shine a spotlight on these families. Hearing from you would make a strong impetus for all of us here.
Thank you……Kathy Boston – Unity Church of Sarasota – Sarasota, Florida
Posted by: Kathy Boston | April 25, 2011, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm