Exclusive: 'It Hurts,' Says First Lady of Military Families on Food Stamps

March 12, 2009 — -- First lady Michelle Obama wants military families to know they have a friend in the White House, she told "Good Morning America's" Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview today at Fort Bragg, N.C. -- her first network television interview since her husband took office.

"It hurts. It hurts," the first lady said of hearing about military families on food stamps. "These are people who are willing to send their loved ones off to, perhaps, give their lives -- the ultimate sacrifice. But yet, they're living back at home on food stamps. It's not right, and it's not where we should be as a nation."

Mrs. Obama also spoke about why she has faith the country will pull through its tough economic times, how her mother, Marian Robinson, has helped her family ease into the White House and how the Obamas are adjusting to their new home and life in Washington, D.C.

Watch "Good Morning America" Friday, March 13, at 7 a.m. ET for Robin Roberts' interview with first lady Michelle Obama.

Mrs. Obama's comments to ABC News followed an emotional private meeting with military families at Fort Bragg. The first lady traveled to North Carolina to hear their stories about the support services that are available to them and what can be done to better serve those who serve their country.

Mrs. Obama believes that she has an opportunity to bring attention and awareness to these issues and to accomplish something on behalf of military families across the nation.

"I think that's one of my jobs, is to try and shed some light on some of these issues," she said, "to not just be in that conversation with military spouses and hear those stories, but to take that information back to the administration to share it with the nation, so that we can think again about how we can better support these families."

Later, she met with community groups that provide such support to talk about how to improve coordination and to reach the people who need help the most as they struggle with the challenges and stress of deployment and the economic crisis.

Working with and for military families is at the top of the first lady's agenda as she settles into her new role in the White House -- so for her first trip outside of Washington, she chose to highlight the struggles of the nation's servicemen and servicewomen.