Michelle Obama's "Makeover"

The Obama campaign thinks that they need to soften Michelle Obama's image, you know, to make her seem more likable.

The New York Times has a nice, likable profile of her, a precursor of things to come, which you should read here.

The campaign's decision to recreate Michelle is in response to the media's misrepresentation of her as some sort of "angry black woman." First there was that quote of hers where she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country." Then there was the fist bump. And don't forget that unsubstantiated, rumored videotape of her referring to the white race as "whitey." There is also a general consensus (among talking heads on the right) that she's too abrasive, over-confident, and just too sassy to be First Lady. Remember that magenta dress she wore on the night of the last primary...how un-American! Of course, I find all of the above incredibly likable. Taking away Michelle's moxie makes her less likable, for me. (Big surprise, I know.)



Hey, can you imagine the field day the media would have if Michelle Obama, like Cindy McCain, was a beer heiress with a history of prescription drug addiction?

It's a testament to our time that Michelle Obama has to work twice as hard to pacify the media than someone like Cindy McCain because she actually has articulate, sometimes challenging things to say. That the media chooses the word "angry" as opposed to "strong" is telling, particularly because she is a woman, and of course because she is black. When a man speaks his mind, he's a man. When a woman does it...

So, do you want a boring First Lady? A Laura Bush 2.0 who whips up casseroles and touts abstinence in a haze of nicotine patch-induced ennui, silently screaming CalgonCrawford, take me away?



I don't.

I don't want to hear about cookie recipes or pet projects. I want a First Lady who'll augment the President by offering a unique point of view and who'll have a voice that doesn't parrot administration talking points (not that Michelle has ever said anything in opposition to Obama's policies). This country has always embraced varying perspectives and outspokenness, so why are different standards being applied to Michelle Obama?

Dumbing down Michelle for the housewives in flyover states is a bad move, and I hope the campaign is not planning on making this "makeover" too extreme.

In fact, they should look at this current opinion poll for Michelle...they may not need to do anything at all.