Michelle Obama at SXSW: 'I will not run for president'

[Lodestar]

Source: The Guardian

Michelle Obama spoke about finding the courage to overcome doubters on the South Side of Chicago, her love of Stevie Wonder and why she won’t run for president, during an engaging and wide-ranging Q&A session at SXSW.

The first lady was in Austin ostensibly to help support her advocacy project: Let Girls Learn, which she launched at Global Citizen festival in New York last September, and took part in the session alongside Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, actor Sophia Bush and the songwriter Diane Warren.

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The biggest cheer from the crowd, who had to wait three hours and go through airport-style security checks, came when Latifah asked if Michelle Obama would ever consider a presidential run.

“I’m going to continue to work with young people all over the world,” she said before pausing. “Not as president. I will not run for president.” After a chorus of playful jeers from the crowd she explained that one of the reasons was that so her children – Malia and Sasha – would no longer be in the spotlight.

“No, no not going to do it. One of the reasons why is that I’ve got these two young people at home. Being the kids, the daughters of a president, just think about it. Come on young people, not so easy. They’ve handled it with grace and with poise, but there are so many ways to impact the world and you don’t have to be president of the United States to do them.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/16/michelle-obama-sxsw-will-not-run-for-president-austin

[davidpdx]

1. Michelle is a class act and not interested in turning the presidency into a oligarchy

She has in the past even said she doesn't believe she has the temperament to do the job. People should take her at her word that she wants to do other things once her husband is done with his term in office. I'm sure she will make a large impact as will President Obama.

[Wilms]

2. I hope People Magazine does an in-depth article about this.

I mean, what about Malia? She'll be old enough to run in 2036. Shouldn't we also be asking the Obama's about that?

That this is even a question explains a lot about this country.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Malia will have to wait ...

Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush get to be Prez before Malia.

[skepticscott]

4. Yes, it's a country obsessed with celebrity

Why else would Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump be doing so well?

[Bucky]

5. Claire Underwood would've ansered differently