Who thinks that, if Michelle Obama becomes the new First Lady,

[pnwmom]

she will end up being treated more fairly than Hillary Clinton was?

All the things that made the Rethugs and the media hate Hillary are also there in abundance in Michelle. She's smart, independent, assertive, and she doesn't sit around baking cookies. And she has a tendency toward sarcasm that could cause problems, if she's not careful.

Laura Bush is still well-liked, despite the low popularity of her husband. Most of the country loved Nancy Reagan.

How will another First Lady in the mold of Hillary Clinton manage in 2009? Is there a realistic hope that the country will finally be able to accept a strong woman in that role?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Considering that even Hillary Clinton is slinging mud at Michelle Obama...

No, I don't think she'll get treated more fairly than Clinton.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. Oh, Michelle is no innocent.

Honestly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Care to demonstrate my point?

[Darth_Kitten]

2. Yeah, the U.S. just loves strong women.......

but only as "First Lady".

[Lerkfish]

5. so, your message is "see how horribly we treated her?" as a reason to vote against her husband

interesting position.

so, the more vehemently you trash someone, the more we should like you better?


good luck with that

[pnwmom]

6. That's a wild leap. I'm not in either candidate's camp.

I just think it's doubtful that Michelle will have a much better time with the Rethugs or the media than Hillary did, because they're very much alike.

[Lerkfish]

10. sorry, that was a huge leap, I was using my intution as to the implication of

what you were saying...essentially, if someone is attacked they should be reticient to continue.
I don't think that advice is good for anyone.

I know that's not the gist of your point, but if I extrapolate your point, that's where I see it going.

[pnwmom]

27. No, that wasn't where I was going.

I'm just wondering whether people think the country has progressed at all, or if Michelle will face the same kind of backlash Hillary did, if she allows herself to remain the strong assertive woman she always has been.

[Lerkfish]

48. it doesn't have to be where you were going, I was saying that was the extrapolation

I saw from what you said.

if you disagree, that's ok.

[XemaSab]

7. It's a good question

that doesn't have a simple answer.

I could see it going either way.

[napi21]

8. I think ANY WOMAN will be treated better than Hillary!

I voted for Obama, but I think it's atrochias that the entire media is treating Hillary like a piece of sh*t! I still havent figured out why the media hate both Clintons, and it makes me sad that HIllary could have been a GREAT President....if her name wan't Clinton.

[pnwmom]

11. I hope you're right, but I'm less confidant than you are.

The media trashed Hillary from the very beginning of her husband's Presidency, without any good reason that I could see. So why should it be any different with another strong First Lady?

[napi21]

28. Because her name is NOT Clinton! I don't know if we'll ever find out

why the Press hated the Clintons, but they did from the first day they appeared in DC. At least so far, Michelle hasn't done anything to piss them off that I know of.

[pnwmom]

37. For one thing, Dole announced that the Republicans weren't going

to be giving the Clinton administration a "honeymoon," because they didn't deserve it. (The Rethugs considered all the Perot voters to have been part of their own "majority.") And the MSM was happy to go along.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

21. I agree

I think some of the animus against the Clintons stems from the fact that they really were 'outsiders' when they arrived in DC. I don't think they were schooled in all the niceties and protocol in handling the Beltway press. Obviously they learned as they went along but I get the sense that she, especially, did some things to rub the press the wrong way and has been paying the price ever since.

[pnwmom]

39. You don't think Michelle could make her own mistakes along those lines? n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

43. Of course. But hopefully the Obamas will get good advice on it.

[connecticut yankee]

9. Most of "which" country loved Nancy Reagan?

According to my memory, people thought she was incredibly imperious and pretentious. They called her "Fancy Nancy." I remember a photo of her head superimposed on one of Queen Elizabeth -- crown, ermine robe, crown jewels and all.

[pnwmom]

14. You're talking about Democrats, mostly. Overall, her popularity numbers

were high, especially as time went on.

[MyNameGoesHere]

12. i have not heard anything from Obama regarding his wifes

role in the administration, My guess is she will be a perfect hostess and that is all that they will let her play at.

[pnwmom]

15. And that would certainly be a waste. n/t

[scheming daemons]

13. She will be treated better, because she has less baggage than Hillary did....

For the most part, a public figure earns the type of treatment they get.

[pnwmom]

17. What was Hillary's "baggage" when she started as First Lady?

What had she done to earn the mistreatment she got from Day 1?

And by the way, do you think Al Gore also earned the type of treatment he got from the media? And John Kerry?

And George Bush, in 2000 -- did he deserve the fawning treatment that he received?

[scheming daemons]

24. Rose Law firm... Whitewater deal... "Goldwater Girl".....

A) I said "for the most part"

B) Al Gore and John Kerry are EVENTUALLY getting the treatment they deserve (Gore getting Nobel Prize... Kerry is still paying for his IWR vote).... As is George Bush (19% approval rating, worst President in history, etc).


Sometimes it takes a little time.

[pnwmom]

30. Hillary didn't do anything wrong at Rose Law firm or the Whitewater deal.

A fifty million dollar, seven year investigation says so. No one knows what the Rethugs could unearth against Michelle if they started looking into her investments or her legal career -- so don't be too sanguine. It wouldn't matter if anything could be proven against Michelle or not -- people like you would still be parroting the charges decades later.

[scheming daemons]

36. I agree... Whitewater was a nothing issue....

...but it was baggage she brought into the White House with her anyway.

It took 7 years to clear it up.


Michelle Obama has no such issue dogging her right now. You're right of course, that the GOP could INVENT an issue. But there is nothing there right now.

[pnwmom]

40. But that's the point. There's plenty of time for the Rethugs to

whip up a frenzy against either Obama or his wife, based on what turns out to be a non-issue. We shouldn't be feeling over confidant.

[Bucky]

46. "Goldwater Girl" isn't baggage. The "Tammy Wynette" & bake cookies comments hurt her.

[pnwmom]

50. She was a SIXTEEN year old high school student when she was a Goldwater girl,

still heavily under the sway of her domineering former-military father. (And the MSM and the Rethugs weren't holding THAT against her.) Do we want to go into everything Barack or Michelle -- or any of us -- were doing at age 16?

You're right, the cookie comment hurt her -- because we're such a sexist country.


Michelle's sarcastic comments about Barack have already topped anything I remember Hillary saying, but so far Michelle has been given a pass (at least, compared to if Hillary had said the same things). Hopefully that will continue.

[DJ13]

16. I bet she gets treated very fairly

The press didnt like Hillary because she went into the WH and acted like Emelda Marcos (without the shoes), meaning that she acted as if she was the person incharge, and she actively sought real power for her traditionally ceremonial position.

Michelle Obama seems perfectly content to play a less out front role, which will serve her well with the MSM.

[pnwmom]

22. No one criticized Al Gore for taking on more power than his

traditional ceremonial position had previously allowed.

Why should they criticize an extremely well-qualified First Lady for wanting some kind of job that fit her background? For being willing to work -- for free -- at a task that was more useful than supervising the decorating and the kitchen staff?

[DJ13]

29. No one criticized Al Gore

No, but you remember that as soon as Tipper Gore came out into the public spotlight testifying before Congress about the lyrics in music how she got the MSM pissed at her?

Gore WAS elected by being on the ticket, neither Hillary or Tipper were elected, so as soon as they come out trying to make policy statements (Hillary... healthcare, Tipper... censorship for music) the press believes they become fair game.

You may not like it, I may not like it, but thats been the established pattern so we have to accept it.

[pnwmom]

32. No, we DON'T have to accept it. We can fight it if it happens again. n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

18. Nancy Reagan was no shrinking violet.

And her popularity waned considerably IIRC, when the stuff about astrologers and her controlling access to Ronnie got out. In retrospect, given what we now can surmise about his mental deterioration, it's likely she was doing it to protect him and not scare the country.

[stahbrett]

19. It depends on if Michelle Obama screws up

She made one mistake so far, but if she avoids future gaffes she should definitely be more well-liked than Hillary was/is.

[paperbag_ princess]

20. Hillary broke down that barrier

She took the heat and now it is not such a big deal for there to be a strong first lady....as opposed to one in her husband's shadow..

She has taken the heat as the first legitimate presidential candidate too...the next one will have it a bit easier.

[LiveLiberally]

23. My thoughts exactly!

[pnwmom]

25. That's what I'm going to count on, too.

Though I'll believe it when I see it.

[ronnykmarshall]

26. I don't know ...... I'll have to think about it.

[tishaLA]

31. I think she'll become the new Hillary/Teresa

they love to savage Democratic women who have brains and mouths. If they aren't sedated, don't have an R after their names, they are targets.

[pnwmom]

33. Stepford wives only need apply. n/t

[calico1]

34. It depends..

If she "behaves" and "stays in her place" like Laura Bush then she should be fine. If she tries to come across as an equal intellectually to her husband and give too many opinions, then she could be in trouble.

Cookies, yes, politics, no.

Sadly I have come to the conclusion that this country has a lot of catching up to do to other countries as far as women and their role in politics or even any position of authority.

By the way, a lot of people, including Republicans thought Nancy Reagan was too opinionated and not a good support for her husband. I don't remember her being that loved.

[Hutzpa]

35. Hillary was treated fairly

until THEY find out that she does alot of comingling instead of work.

[pnwmom]

38. She was dumped on from Day 1. n/t

[cooolandrew]

41. Michelle's interview with Larry shows she knows how to manage the media. You just offer them love.

[pnwmom]

51. Her sarcastic comments in other venues show she still has a learning curve.

Hopefully she will stay ahead of the media's attempts to define her in a negative way.

[Beacool]

42. She eventually will be trashed by the same people who are now praising her.

I'm referring to the media. As far as the RW, they are already calling her an "uppity angry black woman". Granted that she didn't help herself with her comment about being proud of America for the first time (with or without the "really" inserted).


:eyes:

[BonnieJW]

44. Laura Bush is well-liked?????

The only thing I ever hear about her is "heavily medicated."

[pnwmom]

52. That's probably because you're talking to other people who can't stand George.

Nationally, she's still above 50% in the polls, no matter how much people hate her husband.

[Bucky]

45. Slightly better. Clinton took the brunt of a generational shift.

But, yes, Michelle is definitely in for a bit of the "Hillary treatment" (but not from Hillary--Clinton has been tough, but completely cricket in her attacks on Barack Obama.

[jackson_dem]

47. Will Barack criticize her for being "polarizing" because rethugs attack her?

What goes around comes around. Barack Obama has been hammering Clinton from the very beginning for being attacked by the rethugs since 1992 (as if it is her fault :eyes:) .

[pnwmom]

54. What he needs to learn is that the Rethugs attack anyone whose power

threatens theirs.

So yes, attacks on Obama and his wife (depending on whether she succumbs to the little woman stereotype or not) are inevitable -- unless Obama caves in to the right-wing on every divisive issue.

[llm]

49. strong woman

Whether or not the first lady is outspoken, I think they have to be strong women to be in that role.

[pnwmom]

56. I agree. It's a tough role. And welcome to DU, llm! n/t

[sloppyjoe25s]

53. Michelle in 2016!!

I am starting the official "Draft Michelle" campaing!

[CyberPieHole]

55. Will Michelle Obama be PROUD then? Or will she still be ASHAMED of her country?

She will start off with that piece of baggage on day one, IF she gets there.

[pnwmom]

57. Baggage is very easy to come by, isn't it? I'm glad no one is following

me around all day with a camera and a microphone.

Or. . . at least I think they aren't. (These days, you never know . . . )