Michelle Obama: Hugger-in-chief

[Undercurrent]

Warm article in The Times Online from London.

-

She came, she hugged, she conquered. Statuesque, poised, yet down-to-earth, Michelle Obama wowed Britain last week in a way that no American first lady has done since Jackie Kennedy’s visit in 1961.

Perhaps it was the Queen’s historic breach of her own “no touching” protocol, when she put a friendly arm around the US president’s wife at a Buckingham Palace G20 reception, prompting her guest to return the gesture and leaving courtiers flustered.

Maybe it was the catch in Michelle Obama’s voice as she told 100 enraptured teenage girls at a north London school that she could never have predicted how a girl from the South Side of Chicago would be standing before them as the first African-American first lady. “I do hugs,” she added, and was immediately mobbed...
More: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/celebrity/article6036284.ece

[mix]

1. that's wonderful, the country needs her n/t

[BlooInBloo]

2. Amazing how much simply being a nice person counts.

:rofl:

[a kennedy]

15. but an real human too......they both come across as so reachable...

so honest, just so human.......goll d*mn they make me just so proud.... :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[SeattleGirl]

3. Both the Obama's are fabulous huggers.

Laugh at me if you will, but I would love to be hugged by both of them. They hug like they mean it.

[Aloha Spirit]

4. True, and I love Obama for spreading the bro hug, but I'll take a First Lady hug if I have a choice!

All those hugs with kids...she gets her head into the hug more effectively. Obama usually keeps his head out of the hug.
Yup, I have just spent the last 5 minutes thinking deeply about who is the better hugger.
It's important, after all, we have learned this weekend that Obama hugs are part of any successful US diplomatic offensive.



and




:grouphug:

[elleng]

6. Imagine how HAPPY Sasha and Malia are to hug Michelle today!

.

[Aloha Spirit]

17. photos

I need photos!

[elleng]

21. So do we all!

The girls have been pretty well hidden from public view, however.

I'm sure we'll see lots with puppy, but day to day? Not.

[populistdriven]

25. PICS or it dint happen!

[flor de jasmim]

5. And what a hoot it is to see the Secret Service trying to protect her from 10-year old huggers!

[elleng]

7. Right! 'What's a cop to DO?'

.

[genna]

26. I for one am glad the Secret Service was right there to intervene

Not because she was in danger from 10 year olds, but because she might forget her safety they won't.

I fear for her safety as much as I fear for BHOs.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

8. HUH?

I'm the first rec????:hug:

[opihimoimoi]

9. K&R to the Hugging Option....We need more Huggers and Hugging

And about now we could use a PLANET HUG........

[oasis]

14. Hey Opi

Here's one from me 'n Doni. :grouphug: :hi:

[opihimoimoi]

29. Reg!!!! Hi there...sending sashimi and wasabi to you/Doni

Good to see you guys...hope ya coming back

gimmee a holler

[Number23]

10. love it!

happy to rec

[Hekate]

11. They do us proud, they really do. nt

[tavalon]

12. If the Obama's are an example of our best, well,

just in this moment, I have to say we aren't doing so bad, eh. They are some good Americans.

[acmavm]

13. Michelle Obama is fast turning into one of the biggest, if not the THE biggest

asset, that this administration has.

[bdamomma]

16. her ratings are higher than her husbands was reported last week!!

[acmavm]

19. With good reason.

[grace0418]

18. From the article: "...Obama’s problem was he never quite connected with people."

The full quote "Sarah Baxter, the Sunday Times Washington correspondent, said: “The election was a bit of a walkover, which tended to conceal the fact that Obama’s problem was he never quite connected with people. Now that’s coming back again and Michelle is shoring him up. People are proud of what she has achieved and instinctively like her. They love her two daughters, who are very cute.”

The rest of the article is great but that comment stood out as a total WTF? Obama never quite connected with the people? Is she kidding?

[Aloha Spirit]

22. Yeah, I get that Obama finds comfort in solitude, is a bit of a loner I guess, but he

tries very hard, and is extremely successful connecting w/ people despite his personality.
Reading "Dreams from my father" shows his introspective nature.
But I also strongly disagree with that quote.

[Arugula Latte]

28. Yes, here is is, not connecting with the people:

[nolabear]

20. This ties in to the character disorder thread.

The Obamas keep being described as deeply human. Think about that, and about the way you feel when seeing hem relate to total strangers, with the comfortable and generous recognition that "we are all people and I love and respect you as such". Compare that with the people who kill and use and simply deeply suspect (and I don't mean healthy scepticism, which is intelligent and necessary) other people as a whole, and you'll get the difference between healthy personality and personality disorder. It's got to be the most horrible condition in the world, no matter how it manifests.

I feel good just seeing the Obamas. Tha says more than anything else.

[Jennicut]

23. I saw the clip of her at the school in England with the kids

She made ME cry. I love her, she represents this country so well. :)

[cilla4progress]

24. Very Diana-like

She reminds me of Diana - remember her? Her reaching out - literally - had a similar magic.

[genna]

27. I don't quite like that comparison

What Princess Di have to do to get away from all that adulation?


That price is too high to pay. I'd rather people be more grounded with respect to Michelle Obama. I'm glad she has her mother there to look after her and her family.

Princess Di had two sons she did not get to finish raising due to all the attention the media dumped on her. I hope the First Lady does not have that level of scrutiny or obsession from the press.

[Cha]

30. We have Huggers-In-Chiefs...we're

so lucky:bounce: