Michelle Obama

I want to respect my president and his first lady. I can only do this when I believe in who they are, what they say and how they convey their message. I can safely say I believe in the Obamas for all of those reasons.

The New York Times has called Michelle Obama: “Outspoken, strong-willed, funny, gutsy and sometimes sarcastic and playing a pivotal role in her husband’s campaign as it builds on a series of successes”. She is framed in a much more positive light here, which I feel is happy news compared to other past feedback labeling her: “reverse-racist, uppity and unpatriotic”. I can identify with Michelle Obama’s spirit, as I, too have been labeled as a strong-willed and blunt woman at times in my life. I feel that in the right context, these are assets when communicating with others and often necessary when it comes to making strides towards an important movement. Without sharp wit and bold statements, less action is generally taken in any given issue.

When it comes to being a first lady, Michelle’s behaviors and communication style are essential when standing beside the US President. If Obama wins the presidency, Michelle will need to continue to be “his rock” as he has fondly labeled her. In order to do so, her feisty nature will prove invaluable, in my opinion.

The US presidency comes with a wealth of important tasks. If Obama wins, he will face thousands of challenging decisions affecting millions. That alone requires a huge amount of ethics and responsibility, likely contributing to a great amount of stress and pressure. In order to face these realities, he’ll need a strong woman by his side to help support and guide him through the process. I believe she will do just that.

Would we rather have a first lady that sits demurely in the shadows without any gumption to voice her opinion? I wouldn’t have too much respect for an individual in that scenario. I would want to trust the President and First Lady’s judgment on the issues that truly matter. In order to do that, I need to feel that they are strong, capable leaders who will not back down on the things that we need to hold dear as a nation. I need to feel that they are fighting our same fight and are on our side. I feel that the Obamas are all of these things.

I respect Michelle Obama’s forthright style, for what you see is what you get. She doesn't have a phony facade that will mislead or disappoint the general public. She appears uncomplicated, straight up, and frank. A breath of fresh air, if you ask me.