The Return to Favor of Michelle Obama?
Published in Le Figaro
(France) on 14 February 2012
by Véronique Saint-Geours (link to original)
(France) on 14 February 2012
by Véronique Saint-Geours (link to original)
Translated from
by Hughie Coogan.
Edited by Laurie Henneman.
Among the four symbolic images of the president's activity that appear on the White House's website this week, Michelle Obama is featured. Since her tour of Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Iowa, the first lady has not left the spotlight. Is this a comeback of sorts?
January was a difficult month for Mrs. Obama, especially after the release of a book by Jodi Kantor entitled "The Obamas," which she “helped“ promote by going on ABC herself to discredit it, or so she thought... without having read it. She got rid of the White House employees who, as reported in the press, caricatured her as the "angry black woman." In doing so, she dented her public image, at an important time, as she will play an important role in the 2012 campaign. She had to readjust her image to that of the original and very popular first lady. A successful battle plan?
Even the President had to defend her after months of failed communication. The evening of the Super Bowl, Barack Obama responded to a question, which we could suppose was not a welcome one concerning the "angry black woman," or as we have come to know her — Michelle. His response was to defend the first lady, saying how much he regretted that she has been overexposed in politics by his position. He also reassured the 110 million viewers that she was motivated for a second term etc... End of the speech.
We recently saw a re-energized Michelle Obama in the public eye, on TV shows, running back and forth, swaying to and fro in an effort to prove that she has fun and that her strategy for www.letsmove.gov is a winning formula. Anyone who has seen the sack race on NBC's hilarious "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" can see that she has really taken the bit between her teeth in an effort to regain a positive public image.
Returning to Washington after three days of touring four states, we see, from what she has done and positive outcomes, a revitalized woman and a winner. Since, she has explained how she saw her choice for the future. In the Wall Street Journal, she used inarguable logic in stating that the fight against childhood obesity is a national cause that is good for her husband. And she does what is best for her husband. It's obvious, isn't it?
Michelle Obama took the opportunity to make her mark on the presidential campaign; it was she who decided when to get involved. When she chose a cause, she remarked that she was “absolutely fired up,” and that she was completely immersing herself. And when it's all over nothing in the world will disturb her, for the benefit of Malia and Sasha who need her.
January was a difficult month for Mrs. Obama, especially after the release of a book by Jodi Kantor entitled "The Obamas," which she “helped“ promote by going on ABC herself to discredit it, or so she thought... without having read it. She got rid of the White House employees who, as reported in the press, caricatured her as the "angry black woman." In doing so, she dented her public image, at an important time, as she will play an important role in the 2012 campaign. She had to readjust her image to that of the original and very popular first lady. A successful battle plan?
Even the President had to defend her after months of failed communication. The evening of the Super Bowl, Barack Obama responded to a question, which we could suppose was not a welcome one concerning the "angry black woman," or as we have come to know her — Michelle. His response was to defend the first lady, saying how much he regretted that she has been overexposed in politics by his position. He also reassured the 110 million viewers that she was motivated for a second term etc... End of the speech.
We recently saw a re-energized Michelle Obama in the public eye, on TV shows, running back and forth, swaying to and fro in an effort to prove that she has fun and that her strategy for www.letsmove.gov is a winning formula. Anyone who has seen the sack race on NBC's hilarious "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" can see that she has really taken the bit between her teeth in an effort to regain a positive public image.
Returning to Washington after three days of touring four states, we see, from what she has done and positive outcomes, a revitalized woman and a winner. Since, she has explained how she saw her choice for the future. In the Wall Street Journal, she used inarguable logic in stating that the fight against childhood obesity is a national cause that is good for her husband. And she does what is best for her husband. It's obvious, isn't it?
Michelle Obama took the opportunity to make her mark on the presidential campaign; it was she who decided when to get involved. When she chose a cause, she remarked that she was “absolutely fired up,” and that she was completely immersing herself. And when it's all over nothing in the world will disturb her, for the benefit of Malia and Sasha who need her.