Michelle Obama says people have inaccurately cast her as an "angry black woman"

(AP)  (AP/CBS News) WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama is challenging assertions she's forcefully imposed her will on White House aides and says people have inaccurately tried to portray her as "some kind of angry black woman."

Mrs. Obama tells CBS News she hasn't read New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor's new book that characterizes her as a behind-the-scenes force in the Executive Mansion, whose strong views often draw her into conflict with President Barack Obama's top advisers.

Watch Michelle Obama "confident" in her husband's campaign

"I never read these books," she told CBS's Gayle King in an interview broadcast Wednesday. "So I've just gotten in the habit of not reading other people's impressions of people."

In the book, Mrs. Obama is said to have occasionally bristled at some of the demands and constraints of life in the White House.

Michelle Obama: No tension with husband's aides

In the interview, Mrs. Obama said, "I love this job. It has been a privilege from day one."

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"Now there are challenges," she added. "If there's any anxiety that I feel, it's because I want to make sure that my girls (Malia and Sasha) come out of this on the other end whole."

The Kantor book portrays a White House where tensions developed between Mrs. Obama and former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and former press secretary and presidential adviser Robert Gibbs. The book, titled "The Obamas," describes Mrs. Obama as having gone through an evolution from struggle to fulfillment in her role at the White House, while labeling her an "unrecognized force" in pursuing the president's goals. Neither the president nor his wife agreed to be interviewed for the book.

"I do care deeply about my husband," Mrs. Obama said in the CBS appearance. "I am one of his biggest allies. I am one of his biggest confidants." But she sought to put aside "this notion that I sit in meetings."

"I guess it's just more interesting to imagine this conflicted situation here," she said. "That's been an image people have tried to paint of me since the day Barack announced, that I'm some kind of angry black woman."

"There will always be people who don't like me," Mrs. Obama added, and said she could live with that.

Mrs. Obama said that she's "just trying to be me, and I just hope that over time, that people get to know me."

Asked specifically about an assertion of dissension between herself and Emanuel, now the mayor of Chicago, the first lady said she has "never had a cross word" with him. The same, she said, applies to Gibbs, whom she described as "a good friend, and remains so."

"I'm sure we could go day to day and find things people wished they didn't say to each other," Mrs., Obama said. "And that's why I don't read these books. ... It's a game, in so many ways, that doesn't fit. Who can write about what I feel? What third person can tell me what I feel?"

Mrs. Obama said that when questions or conflicts arise involving her and the White House staff, her East Wing staff resolves the issue with her husband's staff in the West Wing.

"If there's communication that needs to happen, it's between staffs," she said. "I don't have conversations with my husband's staff."

[starfighter420]

I wonder where their getting this idea from...lol.

[tiredofit11]

She's a real prune!

If she doesn't like living in the White House she should really keep that to herself. The nerve to whine about serving the country when we are in such dire economic times. She acts like she's doing us all a big favor when she is lucky to even be there. She has no class at all. Think of what other First Ladies have had to endure, one in particular, who did it stoically, with style and grace. That kind of character is missing today. I wish the Dems would run somebody else. He is the worst Democratic president of my lifetime!!!!!

[ColtAcres]

I am laughing my butt off the interviewer chosen for this. Everyone knows Gayle King is a coat tail of Oprah and highly prejudice herself. Who the h*ll hired King? She has no talent other than sucking up.

If the Wookie doesn't want to be labeled as "angry", then SHE needs to quit being angry. Look how many pictures there are of her with an angry expression on her face. Not to mention MANY comments she has made over the years about her anger with white people. She did it to herself. She has NOT been a gracious first lady.

[SUZAMBA]

Michele-Michele-Michele, just accept the fact, that you are an angry woman, and do what the rest of us do. Be a woman and Roar like a lion, grow a set and move on. Real women do it all the time. Hear me roar!! Ha

[SUZAMBA]

Just face it Michele, you are an "angry black woman" (her words.)
And you just love to shove it in every chance you get. You always look like your about to choke on it, you can see it in your eyes.
Your family photos look forced, like someone slapped those smiles on your faces.
You just gotta deal with it, you are angry!

[cypherborg]

well DAMN - THE TRUTH HURTS DOESN'T IT MICHELE! YOU ARE AN ANGRY BITTER WOMAN!!! Maybe you need a reminder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJgWMI0hch8

[Reaganer]

Election Year...will the vacations come to a halt for this year? Will Michelle be silenced this year, again for election. Wil Michelle be spotted shopping at Walmart? For all of you Democrats not druck on the punch...Do you really trust this man for a term that would have nothing to lose. He would not have to face the voters again. Would he move even further to the left than what most moderate democrats could stand? If the Republicans gain Senate and House ( there is a great chance ), does the moderate Democrats want another four years of bickering from the White House?

[Reaganer]

Election Year...will the vacations come to a halt for this year? Will Michelle be silenced this year, again for election. Wil Michelle be spotted shopping at Walmart? For all of you Democrats not druck on the punch...Do you really trust this man for a term that would have nothing to lose. He would not have to face the voters again. Would he move even further to the left than what most moderate democrats could stand? If the Republicans gain Senate and House ( there is a great chance ), does the moderate Democrats want another four years of bickering from the White House?

[bsrasmus]

All fake claims of being offended aside, if you act like an "angry black woman" (Mrs. Obama's words) then people are right to assume that you are angry. If you treat those around you like dirt and maybe they will think you are an angry person. If you treat those around you like you would like to be treated then people will think you are a nice person. Really simple. Could you please drop the fake claims of being offended, Mrs. Obama?

[sherri99516]

We all are targets in Obama's new world order.

http://youtu.be/ovU-Y-4-JL4
Music - Popular American Patriotic Song "Who are the Nazis now?
Fascism comes to America- Who are the Nazis now?

The military and the police are now the torturers of the elite and now do their bidding at will.

Vote Ron Paul 2012 and restore America and the US Constitution.