One-On-One With Michelle Obama

Katie Couric Talks With The Candidate's Wife About Style And Substance On The Campaign Trail

(CBS)  The 44-year-old graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, where her late father worked as a water pump operator for the city. And her mother stayed home to raise her, as well as her older brother, Craig, who coaches basketball at Brown.

Michelle now travels two-to-four days a week, and is in leave from her job as a vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center.

When she's on the road, her mother cares for her two daughters, 9-year-old Malia and 6-year-old Sasha.

Her husband says she's such an effective advocate that he calls her "the closer."

What follows is a transcript of part of Katie Couric's interview with Michelle Obama. Part II, which will focus on more personal side of Michelle Obama, will air Friday on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

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Couric: You’ve seen the crowds, the way they embrace your husband. Some commentators have used the word "messianic." Do you ever worry that the whole thing, the whole movement is a little over the top for some voters?

Obama: Barack and I talk about this all the time. We talked about it before the decision to run, because … when you’re really trying to make serious change, you don’t want people to get caught up in emotion because change isn’t emotion. Because change isn't emotion. Its real work and organization and strategy - that’s just the truth of it. I mean, you pull people in with inspiration, but then you have to roll up your sleeves and you’ve got to make sacrifices and you have got to have structure.

Couric: Your husband's experience has been repeatedly questioned. Some voters worry that with three years in the Senate he needs a little more experience under his belt before he’s ready. What do you tell people who are worried about that?

Obama: I tell people that in our politics we measure by this very narrow definition. And a lot of times its years in Washington, or whether you’ve made a lot of money running a very large corporation. I mean, we just tend to weigh certain experiences more than others. But what I say is that the measure of leadership is the choices that people made over a lifetime, not when everybody’s looking.

Couric: Like what?

Obama: Community organizing. Now, when was the last time we’ve had a president of the United States who spent years working on the streets in a major city, for years working with people who never had a voice and advocating for better streets, cleaner streets, safer communities? Somebody who has worked as a constitutional law scholar, [as a] civil rights attorney, for years. Barack has more legislative experience than Hillary Clinton does. Barack has spent eight years, in addition to his work as a U.S. senator, in the state legislature. Barack is highly experienced. It's not conventional experience that we're used to seeing, because most people have spent a whole lot of time in Washington.

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Portions of Couric's interview also aired on Friday's Early Show. They involved the causes Michelle Obama would fight for as first lady and what she would say to those who feel her husband is so much younger than Hillary Clinton. See a transcript here.

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Couric: If it ends up being a race against your husband and John McCain ... Sen. McCain will undoubtedly focus on ... your husband’s lack of foreign-policy experience. How do you combat that?

Obama: One of the things Barack will say is that … we’re right now in a war that should have never been authorized and never been waged. People like John McCain and people with a whole lot of years in Washington, who looked at a situation and read it wrong.

Couric: But what about September 11? Nobody wanted that to happen. And I think the country wants to be reassured that the person in the Oval Office will know how to respond.

Obama: You know, one of the things we can’t do in this country is operate from a place of fear. How are we going to reestablish our footing in the world and change conversations globally so that we … move to a different place in how we deal with issues of terrorism?

That we’re … instead of protecting ourselves against terrorists, that we’re building diplomatic relationships and we're investing in education abroad so that we’re making sure that kids are learning how to read as opposed to ... fight us.

We’ve spent eight years gearing ourselves up for a fight, and we haven’t been educating our kids. We don’t have universal health care. I think that’s going to be the debate that Barack has: How are we going to direct our energy? Are we going to gear up for a fight or are we going to work to heal our nation?

Couric: This must be an extremely heady experience for both of you. And I know you have said he’s always had a healthy ego. How do you keep it all in check?

Obama: You know, he’s got a healthy ego because anybody who decides they’re gonna be president of the United States has to think well of themselves.

But the truth is there is are a lot of bumps and bruises along this, you know, campaign trail. There are a lot of humbling experiences. I mean, as I said, Barack has spent most of this year being the person who has no chance of winning.

Couric: Do you ever look at your husband, and does he ever look at you, and do you say can you believe this?

Obama: Oh yeah. Yeah. It’s probably once a week now. Yeah, absolutely. This is a trip.

[summit1515]

Michelle Obama is a really wonderful support for her husband, and I admire her very much.

[carolineguzm]

RE: Katie''s introduction "First Lady In Waiting, Michelle Obama" is very inappropriate. I didn''t know we had already elected a President. Apparently Katie is showing her favoritism like her fellow newscasters at the other networks are doing.

[l8c6]

Well, Katie didn''t ask he she pops vitamins.

I like the way michelle answered the questions. Much better than other impressions I''ve had.

[janetlynn7]

I don''t know if you got my frist comment or notif you didn''t
WE DON''T SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT FIGHT BACK
ALL HE WANT''S TO IS EDUCATE THEM MORE TO DO MORE TO US.

[realpatriot1]

carolineguzm,

All the candidates spouses are in waiting. Besides, you don''t have to be very good at math to see who is most likely to win the election. Certainly it''s not a done deal and much can change between now and November but clearly he is in the best position at this point.

I didn''t hear anyone complain when Hillary was anointed as the presumptive President-elect by EVERYONE for a full year.

18c6,

I liked what she had to say as well with one exception. I agree that building bridges is a big part of fighting the war on terror which has been ignored by the current administration. I just hope they realize that those who oppose us will still pose a threat that we must continue to confront. I think they do realize that and I know there are able people advising the campaign that do. It will be important to make that clear during the remainder of the campaign.

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to draft young men and women.

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to draft young men and women.

Happy Valentine''s Day!

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to enact a draft of young men and women.

Happy Valentine''s Day!

[rock8hawg]

I must agree with carolineguzm, Obama hasn''t been elected president and Ms. Obama is not "First Lady in waiting". I also think that the softball questions were designed to allow Ms. Obama to respond in the most favorable manner to Mr. Obama. This amounts to a
free 3 minute ad for Obama two nights in a row. Are you going to give Bill Clinton equal time with the same positive spin? I rather doubt it. This interview is not unbiased journalism. Ms. Curic I have been a CBS News viewer for over 40 years. You have turned a respected News program into a fluffly magazine with obvious bias.

Drew M. Phillips

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to enact a draft of young men and women.

Happy Valentine''s Day!

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to enact a draft of young men and women.

Happy Valentine''s Day!

[kstar42]

Katie needs to stop with all her mouth and go home, Bo isn''t the president yet, and Michelle is not the first lady....
Go Hillary!!! Fight til the end.. You still have OHIO

[deboerjd]

I enjoy Michelle - she comes across as very down to earth but very intelligent. Where are the Republican spouses.... I have never seen McCain''s wife speak. At all.

[picana-2009]

See this cartoon on Obama: http://www.indogram.com?centerpiece=hm-254&city=bay

[picana-2009]

Thats http://www.indogram.com?centerpiece=hm-254&city=bay

[destardi]

realpatriot, um, they''re neck and neck..did everyone go around saying Hillary was going to win, the whole time she held the lead?

A big. fat. NOPE.

Republicans voting for Obama in the primary so they can run against him instead of HIllary in the presidential election is big sign of who we should be voting for.

HIllary is far from done...Mark.My.Words.

[pussbump]

Senator Barrack Hussein Obama, Jr. was standing in the pulpit of a black church in Selma, Alabama. However, as he spoke, I found my bull_ _ _ _ alarm going off. But I couldn''t figure out why until I read his speech.
Okay, so what''s wrong with that? Obama told his audience that, because some folks had the courage to "march across a bridge" in Selma, Alabama, his mother, a white woman from Kansas, and his father, a black Muslim from Africa, took heart. It gave them the courage to get married and have a child. The problem with that characterization is that Barrack Obama, Jr., was born on August 4, 1961, while the first of three marches
across that bridge in Selma didn''t occur until March 7, 1965, at least five years after Obama''s parents met. Obama went on to tell his audience that the Kennedys, Jack and Bobby, decided to do an airlift. They would bring some young Africans over so that they could be educated and learn all about America. His grandfather heard that call and sent his son, Barrack Obama, Sr., to America. The problem with that scenario is that, having been born in August 1961, the future senator was not conceived until sometime in November 1960. So, if his African grandfather heard words that "sent a shout across oceans," inspiring him to send his goat-herder son to America, it was not Democrat Jack Kennedy he heard, or his brother Bobby, it was Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

[pussbump]

It is great to hear about all that is wrong in America and fire everyone up! The problem is telling us how he is going to fix everything that is wrong after the primarys. OH it is going to get messy. America will see what a child Obamma is politicaly when it comes down to one on one with the other side. He is so young to the Feds he doesn''t even know some of the workings behind the scenes. He is going to be left speachless is the future debates. Or he will speak knowing nothing of what he is talking about and make a complete *** of himself. The gloves are going to come off in a few months.

[realpatriot1]

destardi1,

A big fat who are you trying to kid!

Her surrogates have been coronating her since 2004. Her entire campaign was built upon the presumption that it would be over by now. When he pulled even with her in the New Hampshire polls that''s when the fur began to fly. Everytime she has a political near death experience she starts tearing him down. That''s because when you have a 50% negative rating from the voters you can''t possibly succeed by concentrating building yourself up.

If you read my post I didn''t say she was done, i said at this point the math clearly favors him as do the overwhelming laws of probability.

I know you all are hoping for an underhanded victory by winning over super delegates and/or seating Michigan & Florida and i say good luck with that.

Regarding your Repblican vote conspiracy nonsense, most of those "red state" victories were closed to Republicans and independents but were flooded with new voters that HE brought to the party.

I guess his closing the gap among women, working class, and Hispanic voters is another Republican conspiracy too.

Keep grasping at straws Dude!

[caveatmusing]

Great Michelle Obama interview, Katie.

Our families and soldiers are weary. Unless we pivot our mindset, our level of combat and occupation will force us to enact a draft of young men and women.

Happy Valentine''s Day!

[trace-sc]

WALTER CRONKITE, where are you?
We miss you so much these days!

[pussbump]

I always wonder if Katie is talking for herself or the network. I always thought of Katie as an independant not a puppet. Since she got the anchor job.... it seems she has lost her ability to think. Almost like she has lost her identity.....maybe her sole?

[realpatriot1]

pussbump,

Do tell waht candidate has provided us with more specifics than he has regarding how they will fix America. Please don''t give me any platitudes about "Ready from day 1"(I prefer the logan Hillary...wrong from Day1). Jibberish about 35 years of experience isn''t a solutions orientation, it''s a slogan like "Mission Accomplished".

[trace-sc]

Katie, may I make a suggestion?
Why don''t you interview Oprah instead?
It would be more appropriate for your style: showbizz!

[rowdytexan2]

Why didn''t Katie ask Michelle about Obama''s claims about not hiring lobbyists? Or about the pak money spent on his campaign?

[rowdytexan2]

Why didn''t Katie ask Michelle Obama why they accused the Clintons of denigrating MLK''s work, by making false statements?

[rowdytexan2]

Barak Obama has taken EVERYONE elses plans and jiggled them around, then acts like he''s the ONLY one with a plan.

He didn''t have a plan for anything until December!!!!

[pussbump]

The Huckster Mr. realpatriot1

[ontheleft]

It''ll be refreshing to finally have a first lady who is not only attractive, but also didn''t kill her boyfriend by running a stop sign while drunk.

[realpatriot1]

destardi1,

Another point if I may. Neck and neck? Really?

Strip away the super delegates who will ultimately go with the popular choice after first kissing all the behind they can. The MSM keeps including them in the ever changing and totally inconsistent delegate counts to make it look closer for her than it is.

He has a lead among pledged delegates well over 100. She has never lead in pledged delegates even when she has won contests. There aren''t many states left where she can make up the difference, which is why she''s pinning so much on Ohio and Texas.

Pennsylvania will only work for her if she wins landslides in both Ohio & Texas. Except for here in North Carolina where he currently has a 10 point lead
that''s it for large states with significant numbers of delegates.

Texas has a hybrid primary/caucus. The Primary is March 4 and the caucus results won''t be announced until June. 67 of the total Texas delegates won''t be awarded until the-too late to change the outcome unless she makes up the difference elsewhere.

I may have to mark your words but I certainly wouldn''t want to take that bet!

[trace-sc]

Katie,

Paraphrasing your words: If it ends up being a race between you and Dan Rather ... where do you think I would put my money?

Right, for once you guessed it right!

[pussbump]

realpatriot1 - The prez can''t fix it anyway.... read the constitution.... the only thing he can do is approve or disapprove what congress does. Executive order? please..... And any more the Judicial branch seems to be running the country more any any one eles. sheeesh

[realpatriot1]

RowdyTexan2,

You Hillary people are sounding awfully whiney.

i can''t remember exactly when I first started reading his policy proposals on his website but I know what he''s been propoaing in speeches and in legislative proposals for several years now.

What specific proposals are you claiming that he didn''t go on the record for until december? Can you actually demonstrate when hillary made a proposal and when he parroted the same?

We only have to look back 24 hours to see what Obama proposed yesterday that Clinton parroted today.

pussbump,

The Huckster? Is that supposed to be a comeback?

[rowdytexan2]

Go Hillary! Fight like a Tiger! We need competence in the White House, not buffoonery!

[bobgee_1999]

Would Couric please die? Thanks. Messionic? I''m faily sure that isn''t a word, Katie. Try Messianic.

[plusbbcather]

Is it necessary for all the filth? I would really like to hear what each candidate will do and how exactly they plan to carry it out. I am tired of candidates making promises without saying just what they are going to do. Really just the facts.
__________________
I am Catherin, a beautiful plus woman and part-time model from US. Internet is a quite good place to meet friends and even find whatever your need. so i uploaded my hot photos on the celebrity dating site LargeMingle.com under the name wantadaddy, maybe you want to check out my photos firstly!

[pussbump]

Yes the Huckster is a comeback. I like his fair tax. I like the idea that even all the ******, drug dealers, pimps, welfare crackheads, rich snotty nose kids, rich executive types, poor living in the gutter types, would have to pay. Even thieves, politicians, Clergy, nuns, and yes even retards would have to pay because it is not based on income it is based on spending. Wow.... it doesn''t matter how you get your money your gonna pay. Even little kids getting bubble gum out of the bubble gum machine will be paying. Sounds fair!

[trace-sc]

One-on-one with Katie Couric

A final thought: If you honestly think that your interview was a good piece of work, why is everybody beating around the bushes without taking notice of the issues you pretended to raise?

A final request: stop plastering all CBS''site with your picture!

Sincerely

An old and displeased CBS watcher.

[realpatriot1]

RowdyTexan2,

The reason Katie didn''t ask the questions you''re suggesting is because she would have to issue a retraction for spreading misinformation on the airways, something you will never have to do for spreading propaganda.

Rezco didn''t buy the Obama''s house, he bought a lot next door and they bought the house separately, you obviously don''t know the facts of the issue you''re ranting about.

The Obamas didn''t put words about LBJ in Hillary''s mouth so they didn''t tell any lies. Please expand if you can.

Obama never commited to not accepting PAC or lobbyist money but he did of that than the other candidates so that''s a pretty lame issue to go after him on for someone who supports the undisputed champ of special interest moolah.

[pussbump]

Oh yes Catherin even FAT people would have to pay taxes. FAT people would probably would pay more because they eat more than other people

[realpatriot1]

pussbump, I''ve reread all the prvious posts i made and you made and i have no freakin clue what you mean about reading the Constitution and referencing executive orders.

What in the hell are you talking about?

[pussbump]

Dr. Phil ---- I hate FAT people that are on disability! I hate Alcoholics that are on disability! I hate smokers that are on disability! Why don''t you quit doing what is killing you? These are the kinds people that will prevent any kind of Universal Health Care from working. But Obamma will be able to find a solution to the drain. Hell Dr Phil has been on TV for years and he can''t fix it. Sheeeesh he can''t even help Britney. Obamma will mental health be part of your plan?

[realpatriot1]

pussbump,

There''s nothing fair about the so-called fair tax. What it really means is that those snooty nose rich kids and CEOs would score big and the unemployed, the working poor, and the middle class would end up paying as much or more than Bill Gates.

I can see why Bill gates would like it.

From an economic perspective it would be idiotic to tax spending when 2/3 of the economy is comprised of consumer spending.

[realpatriot1]

pussbump,

Mental health is part of his plan. learn to read and go check it out on his website.

[pussbump]

realpatriot1 - I was being bad.... I was just saying that the presidents power is limited. He alone cannot fix the country. Congress is the empowered body of this country. I was making light of the power that the president doesn''t seem to have any more due to the judicial department saying everything he does is unconstitutional. I was just Blabbbing

[pussbump]

It was fun tonight.... Gotta go to work in the morning. Catch you all some other time untill then stay tuned to FOX news. They report you decide! Ha Ha Ha Good Night and God Bless!

[rowdytexan2]

In sharp contrast to his tough talk about ethics reform in government, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., approached a well-known Illinois political fixer under active federal investigation, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, for "advice" as he sought to find a way to buy a house shortly after being elected to the United States Senate.
The parcel included an adjacent lot which Obama told the Chicago Tribune he could not afford because "it was already a stretch to buy the house."
On the same day Obama closed on his house, Rezko''s wife bought the adjacent empty lot, meeting the condition of the seller who wanted to sell both properties at the same time.

Rezko''s behind-the-scenes connection in the Obama house deal became public as Rezko revealed personal financial details as he sought to post bail.

[rowdytexan2]

The Obamas didn''''t put words about LBJ in Hillary''''s mouth so they didn''''t tell any lies. Please expand if you can.

You''re right, he just sicked Daddy Al and Daddy Jesse to do his dirty work for him! Can''t dirty his own hands with what he really wants done. Reminds me of Bush!

[nearl4511]

Psssst!

Hey, arbor30a.

Your caps key is stuck on.

Word to the wise, eh.

[p5e0428]

Katie Couric gave more respect to the wife whose running for president. Then she did in her interview with Hillary Clinton whose actually running. What is going on here? Sexist or racist. Is reverse discrimination happening to Hillary. And by the way how can I man who lived half of this life as a Muslim and not in this Country be the answers we need.