Who Is Michelle Obama?

CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric Profiles The Woman Who Could Be First Lady

(CBS)  Michelle Obama has proven she's a force to be reckoned with. She has drawn almost as much scrutiny as a candidate - some good, some not. Now, her family's historic journey is taking a giant step forward, reports CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric.

Long months on the road have turned her into a polished advocate - but that wasn't always the case.

"I'm doing this because my husband's running for president of the United States," she said in a early speech. "Go figure!?!"

In fact, she originally was hesitant to give her husband's candidacy a thumbs-up, fearing for his safety and the impact on their two daughters.

"Family is first for us, and it will always be that way," she said.

But Barack Obama now says his wife is his top campaigner - in fact, she's been given a nickname: The Closer.

But her directness has drawn criticism that at times she has humanized him too much, once calling him "snore-y" and "stinky."

"He's a wonderful man, he's a gifted man, but in the end he's just a man," she said.

The Obamas were married in 1992, by the now-controversial minister Jeremiah Wright.

Sixteen years later, by all accounts, their marriage is still strong.

"I want to publicly proclaim my love and adoration for my wife Michelle Obama," the senator said at a speech.

They met in Chicago, while working for the same law firm.

She says she liked him right away, but really fell for him when she saw his work as a community organizer.

"I knew then and there there was something special about this guy," she said.

She's currently on leave from her job as a hospital executive - trading that in for now for life under the microscope.

Her every move is subject to scrutiny: her mannerisms, her clothes, her pearls - and not everyone likes what they see.

And one comment in particular got her into some hot water.

"For the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country," she said. The comment was quickly seized upon by the McCain campaign, with Cindy McCain proclaiming her pride in America.

Michelle says she was misunderstood.

"Of course I'm proud of my country," she said on "The View." "Nowhere but America could my story be possible."

Born to a working-class family on Chicago's south side, her father worked for the city's water authority and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 30.

"This is a man who used to swim and box and run, served in the military, one day woke up and couldn't walk," she said. "I never knew him to be a man who could walk without the aid of crutches."

Despite his disability, he went to work every day. And though he and his wife never went to college, he sent both of their kids to Princeton. Michelle went on to Harvard Law School.

"My challenges are much more public, but they're the same as most women. And we need to figure this out," she said. "How do we define roles for ourselves as women that are healthy and balanced and make sense?"

Helping others balance work and family, she says, will be one of her priorities as first lady. But for now, her role is chief cheerleader and defender of her husband.

One hint of what kind of first lady she'll be - she played a vocal role in the vice presidential selection process.

According to all those who know her well, Michelle Obama has a mind of her own - and isn't afraid to tell people what she thinks.

[ragnar30066]

Who is Michelle? She is someone who will do whatever it takes to get to the White House. Anything. With anybody. She''ll even play content cookie baking stay-at-home housewife if that''s what you want her to play.

[erasmus81]

"Putin did not climb to the top of the heap by being irrational."

Speaking of Putin, that is pretty good how Dmitry Medvedev is now President, but Putin still has control.

"And, you do not get to be the leader by being emotional."

Well.....I was thinking I should come down there and run for President, but I guess that rules me out.:)
Not that I am REALLY emotional or anything.

Guess I should shut down my computer now and get busy and do something.

Talk to you again, tucker.

Bye.

[erasmus81]

There is very little chance of a world war given the consequences. A world war today would not be like the world wars of the past. A world war today would end life as we know it.

"And that is no one''''s goal."

Posted by tuckerndfw at 05:52 PM : Aug 26, 2008

I know that it is no one''s goal, but I just keep thinking that other countries do not "think" the same way we do. I am afraid that if they get really "PISSED", they won''t THINK before they act.

[erasmus81]

tucker

Have you seen the new article,"Russia Warns of Military Response To U.S."?

What do you think?

I think there is BIG trouble coming.

[erasmus81]

But, I''''m having a technical problem, your clothes keep falling off.

I don''''t know what''''s up with that, but I''''m working on it. . .

Posted by tuckerndfw at 05:23 PM : Aug 26, 2008


I just bet you are!

PIG!:)

[erasmus81]

tucker

You better get your a-s-s moving on that video. I am going to have that "Slapping JT" one wore out!:)

You''re going to make me look REAL GOOD, right?

[erasmus81]

"Canada has more cows than people."
Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:17 PM : Aug 26, 2008

Haha, think your funny, eh tucker?

"Racism isn''''t always determined by the words people use. I have known many "colored" people who used the word "n*gger" as a term of affection rather than a slur. Depends entirely on how it is used and who is using it."

I watched a show on Oprah, about this subject. She doesn''t think it should be used by anybody.

When I said that I didn''t see much racism growing up, actually I didn''t see ANY racism other than from my DAD. I used to hear him talking to my Mom about the East Indians that worked with him. He never said anything to me, I just overheard them talking. That is why I thought it was amazing that my Mom spoke up to my relatives.

[erasmus81]

"Women were not allowed to apply for jobs that were "male" jobs: CEO, vice president, manager, salesman, etc." Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:02 PM : Aug 26, 2008

Well, you could say that we have come a long ways since then, but we still aren''t getting equal pay.

"Which led to the feminist movement, which I supported at the time. I no longer support that effort, it has outlived its usefulness."

Yeah, that feminist movement did a lot of damage.....to MEN. I am for equality, but things went a bit far.

"Racists aren''''t always poor, uneducated & stupid..."

I remember years ago, my great uncle and aunt came up from California. They were driving this big Catalac (sp?) that had bullet proof windows. They told us they were driving through the "black" part of town and got shot at. (They were RICH and RACIST) Anyways, we were sitting at the dinner table one night and my uncle started talking bad about the "Blacks" and the "Mexicans". My Mom told them if they were going to talk like that, then they had to leave. I was impressed, because my Mom doesn''t usually speak out like that. It left a lasting impression on me. I didn''t see much racism here growing up.

[erasmus81]

I can see I s-c-r-e-w-ed up the last post. Must be because I''m hungry.:)

It should have read like this:

"Just read the comments posted on this board."

Yes, I have been reading them for over a year and I find them a bit scary.

[erasmus81]

"Eraser, racism is alive and well in the US."

I can see that.:)

"Just read the comments posted on this board."

"Having said that, racism is not unique to the US, it is fairly pervasive world-wide."

I won''t tell you that we don''t have racism here, but I don''t think it is anything like you have. I was horrified to read that in some places that black people are restricted to living in their own neighborhoods.

Yes, I have been reading them for over a year and I find them a bit scary.