CNN

I am glad they did this... those of you who are all up in arms, racist, and can't see past your nose don't understand that this is necessary in a country where millions still see color as a genetic defect. It's sad that people still live in the 19th century and can't get their head out of their bums. Grow up! She is going to be an awesome first lady.

Oh, and you dems voting for McCain, you make me sick.

She needs this support, not because her message needs to be "molded" but because she is going to be attacked time and again by the right wing media and the Republican opposition. No other candidate's wife has had to endure what Michelle already has in this campaign.

For those few ridiculous people who claim she's racist, I challenge you to name one racist comment that can reliably be attributed to her. She is a proud, strong woman with strong opinions, but she's no racist.

Out of curiousity, RJ, from CA, what college do/did you attend (if you went to college), that gives you the right to look down on Michelle. You do not have an idea about what it would feel like to go to a college where people of your race make up less than 10% of your school entire class.

Michelle is a brilliant person, more than what some of you people (who call her names) can say for yourself.

I can't stand when people post comments saying Obama and Michelle are stupid, when they both attended one of the top schools in this country. Half the people on these post who look down on them probably dont even know anyone, let alone have a family member, who has attended such a prestigious school.

When Michelle Obama was making $121,910 a year in 2004, working at not-for-profit The University of Chicago Hospitals, the hospital offered no discounts to the uninsured.
Two months after her husband was sworn in as U.S. Senator, a promotion resulted in her earning $316,962 in 2005.

Still, that year, the hospital offered no discounts to the uninsured.

Only after she left, did the hospital start offering discounts to the uninsured, and that was only for 25% off the charges, if paid in full and quickly.

According to the American Hospital Directory, as of 6/30/07, this hospital marked up their actual costs by 395%.

So under the current discount policy, that means for every $1000 in cost, they charge $3,950.

Giving a 25% discount to those who can pay the bill in full means a discount of $987.50.

That leaves a bill of $2,862.50.

Under the legislation moving through the Illinois Legislature, for every $1,000 in actual costs, the hospital would be limited to charging $1,350 (cost plus 35%).

That's less than half ($1,512.50) than what this hospital currently charges to the uninsured for a bill where the actual cost to the hospital was $1000.

The Obama's can talk all they want about making health care more affordable, but the facts show while she was Vice President of the profitable not-for-profit hospital they price gouged the uninsured, and neither she, nor her husband ever said a word or did anything about it.

You can't run around holding campaign events, speaking as a surrogate for your politician husband... then demand to be immune from criticism. Sounds like the Obamas want to have their cake and to eat it too...

I think it is a shame that people are picking on Senator Obama's wife and for what reason? I think it's because she is a strong woman who talks realistically and tells the truth.

Judging by the name calling I have seen the other candidate direct at women in video clips apparently there are those who think woman should be put in their place.

To bad guys we already have to ablility to vote.

Michelle Obama,

Great job on The View today!!! Thank you for the positive comments about Senator Clinton. Glad you've had a change of heart. When will Barbara Walters do an interview with you?

All,

Have you noticed in the last six months how friendlier people have become? How many more hugs we get...before everyone just shook hands. Thanks Obama Camp.

Change we need. I wished this was the attitude before we invaded Iraq...Four million (4,000,000) Iraqis displaced (forced to leave their homes)...At least 600,000 murdered.

He is always on top of things, he has a heck of a clear head on his shoulder, this guy is def. ready to run the country, I'm very impressed. You can tell he won't be asleep at the office, he's always thinking ahead!

Sad!! They spend millions of dollars to train someone that supposed already have a law degree!! We are in serious trouble if the Obama's get in the WH!!
If she was so smart why do she make such stupid comments and throw everyone that helps them under the bus!!

oh, and all the people who make rude comments about Mrs. Obama's looks... She is a natural beauty, not a plastic surgery barbie doll like Cindy McCain...Cindy McCain like other incredibly spoiled rich women are about as interesting to me as a stone. Michelle Obama is a great role model for women...successful mother, successful career woman, adored wife...and she will be an awesome First Lady. She has depth to her.

Wonder how they will decorate the white house. Leopard skins, spears and oh....maybe in black and white, like a zebra!!They will never win!!!!

I think people should look at the issues and stop spending so much time degrading the Obamas. I can't wait until the debates. Then you'll see who should be in the White House. And I'm not talking about no town hall meeting. They wouldn't have been mentioned if McCain had the same amount of money to play with as Obama.

If Michelle is so smart and wonderful, why does she need all this help?

Yes. She absolutely needs this help. Every time she opens her mouth, she inserts foot.

At least Michelle is a real person...not a plastic botoxed heiress. They say Michelle is an elitist? Are they blind? She is a self made woman and far more educated than Hannity and Limbaugh combined.

How about little heiress Cindy McCain? With all her daddy's inheritance she has just like Paris Hilton, why wouldn't she be very "proud" of her country she makes drunk every time?
Cindy McCain is Paris Hilton.
Cindy McCain can only make the nation drunk with beer and all alcoholic beverages. Just like Paris Hilton can only do "non-positive" things – no brains and persona for a first lady.

Yes – let's have more troops for the war so Cindy McCain can supply them with beer and make them trigger-happy!

You just don't get it. BOTH candidates will run this country further into debt. Compare their plans...Obama's adds 3.3 Trillion to the debt and McCain adds 4.3 Trillion.

We are already at the highest deficit in history. Obama did an about face on NAFTA...which means he really was pandering to white collar voters.

China is partnering with Cuba to drill for oil off the US coastline, and that way they can become stronger financially. China already dictates to Washington about their "so called Free Trade" talks that only benefit China.

Clinton was the only candidate that actually did not believe in NAFTA or the WTO deals....we are heading for bankruptcy as a country.

To.....Ali June 18th, 2008 7:16 pm ET
Haha!! can't wait until the "whitey" video hits the internet.
Let's see what Osama has to say about that!!!
----------------------------
You have to be one of those white hard working republican voters, who can't except positive change. Because we as African American don't entertain such prejudice statements to Haha about.....SICK MIND....

Michelle Rocks!!! and who cares? I do!!!

Send them both back to Chicago...We don't need the Chicago mafia running the country ....

This is also a sign of power in the Obama family...Where's Cindy McCain in all of this.

Fine, CNN...My last Cindy McCain comment didn't get the past I can take it...Sorry...

Bring Michelle on the trail...she is going down!

to ahna :you do sound like a republican,bush does have experience look where the U.S.A is now, IT take more than experience to be a
president ofU.S.A.(it required wisdom,great leadership,charisma,good political team,good vision for the country and list go on..)OBAMA has 95% of the qualities, i just mentionned to you above.

Dan in MA: Didn't Obama partake in some drugs? But he's a stronger person for it...keep rationalizing...

we love you Mrs. Obama !!! we are behind you all the way. you are making history, it is suppose to be diffcult ,but i have all the faith in you and Mr. Obama you will come out with victory.

I am sitting here wondering what happened to straighttalk i mean he sounds like an old man . sen Leiberman is suppose to be hi scaregiver but all hes doing is checking the mans ballbearrings imean you are suppose to wisper in his ear and tell him what to say.

Look, its time to put a lid on all the political broken promises, if the next President really wants to help the american people, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME and STOP SPENDING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS over seas trying to police the world. I think a good solution would be to establish a U.S. Embassy in hostile areas of the world to monitory activities and warn its leaders that if anyone comes into leadership that places a threat on this nation and its allies we will "remove the threat " from power nice and quietly " which would be extremely less expensive and give our special forces something to do (wink)each and every time till it is understood that we will not continue to spend unimaginalble amouts of money depriving Middle and Lower class Americans of their right to obtain the American Dream by trying to make the "psyco's' and "radicals" understand the benefits of diplomacy. Maybe then all the next President would have to do is ask the American people for a dollar and few extra cents to help get our economy back on track (which we could get back in tax returns) (hint). With that kind of approach i would be in favor of a income tax increase as long as it would bring relief for the ever rising cost of living in this country.

I like how anyone critical of Obama and co. are racist. Keep rationalizing, folks.

Lynn, Michael, Sharon and Ali you are all idiots. Michelle Obama is an intelligent, articulate, involved person. You should be so lucky if you had one fraction of her intelligence, personality, and integrity. Take a hike.

Give me a break. The marketing of Michelle Obama. It will take too much time and effort to make her presentable enough to be First Lady – living in the S. Side of Chicago left her with too many rough edges to suit me. Ugh.

This so funny. People talking about Michelle Obama getting her own Presidential Team. This is a usual event that takes place to coordinate comments and positions between the candidate and his/her spouse so as not to give ammunition to the opposing party in the campaign. After the election and if the candidate wins then many, if not most of her team will become members of her White House Staff. Their job then would be much the same then as it is now. This is not uncommon in presidential politics.

I just hope the Obama campaign does not use this team to smear and distort the truth.

Go Michelle!! I watched her speech about a month ago and it was fabulous and well grounded in the present, focusing on family issues, women in the marketplace, child care and other mainstream problems that can't be sugar-coated. Barack is lucky to have such a wife. Repuglicans will not win with attacking her and NO ONE can put words in her mouth. I hope someday to meet her at the White House.

A BEAUITIFUL FIRST LADY-MICHELLE OBAMA

SHANNON, your idiotic and anti obama comments should be banned from this website. your rights for freedom of speech should be revoked. I have observed you and you never make any sense for so ever. you are fool of hate.

and to all that co signs to these nonsense put your mom in this situation if your daughters are watching tv and sees a media destroyong you for no reasons when you are suppose to be role models for your daughters and others who will like to follow your footsteps of acheivements only to see these destructions from the media?

Ali-if there was such a video or tape I am sure it would have been out there by now!! If not by the Clinton campaign then by McCain's....get smart and think for yourself!!

she looks like she's had plactic surgery recently, more of my tax dollars at work.

HEY ALI

YOU are most definately the LAST person to know that was faked. How stooopid are you??

After reading several of the posts here it is very clear why America is in such a sorry state. These people VOTE? They are good at a few things, however. Guessing, gossip, conjecture, hate, ignorance. There are a few intelligent posts but they are hard to find. So just how bad do things have to get before Americans really wake up to the danger we are all facing because of a regime that has managed to divide us all so strongly that we have lost sight of our real worth as a strong nation, part of the family of man?

She really does need to have someone telling her what to do ,she really isn't that smart. she's already made several mistakes, like going on the view. oh, who watches that? a bunch of women who don't have to work for a living. obviously she and her husband have nothing in common with me. I need to work everyday to support my family and support a government that wants to increase my taxes more to pay for folish programs that just line their own pockets. The democrat party can say goodbye to me forever. they didn't want my vote to count in the primary, now it won't count for them in the election.

I am an Obama supporter and think Michelle has the potential to act like the "First Lady In Making". However she needs a "fast path" in grooming to be one.

First, she needs to control her excitement and say nothing "on-the-fly". I remember what happened to Howard Dean when he was a presidential nomination hopeful. One expression of excitement and he was gone. I am still mad at the press for using that one moment to bring him down.

The other thing is that she needs to control some real annoying habits. The one that annoys me most is her habit of sticking her tounge out and licking her lips. This is digusting and I hope she avoids it.

Unprecedented only because of the unprecedented HATE these sad people have toward this woman ONLY because she is not a Blue Eyed Blonde like Cindy.

One is a Woman of Iherited wealth and of no speacial education or accomplishment. ( I won't even go into Mistress issues)

The Other an Accoplished , Highly Educated woman who just ISN'T White.

People are so Blind with their Racist views the cannot let go of False attacks even when they CLEARLY and 100% have been proven FALSE.

How Fearful do you have to be when the FIRST LADY even defends her but you still are so eaten up with Ignorant fears you cannot see straight??

This IS 2008 Right??

Sound Familiar??

I still say the campaign would be better off to hide her than to focus on her. She is more polarizing that Hillary (if that's possible). Her husband's positive, up-lifting messages are brought down by her negative, angry, and arrogant attitude.

She can be as sweet as pie from now on, but it won't change anything. It will be too obvious that it is canned. They can tell her what to wear and tell her what to say but, like Hillary, all of those instances of "mis-speaking" will come back. It's hard to believe that a Harvard educated woman fumbles over her words and cannot articulate what she truly means.

I support Obama but I really think that she is a liability. I think they need to sweep her under the rug for his own good.

Xena--are you out of your mind?? Racist??? She is married to a bi-racial man and has a white family-in-law!! How can that be racist? DUH!!!! And it is not YOUR white house–it is OURS and a lot of us want the Obama's in there-so get used to it!!

I guess this will make Michelle Obama fair game now since she is receiving the treatment of the nominee.. First a website to stop the smears, now his wife needs a team to make sure she doesn't say the wrong thing.. What a joke this election has been and is becoming. I will never vote Obama..

Off topic: BHO's smile lights up my entire computer monitor! What a refreshing man....... and smart too. Oh and yes, he is right on time because our country is such a MESS these days.

Back at the topic at hand: And, this mess the country is in is fully reflective of cheap attacks on the BHO's wife. Its a total mess so why not toss mess at others. Its okay ... we will clean this up soon enough. (Soon can't come fast enough.)

Michelle Obama will make a fantastic first lady and great representative for our country. It is a no-brainer – I'd definitely want her to represent my country at any state function or diplomatic meeting rather than Cindy McCain.

I have read most of the comments posted on this article. A lot of people have made comments that compare Michelle to aunt Ester on Sanford and Son and remarks about what she said, or did not say. physical appearance etc.... . It is very funny to hear this stuff and all he is trying to do for all of us is to try to make our lives better. High fuel prices, food, mortgages, weather, world, take your pick.

People, get real.. There is tooooooo much on the line for 92.999% of US.

Some of the things the media is saying is absolutely disgusting, they're simply clinging to any little thing to get a story and strike fear into America. Michelle Obama is clearly a very smart woman and I'd be extremely glad to see her in the White House along with her husband, Barack Obama.

http://www.maketherightchoiceamerica.com

I know that alot of people are scared, stupid,rascist,and just plain dumb so get over it and vote Obama in 08

Tell you what, HUGE PARTY at my house when Obama is sworn in!!

Yes we can!!

Jack

Marc PDX wrote:

"Dems, next time why don't just find the handsomest man or most beautiful woman you can ..."

You mean there are better looking people than the Obamas? Surely you jest!

Haven't you noticed the homoerotic fawning that BO seems to inspire in his ostensibly straight male supporters?

vicki wrote:

"Fascinated [sic] family with values we Americans need."

Nowhere needed more than in the black "community," with its 70%+ illegitimacy and remarkably persistent culture of failure.

kingsley wrote:

"... yes im an angry black man. now what?"

Now go learn what capitalization and punctuation are.

Informed voter from florida wrote:

"No other president has had to hire a team to "mold" his wife and stave off the rejection of voters."

She'll no doubt break that mold, sooner or later, despite their best efforts.

SHE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISE. MRS. BUSH HAS SHOWN TO BE A LADY. MICHELLE OBAMA HAS PROVEN TO BE A RACIST APE!

Michelle needs the team for (2) reasons. 1) because there is enough money from her husband's campaign to fund it and 2) because she is angry and will tell you exactly what she thinks. How many of these post come from "folks" that make >220K/year salary? Oh that's right some supporters are uneducated didn't finish college not holding a 220k annual salary.

Janie, Raleigh, N.C. ................Has anyone noticed that the Obama campaign is full of people who worked for President and Senator Clinton now that the Primary is over?..................THEY are willing DEMOCRATICS and need to work........ I am sick of his supporters who boo Senator Clinton. They reflect badly on him......HRC supporters BOO and THUMB down to Sentor Obama .......Now get over it ......and if you have any money to DONATE help HRC with the money she owes to her STAFF...........DO something positive for a change

This IS the guy we need running our country! He is intelligent and knows how to deal with hateful people. Who better to deal with terrorists? He's got my vote, my money, my time, and his organizers have a place to stay if they need it. We love you Michelle. Thank you for taking on this challenge with your husband so that we might live in a safer world.
Middle-aged white woman in WV

Way to go Obama Team!

Take care of our girl!

Go Bam!

Jeff,
You are so right. I think this is great! Michelle did a very good job on the view today.

It really wouldn't hurt for Cindy to have one too!

I saw Michelle on the View today and i thought she did a great job. i think one thing to consider is Michelle is a lawyer so when she makes her stump speeches and interviews, that is the aspect that she is speaking from. So I think if political aides can help personalize the story then fine, but they better not do anything to change her physically or personaly. The strong woman that she is, is who I've grown to enjoy. I'd rather see her as she is then some non exsistant demure First wife

It was inevitable. Nice they have all those little people sending them the money for such things. But then again, nothing surprises me anymore. For those looking for real... might I suggest you look at someone you can trust, someone who's record you can look at, someone who has spent their life in service to our country, someone who really cares about the country – John McCain. He and his wife, Cindy are real – not something made up to appeal to the people. We know him, we trust him, we will elect him in November.

This wouldn't be necessary, except the Republicans have a shortage of issues they can run on, so they will stoop to attacking the candidate's wife. McSame won't, he has too much integrity, but his supporters and the party will.

If you actually look up Michelle Obama's Princeton thesis - which, YES, is available on the Internet - the actual copy - I found it - you'll see that she didn't really sound all that smart! No wonder she needs a "war room" to clean up her act - and YOU are paying for it! But then, YOU (at the bottom of the "political food chain") will also be paying for Obama's spend-spend-spend programs! Good luck, idiots!

Purely, Unethical, Mixed-Up, Amorals.

Why are the people of Iowa being punished? Have they displeased the heavens? Why are Illinois and Missouri now being punished as the Mississippi River overflows and breaks through the levees? Yes woe is upon all of them as they are ravaged by the floods. What have they done? Well, Iowa was the first state to vote for Obama and Missouri and illinois followed. No states that voted for Hillary have been touched. Yeah, lo and behold, it is evident.

I can understand the Obama campaign wanting to have a "team" working with his wife. She has said a number of things that have not helped Obama and this team will likely keep her from revealing more of her true colors . . . With this move, I believe they are also making her fair game for the oppostion. Which is fine, since the press has really been very easy on Obama and his wife. Obama was never treated as poorly as Hillary and I have to agree with Karl Rove that his race has worked to his advantage in this election.

annie June 18th, 2008 7:41 pm ET

What are they trying to do – get her to shut her mouth? Too little to late – she already has said what she thinks of America . The best way to shut her up is to have obama drop out of the race. That would be the best day America has had for awhile.
---------------------------------

So ignorant, Annie. Why? Bitter? I would be bitter too if I had my job shipped over seas, a gas was as high as it is. Sometimes, Annie, the truth is hard to swallow...

You in the old media really don’t try and hide your bias anymore. Obama this, Obama that... The Country is going to be in a world of hurt if Hopey McChange gets elected and you guys will be to blame.

If michelle Obama is fair game then so is you know who.

c

"Sounds like a fixed poll to me, Obama could buy this election… Even though key democratic statesmen in the party will not endorse him becuase they feel that there is evidence that he has terrorist ties.

Jenna in California

Obama Plans to Disarm our country, so that we are vulnerable to takeover."

Who cares if you are proud of your country or not. If your born here, and your parents are born here (or even if they weren't) we are ALL americans.

Especially Jenna

Roy, San Diego, CA June 18th, 2008 7:18 pm ET

Well, is she unpatriotic, elitist, and angry? How about we have a look at that thesis and go from there.

Well Roy: Where is HRC's? We have been waiting for that for years.

By the way, great picture!

Unreal! If she would shut her mouth, she wouldn't be attacked! Newsflash people were supposed to be electing her husband, not her! Why are we spending so much time talking about her? Oh, I know it deverts attention from his weak policies...

Good for you Mrs. Obama. You will be such an inspiration to young girls everywhere such as my niece. I don't want her to have to look up to "the other woman" as a role model. Keep doing what you are doing and smile (without being phony) once in a while. Let people know you are strong, determined and very approachable.

WOW Give me a break.

I see the move was meant to address concerns within the campaign that Michelle Obama will be the target of significant attacks from conservatives this year. Their pre-emptive response is a team that one aide says is unprecedented in presidential politics.

So to soften her hard core image they are assembling a large PR Staff. Maybe a heavy make up would work as well as telling what to say.

I think the same people continue to tell Obama what to say as well.

He is a girlie man and gives fluff speeches.

Everyone would agree it is immensely difficult to have any shred of American pride left after 8 years of GWBush.

It's bad news when the first lady's already so knee-deep in poopy they have to hire her a crack team of communications professionals. Their best bet is to tell her to just shut up. No more "whitey", no more "first time I'm proud of my country," no more Michelle speaches.

Michelle will be a GREAT first Lady. Smart, beautiful and smart again....Exactly whar your country needs....
Susan, Halifax,

We attended a rally of Mrs. Obama's here in Asheville, NC and were quite impressed by her graciousness, style, warmth, and smarts. It was a very moving event, leaving us feeling that anyone who criticizes her patriotism isn't playing with a full deck.

Of note: as campaign volunteers we sat behind her in full view of the cameras. Nobody screened those who sat in this group. All Asheville volunteers were welcome, and yes, diversity was quite evident.

Thanks CNN FOR THIS STORY. It nice to have a story without all of the negativity.

Those who are critical of Michelle Obama will always be critical of her. It really doesn't matter what she says or does. So be yourself Michelle, and try not to worry about what others think of you.

One thing for sure, she is a working woman. You don't pull down six figures being dumb. She's making a living the old fashion way, she's earning it. Now what's wrong with that? As for those that will be surrounding her, this is stragety of the highest order. Don't give the enemy no ammo. Michelle is smart enough to be her husband's VP. She's one smart cookie. They are doing the right thing with her, helping her shed off some of that CEO toughness that was required in her secular job. Michell all the way.

From Ali

Haha!! can't wait until the "whitey" video hits the internet.

Let's see what Osama has to say about that!!!

Ali, you idiot. The truth is out about that fake video. In the video, Michelle clearly says " Why did he" ! Not Whitey. Shallow nasty people clutching desperatly at anything to demean the Obama's.

There are several of us that couldn't agree with Michelle more. She seems to be a strong and capable woman that would serve the United States proud. Just remember that you have friends here on the West coast. Blessed be............
Obama 08

Maybe she is already plotting her course to the presidency. Then it can be Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Obama. I guess that would be okay if you're not part of the politics of old, right? And why are these people any different then any other lying lawyer/politician again?

CINDY WOULD YOU ALSO GET OUT THERE TO MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN? I GUESS I'M ASKING TOO MUCH. THE WOMAN CAN'T EVEN WRITE A COOKIE RECIPE. TYPICAL REPUBLICAN'S WIFE...

there is no whitey videos, lying, scheming slimy republican tactics , we the democrats are gonna crush yall this fall!!!!

i'm with rainbow girl. why announce the plans? if sen. obama did not authorize the release of this info, he should ferret out those talkative aides and get rid of them. if their comments were not approved, they cannot be trusted. on comments about why sen obama would make this move, we all know that a candidate is judged by his/her spouse. it is extremely proactive of him to implement this strategy...just don't publicize it. blind side the whiteys, i mean righties, just as they plan to do for mrs. obama.

Good Stuff. Let America see the real Michelle. The smart hard working Lady who worked her way up from the slums. In contrast to the extremely wealthy, eliteist, heavily made up, Corporate heiress, Cindy McCain who married a much older man so that she could have access to Washington DC power.

Xena..........I say she looks like he already did throw her under the bus. she is a disgusting racist and I don't want her in MY white house.
Enough said......... EXcuse ME........YOUR White House .......Y so much anger and hate you need prayer !!!!!!!

Obama will ruin us !

This "superstar" thing has gotten way out of hand. We need someone that is focused on the many problems facing the American people right now, not the molding of a First Lady and certainly not Superstars. I thought we learned with King George.?

You know...

These people have PREACHED about not wanting "Politics as Usual", about NOT wanting to WASTE money... Yet, they are NOTHING but more of the same...

We are in for FOUR YEARS of empty promise and speeches diverting us from all of the lies and mistakes...

You wanted "change", not gonna happen...

I think we need to look at how Obama got elected to political offices in Chicago. Interview those fellow politicians and you will see the "character" of a man. How others in the race felt about him in his rise to fame. No one mentions it, but I saw the special on TV awhile back about the process.

Anyone, candidate or spouse, facing the increasingly harsh scrutiny of a national political campaign would be foolish not to hire the best professional staff and advisors they can to help them put their best foot forward. Senator Obama and his campaign are decidedly savvy.
While she has made a couple of indelicate comments, I would love to point to her as a role model for my daughters; she is confident, intelligent, accomplished, articulate, poised, strong and feminine. Hopefully a good staff can help her avoid being caricatured as something less than she is.

Michelle Obama needs handlers to help her modify her stump speech? Interesting. In other words, they have to make her into someone she is not. Unprecedented for sure.

I love Michelle Obama! She's got class, smarts, social and political savvy, and knows how to roll with the punches.

It just breaks my heart when our first lady is little more than an accessory. I really get that vibe off of Cindy McCain. What I liked about Hillary's years in the White House was her commitment to using whatever influence she had to get things done. I'll admit that the first lady is not an elected official, and really shouldn't have much influence by way of policy, but that doesn't mean she can't be an advocate for change.

Michelle Obama is the kind of first lady I can admire.

Shannon – she said for the first time in her adult life she is REALLY proud....come on bigots get it right!!!!

It would be better to say she will have a team of "handlers". Barack and Michelle are both so racist and socialistic that they need people to tell them what to say in order to stay on the path of the Presidency.

Ever notice that every time Obama says something to the press aboard his plane, he needs to come out and "clarify" what it was he meant the next day!

Neither one of them should be representing the United States of America....their allegience is elsewhere...it is obvious!

Michael June 18th, 2008 7:13 pm ET

Looks like the Obama camp realizes that Michelle Obama is out of touch with America. Why else would they spend money hiring her such a large staff.
--------------------------------

Well Michael, Lets see. You are running for President and you are married to a women who wants to apart of history. Instead of not getting involved, popping pills, and stealing drugs like a crack-head, Michelle will be supporting her husband in the race for liberation from the EVIL pharaoh. She was scarred once already by "STUPID" republicans and their word twisting, so she won't fall for that nonsense again...

Nothing says angry and unpatriotic like a drug addict. Oh wait, that's Cindy McCain, wife of Republican Terrorist John McCain.

The Obama family and campaign is starting off strong. Just need to keep working hard and campaigning for November!

This woman is frightening.

This time Americans better do the right thing and vote for the smart guy with the smart wife, not the one you would like to have a drink with (as if).

Obama 08!!!!!!

A proactive approach–good job Obama family. There are many Americans who also got your back against the shameless tactics used by Republicans too often (another reason I left the party).

Si se puede

Yes, McCain 1st wife is still living. You know, the one he dump after he came back from Veitnam to get with Cindy the Stepford trophey wife.

To Ali: Don't you think if that "whitey" video existed that it would have been on YouTube long ago. And to Shannon listen to the actual speech, not the transcript from Fox News.She said 'really' it is only in the Fox version that really was clipped out. I mean come on, look at the Rev. Wright deal, they dug through years & years of sermons only to find 20 seconds taken out of context.
Just yesterday I took McCains speech from 6-3-08 and found at least 20 different clips that I COULD take out of context. and have him saying "I don't oppose a reckless withdrawl from Iraq". Now I guess that's the difference between the right-wing media & honest Americans.

Hey John .......

YOU MUST BE A VERY VERY VERY LITTLE MAN......

WITH AN EVEN SMALLER BRAIN........

WAS YOUR COMMENT EVEN NECESSARY ...........

DO YOU EVEN HAVE A WIFE.......................................

OBAMA/08

michelle needs alot of work.
but underneath she will be the same person. her and her husband needs to show their true selves

A proactive approach–good job Obama family. There are many Americans who also got your back against the shameless tactics used by Republicans too often (another reason I left the party).

Si se puede

Ali you clearly only read and believe what you want too. CNN has already investigated the supposed "whitey" tape. They found that to be a lie with no evidence to suggest such a tape exists. Rush is a liar as well as a pill popper.

This is an appropriate move considering the nation has never had an African American First Lady as well as a President. Republican men in general seem to be threatened by women they can't control and perceive as strong willed and intelligent. That has been consistent with the recent resurfacing of the comments by the Texas fundraiser, their treatment of Harriet Myers (although she and Gonzales were equally unqualified), and the treatment of Mrs. Clinton in those elections.

This isn't about staying out of the kitchen- "the kitchen".
This is about the truth and discrediting the culture of the ends justify the means culture of the Republican party.

Michelle Obama did not say that she was not proud of her country. However, even if she did say that, her words were taken out of context. Of course, even if her words were not taken out of context, she did not really mean it. And even if she did mean it, she has a right to be angry at this country. Well, even if she doesn't have a right to be angry at this country, it doesn't matter...........

Ali,
the "whitey" video will not hit the internet because it never happened. If it did exist it would already be on youtube and your stupid azz wouldn't be waiting for it.

She is awsome

You say it's not about the "wife of the candidate"? Don't kid yourself. Support and Respect for the First Lady certainly makes the job of President a lot smoother sailing. After all, the President is only human and so is the First Lady. We've all seen how distracting troubles at home can be for a President. I would think giving the Lady the respect, means and support she needs to do a great job can't help but make it more likely that she returns it in kind so he can do a great job. Mutual respect and mutual support...clears the path for the President to do his job...making America what it should be.

Please post.

Maybe if she would think before she speaks this would not be necessary. Besides the Proud comment, she has made some other faux pas such as her equivocation about voting for Hillary and what's this about her earning her way to Princeton? She got in as a legacy-the same way GWB got into Yale. It's the elitist version of affirmative action.

Repugnut Swift boats will be sunk quickly,and their Admiral will walk the plank.

Well, there goes YOUR hard-earned Obama contribution! Michelle now has to have her own "war room." Nice! YOU paid for it! I can think of another term for it - PROPAGANDA!

By the way, you CAN look at her thesis - it's on the Internet if you look hard enough - actual copy. And it's not much of anything - just the usual garbage of: If I support "A", then I support "A" because of 1-2-3. But then, if I support "B," then I support "B" because of of 1-2-3. And then you pick the literatures and "authorities" that only are in line with YOUR suppositions.

What it DOES show, though, is a person who had the opportunity to go to Princeton, supposedly for the purpose of getting a great education - and then complained in it that she felt "excluded." Most of us go to university primarily to get a great education - and we should be so lucky to get to go to Princeton! We would gladly leave our personal "gripes" at home.

The thesis is also very poorly written, with lots of grammatical and structural errors.

The reason why Michelle Obama has a war room and Cindy McCain doesn't is because Democrats didn't say anything bad or spread any lies about Cindy McCain. The Obama camp, unlike McCain's camp, know the spouses are OFF LIMITS to attack for political gain and stucking to the issues will win Obama the presidency, PERIOD!!! That's why all the GOP smearing of Michelle will cost them the White House and rightfully so.

Change? That's out the window. Both Obama's are surrounding themselves with a throng of old guard, Washington politicos. The caption to the picture above says "... surrounded by a team of veteran aides". Barak is doing the same. His cabinet will be full of familiar faces. And so will his policies. There's no change in this change. Sorry... dream on... same old "stuff", different day...

NObama N'08

No other president has had to hire a team to "mold" his wife and stave off the rejection of voter's. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

I love how the Obama's lay the ground work. This is why they are sooooo very successful!

Go Obamas – We love you – Yes We Can!!!

She is as untrustworthy as HRC.

This animal thugs must not succeed this time around. its sad that a hard working and inteligent American woman, be damaged because of an election. If she is an ELITIST, THEN WHAT IS CINDY MCAIN the woman that owes a private jet that her husband uses for his campaign.

we all hope the americans are smarter and more civilized to fell for this brain washed nonsense from the "STRAIGHT FLIP FLOP EXPRESS" campaign. they refused to talk about the issues that matters. yes im an angry black man. now what?

What are they trying to do – get her to shut her mouth? Too little to late – she already has said what she thinks of America . The best way to shut her up is to have obama drop out of the race. That would be the best day America has had for awhile.

Laura who do you think gave them the orders.

Barack and Michelle haters, please, you sound so unintelligent and bitter. What kind of lives do you have? Are you happy and confident in your own skin? Maybe you should move to Canada. We just can't stand people like you in this country who purposely try to take away other peoples joy! Get lost.

OBAMA / SEBELIUS -08!

Can't wait to see their kids in White House. They really are both sen from the heaven. All WORLD needs Barack and Michelle and their 2 beautiful young girls. Fascinated family with values we Americans need.

It is an image overhaul. No one gets to see the
real Michelle anymore. Can't get votes that way.

The Republicans along with sen. Leiberman can kiss it goodby . dems lay the smack down in november

Honestly... is she in or out? Barak says "hands off my wife", then she starts playing a major role in the campaign. Which is it?

Just the inexperience showing through again. Dems, next time why don't just find the handsomest man or most beautiful woman you can and trot him/her out as your candidate. You've reduced yourselves to running a beauty contest instead of a political campaign. Charisma in place of experience. Sheesh!

NObama N'08

More spin from the Obama camp, this time for his wife. Hell, I might consider voting for him if he offered something more then "Change we can count on" sound bites and other garbage pie-in-the-sky.

I'm sorry, but the bottom line is I am worried that this guy does not begin to have the experience for the most powerful person in the world.

So, come November, I have a choice: vote for Older-then-dirt or Greener-then-fresh-lettuce. Not real swift choices but I am leaning towards experience and a history of centrist politics.

Ali – If there was a "whitey" video, it would have hit the internet a long time ago.

Typical GOP tactic – repeat a lie long enough and you think it makes it true.

I heard Michelle Obama speak in Las Cruces, NM. She was great!!
She will be a wonderful First Lady. I am white but I have to agree that I am as proud as I can be of the American people who put their prejudices and fear aside and cast a vote for Senator Obama. He will be the best president we ever had. My family is like President Carter's family. We are all in the Obama arena.

Ali:
DOE DOE there is no whitey video, that was a lie. Luney tunes, please keep up with what's going on

Obama does not have the experience to lead our country much less his wife getting her 2 cents in. Those who vote for this man will regret it down the road. He's full of promises, empty promises. No, I'm not a Republican either. Just disappointed by how many people Obama is fooling.

Its great that obama is letting his wife not only stump for him but now he's surrounding her with aides that will keep the rumors and lies under control while she gets her husbands message out to the masses. Obama is extremely bright.

Lamont, grow up!

Cindy McCain has it all over Michelle in every department. Michelle also has an overbite which gives her a permanent frown. No wait, that IS a permanent frown because she knows Barry will lose in November.

I am an American and I love my country.Any American traveling abroad feels the pride of being an American citizen. Am I proud of my country? That all depends how you define "country"
Am I proud the way we placed Japanese Americans in concentration camps during the war? Am I proud Truman dropped Atomic bombs on civilian targets? Am I proud we invaded Granada-We invades Haiti-We invaded Panama. The war in Vietnam. The war in Corea. The inexcusable war in Irak where we liberated 100,000 Irakies by killing them. Where we lost over 4000 of our finest young men.. NO I AM NOT PROUD OF THAT
I will vote for Obama, and if the only thing the republicans have is to distort Michaels coments and rely on stone headed idiots like Hannity to elect McCain, then they are in deep trouble!!!!!!!!!!!

I was very impressed with her co-hosting of the View. I can not understand how people can say she is ugly, nasty, or any of the other stupid stuff that is appearing on the different posts. She is a strong, vibrant woman/mother/wife.

We love you both! You are the best, the most honest and most needed.

It stuns me that republicans would dare go after Michelle Obama. You'd think they would want to divert attention from the candidates' wives, what with Mrs. "Pill-Popping, Money Laundering, Embezzling, Dating a Married Man until He Leaves his Wife For Her"...er, I mean "McCain" being their counterpart. It bothers me to trivialize her past addiction, but if she were the wife of a democratic candidate all of this would make headlines day after day after day. Pretty ballsy of the republican party to bring wives up at all...

Go Michelle!!! For those who want to describe you as unpatriotic, elitist, and angry, it is time to remove the blindfolds.

This Obama camp sure knows how to take care of business and I'll do my part in supporting Michelle as much as I can. Cindy McCain said she ain't in it with McCain, interesting, but we shall see.

Whoa! Some of the comments here about Michelle Obama show the true nature of the people writing. Of course, on blogs you can say anything no matter how ignorant or mean it is. And I bet, most of the "mean" people call themselves Christians!

OF COURSE, Y' ALL WILL BE VOTING FOR MCCAIN, SO YOU MUST WANT .......

MORE WAR, POSSIBLY EVEN WITH IRAN

MORE NATIONAL DEBT, OVER $10 TRILLION AND MOST OWED TO CHINA

Why go on? Small minds wont "get it" ........... I am betting on the Americans who THINK, DISCERN AND ACTUALLY ARE INFORMED!

It's the uneducated that fear the educated. Afraid they will pull something over on them because they really don't get it. Michelle Obama will make a great contribution to this country as first lady. At least she doesn't steal cookie recipes!

Michelle is far from out of touch with Americans. She is very diverse and many people love her. Michelle is a strong, confident, smart and intelligent woman.

Obama was willing to remain friends with Rev. Wright even though he disagreed with some of the things he said in the past. However, when Rev. Wright, decided to allow others to pay him to go on television to purposely hurt Obama, it was then that he realized he needed to cut ties with him. That is no more than any one with common sense would do. Obama did just as the word of God directs us to do when it tells us, "If your left hand offend you, cut it off." It doesn't mean to physically cut your hand off; it is referring to things just like the case of Rev. Wright. He threw no one "under the bus." This year has brought about some of the most dumbest slangs in American history.

Be encouraged Michelle, you have more people supporting you than not!!!!

Obama 08!!!!

You rock, Mrs. Obama!!! The haters are gonna be after you no matter what you do.

They are soooooooo jealous of you. Stay strong and don't give in. We know the "whitey" mess is B.S. Only a complete fool like Ali would believe there is such a tape! What a buffoon!!!!!

Barack Obama: The best candidate the media can buy.

I say she looks like he already did throw her under the bus. she is a disgusting racist and I don't want her in MY white house.
Enough said..

PUMA

I think Republican George Bush was a mistake. His presidency was a disaster and he makes America look like a circus.

That clown stole the election in 2000, and scared Republicans to vote for him in 2004. So 8 long years later we have $4. a gallon gas prices, foreclosures up to the ying yang, and over 4,000 dead soldiers. Why? Because George Bush is a moron, and anyone who voted for him is one too. So now the geniuses want to vote for McSame and have $8. a gallon for gas. Hello, earth to GOP, buy a clue and wake up–your brains have taken several vacations and the country is in the toilet. Don't vote this time, do the rest of the country a favor. And Florida, please don't vote, you guys couldn't elect a dogcatcher, much less a president. Don't vote, stay home. You wear the rest of the country out, we're tired after 8 long years of your precious George Bush and his SS policies. I'm serious, stay home in November, but if you must vote, and I guess you do, start NOW. Don't wait until November and tie the rest of the country up for days on end. Just vote the next time you're at the grocery store or something. Don't make us wait all night for your crazy votes.

She has a lot to offer.

Lynn, "he" didn't do that, staff at the rally did. They also apologized. More then I can say for some.

Behind every successful man is a strong woman. She attended Princeton and Harvard. In no way does she need to prove herself to anyone! Her accomplishments say it all.

Has anyone noticed that the Obama campaign is full of people who worked for President and Senator Clinton now that the Primary is over?. Barack Obama ran on the theme of "change". In the end I may vote for him, but I am sick of his supporters who boo Senator Clinton. They reflect badly on him. I am also tired of the phone calls I have been getting asking me to donate hundreds of dollars to his campaign. 3 today....2 yesterday.....2 the day before. Help!

I believe Michelle Obama, will be one of the greats, like Jackie Kennedy. She may be young and inexperience as some think, but before anyone can learn they Must be Teachable, and Intelligent, and THAT SHE IT, beautiful personality plus.

Go Michelle!

djg

I love you, Obamas! can't wait to see what both of you will accomplish over the next 8 years. Obama '08 and 12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With all of the absolutely ridiculous claims and insults against Michelle, it's a smart idea.

Typical GOP response to a strong, articulate and accomplished woman. Michelle is the type of role model we want for our daughters, not the stepford type that McCain has velcroed to his hip.

CNN get the quote right. She said for the first time in my life, I am proud of my Country. You added the word really. She did say that, but she added that in a second speech when the campaign realized what a horrible thing that was to say. Hello are there any journalists left at CNN, why would you would purposely use the better quote. How in the tank for Obama are you!

Oh yeah, the Obamas are elitist and out of touch with America. Nevermind they both pulled themselves out of the poorhouse by their own bootstraps and just recently became millionaires.

No, no, the McCains, with their nine houses and $100 million inheritance–no, they're not out of touch at all.

ALI- You can wait forever thre is no such tape. You are not what America is about! United We Stand!

Now hear this!
Barack is not JFK!
Michelle is not Jackie O!
Most of you peobably know nothing about JFK other than the "ask not what you country can do for you" thing. He's probably rolling in his grave when people compare him to Barack.

Does anyone else think that Michelle Obama looks like Aunt Esther from Sanford and Son?

It's pretty bad when the Republicans have to go after a guys wife in order to win the election. Of course, snide little yes-men/women like Karl Rove don't care who they smear as long as their boss wins. It'll be nice to see a First Lady who doesn't look like a Stepford Wife.

Maybe she can get some braces on them teeth.

Your prejudice is free for all to see.
Of the last 15 articles 12 have Obama's name prominent – 1 McCain's.
You have 8 pictures of Obama and 1 of McCain.

It is the worship of your eyes that gives you away.

Well, apparently Michelle needs her own war room since something she said (that was taken extremely out of context and is always inaccurately quoted) is reason enough to to deem her mean, "angry", and elitist, while at the same time Cindy is a filthy, stinking, only-in-your-dreams rich beer heiress, and a former drug-addict and theif and yet she is seen as the sun shining out of John McCain's . . . well, you know.

t's actually quite sickening the lengths to which people will ignore bold-faced problems and conflicts of interest just to be able to put together a sorry excuses for an excuse as to not voting for someone or the other. The new rallying cry heard around the world will soon be, "How can 300 million people be so stupid?"

Dems '08

Attacks against her are ridiculous, but I don't really understand why the campaigns is ADVERTISING that they are going to orchestrate her speeches and her persona –it sounds like they are saying they will "modify her stump speech" to make her sound a certain way, or tell us what we want to hear, etc. and we will not be seeing the genuine article, the real Michelle Obama. I understand this is politics, but they should not ASVERTISE it!

Michael–they would spend the money because of BIASED, IGNORANT, HATERS like yourself. They see it for what it is and they see it from 7 miles away–their foresight is 20/20. BTW: Michelle Obama is "right on time" with the current times and in step with America's heartbeat. It's fools like you who make it difficult to see goodness in anyone–experience change on ANY level. Go lie down under a rock and chant your PUMA PAC nonsense....we don't want to hear from you any further...

Well, is she unpatriotic, elitist, and angry? How about we have a look at that thesis and go from there.

Barack is brave to run for the presidency. George Bush is a coward and needs to hang his head in shame and crawl back to Crawford for destroying the country. Everything he touches turns to cow manure. He can't do anything.

Note To George: Don't think, and don't do anything. Just stay in the WH until your time is up. Don't make another stupid decision, just go back to Crawford and take your tired legacy with you. You are an embarrasment to the country, and anyone who voted for you should have their heads examined.

Right wingers – or should I say "road kill smelling wrong wingers" – which one of you would respect any man that stood aside and let his wife get broad sided by the hateful, racist remarks already being pushed through the right wing blow holes?

Even if its not about the "wife of the candidate" ...its certainly about defending one's better half. And that my friends (in famous words of McSame) is change WE CAN believe in. By the way, is McSame's 1st wife still living? Does anyone know? Better yet, does Grampea even care?

Haha!! can't wait until the "whitey" video hits the internet.

Let's see what Osama has to say about that!!!

If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

Maybe he can throw her under the bus, like he did Rev. Wright, his mentor of 20 years.

One just needs to review the many posts on the political ticker to see why this is necessary - misinformation, rumor, and out-right lies - about both of them. There are still those who state that Obama is Muslim (which if he was, wouln't have anything to do with his ability to be an effective President) even after all the cra that has been posted about his 20+ years a member of a Christian church. He has taken his oaths of office on the Bible - but these idiots lie and say he took the oath of office on the Koran - they provide not a single shred of evidence. Is Michelle "fair game" - yes - but only when it is accurate and relevant - FNC using a slang term for an unwed mother is not accurate, and hardly relevant even if it was - it is unfortunate that the Obama's, unlike the McCains, find it necessary to have a "truth" telling website and to have to be so proactive in responding to falsehoods. It would have been nice if Cindi McCain had also joined Laura Bush (at least one of the Bush's has Class) in her support of Michelle's patrioitism, but she has already joined the negative numnuts who try to make something out of noting. And don't forget, Just as Michelle is "fair game" so is Cindi - and the McCains claim they want to run a high-brow campaign - sure.

10 years sober

Looks like the Obama camp realizes that Michelle Obama is out of touch with America. Why else would they spend money hiring her such a large staff.

The Obama camp is so intelligent, I love them....Go Obama!

I think she is hot, nice long legs!

That's great! I think that it is a shame that the Repubs would attack the wife but that's what they do best, personal attacks because they lack substance on the real issues that matter. Michelle is awesome and I look forward to learning more about her and seeing her on the campaign trail.

I guess she is scared of being thrown under the bus. I would be too. Look what he did to those two young women and countless others.

Alright, this is great news maybe Michelle Obama can apply for the Vice President slot and be the number two. Only in America, Dream a Dream and CNN can promote the vote.

Lets do it, this will turn around our country and make us all so very proud to have them both run the country that we all can now be proud.

This is a exciting vision of change and they can do it.

Go Obama and Michelle, we love you both.

Great, I'm glad to hear it. It is long overdue. If the GOP thinks they can attack Michelle, they are mistaken. She needs a staff who can focus on the ridiculous attacks, so that she will be free to meet the American public and assist her husband in winning in November.

She will make a terrific first lady, and I can't wait to cast my vote in November for Barack Obama. Our next American president.

Barack and Michelle 08. Oh and those adorable little girls. We wil have a young American family in the White House.

Love it!!!! This is the guy that we need running our country. He quickly responds to everything that needs taking care of.
Obama '08!!

Who cares about Michell Obama?????

That's our girl. Stand up in the face of the hatred and racism and declare...Not this time!