First lady's non-political appeal an 'asset'
(CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama is stepping out of her comfort zone and jumping into the political fray. She'll spend the next two weeks on the campaign trail helping to raise money for Democratic candidates in as many as seven states. But a day before she put on her political hat, Mrs. Obama focused on one of her signatures issues, supporting military families.
In typical low-key fashion with no press in tow, the first lady visited with injured service members and their families at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She also visited one of the new Fisher House homes being built there for families of patients receiving medical care.
Fisher House Foundation President David Coker was with the first lady when she paid her visit.
"She wanted to show her support for the military and the programs that help those families," Coker told CNN. "It was her first visit at a Fisher House and a very warm one."
Coker said Mrs. Obama also met with a young enlisted Marine, who along with his fiancée, is staying at one of the pre-existing Fisher House homes while he undergoes treatment for cancer.
This may have been the first lady's first visit to such a facility, but President Obama has visited two Fisher House homes in Virginia and Illinois. The foundation received $250,000 from the Nobel Peace Prize award money President Obama donated to charity.
According to Coker, $150,000 of the president's donation was put toward the house Mrs. Obama visited, along with the other two nearing completion, at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. The remaining $100,000, Coker said, will go toward a project at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The first lady's busy campaign schedule may keep her from making more visits like this one in the coming weeks. But according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs the White House considers the First Lady an "invaluable asset," and they are hoping to capitalize on her non-political appeal. Gibbs said she won't be delivering political attacks on the trail. "You'll see her make a positive case for these candidates, not get involved in the back-and-forth of normal political campaigns," Gibbs said.
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One of the best 1st ladys this country has had. Go Michelle!
A very smart woman also. She is into a lot of causes that are dear to her. Very commendable.
If you can keep the focus away from economics, politics, taxes, national defense and leadership, the Democrats don't look nearly as bad! Go Michelle!
I am so proud of our First Lady!!!! Good Luck Michelle Obama – so, so Proud of you!!! Get out there and state the accomplishments of our current administration and be PROUD of it!!! Show the other Democrats that WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK and you're not afraid to say it!!!!
This is T'SAH from Virginia and I approve this message!!!
Stay positive, Mrs. O. Please do not do any of those attack adds I see from the right. Every night I watch TV, I see at least 4 in a commercial break! All of them are offense, mean, and ugly. I think most people just want the truth and an honest answer, not a whole lot of talk around the question, and they still will not give an answer. We should all remember, the truth goes a long way. Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing, just be a better person by admitting you were wrong.
all the first ladies played well...no news here...l
Besides for God, there's no better person to have in your corner than the FLOTUS. She will tell it like it is. Who knows. She may even make an appearance on The View and get the women fired up. You republicans are in for a rude awakening on 11/2/10. Keep believing these polls that don't mean squat, besides Deleware. The silent majority of democrats will be out in full force on election day. We're fired up and ready to go.
WE LOVE HER!!! It's nice to have a first lady in office who is not only beautiful but intelligent, charming makes me proud!
I guess the republicans will have some slurring remarks to make about this. I mean you weren't allowed to even critize Laura Bush's hairdos but the call Michell everything under the sun. But then it just goes to show the difference between republicans and Democrats. Republicans show their low character and low class every time they open their mouth.
It's too bad the presidential candidates didn't have their wives debate. Can you imagine Michelle Obama and Barbie Doll McCain in one?! Or, on the VP side, Lynn Biden and Todd Palin?!
Michelle Obama is a great role model for young women everywhere. As a former Marine I'm thrilled that she has taken on the cause of military families, who are the unsung heros of the military. The family at home bears all the burdens of deployment and return adjustment, hats off to them, and a big Thanks to the Obamas for putting $ to this cause.
do us all a favor, go on vacation again and show your true democrat side and how you spend our tax dollars by being the biggest welfare recipient.
I hope the First Lady attacks Karl Rove so we can raise more money. Nothing against the First Lady at all she is a fine lady but her husbands policies are not good for the majority of Americans.
Oh the liberal gush. She has accomplished what? Spending several hundred thousand of our hard earned tax dollars on vacation in Spain, interupting traffic and life so her and the corrupt, slimy, inept, incompetent, union toady she married can have a "date." Hey don't blame me, just feeding back the crap the libertards posted about Barbara Bush.
"As a former Marine I'm thrilled that she has taken on the cause of military families, who are the unsung heros of the military."
Semper Fi. But you're the first Marine I've ever heard refer to themself as a "former" Marine. There is no such thing – once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine. Care to elaborate?
She will just as much for the democrats as she did for the poor patients from the South Side of Chicago...... Zilch, Nada....
and I hope she is proud of her country now.
First lady's non-political appeal an 'asset'
and then...
First lady Michelle Obama is stepping out of her comfort zone and jumping into the political fray. She'll spend the next two weeks on the campaign trail helping to raise money for Democratic candidates in as many as seven states.
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So she's being expleited and pimped out to raise money for the pathetic, losers supporting her husband's disastrous agenda? How nice....
Wow, get her out on the road now! Barry Obama's secret ecomomic plan is finally uncovered. Small businesses serving pizza or ice cream will have an economic bonanza adding jobs and tax roles.
Delete my comments if you want to. She is still an embarassment to our nation.
"I guess the republicans will have some slurring remarks to make about this. I mean you weren't allowed to even critize Laura Bush's hairdos but the call Michell everything under the sun. But then it just goes to show the difference between republicans and Democrats. Republicans show their low character and low class every time they open their mouth."
once again some schmuck (thats you poster) trying to ignore all of the slurs that were cast at GWB and laura... your hypocrisy is sickening.
I LOVE MICHELLE OBAMA!!! that is all
She is likeable and my be a good first lady. That does ot mean her Husbands policiees are good and working for the country. Vote the issues not the person. We already learned how that turned out
T'Sah from Virginia, "Get out there and state the accomplishments of our current administration and be PROUD of it!!" In assuming it's to be a fifteen minute speech, what pray tell will she do with the last fourteen minutes??
She is as big of a joke as mr bo is.
What about our elementary schools breakfast and lunch menus
i was just told by a teacher that our school breakfasts are not the most nutritiousness