POLITICS

A Real Wife, In a Real Marriage

An outspoken, smart black woman or a bossy, emasculating wife? Michelle Obama defies stereotypes, but cannot escape them, either.

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  • Posted By: guccibird @ 11/28/2008 4:13:27 PM

    Um, what exactly makes you think she's racist,anyway? And you can bet whatever opportunities she had that came her way, she busted her behind to make good use of them. The reality is that being a black woman she had to work a lot harder and prove herself in ways that most white women dont even have to THINK about, let alone worry about. And what does all this "opportunities" busines have to do with her possibly being First Lady? Basically you come off with this condescending "Well she should be grateful she even got where she was because she's a black woman" racist attitude. Apparently, a hell of lot of people didn't agree with you because she's our FIRST LADY now. The reality was McCain wasn't fit to be in the White House because he thought that he was ENTITLED to it since he's a white man, plain and simple. Michelle IS fit to be in the White House, so get over it already.

  • Posted By: 5interiors5 @ 05/26/2008 6:05:26 PM

    So you see women admiring Michelle Obama. Well many of us dont. What we do see is a racist woman who has no soft side but wants to punish all who stand in her way. She does not see that she had more opportunities than the women who her supporters call White Trash. If some of those White Trash had Michelles opportunities II doubt if they would be criticizing the hand that fed them. She and her husband are not fit to live in the White House even if the media sees fit to downplay who she really is.

  • Posted By: Juanis @ 02/18/2008 4:44:27 PM

    What's wrong with being a "feisty dame?" Why would anybody want a wife who wasn't one?
    Yet another reason to vote for Obama -- Michelle would be the coolest first lady ever.

    • Posted By: Everyday People @ 02/29/2008 10:53:26 AM

      Juanis wrote: "What's wrong with being a "feisty dame?" Why would anybody want a wife who wasn't one?
      Yet another reason to vote for Obama -- Michelle would be the coolest first lady ever."

      Hillary is feisty and is running for President....not First Lady. Oh, that's right, when Hillary is feisty, she gets called a ***, not "ambitious" like Michelle Obama.

      Hillary Clinton for president.

    • Posted By: coolrepublica @ 02/19/2008 6:29:09 PM

      It OK to be feisty if your name is Michelle OBbam . If your name is Hillary you are a ***. Wow how far we have come?

  • Posted By: Everyday People @ 02/28/2008 1:22:15 PM

    I recently read this article in the print copy and was shocked that your magazine published this puff peice. Where is your journalistic integrity? In your cover article, you mentioned that Michelle Obama's mother *WAS* a stay at home mother, and pages letter you publish this dribble? Totally inaccurate information. What happened to your editing staff?

  • Posted By: passionately moderate @ 02/25/2008 6:48:16 PM

    Raina Kelley needs to do her reserch. Michelle Obama's mother was a homemaker; Kelley's statement that all black women do not have that as a choice is narrow and stereotyping. Michelle herself gives credit to her mother for how important it is to the Obamas to have her mother's steady, available caretaking of their children.
    Michelle Obama is, I'm sure, learning that whole sentences and paragraphs don't get quoted, only sound bites. It's a shame that this magnificent woman has to be "tamed" that way, but a reality of life with modern media always on the hunt for a controversial soundbite.

  • Posted By: adgithens @ 02/24/2008 4:38:07 PM

    Regarding your third paragraph: what a bunch of self-righteous c**p. Where, exactly, did you get your information? On what basis have you formed your opinions? I can not believe Newsweek published this article--your assumptions are, frankly, disgusting, off base, totally unintellectual and contradictory. Did I not read on a previous page of the magazine that Michelle Obama's mother was a stay at home mom?

  • Posted By: moorejo @ 02/18/2008 10:19:36 PM

    As a black man I can see how the assertiveness and honesty of black women can be misconceived as emasculating. As the writer of this article has pointed out, black women in America have had a different cultural upbringing. This should not be misperceived as undermining the manliness or proper role (husbands/fathers) of black men. In fact, black women have been absolutely loyal, commited and great help-meets to their husbands and Michelle Obama has thus far been an example of that tradition.

    • Posted By: LADC6 @ 02/19/2008 12:51:34 PM

      Amen...

      • Posted By: politics12 @ 02/24/2008 10:04:34 AM

        Except that she has no hesisitation in dissing her deceased father.

  • Posted By: carnabylane @ 02/17/2008 8:35:03 AM

    The Obamas are in a real marriage not that charade the Clintons try to pass off. We need real people, with real skills, real values and virtues as leaders not the politically ambitious willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goal. Hillary's 35 years of experience putting up with a lying, cheating spouse is not a good qualification for a presidential candidate. This country needs uniters who will help heal this country and that is not the Clintons.

    • Posted By: politics12 @ 02/24/2008 9:40:24 AM

      Enter Your Com"I was raised in a working-class family on the south Side of Chicago. That's how I identify myself, a working-class girl," Michelle Obama standard line in stump speeches.

      Michelle Robinson Obama is a vocal and valuable asset to her husband's campaign for the Democratic nomination. Or is she? Aside from her remarks on her lack of pride in being an American, Mrs. Obama has been less than truthful in her depiction of her early years.

      Michelle Robinson Obama claims to have grown up in 'a one bedroom tenement on Chicago's south side'. This does not square with the facts of her Father's US$42000 plus a year salary in the late 1960's-80's (More than US$150000 in today's dollars) as a senior engineer with Chicago Water or the gracious first floor 4 bedroom apartment at 7436 Euclid Avenue, Chicago in which she was raised--an area of spacious homes in tree-lined garden streets. Nor with the fact that Mrs. Robinson did not work but spent her time ensuring that her son and daughter had the best that could be offered to comfortably middle class children--the magnet school for gifted children, home-cooked nightly family dinners, music lessons, sports and vacations that were all taken for granted by the young Michelle.

      It is sad that for political gain, Michelle Obama is less than accurate about her background and less than proud about her father's achievements in providing so well for his family.
      ment

    • Posted By: Politico Journo @ 02/18/2008 10:26:36 AM

      Posted By: carnabylane @ 02/17/2008 8:35:03 AM
      Comment: The Obamas are in a real marriage not that charade the Clintons try to pass off. We need real people, with real skills, real values and virtues as leaders not the politically ambitious willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goal. Hillary's 35 years of experience putting up with a lying, cheating spouse is not a good qualification for a presidential candidate. This country needs uniters who will help heal this country and that is not the Clintons.

      DITTO. As for real and fake marriages, I've had one of each. My dearest one died. the man I married turned out to be more interested in teen aged girls and total control but we looked great on paper. Two college grads, a Georgia Tech grad in a blossoming career, a quiet man who seemed like a good husband... except behind doors. Divorce was a celebration for me. Its so hard for many Americans to "get" Sen. Obama. After the last two decades, they don't know good from drek. Wake up America, the same old, same ole is not going to do it. I am white, over 77 and have lived through presidents from FDR to Bush Jr. Obama is the real deal, folks. JMB

  • Posted By: politics12 @ 02/24/2008 9:39:25 AM

    "I was raised in a working-class family on the south Side of Chicago. That's how I identify myself, a working-class girl," Michelle Obama standard line in stump speeches.

    Michelle Robinson Obama is a vocal and valuable asset to her husband's campaign for the Democratic nomination. Or is she? Aside from her remarks on her lack of pride in being an American, Mrs. Obama has been less than truthful in her depiction of her early years.

    Michelle Robinson Obama claims to have grown up in 'a one bedroom tenement on Chicago's south side'. This does not square with the facts of her Father's US$42000 plus a year salary in the late 1960's-80's (More than US$150000 in today's dollars) as a senior engineer with Chicago Water or the gracious first floor 4 bedroom apartment at 7436 Euclid Avenue, Chicago in which she was raised--an area of spacious homes in tree-lined garden streets. Nor with the fact that Mrs. Robinson did not work but spent her time ensuring that her son and daughter had the best that could be offered to comfortably middle class children--the magnet school for gifted children, home-cooked nightly family dinners, music lessons, sports and vacations that were all taken for granted by the young Michelle.

    It is sad that for political gain, Michelle Obama is less than accurate about her background and less than proud about her father's achievements in providing so well for his family.

  • Posted By: terrie48 @ 02/19/2008 2:43:43 PM

    Oh how I wish Michele were running for President! America would get the BEST of Both frontrunners' idenity! A Female Black President!

    • Posted By: djd100 @ 02/24/2008 5:55:26 AM

      Bill Clinton is not just a 'spouse' like Michelle Obama - He was the President of the United States ! Meaning that he is a popular senior statesman within the Democratic Party. His words carries weight in ways that other candidate's spouses do not.

  • Posted By: mizztotal @ 02/22/2008 4:53:31 PM

    Unfortunately, I would have to agree with the other commenters that this article is not at all well written. After reading it I came away confused as to whether Kelley was insulting Michelle Obama or praising her. I certainly hope it's the latter. I must admit that I too struggled in the beginning with Michelle Obama's brutally honest assessments of her husband. I too wondered if she was coming across as negative and unsupportive, but I've had to check myself on that. As black women, in fact as all women, we no longer have to exist inside a box where we're forced to hold our tongues, hide our intellect, and demure to anything a man says or does. And if you'll notice Barack Obama never misses an opportunity to praise his wife's abilities and candidly admit how much he admires and needs her strength. Their is no doubt in my mind that the Obamas would not be the fortified family that they are without the rock that Michelle Obama apparently is. As a black woman myself, I'm so impressed that Barack Obama is confidant enough in his role both as a man and as the head of his household to be able to acknowledge his wife's virtues, even in some areas where she may be better than him, with genuine admiration and without intimidation. He recognizes how having a strong, educated, well-spoken black woman by his side as a partner is a huge assest to him in both public and private life. I wish more black men felt the same.

  • Posted By: Tired of Media Spin @ 02/21/2008 2:18:40 AM

    I dont like her, she is a B

  • Posted By: dalis1 @ 02/20/2008 9:34:13 PM

    I am sorry that Raina Kelley does not have someone assigned to write about her, but, really, should she have done so herself? Ms. Kelley seems like a very intelligent woman but she was supposed to be writing a story about Michelle Obama, on Ms. Kelley; where was the editor?

  • Posted By: Ronny2 @ 02/20/2008 6:42:19 PM

    "give Barack a chance he is not a terrorist"

    I agree. He is just a bad politician.

    I'll leave that to others to decide which is worse.

  • Posted By: stlma914 @ 02/20/2008 6:20:36 PM

    PEOPLE WAKE UP, stop being so damn closed minded America! it is about time the black families and children of the United States see people (LIKE THEMSELVES) in the news doing something positive just as we KNEW they could instead of seeing another report about how the blacks in the U.S. are allegedly undereducated and violent, give us a break people just be happy for this historic event and stop the negative B.S., give Barack a chance he is not a terrorist! Go Michelle, Go Barack, Go Hillary and anyone who can please, just bring my damn son home safe from iraq! Go Marines and may God bless our sad closed minded little nation! Get over it people you brought blacks over here years ago it was bound to happen one day! HELL YEAH BLACK AMERICANS ARE ON THE RISE, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN NOT DO! STOP TREATING US LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS! make a change today, America stop the racial hatred, we want the same things you do... go to work, school whatever freely without prejuiced. thank you.

  • Posted By: Lfreytag @ 02/20/2008 4:12:59 PM

    Michelle is B. Obama's Achille's heel.

  • Posted By: Lfreytag @ 02/20/2008 4:12:15 PM

    Michelle is Obama's Achille's heel.

  • Posted By: uklady @ 02/20/2008 3:49:51 PM

    Enough already with the Obamas, both Mr & Mrs....

  • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 02/20/2008 2:37:20 PM

    Honestly, who really cares what the first lady is going to be like? We're supposed to be mesmerized with her because she makes Obama pick up his socks and put away the butter. You go girl!!

    This is Martha Stewart fluff...

  • Posted By: jhawkruze @ 02/20/2008 1:32:29 PM

    As a subscriber to Newsweek, I must say that this article is an embarrassing attempt at journalism. If there is one source I look to for quality election coverage, it is most certainly here. However, this piece left me with little more than I started with 5 minutes ago. In fact, I have most certainly regressed. I don't find it hard to believe that this writer has met the aforementioned criteria of a strong black woman. Perhaps, Ms. Kelley should overcome these stereotypes. First of all, she could save the STUCO election story for her "biracial" boy, just after teaching him how to "pick up his socks and put away the butter first". Then, maybe she could spending less time gloating about her self-righteous accomplishments and parenting ability and focus on writing an article, which doesn't register as a waste of time to the viewing audience. Archive this one in the 'Home and Garden' section.

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