'I Can Only Be Who I Can Be'

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There was some detail in a Wall Street Journal story last week about your advising him to use his heart, not his head so much. Is that a recurring theme?
No, not really. I just think in this race a lot of what Barack had to do was combat the inexperience question. Because that has been the tool of his opponents: "He's not ready." So in his mind it's, like: "I've got to tell you why I'm ready. I've got to give you some details. I've got to let you know I'm really smart, and I know these plans and I can rattle off these policies." That is not the emotional side of the candidate. He'd been doing that, and part of what I was saying was, "Let people know how you feel, too." Because that's really what resonates, after people are convinced you can do this.

At what point do you think he started doing that? Was there a debate?
It was after the summer … You try some things out and you find your voice in many ways. He takes in all that. He takes in my advice as well as the dozens of opinions of many people who are writing and e-mailing him.

You meet up every now and again on the campaign trail.
Who? Me and Barack?

Yes. Your husband.
Oh, yeah. OK. Got it.

Is there time for a normal relationship?
Normal is relative. I feel like our relationship is exactly the same because we talk every night. We talk as long as we need to. So I don't feel like I'm in any way disconnected from him … I'm probably more connected with his work than I've ever been before. I've never participated at this level in any of his campaigns. I have usually chosen to just appear when necessary. So in terms of physical time together, it's more sporadic. But mentally and emotionally, it feels like we're right where we've always been.

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Posted By: Debunked! @ 06/24/2009 8:33:29 AM

Newsweek

Why do you continue to repost these old articles? Lord knows that there are several new articles on current events that can be posted. Why do you choose not to or is the answer that obvious?
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Posted By: Trinia18 @ 06/05/2008 11:43:35 AM

I???m surprised at the number of miserable, ignorant people in our country. Everything, and I mean everything, that the Obamas have done, said, or participated in has be scrutinized to the point where they are made to seem like villains. Had Barack not chosen to run for president, no one would have cared the less. I don???t think either he or his wife proclaim to be ???perfect???, nor should we hold them to that standard. For who the hell are we!!! Stop freaking complaining and judging these people as if we???ve known them all our lives. We only know of them what the media wants us to know. If you vote for him fine, if you don??? t, that???s fine too. What God has for the Obamas is for the Obamas and no one can stop it. Be blessed.

Katrinia Arnold
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Posted By: Trinia18 @ 06/05/2008 11:40:34 AM

I???m surprised at the number of miserable, ignorant people in our country. Everything, and I mean everything, that the Obamas have done, said, or participated in has be scrutinized to the point where they are made to seem like villains. Had Barack not chosen to run for president, no one would have cared the less. I don???t think either he or his wife proclaim to be ???perfect???, nor should we. Stop freaking complaining and judging these people as if we???ve known them all our lives. We only know of them what the media wants us to know. If you vote for him fine, if you don??? t; that???s fine too. What God has for the Obamas is for the Obamas and no one can stop it.

Be blessed.