I've heard some blowback from this post I wrote about the Obama transition team's effort to reassure folks that Michelle won't be involved in politics and policy. In particular, I pointed to Michelle's bio on the transition web site, which does include her professional accomplishments but frames her primarily as "Malia and Sasha's mom" and "Fraser and Marian Robinson's daughter."
It's certainly true, as some commenters pointed out, that Michelle Obama could have personally approved this bio. And she likely does consider her children the most important part of her life -- most parents do! But the packaging of Michelle Obama as nonthreatening and traditionally feminine cannot be examined outside the constraints of the first lady role. And the first lady role -- as an unpaid national hostess expected to give up her own career -- is hopelessly retrograde. If you doubt the Obama team is anxious to frame Michelle in this light, and avoid the attacks she garnered during the campaign and that Hillary Clinton faced during Bill's presidency, you need look no further than Valerie Jarrett's statement yesterday that "having a seat at .... the table and being co-president is not something [Michelle is] interested in doing."
The Obama people are smart. They clearly believe this image of Michelle is an important one to impart. It's even more astounding when you consider who the messenger is in this case: Jarrett is the person who initially recruited Michelle Obama to work in the Daley administration. So first, Jarrett encourages Michelle to get into policy and politics. Then, years later, Jarrett is on TV reassuring everyone the woman has no interest in such things.
Presidents routinely take advice from the people around them, including members of their family -- think of JFK's relationship with Bobby, or George Bush Sr. making Dubya his campaign manager. All over this world, spouses and partners spout off to one another about what they think the other one should be doing in their career. Many of us choose to spend our lives with someone whose opinions we respect on these matters, and whose intelligence and interests match our own. And yet, we somehow expect presidents to shield their wives from politics and not take their counsel? Even if the wife in question is a whip-smart politico herself? It's like "Mad Men." And it's getting ridiculous.
--Dana Goldstein
