PrintJune 18, 2008
Michelle's Makeover
The N.Y. Times' Michael Powell and Jodi Kantor report that her husband's campaign is giving Mrs. Obama's 'image a subtle makeover, with a new speech in the works to emphasize her humble roots.' They report that the guest turn on 'The View' is aimed at 'softening her reputation':
'Rather than pulling Mrs. Obama behind a curtain, her husband's campaign is pushing her farther out on stage. She remains a charismatic presence, and when she gives her husband a fist dap or talks of him as a father, she is telling voters, this is a regular guy. This South Side woman anchors him in her reality. In coming weeks, Mrs. Obama will visit the spouses of military personnel and talk of the patriotic duty to provide these families with care and services. And the campaign has hired Stephanie Cutter, a veteran strategist, as her chief of staff, who will seek to deflect attacks.'
Obama chief strategist David AXELROD tells Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe': 'I absolutely reject the notion of any kind of makeover -- absolutely not. I don't know where they got that from. None necessary. ... She's the great American story. Her father ... worked and saved so she could go to college. ... She's just a lovely person. Great mom.'
Time's 'The Page' has the new US Weekly cover of the smiling Obamas, with his hands on her shoulders and his strong hands around her waist - 'Michelle Obama: Why Barack Loves Her.' ('She shops at Target'!)
Rick Moran adds:
I suppose it isn't exactly rare that such a sugar-sweet profile of a potential First Lady would appear in the New York Times. But this piece is so over the top as to be beyond belief. The Times has almost beatified her with this hagiography.
