by Christi Parsons
Hillary Clinton has made life easier for young women with her historic run to break the glass ceiling at the White House, Michelle Obama said this morning.
"I think Hillary Clinton, as she has said, created 18 million cracks on the ceiling," Obama said, speaking on ABC's program The View. "We have to keep pushing it."
In her debut as a guest co-host of the show, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama also defended herself against a barrage of criticism during and since the primary season.
She never meant to say she wasn't proud of her country, but rather that she was talking about her pride in the political process.
"I wear my heart on my sleeve, just like all of you guys," she said. "At some level, when you put your heart out there . . . it's a risk that you take."
Obama said she was proud of the nation before her campaign, but that, in the controversial comment, she was talking about pride in the political process.
She said she was so touched by Laura Bush's public defense of her that she wrote a note of thanks. She also expressed admiration for the first lady.
"There's a reason why people like her," Obama said. "She doesn't just sort of fuel the fire."
Although Obama showed respect for Clinton's campaign for the nomination, she also passed on the chance to express a point of view on whether Clinton should be the vice presidential running mate.
There was also a hand-holding moment with View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck, sitting further to the right both on the set and on the political spectrum.
"This girl, she's solid," said Obama. "She's got great kids, she's a great mom, she's funny, I can disagree with her on a whole bunch of points" without being enemies.
Indeed, everybody on the set got the trademark fist-bump when they sat down with Obama.
The appearance was the first outing since the campaign decided to be a little more protective of the Michelle Obama brand.
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Comments
michelle is going to make an awesome first lady. unlike cindy mccain who got busted again stealing recipes from hershey and trying to pass them off as her own. kleptomania can be curbed through a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological counseling and naltrexone.
Posted by: crud | June 18, 2008 11:47 AM
Love Michelle! She was great on the view! I voted for McCain in the primary, but as far as first ladies go, she would be FAR better than Cindy McCain.
Posted by: Tracy Stewart | June 18, 2008 12:26 PM
Who was the photo editor on the earlier story re: Michelle's appearance on The View? Why did he/she make the photo selections that were made? Michelle, I'm sure, has a head n shoulders photo similar to the one you chose for Cindy McCain. So why the difference?
Posted by: cathy taylor | June 18, 2008 12:40 PM
I love Michelle! She is intelligent, witty, elegant-a class act. She will make a wonderful first lady.
Obama '08
Posted by: nicole | June 18, 2008 2:01 PM
Michelle Obama is a brilliant woman. She will be a great First Lady and will bring class to the White House. We have not had a really classy first lady since Lady Bird Johnson. Michelle Obama will be a guiding light to this nation, leading us out of the dark and gloomy world George W. Bush has left behind.
Posted by: Kathy Schroeder, Texas | June 18, 2008 2:21 PM
This was publicity pure and simple and of course she well prepped herself to project the image that she wanted to show. This is pure politician. I will have to see a bit more and hear a bit more before I decide by November. Remember don't judge a book by it's cover. Her ( or Cindy's) nice dress, cutesy jokes, blah blah, don't get me health insurance, or help me pay MY rent.
Posted by: Carmen | June 18, 2008 2:47 PM
Yes, agreed that it was publicity but Michelle is not the one running for the office of President.
However, given that she is Barack's wife, and that we've had a mostly one dimensional view of the lady, it's good to see a little something that gives you pause for thought...
Michelle did a great job and did herself and hubby proud!
Posted by: Dee | June 18, 2008 3:52 PM
Michelle is classy...now if only her people would book her on classy shows instead of something like "The View".
Posted by: lochnessmonster | June 18, 2008 4:45 PM
In a world of hype, where personalities and politicians speak only in contrived soundbites it was refreshing to see Michelle Obama on Barbara Walters’ The View this morning. With grace, dignity, wit, and charm, Michelle manouvered through the often trite, sometimes annoying, occasionally bitchy maze that is The View.
I think it's great that everyone expected a total negative bitch-fest and instead Michelle showed all glam and friendly and sincere. It was really interesting to see how it kind of took The View ladies aback, especially Elizabeth.
Posted by: starkravingmadeleine | June 18, 2008 8:43 PM
WOW i am glad she did a good job on the view. Hey, lets make her husband president because his wife is a good talk show host. Yeah ,thats how america picks them! Then later we can all bitch because america has gone down hill because we were dumb enough to pick a president who talks in circles and waves a magical wand over you fools. why not give cindy a chance on the view? Let her have a chance and charm the world? one sided media would prevent that from happening. Why dont we actually chose a president because of what he believes in? hey thats an idea!
Posted by: Cat | July 2, 2008 4:47 AM
FOR THE LAST PERSON I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT .. THE FACTS SHOW THAT MICHELLE IS A GREAT EDUCATED PERSON AND SHE DESERVES ALL THE MEDIA ATTENTION (POSITIVE) SHE CAN GET.. UNLIKE CINDY WHO SITS THERE LIKE SOMETHING PLASTIC AND SMILES, AND NO SUBSTANCE TO BACK IT UP
Posted by: FREDDY | September 7, 2008 8:05 PM