FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
First Lady Michelle Obama has said her primary role in the White House will be 'Mom-in-Chief' to her young daughters, Sasha and Malia. But lately Mrs. Obama has been expressing an interest in taking on more.
The Washington Post reports Mrs. Obama has been telling her staff and close friends for weeks that she isn't having the impact she wants. Earlier this month, she hired a new chief of staff and got rid of the old one. She's brought on a full-time speech writer, and told her staff she wants to have a "message" at speaking events. In other words, she doesn't just want to shake hands and kiss babies.
Her new chief of staff told the Washington Post, "It isn't just about hugging. Whatever she talks about will bring press and interest, but it's important that she's not just talking [but] actually moving forward on those issues."
Those issues will likely go beyond aiding military families, a cause she has taken on since the campaign trail. In recent weeks, she's been talking up the president's health plan as well. Michelle Obama has commanded more attention accidentally than previous first ladies did on purpose.
Her ability to communicate seems effortless and she comes across as down to earth and genuine. All qualities in short supply in our nation's capital.
Here’s my question to you: What's the right role for Michelle Obama?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
First Lady Michelle Obama is even more popular than her husband, who has a hefty majority of Americans supporting him. A new Gallup poll show's the first lady's favorable rating at 72 percent compared to 69 percent for the president.
Cafferty: People are drawn to this woman.
Also, Michelle Obama's unfavorable ratings are much lower than the president's - 17 percent for her versus 28 percent for him.
What a difference a year makes... On the campaign trail last winter and spring, Michelle Obama was at times considered a political liability. Some portrayed her as an "angry black woman," while others didn't like the way she talked about things like her husband's dirty socks. And many questioned Michelle's patriotism when she said she only recently became proud of her country.
But all that has changed... Another recent poll shows the first lady's favorability ratings are up 28 percent since the summer. The most striking part of the Michelle "surge" is that she's made the biggest gains among Republicans who viewed her negatively last year.
People are drawn to this woman; she is the real thing, and they get it. They like her focus on children and family, her devotion to her own daughters and husband, her visits to schools, soup kitchens, federal agencies, and her planting of the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt.
Michelle Obama is rapidly moving to displace a couple of the more revered women of our recent past. The British media are positively beside themsevles over Mrs. Obama's visit; and they know something about how to get beside themselves. They are comparing our new first lady to both Princess Diana and Jacqueline Kennedy. Actually, she's cooler than either of them.
Here's my question to you: What's behind Michelle Obama's remarkable surge in popularity?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
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