The First Lady Gap

[True Federalist]

Now maybe it's just due to the fact that their years as First Lady have made the holders of that office seem better in retrospect, but it seems to me that the most reliable indicator of who will win the White House has been who has had the more personable spouse, when there has been a noteworthy difference in the affection the public has for them.

Michelle Obama was certainly a better choice for First Lady than Cindy McCain was in 2008.

Neither Ann Romney nor Karen Santorum seem as engaging as Michelle Obama, and that worries me. [Neither Callista Gingrich nor Carol Rand have any chance of running for First Lady in the fall at this point.]

So please, go ahead and tell me my concern is a bunch of hooey, or point out what I'm missing about Ann or Karen that makes them better First Lady contenders than I think they are.

(Or if you want to get straw grasping, point out the good points of Cheri Daniels, Jeanette Rubio, Mary Pat Christie, etc. if the Republicans do get a contested convention.)

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

[Yelnoc]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

We as a country need to be lectured on obesity.  There are waaay to many fat people here.

[You kip if you want to...]

Ann Romney is seems extremely personable when you look at her husband. Although, Michelle Obama's an American icon at this point.

[Oakvale]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

We as a country need to be lectured on obesity.  There are waaay to many fat people here.

+ a million.

Seriously, you have a problem with anti-obesity campaigns? Jesus Christ.

[Yank2133]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

[You kip if you want to...]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

Because Republicans are fat.

[True Federalist]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

I'll grant that like her husband, she opposes the oil companies, its just that in her case it's the cooking oil companies.

A kitchen debate between Michelle Obama and Florence Henderson might be interesting as it would be Personality v. Wessonality.
Seriously tho, trying to make a anti-obesity campaign into a political issue is one of the dumber things the GOP has done in its reflexive opposition of all things Obama.

[Likely Voter]

what is a greater threat and problem that the country faces? Illiteracy or Obesity?

[GOP732]

Now maybe it's just due to the fact that their years as First Lady have made the holders of that office seem better in retrospect, but it seems to me that the most reliable indicator of who will win the White House has been who has had the more personable spouse, when there has been a noteworthy difference in the affection the public has for them.

I think its mainly that^

but I understand what you're saying. I met Mary Pat Christie and I just cant picture her as first or second lady. Shes extremely personable, and not to sound mean, she just doesn't look the part.

[Senator Sbane]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Good to know you care about your health and not wanting to be a burden on society when you reach the age for Medicare or spending down to Medicaid.

[argentarius]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

[Senator Sbane]

Yeah Republicans should run an anti-Michelle Obama campaign. Let me know how that works out for you guys.

[Torie]

Yeah Republicans should run an anti-Michelle Obama campaign. Let me know how that works out for you guys.

What on earth got into Ernest to put up this thread is what I'm wondering.

[Vosem]

Really? I've always found Ann Romney's successfully living with multiple sclerosis to be a rather inspiring story, and she's been involved in numerous children's charities ever since the early 2000s. Honestly, A Romney and M Obama seem (to me) to be pretty much tied.

Election goes to the House, anyone?

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

Laura Bush is a librarian.

Are you saying that Michelle Obama is a fitness instructor.

Like I said, Michelle Obama lecturing on obesity is like Roseanne doing the same.

[Minnesota Mike]

The only negative about Ann Romney is that she is married to Mitt.

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

Good to know you care about your health and not wanting to be a burden on society when you reach the age for Medicare or spending down to Medicaid.

Let's take a wager on my BMI shall we. You first.

[Minnesota Mike]

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

Laura Bush is a librarian.

Are you saying that Michelle Obama is a fitness instructor.

Like I said, Michelle Obama lecturing on obesity is like Roseanne doing the same.

And Nancy Reagan was a Drug Counselor?

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

what is a greater threat and problem that the country faces? Illiteracy or Obesity?

Clearly Obesity, according to Michelle Obama. Good thing she's got her priorities straight.

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

And Nancy Reagan was a Drug Counselor?

Score -

Laura Bush - 10
Nancy Reagan - 5
Michelle Obama - 0

Hey - she at least practices what she preaches.
 

[I'm JewCon in name only.]

I'd take Ann Romney over Michelle Obama any day. Heck, I wish Ann was running instead of her husband!

I don't have an issue with Michelle telling people to lose weight, but I don't need her help either. I've lost 15 pounds in the past week and  half. I decided to start a diet, and I'm doing decent so far.

It's really up to the person who is fat to lose weight. The government shouldn't be spending money on a anti-obesity campaign (not saying that's whats going on, I don't really know lol)

Michelle Obama can go all over the country telling people to eat healthy, but it's not changing a damn thing.

[Yank2133]

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

Laura Bush is a librarian.

Are you saying that Michelle Obama is a fitness instructor.

Like I said, Michelle Obama lecturing on obesity is like Roseanne doing the same.

So your saying you have to be a fitness trainer to promote good health.

Really sound logic........

[Oakvale]

I don't see why Republicans criticizes her for this, it is the equivalency of criticizing Laura Bush for trying to get kids to read.

Laura Bush is a librarian.

Are you saying that Michelle Obama is a fitness instructor.

Like I said, Michelle Obama lecturing on obesity is like Roseanne doing the same.

Wait, WTF? Michelle Obama isn't fat at all.

(great discussion, BTW)

[Stranger in a strange land]

Yes, I want a first lady who lectures me on obesity.

Score, every other American woman except Roseanne +10k, Michelle - 10k.

We as a country need to be lectured on obesity.  There are waaay to many fat people here.

+ a million.

Seriously, you have a problem with anti-obesity campaigns? Jesus Christ.

I love it how Republicans are pro-obesity now, and seem to think that it's a winning issue.

what is a greater threat and problem that the country faces? Illiteracy or Obesity?

Clearly Obesity, according to Michelle Obama. Good thing she's got her priorities straight.

Well, let's see:

About 1% of the adult population is illiterate (a large proportion of whom, I'd wager, are olds who didn't get to go to school because of the Great Depression, or recent immigrants).
33.8% of the adult population is obese, and this is a relatively recent development: as recently as the mid-80s, it was only about 15%