Mrs. Obama's New Roles as First Lady, Mom-In-Chief

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/01/washington/AP-Michelles-New-Role.html


Michelle Obama's predecessors have carved out enough different roles as first lady that she is now free to fashion the job in a way that suits her. The first lady will take her time defining her new role, but already she's dropping clues.

Sit in on Cabinet meetings like Rosalynn Carter? No thanks. Mrs. Obama says she doesn't like ''the process stuff.''

Pick a pet issue? She's identified a few favorites, including supporting military families with a parent far from home.

Her priority? She always will be ''mom-in-chief'' first.

Protective of her daughters, Mrs. Obama made it clear she was not amused when the makers of Beanie Babies released ''Sweet Sasha'' and ''Marvelous Malia'' dolls just after the inauguration.

People who've built careers studying first ladies say it will take time for Mrs. Obama to settle into hew new role.

[Arkana]

1. That's been a mystery to me ever since I jumped on the Obamatrain

and learned about Michelle. I wondered--what kind of First Lady would she be?

[acmavm]

2. A good one.

[Captain Hilts]

3. The Obamas are very traditional.

And Michelle has avoided using the 'f' word - 'feminist' to describe herself. The position of First Lady of the Land offers unique hazards and unique opportunities to all who hold the post. It's weird that an attorney is quoted as saying they don't like "process stuff."

ER: You get asked to do a lot of weird stuff.