Wife says Obama's record at home speaks volumes

By Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 17, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Barack Obama has a thing for women, says the woman who has a thing for him.

Michelle Obama said it began when her husband was a kid, being raised by his mother and grandmother. And it's no different today.

"He's got me, he's got my mom, he's got our girls. He's surrounded - and he loves it," she said during an interview Wednesday. "He's very comfortable with women, and he's comfortable with women who push him.

"That's the only reason I could be married to him," she added, and laughed. "It's the only reason it would work."

Those are also reasons her husband might appeal to Hillary Rodham Clinton's supporters. But Michelle Obama can tick off a bunch more.

"Barack is the only candidate in this race who is going to fight for the issues that matter to (women)," she said. "Our economy isn't where it should be for the vast majority of Americans. We're going to be at a point in time when Supreme Court appointments are going to make a tremendous impact. We're in a war that people are ready to get out of. My hope is that all Americans will look really hard at our self-interest as a nation."

Obama said her husband's decision to deliver his acceptance speech in the 76,000- seat Invesco Field reflects his commitment to the signature of his campaign: inclusion.

"This is very consistent with the campaign he's run - trying at every level in different ways to open this process up, to make people feel included and feel like they have access to the democratic process," she said. "What better way than to allow as many people as possible to come in at the time their nominee is accepting the nomination? It is part of that bottom-up, grass-roots kind of approach that has been the trademark of Barack's political life and that he's tried to carry over in this presidential race."

Inclusion for the masses is one thing, but keeping life relatively normal for their two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, has been a balancing act. The couple have taken a don't-ask, don't-tell approach to the possibility of life in the White House, and for the most part, the kids don't ask.

Except, that is, about the dog they've been promised.

"That comes up at least once a week," she said. "I spend a lot of time tamping down that dog conversation."

The experienced politician's wife, Obama knew she'd be a target. But instant fashion icon? That came as a complete surprise, said Obama, looking chic in business-casual and hot-pink toenail polish. It's a role that seems to suit her, though, made easier by the fact that she's a head-turning 5-foot-11.

"While I love fashion, I don't have a lot of time to think about it," she said. "That is really my style - some really nice stuff for special occasions, but a whole lot of stuff you can throw on and wash, and it can get dirty . . . and not lose your mind because you got a spot on it."

Speaking of clothes: She can't get her husband to stop leaving his on the floor.

Lightning round

Here are Michelle Obama's answers to a minute's worth of up-close-and-personal questions:

* A typical family night: "We spend time with other families, watch movies, play a game. Uno is a favorite game."

* At Blockbuster: "The family section, if it's with the kids. But he likes action. I like romantic comedies."

* On television: "The kids like things like American Idol, and they also like SpongeBob and the Disney Channel. Barack loves The Wire but we were also Sex and the City fans when it was on. The Sopranos was one of our favorites. That's an example of an intense, gritty, long-term series you have to keep up with. He likes that kind of stuff."

* Who's holding the remote? "We're fighting over it. He likes to click back and forth to the sports channel. And if I'm clicking, I'm clicking back and forth to HGTV. So it just depends who gets there first."

* If she could change one thing about Barack: "He would put his clothes up when he took them off. He would hang them up right away."

• July 17, 2008

  6:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  squeakywheel writes:

  He has a thing for women? Imagine that, a Democrat with a thing for women. Just what we need.

  The article, the questions, and her answers, appear to be tailored to appeal to the average, white, milldle class voter.

  Who knew they were just like us?

• July 17, 2008

  7:58 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  squeakywheel writes:

  I don't hate him or her, I just think they are total hypocrites as are 99% of our elected officials. They are all completely out of touch with the lives of mainstream America and this is nothing new, no change, no hope, Nobama.

  McCain is not much better but at least he is not promising the world and I believe he is more qualified to provide national security, which IMHO is the first and most important issue of our time.

• July 17, 2008

  8:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  freedomfighter1 writes:

  Artstarzz
  "A cracker" here, and I'll be voting for him.

• July 17, 2008

  10:25 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Blondo writes:

  Freethought: Good one!

• July 17, 2008

  2:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ColeyCole writes:

  Pretty much any straight man has a thing for women. He's going to fight for us? What is he planning on fighting for?? He has yet to win me over and get my vote.

• July 18, 2008

  10:35 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  paderick writes:

  we dont want obama, clinton or mccain.
  Dont vote for any of the a/holes. they are trying to make us a One World Order. check the sites. www.alexjones.com

  Ron Paul told congress this. We need to wake up Americans. They are killing off 80 % of the population www.usasurvival.com

  Please investigate

• July 18, 2008

  10:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  paderick writes:

  you dont seiously beileve obama

  HE IS COMMINIST. LOOK HE IS FORMING A GROUP OF BOYS MOSTLY BLACK AND SYRIAN & MUSLINS. 16-20 THEY ARE GOING TO BE ARMED WITH M-16 AND TRAINED BY BLACKWATER MEN THEY JUST SET UP NEW STATION IN ILLIONOIS. SEARCH, I BET YOU HAVE A SITE THERE TOO.

  PEOPLE WILL BE GRABBED, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. KIDS WILL BE MICRO CHIPPED FIRST PRISONERS THEY WILL KILL OFF 80% PULLING PEOPLE OVER OR NO REASON. WALK IN YOUR HOME TO SEARCH FOR GUNS, THEY WILL GRAB VIDEO CAMERA'S, VIDEO MACHINE, CELL PHONES AND ALL YOUR MEDS. TELL NEIBORS YOU WERE PUSHING DRUGS. WAKE UP PLEASE

  OBAMA CLINTON MCCAIN. ITS ALREADY HAPPENING READ UP ON NEW WORLD ORDER. WWW.ALEXJONES.COM HE WILL BE THERE

• July 18, 2008

  10:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  paderick writes:

  OBAMA IS A MUSLIN GO READ WWW.USASURVIVAL.COM

  GORE WANTS US TO BE GAIA - THE GOD WILL BE OUR EARTH IT'S A SATANIC OCCULT. GO VIEW YOUTUBE ON BOHEMIAN GROVE

  OMG OUR COUNTRY IS DYING AS THE OTHER COUNTRIES. THEY ARE KILLING US ALL OFF PLEASE READ

• July 19, 2008

  12:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  me2 writes:

  Are people writing satire here? Or is all caps a sign of mental illness?

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