Somewhere between being called unpatriotic by detractors and planting an organic garden on the South Lawn, Michelle Obama has become the nation’s sweetheart.
“I don’t know how she’s done it, but she turned it around,” said Cindy Clifford, a Democratic consultant.
A USA Today/Gallup poll found 79 percent of respondents approved of the way Michelle Obama is handling her job. Even among Republicans, her approval is at 64 percent, according to the poll.
“I think it’s a lot of fun, the job that I have,” the first lady told a group of visiting children at the White House last week. “You know, it feels just like probably being a mom, being a worker. I’ve worked all my life — I’ve worked in corporate America, I’ve worked for nonprofits — and I consider this a very important job.”
Obama has forged her own way as first lady — taking on no signature policy issues and instead focusing on settling daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, into their new home and school. Her loosely defined agenda includes meeting workers at federal agencies, bringing local groups — especially students — into the White House and getting to know Washington — both the soup kitchens where she served lunch and the upscale restaurants where she goes with her staff.
She has been on the cover of Vogue and other magazines, always in her own clothes. Her affordable style is politically pitch-perfect, earning praise for simplicity in keeping with the troubled economy.
It’s all a long way from just over a year ago, when Michelle Obama was popularly caricatured as a campaign liability, and possibly unpatriotic. Fox News’ “terrorist fist jab” terminology for the gesture she used to greet her husband at rallies gained instant cultural coinage.
“For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country,” she infamously told supporters at a Wisconsin rally, in remarks she later said were misinterpreted.
Since then, the first lady has noticeably softened. Traveling overseas with the president recently, Michelle Obama was demure and ladylike, winning raves from the French for her fashion sense, and reportedly charming Queen Elizabeth II.
Since the inauguration, she has developed into a significant political asset. Their family dog, the installation of a swing set on the White House grounds, and her breaking ground for a vegetable and herb garden on the South Lawn all were hailed as major news events.
In many ways, she has succeeded by holding back. Like Laura Bush, Obama is taking the helpmate role, the one least likely to offend. Avoiding controversy like Hillary Clinton generated with her health care policy efforts in 1993 invites people to identify with Obama in a positive way.
“After eight years, I didn’t feel like I knew anything about Laura Bush,” said Rachel Cothran, a spokeswoman for the Corcoran Gallery who also edits Washington’s Project Beltway fashion blog. “After 100 days, I feel like I know Michelle Obama.”
