This week I've been doing / will be doing a series of diaries entitled Obama: The Only Thing You Need to Know (Yes, the irony is apparent).
Part 1 - Constitutional Law Senior Lecturer
Part 2 - Civil Rights Lawyer
Part 3 - Running Project Vote! in Chicago
Part 4 - Community Organizer
Today I decided to go with a lighter theme. I will be tackling his time as a state senator soon, but I decided to focus on the family today. No, that's not a James Dobson reference. I mean his direct family, particularly Michelle Obama and what she has to bring to the table as first lady. Now, granted I could honestly do a diary on every one of her jobs too. But I'll just try to hit some high points...
After writing this, I stumbled upon Icebergslim's excellent Michelle Obama, the Closer in the Family. Check that out too.
Michelle Obama: Barack didn't pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he's delivered.
http://abclocal.go.com/...
Again and again, no matter what aspect of Barack's life you research, the lack of interest in money is there. I have to say, I find that truly amazing this day in age.
We made a good decision to stay in Chicago, to remain based in Chicago, so that has kept our family stable. There has been very little transition for me and the girls. Now he's commuting a lot, but he's the grown-up. He's the senator. He can handle it. That's really helped in keeping us grounded.
http://obama.senate.gov/...
On the achievements of Michelle Obama in the public sphere:
In 1993, she became the founding executive director of Public Allies - Chicago, a leadership training program that received AmeriCorps National Service funding and helped young adults develop skills for future careers in the public sector.
Michelle began her involvement with the University of Chicago in 1996. As associate dean of student services, she developed the University's first community service program. Michelle also served as executive director of community and external affairs until 2005, when she was appointed vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She also managed the business diversity program.
http://www.barackobama.com/...
So it could be said that community service runs in the family. Interesting that she has experience in developing community service programs. Perhaps she will be involved in Barack's national service plans.
She brought her experience with community service over to health care:
"We have been impressed with the care, imagination and energy that Michelle has brought to every project she has worked on since coming to the Hospitals," said Michael Riordan, president and CEO of the Hospitals. "We are excited to have her join the ranks of senior management. She brings to our team a new level of compassion, commitment and close connections to the community."
"My goal in this position," Obama said, "is to continue to broaden the Hospitals' relationships with our neighborhood and with our city." The University of Chicago Hospitals is one of the largest employers on the South Side and one of the most renowned medical institutions in Chicago and even the Midwest. "We have an obligation," she said, "to ensure that we use our resources on behalf of our neighborhood and our city. In this new role, my goal is to better integrate community engagement into the culture of this institution and to expand our partnerships with local organizations and institutions."
So, as many assume, it's likely that Michelle Obama's hands on experience in the field of healthcare will make her a likely partner in developing and implementing Barack's universal healthcare plan.
I would constantly tamp down expectations because they're not realistic. There is still a lot of hard work that we as a country need to do. They can't look to any one individual, whether it's Barack or it's the next new hope that's going to appear to be that savior. And I would just hate for people to sort of see this potential and think: Oh, now I can rest easy because Barack Obama is going to fix things. It doesn't work that way.
http://obama.senate.gov/...
Again, here you have Michelle hitting that common theme that Barack Obama is not going to save us. But Barack Obama just may be able to help us save ourselves.
Michelle Obama recalled her own experiences being told she "wasn't ready" for Princeton or Harvard. "That's our culture," she said. "Most kids like me didn't try, said okay you're probably right, there's probably some magical thing I didn't get because I'm black or I'm poor or I'm a girl or I'm not pretty enough. Because someone out front's trying to keep you back. We're not thinking I'm going to help any child with any potential dream big."
This seems to me like a good answer to those who say that Barack Obama is not ready to be President.
I think I'll end this on a light note. We've now flushed out how Michelle feels about her husband and his involvement in politics, and how her experience might be useful in her time as first lady, but how about their kids?
They wonder if dad wins will we have to move, but other than that they don't really care.
http://www.cmonitor.com/...
Send Barack some money if you enjoy these diaries and want to help him change the world.
NOTE: If you're an Obama supporter, please join Kossacks for Obama over at barackobama.com. I just joined two days ago, and have found it a pleasant community with some thoughtful people to bounce ideas off of.
UPDATE: Hat tip to Walt Starr. I think this Christmas ad fits well with the theme of the diary, so I'm including it: The Obama's Xmas ad