First Lady/First "dude"

So I met up with a friend of mine yesterday who I've known since college. We've had many a political discussion over the years. We got on the topic of the role of the first lady or first "dude" as the case may be.

The main point here is that the elected person is in the driver's seat and should be viewed as such in all public interviews and appearances. However, there is a precedent set by prior first ladies of a level of involvement in their husband's administration and also of forging ahead with community/societal work that reflects their husband's administation's values and priorities.

Eleanor Roosevelt is the first that comes to mind. She traveled extensively around the country during her husband's presidency and reported back to President Roosevelt what she saw in communities from across the country specific to poverty, the circumstances of minorities and the disadvantaged ( disabled etc.)

Then of course there's Hillary, who was very involved with President Clinton's administration, to both it's advantage and disadvantage. The failed health care reform of his first administration was due largely to the closed door approach they took and the fact that Pres. Clinton appointed Hillary, not a health care expert and his wife, to the post of leading the project. The criticisms it opened up particularly among the right wing conservatives who had pharmaceuticals and insurance companies in their pockets was brutal and killed the reform. Now so many years later we are looking at the same issue because we MUST.

So back to this conversation with my friend. He shared with me that he doesn't care for Michelle Obama because of a joint interview he saw with her and her husband where Michelle put her hand on his arm and "shut him down" during his answer to the interveiwer. I don't know the interview he was speaking of, but for him he felt that Barak is the focus and she overstepped and that may be an indication of how she may be should he be elected. Interesting question; what is the role of first lady, or potential first lady? And how can they walk that fine line of being a role model and leader of sorts, yet not be the elected candidate.

My friend went on to clarify that his like or dislike of the first lady won't determine his vote for the candidate. It's kind of an aside.

I was very happy to hear this. I happen to like Michelle. She is bright, enthusiastic and strong. She has opened herself up to the public in a way that is brave and beautiful. My sense is that the campaign asked this of her. And she agreed, for her husband, the candidate to do it. I don't know if it was reluctant on her part at all. Probably not given how it played out. Would I do that for my husband if he was running for office? or Vice Versa? Thank goodness I probably don't have to answer that.