Some observers praised Mrs. Obama’s foray into the legislative debate, saying the new first lady, who is a Harvard-educated lawyer and a former hospital executive, was eminently qualified to promote the president’s policies.Swarns quotes a scholar who studies first ladies, Myra Gutin:
Others expressed surprise, saying they had expected Mrs. Obama to focus on her daughters and on the traditional issues she had emphasized in the presidential campaign, like supporting military families and working parents.
"She went to some lengths to say she was going to be first mom in chief . . . . I don’t think we ever really imagined her edging toward public policy like this. It’s not like she’s making public policy. But it’s a little less neutral than some of the other things she’s talked about focusing on.”Swarns suggests that Mrs. Obama's recent forays into policy still don't rise to the level of the role Hillary Clinton played in her husband's administration, and she may be right. But tongues certainly wagged about Mrs. Clinton's role as something other than White House hostess.
Perhaps Mrs. Obama will evolve into a more HRC-esque role, which wouldn't bother me. After all, we are often reminded that Mrs. Obama is a Harvard-educated lawyer coming off a high-powered career as a hospital executive. Why would we want that intellect and experience to go to waste?
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