Quietly, Michelle Obama lays the groundwork for policy role

[kpete]

Source: McClatchy

* Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009
Quietly, Michelle Obama lays the groundwork for policy role


WASHINGTON — While her inaugural wear, choice of a decorator and disapproval of unauthorized Sasha and Malia dolls make headlines, first lady Michelle Obama has quietly assembled a staff that's steeped in women's and workplace issues to support her role as a policy advocate.

The Harvard-trained lawyer, community organizer and hospital executive offered a glimpse of what's to come when her husband, President Barack Obama, on Thursday signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which gives women more legal standing to sue for pay discrimination. The first lady was in the audience, not at the president's side — but she spoke at the private reception afterward.

She told representatives of about 150 advocacy groups that the legislation is a "cornerstone of a broader commitment to address the needs of working women who are looking to us, to not only ensure that they're treated fairly, but also to ensure that there are policies in place that help women and men balance their work and family obligations without putting their jobs or their economic security at risk.''

Obama's aides like to say that she'll be a mother first and an advocate second. The economic crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could put workplace policy on the slow track anyhow. Because she's the nation's first black first lady and grew up working-class, however, activists say that Michelle Obama can be a trusted voice for minorities while reshaping how whites see women of color and how society regards its obligations to working parents.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/61037.html

[Cha]

1. Policies are going to get

so much better with Michelle and Obama looking out for working Americans.

[aquamarina]

2. Oh those community organizers, what do they know.

:sarcasm:
:sarcasm:
:sarcasm:

[Catshrink]

4. Yeah, they have no responsibilities

you betcha.

;-)

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Stinky The Clown]

3. Hmmmm

[lunatica]

5. First Lady Michelle Obama and Sec of State Hillary Clinton are true advocates

for all the right things. Children's health and welfare, women's issues, which aren't limited to American women, and both are the wives of Presidents. They have much in common and I suspect they will get along very well.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. You think that .......

I think that ......

They are, as you say, on the right side of pretty much all the issues.

But we know what happened when Hillary Clinton got involved in policy. I don't want to see the Obama administration get bogged down in the same quagmire.

[heliarc]

9. So far...

I am VERY impressed with the way they are rolling out the agenda. It would seem that the Obamas know exactly what issues will cut across the working spectrum and impress a broad majority of working people who are really starting to wake up to the political influences on their lives. And the Stimulus package is no different. Triple federal spending on Public Education, social security credits... public works... And they made the Republicans seem like fools for not signing on. The playbook is working pretty well so far.

[Merlot]

6. Good. She's a smart, well-educated woman. I don't wan't another laura

for first lady. And if Michelle is interested in women's issues, well that sounds like a perfect fit for her.

I was a little dissapointed in the idea of her being just First Lady and Mom, because I think she's to smart and restless to not take up some causes. I'll be interested to see what she does.

[Omnibus]

7. I would trust her more than ANY nationally-elected Republican...

...and about half of the Democrats.

[No Elephants]

12. It's about time First Spouse became a paid postition. They have duties and perfrom

services up the yin yang. Acting as though nothing the First Spouse does merits compensation is anachronistic and genderistic, especially when First Spouses may have given up careers and career opportunities of their own.

Time for change we can believe in.

[progressoid]

13. Blah blah blah.

Let's get back to what shoes she's wearing today.