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Is Michelle Obama the new Jackie Kennedy?

by Reinout van Wagtendonk*

26-08-2008

The first evening of the Democratic Convention in Denver included tributes to former president Jimmy Carter and Senator Edward Kennedy. The keynote speech was given by Michelle Obama, the wife of the Democratic candidate.

Michelle Obama

The convention is being held at a football stadium and Michelle Obama gives the impression of playing at a home game where she is surrounded only by supporters.

The Democratic delegates expect a lot from her as First Lady. However she has made some controversial statements, including one earlier this year which her husband's opponents have seized upon to question her patriotism. "For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country, because it feels like hope is making a comeback..." They construed this as meaning that she had never been proud of the United States until her husband won a primary.

The black Democratic congressman from Idaho, Albert Wilkerson, says the attacks against her are so venomous partly because she is black and also because she is a woman. He believes that some people can feel threatened by Michelle Obama, who studied law and attended the prestigious Harvard and Princeton universities.

Jackie Kennedy

Jackie and John F. Kennedy

Opinion polls show that around 60% of voters take the candidate's spouse into consideration when deciding who to vote for in a presidential election. People who consider Barack Obama a new John F Kennedy find that his 44-year-old wife - and mother of his two daughters - has the same kind of elegance and grace as the legendary Jackie Kennedy. However she points out that it is her husband who is the candidate and she is the one who knows him best:

"I know Barack better than anybody. I know him not as a politician but as a husband and a father and a man. I want to talk about that and why I think he will be an extraordinary president."

American dream
Michelle Obama emphasis that she and her husband share the same values and that these are also the values of the average American: "Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them."

After her speech the presidential candidate, who will arrive in Denver on Thursday to accept the nomination, appeared via a satellite connection in order to speak with his daughters. The typical touching and emotional display of American family life earned him thunderous applause: "- Maureen, Sasha how do you think mom did?
- I think she did good.
- I think so too (...)
- I love you daddy."

*RNW translation (fs)

 

Tags: Barack Obama, Edward Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, John F Kennedy, Michelle Obama

Reaction(s):

David Berridge, 27-08-2008 - Canada

The "Next Camelot" illusion presented by Senator Obama and his wife is at best an assumption perpetrated upon the American electorate. The Kennedy’s brought the Jackie era to the Presidency through originality and innovation. The prime example of this was Jacqueline Kennedy's use of television to illustrate the updates made to the White House, as it became "The People's House". Until an Obama presidency becomes a reality and Senator Obama's wife can introduce an original and contemporary role to the position of First Lady, then any comparison to the Camelot era is indeed erroneous. It is more than sad that a great country such as the United States is having it's electorate so easily hoodwinked by such shallow images and ready made promises, instead of focusing on the realities of selecting true leadership.

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Karen, 26-08-2008 -

Michelle Obama has neither the class or character of Jacqueline Kennedy. Jackie was completely capable of being truthful without being nasty or condescending. Jackie also never needed to do a 180 degree position change within months. Michelle needs about 5 years in a good finishing school before she is ready to represent anyone as their "First Lady". Though I can't imagine why she would want to be the First Lady of a country that is an embarrassment and a disgrace to her.

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