Gabby Doulas (L) and first lady Michelle Obama (C) dances with school children during a debut of a school exercise program February 28, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama unveiled a new program called ‘Let’s Move Active Schools’ to help schools create a physical activity programs for students.
*Michelle Obama says it was “absolutely not surprising” that folks took issue with her satellite appearance at the Oscars.
Her video drop-in from the White House to announce best picture sparked a national debate over whether it was appropriate, and some conservative critics accused her of crashing the event in an attempt to upstage it.
She attributed the chatter to a culture shift that has spawned legions of bloggers, tweeters and others who talk about anything and everything all the time.
“Shoot, my bangs set off a national conversation. My shoes can set off a national conversation. That’s just sort of where we are. We’ve got a lot of talking going on,” the first lady told AP Thursday before an appearance in Chicago, her hometown. “It’s like everybody’s kitchen-table conversation is now accessible to everybody else so there’s a national conversation about anything.”
Mrs. Obama was not the first FLOTUS to grace the Academy Awards. In 2002, Laura Bush appeared at the ceremony on videotape.
Mrs. Obama acknowledged that she and President Barack Obama have added appeal, and perhaps sometimes are subject to extra scrutiny, because they are the first black family in the White House but also a young couple (she turned 49 last month; he’s 51) with young children (daughters Sasha, 11, and Malia, 14).
She said she doesn’t give a second thought to critical comments about what she does as first lady.
“I just don’t think about that stuff,” said Mrs. Obama, who was asked for her reaction to the criticism during an interview with a small group of reporters who were invited to accompany her on a three-city tour marking the third anniversary of her “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity.
She said she was astounded by the buzz about cutting her hair to add bangs, which she unveiled on her birthday, just before inauguration weekend. Asked if she was surprised that the bangs made the news, Mrs. Obama said: “I was, I have to say. I’m like, ‘it’s a haircut.’”
In the interview, Mrs. Obama also revealed that she used a lot of salty language as a 10-year-old, which she said she didn’t realize until the year it cost her the title of “best camper” at the day camp she and her brother, Craig, attended every summer. The experience taught her a lesson, she said.
“I was going through my cursing stage,” she said. “I didn’t realize until my camp counselor at the end came up and said, ‘You know, you would have been best camper in your age group but you curse so much.’ And I was thinking, ‘Really. Was it that noticeable? And I thought I was being cool. Little did I know I lost ‘best camper.’ I didn’t curse again.”
You Go Mrs Obama!! do not give a flying fig on what soem people have to say, I have never seen so many Whiners!! that complain about every little thing. Well now!! Laura Bush made an appearanc at the Oscars in 2002 and did we hear any brouhaha about her appearance my guess is NO!!!
I thought is was crazy too when Michelle’s bangs made the news, the media made it seem like she was taking her bangs on tour, just ridiculous. Good for her staying above the criticism and ignoring those kooks out there, when you’re a public figure of some kind you have to mentally prepare yourself for all the backlash and have several layers of thick skin, not sure if I could handle it.