First lady Michelle Obama has made a respectable name for herself with her humanitarian efforts and now Obama is discussing her latest project with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Joining Forces, an initiative that supports and honors America’s military families.
In the cover story for latest issue of PARADE, Obama explains her reasons for starting the project, citing her time spent with wives of military men as inspiration.
“Everywhere I went there were military spouses, and their stories took my breath away — the pain of multiple deployments, trying to keep the family afloat,” said Obama. “I remember sitting and crying with a group of them.”
“Studies show that many military families feel like the country doesn’t recognize or appreciate (them). And it breaks my heart, because they’re serving as passionately and deeply and proudly as the men and women in uniform,” added Obama.
And with such dedication to improving the lives of American citizens, it’s no
wonder that in a recent Quinnipiac poll, a national feeling thermometer, the first lady garnered a score of 60.1 degrees, more than any politician, including her husband, President Barack Obama, who scored 56.5 degrees.
“Well, if people feel warmth for me, that’s a good thing. You know, I think I am a warm person,” said Obama. “It helps that I’m able to pick issues that are really authentic to me in some way, shape, or form. And I think that’s the beauty of [my and Jill’s] roles is that issues aren’t thrown at us, unlike our husbands. We get to make concrete decisions about what brings us passion. And when you’re working on anything that you care deeply about, that shines through. And perhaps that’s what people are feeling … That’s one of those embarrassing things. [laughs] Why am I so lovable?”
Why do you think Obama is so beloved by Americans? What do you think of her new humanitarian effort? –nicholas robinson
