Michelle Obama is officially the most televised first lady in history. Acc0rding to a newly released study, Obama, 48, has had 44 television appearances in the four years her husband’s been in office.
Included in that number is a recent stop at Nickelodeon’s “Kids Choice Awards” as well as appearances on “Late Night With David Letterman,” “Sesame Street” and “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”
Dan Gainor of The Media Research Study credits this year’s election for the surge in the first lady’s television presence. “What she’s doing is political,” he said. “She’s getting her face out there because it’s an election year.”
During President Bush’s years in office, Laura Bush made only 12 television appearances; for Hillary Clinton the number was 19.
Michelle Obama’s television presence has seemingly helped the public perception of the first black first lady. She’s been accepted by celebs like Beyoncé who joined her “Let’s Move Campaign” to fight childhood obesity and later wrote her a heartfelt letter thanking her for being an example.
Rober De Niro, another FLOTUS fan, co-hosted an Obama fundraising dinner with Michelle in March and joked that it was “too soon” for a white first lady. “Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?” he said. “Too soon, right?” he added.
The first lady was spotted in Omaha, Neb., today where she spoke at a Girls Inc. luncheon.
-danielle canada
