"After being thrust into a public life she didn’t ask for as her husband launched his campaign in 2007, it took time for Obama to get comfortable in the spotlight and for Americans to warm to her. Over time, though, Americans “got to know her as she is and not some sort of caricature,” Axelrod said, someone whose approval rating consistently hovers around 70 percent.
“She is an incredibly funny, passionate, smart, committed human being, great mom and someone who cares deeply about the things she’s doing. And I think people have gotten a much richer and deeper sense of her over time. And there’s no doubt that she’s gotten more comfortable in the spotlight,” Axelrod said.
Fans of the first lady may approve of what she’s doing, but her TV bookings — and her use of official White House rooms for on-air workouts — have their critics. Anita McBride, a former aide to Laura Bush, said it’s important for first ladies in particular to show to the American people that they are “protecting the house, keeping it for history” which may not be the sense they get when they see hula-hooping, dodge-ball and potato-sack racing taking place within range of centuries-old paintings and furniture.
Obama’s TV appearances, Conway said, amount to “deliberately parachuting Mrs. Obama into places where she can be seen as a cultural icon rather than as a detached political spouse.”
Previous first ladies have mixed occasional interviews with even rarer guest appearances — Nancy Reagan promoted her anti-drug effort on “Diff’rent Strokes,” Laura Bush appeared on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
Obama’s three immediate predecessors all did guest stints on “Sesame Street,” as has she. But only Obama has followed that up with “iCarly,” Disney Channel public service announcements and a viral video of her dancing the “Dougie” with D.C. school kids. Obama’s predecessors made rare appearances on “The Tonight Show,” but only Obama has also booked “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Colbert Report.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76192_Page2.html
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire