I have heard alot of otherwise "progressive" people who claim to have no problem with Barack Obama, make incredibly disparaging comments about Michelle. Whether we want to believe it or not, there are too many people in this country who are threatened by an educated and assertive woman - white, black or otherwise. This seems to be especially true of older women. The 50-something women in my office were as equally critical and disdainful of Hillary as they are of Michelle Obama. They really seem to have a deep seeded insecurity about strong, ambitious women. I think it has less to do with racism that it has to do with the way many people still believe a woman should act in public. Powerful women should never dare to act powerful - lest they pose a threat to less powerful women or (God forbid) to men. I am very proud of the fact that we have a black man as the presumptive nominee of one of our 2 political parties. I will be equally proud when the day comes that Americans accept strong women leaders as a gift rather than a threat. It will happen - eventually.

Being The Virtually Invisible Wife of the President, I find Michelle Obama a tremendous breath of fresh air. This is not a woman to be trotted out for conventions and inaugurations smiling the same demure smile.

Michelle is refreshingly REAL. I wish her all good luck on the campaign trail, although I'm sure she's going to go through some tough times and hear some ugly attacks against her and her husband in the months ahead. I hope she never loses her sense of self and sense of dignity. And perhaps she can help to modernize the role of First Lady, one of the most antiquated jobs in America.