We're actually talking about the First Lady-elect's ass??

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to run an article talking about Mrs. Obama's body parts. Salon wins!

It's not about being uptight, it's about being respectful. By being the first black First Lady, Michelle is already in line to have much disrespectful BS thrown her way. Every First Lady is watched like a hawk, it goes with the territory. But Mrs. Obama will probably experience extra scrutiny, from all fronts. She'll barely be able to have a hangnail or a hair out of place without someone writing an article lamenting it as a political faux pas.

I'd like to see Salon do an article on Laura Bush's ta-ta's, Rosalyn Carter's lips, Jackie O's gams, etc. I want to see a run-down of First Lady atributes for all to see and comment on.

The other thing: women always complain about not being taken seriously, about being objectified. Then a woman writes (and publishes) an article like this. Trying to have it both ways, once again.

Hillary has one too.

but even if she did not have a booty, our new First Lady would still radiate beauty. Really, she has the kind of beauty that age cannot diminish...

purplelotus (speaking from the heart)

There are a lot of firsts with the first lady. But first big butt?! Are you kidding?!

Really, I'd like to know: which first lady didn't have back?

Now, if you were going to talk about high water booty, well, you might have a point. But first big butt? Don't think so.

I guess if you can turn a phrase, or at least write grammatical English, you can write any stupid thing you like. According to Joan.

What kinda talk IS this anyway??!!

Is this a satire "e-zine" or what??

Just look at the tag words:

"Women, Politics, Body Image, African-Americans, Race, Butts, 2008 election, Life, Michelle Obama"

Say no more?

Whoever thinks there's something pretty about a hottentot butt please raise their hand, and then proceed directly to Dr. Phil.

Yeah sonofloud, you got it all wrong.

One black president doesn't change centuries of slavery, racism and oppression, and doesn't change our racially unequal society in the present.

Just like pointing to one rich black person like Oprah Winfrey (I'm not sure why people looove using her so much as the example) doesn't change the fact that so many people still live in poverty, and that the rates of poverty are still much higher for blacks and latinos.

Nope, one black president is not the end of anything. It's one step - an important step - in a a long, long battle against racism and oppression.

So as far as you're concerned, sonofloud, the dragon has not been slain at all. The battle is still just beginning.

I'm going to join the "this was a funny article" camp. It makes me think of Chandra Wilson's (Bailey on Grey's Anatomy) moving Emmy speech, in which she talked about someone with "this nose" and "these arms" being a success in Hollywood. It also makes me think of how Christina Hendricks/Joan Holloway of MadMen is totally rocking her curves and being celebrated for it. Let's hope it's a trend!

I'm identify with Michelle Obama and the writer, but I'm not black. I am a woman with a proud booty. I've been told many times that I've got a "black" butt. And I love it. (So does my husband.) So, more power to all of us women who aren't sticks and who are proud of it!!!

OMG! And I'm a Jewish woman who never thought I'd see a neurotic, lovable sitcom character with a nose like mine on prime time television. Then I saw Debra Messing -- and her schnoz!

Happy to see there's at least one journalist out there brave enough to stand up for the stereotypes of minorities! You go girl!

Well, the article's been moved from the headline of Salon....but at least one reader has already had the good sense to write:

"Finally, about those Editor's Choice selections - over 270 letters to the editor about this article. Per my quick persusal, a majority of those shared my low opinion of it. Fourteen selected as Editor's Choice, and ALL BUT ONE LOVED IT? Self-justifying, much? Who did the selecting, the author? Come on, folks, some of us only have time to read the EC letters. You ought to make an effort to showcase a variety of thoughts about the article - not just the ones you agree with."

This topic although seeming cute is inappropriate and an undignified reference to the future first lady of our nation, wife and mother.

Joan has always had contempt for the Obama family and this worthless commentary only confirms the obvious..I found Joan's shallow excuse that nothing is off the agenda when it comes to Obama a dodge and a deflection a cheap parlor trick whenever folks like me attack this shallow type of journalism...

Erin's opinion reflects her low self esteem and need to be validated by white liberals not a surprise really given her history as a writer..

Happy that you're happy...but please don't assume my white booty is some exotic appendage.....if anything as a white woman I feel even more pressure to be rail thin....media images suggest we should be built like a teenage boy with huge boobs....if Barbie really had those proportions, she would topple over...it defies the law of gravity!

Ms. Kaplan writes: "The one clear predictor of success that the pundits, despite all their fancy maps, charts and holograms, missed completely? Michelle's butt."

The media didn't go there because 1) Mrs. Obama's "boo-tay" is irrelevant, and 2) anyone going there knew that they would be skewered, and rightly so. The exception to this? The folks at The Daily Show, felt it necessary to include video commentary about Mrs. Obama's butt in one of their sketches.

In 8 years I have not seen one article on Laura Bush's body parts. I hope that Salon is not planning on printing another objectifying article on Mrs. Obama. Just because it's written by another black person don't make it cool.