As I mentioned in my blog a couple days ago, I couldn't resist weighing-in, when the whole Michelle Obama as "angry black woman" matter arose.

 

While lots has been said (and written) since then -- beginning with Michelle Obama's own remarks -- as I say in my piece on the topic, (published by RH Reality Check and Huffington Post Politics), I think the main and important point about Michelle Obama as First Lady was missed in all the back and forth.

 

Tuesday night, this feeling of mine was re-affirmed when I heard Jodi Kantor talk about her book, The Obamas, which generated all this noise. In the course of her conversation with WBEZ's Steve Edwards, Jodi said:  "It's important to discuss the role of women in politics, and the role of the First Lady." She was suggesting we hold a broader and deeper conversation, based on facts and history. I couldn't agree more.

 

So, looking beyond the Kantor book kerfuffle and the gossipy fixation on the Obama's marriage, (David Remnick in last week's New Yorker really says it best), the Obama's have an historic opportunity in 2012, and it's not the election I'm talking about. It is to engage with the American public on the issue the President discussed in his great Kansas speech: Income inequality, and how it's killing America. That's what I've written about: How Michelle Obama could be this generation's Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

As always, I hope you'll read, and share this piece.

 

Best wishes.

 

Rebecca