Michelle Obama: how she became a national icon
As Barack Obama’s term comes to an end, the First Lady comes to Hillary Clinton’s rescue and ignites public opinion. How far will it go?
She has no official political function, and yet it is she, Michelle Obama, the charismatic speaker, the great unifier, who will go down in history as the real star of the 2016 American presidential campaign! In two powerful speeches - the first, on July 29, at the end of Hillary Clinton's investiture ceremony; the second, on October 13, during a meeting where she launched her now famous “enough is enough! "(" Too much is too much! "), To denounce the behavior of Donald Trump towards women - the First Lady made an impression. And did more to discredit the Republican candidate and propel a woman into the White House than Hillary Clinton herself. It's an understatement to say that Michelle Obama is popular in the United States. “She enjoys an unequaled capital of sympathy, underlines Elaine Sciolino, of the“ New York Times ”. A recent Gallup Institute poll credits her with 94% favorable opinions among Democratic voters and 64% among Republicans. White, black, Hispanic or mixed race, of all generations and social origins, we all want to be Michelle! This brilliant woman, who studied at Harvard, is not for all that an intellectual cut off from reality. She is close to people and has a great sense of humor. She is beautiful and assumes her forms. She is committed to health, through the fight against obesity, and for girls' access to education. In short, she is inspiring. Writer Rebecca Walker *, who conceptualized the 'third feminist wave', adds: 'Many American women admire the fact that she has not become a cliché, a First Lady stuck in her role. She didn't let the role define her; she defined the role. "
Before reaching the rank of national icon, Michelle Obama will have drooled. She has long been attacked on her attitude or her physique through hateful, misogynistic and racist caricatures. The former lawyer with a strong character, the self-made woman - of whom Barack Obama was an intern in a law firm, before marrying her - was forced, when she arrived at the White House, to "soften up ", Explains the Franco-American political scientist Nicole Bacharan **:" At the start of the 2008 presidential campaign, Michelle was showing her opinions. She was quickly made to understand within the Democratic staff that she had to enter the clothes of a First Lady in withdrawal. She learned quickly. With her little cardigans and gathered skirts, she has adopted a very feminine style. But she is also committed with great sincerity to causes that have a great resonance in the daily life of women. She became the 'Mom in chief', First Lady, mother and wife, activist for women's rights without displaying personal political ambition. This is what pleases and unites in the United States, where women who claim power in politics, like Hillary, are criticized. However, Michelle is aware that she has a political impact. She seeks it out and succeeds very well. And this impact, as we can see now, is phenomenal. "
"SHE IS A VERY GOOD SPEAKER ... MAYBE BETTER THAN HER HUSBAND! "
Kim Ghattas, BBC Washington correspondent, is one of the few journalists accredited to Hillary Clinton. She, too, is convinced of the First Lady's exceptional influence on public opinion: “The campaign's spin doctors send her judiciously to places where they think, like in Arizona, that she can make a difference and convince undecided voters. Mother of two teenage daughters, she is in tune with young people, understands them, also knows how to use social networks. And we discover over the course of the meetings that she is a very good speaker ... maybe better than her husband! Even though she is coached by a team of professionals, she gives the impression that she speaks from her heart, that she is genuine. She didn't like campaigning - she had done so with great reluctance in 2008, before Barack Obama was first elected. But this year she really wanted to be on the campaign trail and get involved personally. It is almost a reaction that comes from the guts, faced with the behavior of the Republican candidate, a visceral desire to call for decency. "
His strength ? Appear above partisan political wrangling, while being a staunch Democrat. "Michelle Obama can speak to so many groups in this country: as a mother, African American, accomplished professional, child rights defender and First Lady," said Peter Clerkin, former campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in Virginie, who passionately supported the Vermont senator defeated by Hillary Clinton. Most voters today feel stuck in choosing the president. The goal is therefore to motivate them to vote, and Michelle Obama is very convincing as Hillary Clinton's spokesperson. She is seen as a trusted and thoughtful person, which makes her a credible and effective voice in the face of Trump. And his most powerful opponent. "Even he who dares not dare to attack the icon Michelle!" »Says Nicole Bacharan. An icon for which many Americans dream of a national destiny. “She would be a fantastic president! enthuses Adele Dodson, member of the Democratic National Committee. If only she was Hillary's vice-president ... "
"No question of a political future," continues to hammer the first lady. And Barack Obama repeated it again recently: “There are two sure things in life: taxes and the fact that Michelle will never enter politics! Next January, after the inauguration ceremony of the new president, she will step down from her role as First Lady. Will she become a lawyer again? Will she launch a humanitarian NGO, a foundation? The only certainty: until then, she is determined not to leave the keys to the White House to Donald Trump.
