Laura Bush Defends Michelle Obama: Will it Be Enough to Dispel Controversy?

In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, Laura Bush discussed Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Although Laura Bush wants the first female president to be a Republican, she praised Hillary Clinton for her grit and her tenacity. When asked about Michelle Obama's comments, she argued that they had been taken out of context. Michelle Obama had sparked controversy by commenting that "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." Laura Bush defended Michelle Obama by suggesting that she had meant more proud. Yet Michelle Obama may more of a liability to Barack than Cindy McCain is to John.

Laura Bush defends Michelle Obama: Michelle Obama's liabilities and assets to the Obama Campaign

Laura Bush was correct that "everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued." In that respect, Michelle Obama is a loose canon. On the campaign trail, she told anecdotes about her husband being "snore-y and stinky" in the morning and not putting the butter back into the refrigerator. Michelle Obama is correct to realize that her sarcasm doesn't translate well in print.

Yet while Laura Bush is willing to give Michelle Obama the benefit of a doubt, Michelle Obama's comments suggest a deeper sense of entitlement. As Laura Bush suggested, Michelle Obama could have meant more proud. Yet even then it suggests that she could only be more proud if her husband won the Democratic Party nomination. And to suggest that "hope is finally making a comeback" discounts Ronald Reagan (who restored faith and optimism in the American Dream) and Bill Clinton (who campaigned as the Man from Hope). Coupled with her husband's gaffes about bitter Pennsylvania voters and questions about his lack of patriotism, Michelle Obama does not help in alleviating such concerns.