Lest you think I let  anything related to Michelle Obama slip past…last Thursday, The Washington Post devoted some considerable below-the-fold space on its front page to an article covering the staff of Michelle Obama and her relationship with them.

In “A First Lady Who Demands Substance,”  we see a different Michelle, one whose public image is highly calculated and perhaps even contrived.  For example: “Jarrett–a Chicago friend who is helping develop the first lady’s official role–said Michelle Obama’s immense popularity  has forced a rethinking of how she fits into policy calculus.  ’We spent some time thinking that through and where she is going to have the biggest impact.’”  

It’s understandable that Michelle Obama is being used to advance the President’s agenda, given that her popularity rate is even higher than his.  But it’s beginning to seem like every outing, every charity appearance has some ulterior motive.  The actual article does a very good job at making her seem a little Stepfordian, in revealing the machinations that go on behind the scenes.  

The piece also details the conflict between Jackie Norris, Mrs. Obama’s former chief of staff, and other members of the office, notable Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary who posed in $100,000 earrings on the cover of WSJ.  Apparently Norris engaged with Rogers and the whole thing resulted in what one aide described as a “blowup.”  Not very professional, huh?  

Whether it’s an accurate depiction or not, it’s an interesting read.

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