The "Real" Michelle

The satirical cover of the July, 2008 issue of the New Yorker pretty much summed up the intensity of the stigma that was being proselytized by some of the “right wing” media about the Obamas. Michelle, sporting a fro, a sash of ammo, and fatigues, smiles deviously as she fist bumps her husband, while a fire burns, fueled by an American flag. The couple looks as though they are channeling the Black Panthers, Che, and Al Qaeda simultaneously.

Though the cover was in jest, it painted a clear picture of some of the outrageous accusations being disseminated to and amongst the American public. Michelle had been accused of being anti-patriotic, a domineering wife, an angry black woman, and a partner to her husband's supposed plan to destroy “American values.”

Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, though subtly, addresses some of these rumors concerning her and her husband, as well as promote her husband's bid for President. She does this by way of talking about her and Barack's struggles growing up and how they got to where they are now. Early in her speech she says that she's there as a sister, a mother, a wife, and a daughter, simultaneously establishing part of her audience, as well as making herself in some regard a peer to all women on some level. She is bringing things back to basics in order to deflect from her powerful presence and resume and humanize herself, addressing the situational. Her description of these female roles had very submissive, serving, and receiving tones.

She talks about the American dream and tells her own story as an example and later does the same with Barack's. The Obama's were both accused of being unpatriotic and this touches on very patriotic rhetoric: “the American Dream;” “The American Story.” In telling her own story, she also is attempting to reach the “average” and poor American. Poverty, injustice, family illness, hard work, perseverance are all words and ideals used in her accounts. Most Americans can relate to one of these. This gives her the ability to reach people's hearts and minds and maybe make them think, “Hey she's a little like me.”

“He had this funny name...” I thought that this was very smart of her to mention and make fun of. Not only had some Americans thought his name was funny, but had also made it akin to terrorism. Her saying this takes some of the fuel out of comments about his name.

Her advisory rhetoric touched on many issues but she did so fairly briefly. One of her first advisory comments that was very persuasive was concerning welfare, unemployment, and general poverty.

“Those folks weren't asking for a handout or a shortcut. They were ready to work---they wanted to contribute.”

Some conservatives accuse people on welfare or unemployment as being lazy, creating a stigma that might prevent legislation for social programs. She then segways into how Barack took on a higher calling, choosing to help others instead of Wall Street. This was very smart and very subtle. Barack had the education and ability to be successful on Wall Street, but chose to serve. Wall Street's reputation at the time was in the muck. Any association with them could be harmful. She established his separation from “them” and their values.

She doesn't become advisory until the end of her speech where she touches on some of the campaign promises Barack made to the American people, such as ending the war in Iraq, health care for all, and the advising Americans to take on a position of hope rather than fear. An approach in stark contrast to the Bush administration.

She also takes one last opportunity to establish her audience and her patriotism. She talks about hard working Americans, military families, Hillary and in effect her not-so-happy supporters, and young people. She then says, “I love this country,” established one last time her patriotism.