Michelle Obama Watch

Hola! Happy Friday, this is your former blog editor, Gina aka “admin,” checking in briefly to engage in a cyber side-eye. I’m not supposed to be blogging BTW, its I’m a participant in National Novel Writing Month , but I was provoked!

I am aware that many long-time readers balk anytime I mention the name Nia-Malika Henderson on this blog. I apologize in advance, but I am afraid it is necessary. Nia works for Politico, one of the top ten most valuable “blogs” in America. Her raison d’etre since First Lady Michelle Obama took office is to pen vacuous articles for Politico.com about the FLOTUS, always disguised as some type of hand wringing. These articles always “worry” or “ponder” whether the FLOTUS will single-handedly tank the ENTIRE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. Politico is also the operation that placed Michelle Obama on a White House “Frenemy list”- although we can’t blame Nia Malika Henderson for that, she didn’t write that one, someone else beat her to the punch. Perhaps she was out sick on that day

But this time Nia was out in front on the BIGGEST STORY OF THE WEEK EVER! That most important of stories is that apparently someone thinks its important to constantly ask 500 or so people with free time on their hands to give their opinions of the First Lady of the United States. The latest numbers indicate that 61% of these 500 people with massive amounts of free time on their hands “approve ” of the job that the First Lady of the United States is doing. This is apparently down 10% points form the last time some random pollster decided to conduct an equally irrelevant political poll about the First Lady’s approval rating.

And from this irrelevant poll of irrelevant people, Ms. Henderson took an opportunity to trot out every disgruntled “journalist” and political hack she could find to complain about the First Lady of the United States and imply that the First Lady’s actions over the past 11 months have not been sincere, but merely a Brand re-lunch, like New Coke, or the wretched Google Droid advertisements that make people think their cell pohones are going to annihilate them:

But from her days on the campaign trail to her residency in the White House, Obama’s favorability rating has been in flux, from a low of 48 percent in June 2008 to a peak of 72 percent last March to a slide to 61 percent in a recent Gallup Poll.

That 11-point stumble – some might call it a tumble – seems at odds with the focus of a White House publicity team that is carefully crafting her image and building a decidedly current, wholesome, upbeat brand. Nia Malika Henderson

Most abhorrent is her use of a quote by the child-bashing, natural hair hating, Allison Samuels of Newsweek:

Newsweek correspondent Allison Samuels wrote in a recent essay that she was disappointed in what the first lady has done so far, given her unique ability to transform the image of black women and put a face on important issues that affect them.

“I want to know how she feels about children killing children back in her hometown of Chicago. Or whether she has any ideas about how to stop the ever-increasing numbers of African-American women falling victim to AIDS,” Samuels said. “These too-often-neglected issues need a face like Michelle’s.” Politico.com

Well gee, and there it was I thought Washington, DC has an ELECTED Mayor, Congressional “Delegate”, and a President. Who knew it was the First Lady’s job to DO THEIRS? I remember reading Samuels’ Michelle Obama hateration post when it originally ran on Newsweek.com and thinking “oh she really must be behind on the light bill or maybe cable to pitch this foolishness.” So I wasn’t surprised when Nia Malika-Henderson was the one to go back and retrieve Samuels post from the trash bin of  irrelevance and paste it over at Politico.

My issue with the steaming pile of White House Garden Compost that is this Politico article is that the article isn’t about Michelle Obama’s poll numbers at all, but about Nia Malika Henderson not being brave enough to just BASH the First Lady outright, why hide behind a poll and Allison Samuels .

Michelle Obama’s poll numbers could be 98% and these types of articles will still flow forth. In the eyes of Ms. Henderson and her coworkers, Michelle Obama is a liability, an inappropriate occupant of the non-existent position of First Lady of the United States.

So just so we’re clear, this was NOT a story about poll numbers, those will go up or down continuously. This was a story about how unhappy Nia and Allison are with one of the busiest First Ladies I can recall in my life time.

Hundreds, possibly THOUSANDS of school children have become reacquainted with the White House. She’s pushed wellness and healthy living at a time when all manner of life-style related diseases are plaguing the African American community. She’s inspired countless Black women I know to pick up a bar bell or two. Not to mention the incalculable impact she’s having by allowing millions of little Black girls around the world to watch the First Lady and the weeMichelles living well.

The polls are going to continue to go up and down, that is to be expected, but one thing will remain the same, Michelle Obama will NEVER do anything right in the minds of some people and Nia Malika Henderson is going to find each. and. every. one. of those people and QUOTE THEM.

Y’all have a most lovely weekend. Aminah you’re doing a WONDERFUL job as managing editor, thanks for allowing me the opportunity to post occasionally

P.S. Yes, I modeled the 3d character myself.

PPS. I’m also sad to report that my favorite editor at ESSENCE magazine followed Nia Malika Henderson’s lead and penned a similar story. You can do better than Nia, Cynthia. So. Much. Better.

Others Blogging About this Story

Is Michelle Obama’s Slip in the Polls Unavoidable? – New Agenda Report

The Michelle Obama Fixation – Earl Ofari Hutchinson