Michelle O. is a Vision in Formal Gold Rodarte...

First lady Michelle Obama (symbolic that she chose to wear a gold Rodarte dress, yes?) talks with Prince Albert of Monaco at a reception following the opening ceremonies of the the 121st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session and XIII Olympic Congress at the Copenhagen Opera House October 1, 2009. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are competing to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and the IOC will choose the winning city in a vote on Friday, October 2.




Who knew the letter "O" would become such a powerful letter? :-)
[photos via Reuters pictures]

Michelle Obama Makes TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009...

Michelle Obama
By Oprah Winfrey

Michelle Obama (in Rodarte, left) doesn't just inspire us. She affirms us with her intelligence, authenticity, depth and compassion. We see the best of ourselves in her and marvel that no matter what she's doing, she brings 100% of herself to the experience.

I first met Michelle almost five years ago, shortly after Senator Barack Obama's riveting 2004 DNC speech. Long before there was serious talk of a campaign for the presidency, I remember going to the Obamas' house for dinner. I figured there would be takeout since I knew that, like me, Michelle had worked all day. But no, there she was in the kitchen, calm and organized, preparing linguine with shrimp and vegetables.

The woman I witnessed five years ago, with her graciousness, care and attention to detail, is the same woman I visited in the White House in February. Her very presence makes you feel welcome. Her political power is secondary to her heart power, and I salute her for that. I trust her. I know that whatever she gives her attention to, the truth will always be present. She doesn't make false moves.

The joy Michelle, 45, brings to her roles as First Mother and First Lady is what makes her so intoxicating. We want that joy in the roles we inhabit as mothers, wives, workers, daughters and friends. And while we admire those arms and applaud her fashion choices (from J. Crew to top designers), her greatest influence is that she makes us want to be our own best selves — and maybe lift a few weights too.

Watching her on the global stage greeting the Queen and chatting with dignitaries and representing us the way we imagine presenting ourselves on our best day, I was reminded of lines from Maya Angelou's poem "Phenomenal Woman": "It's the fire in my eyes,/ And the flash of my teeth,/ The swing in my waist,/ And the joy in my feet./ I'm a woman/ Phenomenally."

How sweet it is that America has a First Lady who embodies the vibrancy and confidence of a seriously prepared 21st century woman. A phenomenal woman indeed.

Winfrey is a global media leader and international philanthropist

Fast Fact: Michelle Obama's undergraduate thesis for Princeton examined the sometimes isolating experience of being black in the Ivy League

Click to see a complete list of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009. And YES, the President made TIME's list too...

Michelle Obama's Approval Ratings are Sky High...

via Washington Monthly

In January, Fox News contributor Juan Williams went after Michelle Obama, describing her as a political "liability" for the president. As Williams argued, the First Lady has "got this Stokely Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress thing going," which may make her "something of an albatross."

So much for that idea. The Washington Post's Lois Romano reports:

At first, they didn't like the way she was talking about her husband's dirty socks. Then, they said she always looked angry. Later, they questioned her patriotism when she commented that she only recently became proud of her country. They even made hay over her biceps when she dared show up sleeveless for her husband's address to Congress in January.

Now, two months into her husband's presidency, as Michelle Obama embarks on her maiden official overseas trip, the first lady is enjoying a second look from the American public -- particularly from those who were put off by her as a candidate's wife, but are warming to her as the president's wife.

A Washington Post-ABC News survey conducted over the past few days shows a dramatic turnaround: Her favorability ratings are at 76 percent, up 28 points since summer. The number of people who view her negatively has plummeted.

Now, I think Romano's assumptions about previous public attitudes are a stretch. She writes, matter of factly, that Americans didn't like the way Michelle Obama spoke, looked, or dressed. I've seen no evidence to support this. There are plenty of members of the political elite in D.C. who felt this way, but to say this is how "the American public" felt is dubious, at best.

That said, the larger point is certainly true -- most of the country likes what they see from the First Lady, and she's getting more popular as time goes on. In June, 48% had a favorable impression of Michelle Obama, while 29% had an unfavorable impression. Now, 76% feel good about the president's spouse, and only 16% don't.

It seems efforts to smear Michelle Obama (wearing Rodarte in the pic above) aren't connecting.