The whole “First Lady” thing is a ridiculous invention. Until fairly recently, the wife of a president was simply - well, a wife. She appeared with her husband at events where it was proper to do so, and generally kept her mouth shut except for making positive remarks about her country or some charitable activity in which she was involved.
This changed with Hillary, who obviously thought people had really meant to elect her and not her husband, but more or less reverted to the old way when GWB was president. Laura Bush made proper, dignified appearances and did not think that she was the center of attention or was qualified or permitted to interject herself into national or international issues.
And then the Obamas struck - and the celebrity-mad Michelle and Barry realized they had hit the big time and are milking it for all its worth. Michelle, like the Kardashians, got to be a celebrity for doing exactly nothing except wanting it and being in the right place at the right time with a celebrity husband anointed by the press.
She acts like a celebrity (shallow, arrogant, “do you know who I am” obnoxiousness) and also has the modern media celebrity’s strange propensity to think that celebrityhood actually qualifies her as an expert on everything from diet to international affairs. And, the true sign of a celebrity: she thinks it’s all about her.
One thing I seriously hope happens the next time around, no matter who gets elected, is that this “First Lady” nonsense disappears, even if it takes an Act of Congress to define the fact that the spouse of a president is not a constitutionally defined office.
Well put. We are in the midst of the form over substance generation. The Obamas and their rise to power are a symptom not a cause.