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Michelle Obama is no exception to the election year media scrutiny, sometime abuse, of candidate spouses. As the campaign heats up and more mud and nasty accusations fly through the air, the spouse of a Presidential candidate can always expect to be under fire constantly by opponents and the press. Throughout history, Presidential-candidate wives were attacked for various reasons, including outspoken Abigail Adams, frivolous Dolley Madison, scandal-tainted Rachel Jackson, self-centered spendthrift Mary Todd Lincoln, vocal social activist Eleanor Roosevelt, fashion-plate Jackie Kennedy and others.

In a twist on candidate spouses this year, the controversial Bill Clinton is being criticized for his public remarks, which may yet prove to be either an asset or millstone for Hillary's chances. He is the first potential First Husband who will have to endure all of the anger, acclaim and ridicule only suffered by potential First Ladies in every past Presidential race.

There's also another new factor in this race. For the first time, an African-American wife will have a real chance to become First Lady of the United States. Will race play a part in Barack Obama's attempt to be the first African-American President? Of course it will, although his opponents must do it with great caution and subterfuge. In fact, in their plans to attack Barack, the first salvo off-target has been fired at Michelle Robinson Obama.

Last week, in a speech in Wisconsin just before the Democratic primary vote, she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change." By itself the sentence can be interpreted as unpatriotic, implying that she is ashamed of past American history.

Although it was taken out of context, and had an entirely different meaning that didn't take away from her basic patriotism, both Democratic and Republican opponents gleefully jumped on it to criticize Mrs. Obama. Members of the press had a field day trying to find different ways to say Michelle is ungrateful and disloyal to her country. So, here it comes. Welcome, Michelle, to the Presidential candidate arena, where dirty fighting gets dirtier every day.

As qualified as her husband is for higher office, Michelle brings her own considerable qualifications to the Presidential race as both wife and counsel. The 44-year-old cum laude Princeton graduate went on to earn a Harvard Law degree. While a member of a Chicago law firm a year after her graduation, Michelle Robinson was assigned to mentor an eager young Harvard Law School intern for the summer. His name was Barack Obama. The rest, as they say, is history. Maybe even for the history books.

With 20 years of law practice and public service, along with raising their two children, Michelle has always been known for her ability to speak clearly and concisely. She will certainly continue to speak her mind as the nomination competition gets hotter. It is more than apparent that her highly-publicized remarks before the Wisconsin Democratic primary did no harm to her husband, because he won the state easily.

You can be sure that whatever mud and criticism Barack Obama's opponents and members of the press throw at her, Michelle Obama will have all her guns ready to return fire with total competence and effectiveness.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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