SATURDAY 14 MARCH

1253 EST Cover star

Michelle Obama has given her first sit-down TV interview since she became First Lady.

In the interview, which was broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America, Mrs Obama covers a range of topics, from her interest in helping military families, to her husband's handling of the economic crisis, and of course her role as "mom-in-chief".

Nothing she says in the interview is particularly unexpected - Mrs Obama is as comfortable talking about serious issues and causes as she is joking about the huge interest in her toned arms. The First Lady has conducted several high profile interviews recently, not just with the political media, but also magazines like "People", "Vogue" and Oprah Winfrey's "O". In all those instances she's featured as the cover star.

So far, Michelle Obama isn't shying away from the huge interest surrounding her and her family, but is instead, giving the media enough material to sustain it.

For her it's a chance to promote her pet causes like helping military families. But it could also come in handy for her husband, who has huge political challenges to deal with in terms of the economic crisis . Showing the American public that the Obamas are a down-to-earth family who can relate to people's problems could help President Obama convince voters that his stimulus package will help them.

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Quote:The Dissing of Laura Bush


By choosing Fort Bragg for her first official trip outside the capital last Thursday, Michelle Obama signaled that she will use her position as First Lady to promote one of America's most deserving causes: our military families. Plainly the families loved it. Just look at the smiles on those children as she read them "The Cat in the Hat."

So it was just a little disconcerting the next morning to hear the First Lady explain how she came to this issue during last year's campaign. "I think I was like most Americans," she told ABC News. "Pretty oblivious to the life of military families. Sort of taking it for granted."

Perhaps Mrs. Obama did take these families for granted. Surely, however, it's extraordinary to suggest that "most Americans" did the same. Certainly not the McCains, the Bidens and the Palins, each of whom had at least one son in uniform. More to the point, the presidential campaign in which she says the issue started "taking shape" for her came nearly seven years into a war that has inspired millions across America to step forward to help our troops.

The informal help includes everyday things such as providing meals or rides for a neighbor or church member whose spouse has been deployed overseas. The Web site AmericaSupportsYou.mil lists many of the more formal initiatives, which range from sending CARE packages overseas to helping homefront spouses find jobs. Under the category "military family support," the Web site provides links to more than 200 programs or organizations.