Michelle Obama Owes Debt to First Lady Laura Bush, Who Was Her Own Woman
By John Aloysius Farrell, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Let's hear it for a great first lady—Laura Bush.
That's right. As we spend the day praising Michelle Obama, who has performed more than capably for 100 days (witness her deft touch at yesterday's dedication of a statue of Sojourner Truth), let's pay a little attention to the gal who did the grueling job of first lady so well before her—for eight years.
It was no easy task following Hillary Rodham Clinton as first lady. Hillary shattered a mold like no one since Eleanor Roosevelt. There was going to be tremendous pressure on either Tipper Gore or Laura Bush from feminists, and anti-feminists, who wanted the next first lady to conform to their ideals.
Laura would have none of it. She insisted on being herself. She didn't choose to craft policy but, as far as I can remember, never savaged Hillary for making a different choice. She promoted reading (and never got enough credit from the scribbling class for doing so) and raised well-adjusted (as far as we can tell) daughters in the hothouse of the White House. She would tweak the Democrats in campaigns, but never go nasty, like her mother-in-law. And when she retired to Texas, Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land.
Don't get me wrong. Laura was a Republican first lady, representing the party of America's social conservatives. To many outside the GOP, the role she chose was too circumscribed by the traditionalists in the Republican ranks.
But when Michelle Obama took over in January, much of the tension over the role of first lady had been defused. Michelle has been free to define herself, and has started with style and confidence. And for that we owe a nod to Laura Bush.
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Tags: first ladies | Laura Bush | Hillary Clinton
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Reader Comments
Eleanor Roosevelt
all First Ladies owe a debt to the original:Eleanor Roosevelt
"When Eleanor Roosevelt visited Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1941, she insisted on taking a ride in an airplane with a black pilot at the controls. ER's pilot was Charles Anderson. ER then insisted that her flight with Anderson be photographed and the film developed immediately so that she could take the photographs back to Washington when she left the field. ER used this photograph as part of her campaign to convince FDR to activate the participation of the Tuskegee Airmen in North Africa and in the European Theater."
most presidents wouldn't have had the "cojones" to do that.
Laura Bush
Laura Bush did little or nothing. If that's what you expect of people, then she was a grand success. Consider these measures of her contribution: Girls' access to education in Afghanistan (worse if anything), and keeping boys out of gangs (no profound improvement). At least when Ladybird planted flower seeds, something grew. I was always offended that she posed as a librarian and teacher: How long ago and for how long? Let's see what she does now. At least Betty Ford was honest and helped others.
Why?
I adore the Obama's and our First Lady, Michelle. I wish she would be a little more Hillary. SHe is a highly educated woman who can have a positive impact. However I respect the role she has chosen.
As for Ms. Bush, Godspeed. It was an adjustment going from Hillary to Laura. Laura picked her role as F.L.
Must you republicans make her a saint? Jeez!
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