Michelle Obama

The case for - or is it against? - Michelle Obama: "One, she's black," says James B. Peterson, associate professor of English and director of the Africana studies department at Lehigh University. "Two, she's assertive. Three, she's smart. Four, she's strong. Five, she's a great political mind. And we can't forgive her for it. " In a new book, The Obamas , by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, Michelle Obama is depicted as often at odds with the West Wing staff, pushing for health-care reform.

The White House/Black Market Empire shift that Michelle Obama wore on The View featured tank sleeves and a scoop neck that showed off toned triceps. The black flower pinned to her left shoulder, along with full eyelashes and a wispy-banged pageboy, gave her a polished and strong, yet completely feminine look. When asked Wednesday morning about the crisp, eye-catching dress, she said, "It's fun to look pretty. " Thank God, Michelle Obama can say that. Women in politics are loath to admit they like fashion; it's as if the very mention of Manolos chips away at their credibility faster than city sidewalk grates clip heels.

The schoolyard at Fairhill Elementary School was abuzz. Today, a very important person with a fancy car, a lot of bodyguards, and the ear of the president will descend on the North Philadelphia school, and the students were ready. Angelica Negron, 10, was "happy and excited" about Michelle Obama's visit to talk about healthy food. Angelica said she hoped she'd be picked to meet with the first lady. "I think she's going to talk about vegetables, because a lot of kids, they eat a lot of junk food," Angelica, a fifth grader who wore a ball cap fashionably askew, said yesterday.

How to end the obesity epidemic? One city at a time. That's the approach Michelle Obama took Wednesday as she appeared with 11 mayors in a North Philadelphia gymnasium to discuss the latest iteration of her two-year-old Let's Move! campaign to reverse the nation's obesity epidemic. The attack on childhood obesity needs to start at the local level, she said, with mayors and other city officials taking the helm. "There's no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem," she told an enthusiastic crowd in the gym of the Lenfest Police Athletic Club at 3890 N. 10th St. Mayors "see people's struggles up close.

Michelle Obama alit briefly in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, inspiring thunderous applause, cheers of "Yes, Ma'am!", and a few tears from hundreds of rapt campaign volunteers and allies gathered in the National Constitution Center. In an appearance billed as a rally to inspire and thank grassroots supporters, the first lady was nearly brought to tears herself, speaking about her father's work ethic and her husband's efforts to promote policies that help families maintain their dignity and independence.

On a mobile device? Click here to view the video. WASHINGTON - Michelle Obama experienced a rare face-to-face encounter with a protester late Tuesday - approaching the activist and threatening to leave a fund-raiser if the person did not stop interrupting her speech. Obama was addressing a Democratic Party fund-raiser in a private home in the Kalorama neighborhood of Northwest Washington when Ellen Sturtz, 56, a lesbian activist, interrupted her remarks to demand that President Obama sign an antidiscrimination executive order.

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. - Michelle Obama will join former first lady Laura Bush in ceremonies marking the ninth anniversary of the United Flight 93 crash in Pennsylvania during the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush had previously confirmed her participation, saying we "must never forget the brave sacrifice of these extraordinary men and women. " Passengers aboard the flight are believed to have struggled with its hijackers before the jet crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa., killing all aboard.

How to break the obesity epidemic? One city at a time. Appearing with nine mayors in a North Philadelphia gymnasium, First Lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday discussed the latest iteration of her two-year-old Let's Move! campaign to treat the nation's obesity epidemic. She announced a $1 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to create a web site - healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org - where city officials can sign up and get tips on how to raise money for the anti-obesity effort or improve programs they have in place.

PHILADELPHIA and other cities can't afford to ignore childhood obesity. That was first lady Michelle Obama's message Wednesday when she announced the latest effort from her Let's Move campaign geared at fighting childhood obesity, a campaign that kicked off in 2010. The new effort is a nationwide collaboration with the National League of Cities to help local officials improve child health. Backed by $1 million from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the NLC's Institute for Health, Education and Families will provide local mayors with tools and technical assistance to improve nutrition and promote physical activity among youth.

FIRST LADY Michelle Obama, whose approval rating is higher than her husband's, has hit her stride. I knew she would. Reaction to Tuesday night's speech was uniformly glowing, proving that she's a political rock star - and one of her husband's biggest political assets. She's come a long way from four years ago, when critics complained about everything from her supposed angry-black-woman attitude to her alleged lack of patriotism. It probably didn't hurt that she looked great, resplendent in a sleeveless Tracy Reese dress and pink J.Crew pumps.