Michelle developed a 'tough skin' due to constant criticism during Obama's presidency, making her such a 'good role model'
Although former first lady Michelle Obama never held any office at the White House and did not have any direct hand in influencing the policies that her husband signed into law during his double presidential term, she faced a fair share of criticisms from Barack Obama’s political rivals as well as routinely encountered prejudice, hypocrisy, and bullying.
Writing in The Independent, journalist Janet Street-Porter said that standing strong despite the harsh criticisms that came her way was what made the ex-FLOTUS develop a tough skin and prove to be such a good role model. Street-Porter added that Michelle also believed in bipartisanship as she reached out across the aisle and struck up a friendship with ex-POTUS George W. Bush, who was a Republican.
“A famous photograph, taken at a museum opening in Washington in 2016, shows the pair hugging. According to Michelle, they regularly sat next to each other at state funerals and public events, using these meetings to swap stories about their families. From these encounters a friendship grew, based on common ground,” Street-Porter said.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Michelle said that the reason she could be friends with Bush was because they had the same core values even though they did not always agree on policies.
“I had an opportunity to sit by your father at funerals, the highs and the lows, and we shared stories about our kids and about our parents. Our values are the same,” she said while being interviewed by Jenna Bush Hager, Bush’s daughter. “We disagree on policy, but we don’t disagree on humanity, we don’t disagree about love and compassion. I think that’s true for all of us — it’s just that we get lost in our fear of what’s different.”
Hager, with whom the former first lady went to Vietnam last week to rally support for girls’ education, said that she lauded her dad and Michelle's friendship.
“I personally, and I think so many of us, miss a time where people who have different opinions get along,” she said. “And I yearn for that. I want my kids to realize that we live in a world when people are think tons of different things and we treat everybody with respect and kindness.”
