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Michelle Obama fights a bad rap and wows 'The View'

BY VERNE GAY | verne.gay@newsday.com

June 19, 2008

Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Illinois) co-hosts "The View," live Wednesday on ABC. (ABC / June 18, 2008)

Unpatriotic - as some critics would portray Michelle Obama? Not on yesterday's "The View," which was something of a coming-out party for the wife of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.

She fist-bumped, joked, talked about the kids, life, love, fashion and (of course) her professed deep and sincere love of country.

Mostly, she seemed happy and comfortable, and with conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck flanking her left and a loosey-goosey Whoopi Goldberg (who spilled her coffee) to the right, that's not as easy as it sounds.

Political handlers call such high-profile appearances on shows like "The View" "makeovers," but Obama acted like someone who had nothing to make over. She was poised and prepared, and burnished her image and helped her husband.

In sum, a slam dunk.

How did she feel about all the assaults on her presumed patriotism? "I take them in stride. It's part of the process. Of course I'm proud of my country."

Did Hillary Rodham Clinton experience sexism? "Oh yes ... and [we have to] keep pushing ... so that when my girls come along they won't have to feel it as badly."

Would her husband consider Clinton as running mate?

"My answer, and people have asked me this before, is that the one thing that a nominee earns is a right to pick the vice president that they think will best reflect their vision for the country. And I'm just glad I will have nothing to do with it."

Good non-answer. Effective, too. Somewhere, her handlers were smiling.