What sort of first lady is she?

Answer 1

By most objective accounts, Michelle Obama is a very effective First Lady, who is very popular and has high approval ratings. She has championed a number of important causes: she has helped military families, encouraged healthy eating and urban gardening, promoted volunteerism, and stressed the value of education. But because she is a strong and successful woman (who was formerly a lawyer and a businesswoman prior to becoming First Lady), there are some people who are critical of her; Hillary Clinton received the same kinds of criticism, as did Eleanor Roosevelt. For some people, there seems to be disapproval of a First Lady who is out in the public eye: for generations, First Ladies were private, and mainly expected to be wives and mothers. But in modern times, some First Ladies have slightly expanded that role, although the idea of a First Lady continuing her professional career is still considered controversial.

It should be noted that there has been partisan criticism of Michelle Obama: this has included some fake quotes that try to paint her as angry and hard to get along with. But partisanship aside, being First Lady is not an easy job: it may be largely ceremonial, but in our world of 24/7 cable news, everything she does is scrutinized and held up for discussion. Some First Ladies have preferred to stay in the background, but Mrs. Obama seems comfortable doing events for the causes she supports, and the people who come out to see her or who watch her on TV seem genuinely fond of her.