FanMAIL: Reader Riled By the Way Michelle Obama Sits

Last night I received an email from a loyal reader who thought Michelle Obama displayed bad posture as she sat reading to children in a D.C. classroom yesterday.

After viewing the pics myself I came to the conclusion that there’s nothing wrong with the way the First Lady was sitting. Heck, I sit like that all the time with my shoulders hunched over, my forearms resting on my knees and my legs spread wide.

Maybe she feels more comfortable sitting that way. I also noted that Barack Obama sits the same way.

Sure, you wouldn’t see Laura Bush or even Hillary Clinton sitting hunched over with her legs spread open, but so what?

There are people who think a First Lady should sit with her back straight, her knees (and legs) together and her hands clasped politely in her lap — but I’m not one of them.

I think it’s rather cool to have a First Lady who throws decorum and pomposity out the window in lieu of being her natural ’round-the-way self.

I say let Michelle be Michelle.

Photo: Reuters

heartbreaker

Sure, you wouldn’t see Laura Bush or even Hillary Clinton sitting hunched over with her legs spread open, but so what?

_______________________________________________

You wouldn’t even see them reading books to children…
ReadTheBlog

I wonder if that same reader is OK with the way Beyonce gaps her legs far and wide, and sadly, she’s a bigger influence than the first lady (for now).
KAT

i can’t believe this was worth a post….how somebody sits…..u falling off ain’t u ms. rose??
Naima

Michelle’s legs aren’t spread Sandra, I know you would live that so you could go in a take a dive. Obviously Michelle is listening attentively while a kid is talking to her.
mjoylaw

This is sort of an interesting issue..I too have noticed both Obamas’ posture as being a bit awkward at times in the same way..they probably just don’t realize how this looks to people and I predict they will subtly adjust their posture in the future to play better to the cameras. They’re both learning about their role and the best ways to present themselves, big and small…but make no mistake image is soooo important..Sandra are you saying because Mrs. Obama may, without realizing it, be comporting herself as “less than” First Lady-like, that’s the reason she should continue..cause I guess you still don’t like the Obamas, right?
mjoylaw

Also–I hate to say it, but even though Mrs. Obama is beautiful au naturale, I believe she needs to step up her fashion and grooming game..she will just have to hire professionals to coiff her hair and dress her every single day, it sucks I know..professionals who do not have wash n wear hair, and women in their 40s, just have to suck it up..let the shrill responses to this post begin I suppose?
mjoylaw

and do her makeup….sorry I left that out and that was the most important point, she looks too washed out here, she needs some make up on..sorry ladies but it is what it is
mjoylaw

last point to round out my thoughts..she’s trying to find the right balance between looking substantive and frivolous, she will find it as they work through this stuff..but this presentation could have been and will be in the future a whole lot smoother
mjoylaw

she also does not want to look like she is trying to outdo or overshadow her husband, she is almost bigger than he is and she is a commanding lawyer of a woman, lol

but she will find her way, that’s our girl and we sure do care about how she’s doing. GO MICHELLE!! Love you (as if she’s reading this, I know!) Bye
Daisy

I am so glad Michelle wears what she wants and pays no attention to what anybody else says. HAWT! I say!
Shauny

side eyeing the book….but

Her legs are not wide open, you can tell that her knees are together but not her legs. She has to adjust her posture I agree, but why doesn’t everyone want her to turn into this cookie cutter First Lady?
teecee

sandy your loyal reader sound like a lil old biddy. LOL tell her that might be how the missionaries and mother’s board @ church sit on Sunday but in the real world that how a lot of people sit.

also @ mjoylaw….. 25k people lost their job this week, it would have been a horrible mistake for her to have showed up in a 10k dress and 4k shows…. Mrs Obama is very smart and understand that if people are distracted by what you wear, they aren’t paying attention to what comes out your mouth.
iscream

@ Mjoy why don’t you post your pic since it took you 3 to 4 post talking about how Michelle needs to do this and that.

& Sarcastic Sandra lay off of Michelle. Barock don’t play that when it comes to his wife. All this hate you are putting out can come back to haunt you.
mjoylaw

I agree she should not look frivolous. But First Lady is on tv right now, she’s at the Housing Department saying hello, her second whistle stop, and again (don’t forget I sure do love our First Lady, she is the business!) her hair and dress are not on point, not to show off expensive items, but to be appropriate to her position and the occasion..but she will eventually find the right balance..she is the First Lady of the United States, there is an expectation of how she carries herself and a need to see her looking put together, it’s like any of us, you have to show up for duty put together appropriately for the job you have and the role you’re expected to play……God bless the Obamas and we sure do pray for their success and happiness
speakinmymind

i’m sure someone already said this but her legs are not spread open…and i think you can see this very clearly SANDRA (my eyes are big – not as big as yours (no insult intended) – and i know i don’t miss s*it)
MzTee

And the idiots have been turned loose in the insane asylum.

These folks are going to be picked about for the next 4-8 years. Everything they do will be dissected and redissected under the public’s nanoscope.

As someone else mentioned, eventually over time the Obamas will ‘learn’ and adapt to how to position themselves so they always appear professional and poised on camera. But, by no means does Michelle Obama carry herself less than a lady.

Sandra, girl, you have got to stop making stuff up in your effort to discredit the Obamas — it ain’t working nor will it ever work.
MzTee

about=apart
mjoylaw

@ iscream,

I’m only saying these things trying to be constructive to the First Lady of the United States, our sister and you know the Y.Ts are saying the same things privately.

You can easily see my pic, I’m also a lawyer, and my name is Michelle too. My professional picture is on my website @ davylawfirm.com, click on the Our Practice link. I’m in my 40s, and a mom to young children as well, and I try to dress appropriately to the occasion and being professional in my very small role relative that of our First Lady.
Daisy

Her hair is fine and on point!
Daisy

She is dressed for the occasion. She is at a school. Some said she was overdressed at the swearing in ceremony. Keep doing YOUR thing Michelle O.!!!
starr

Good for michelle dressing the way she wants without trying to conform to the whyte’s standard of beauty. And they can talk…..but u know what….she’s first lady.

And maybe she’s hunched cuz she’s interacting with the children…..
terika83

First…shocked at your comments Sandra….wow.

Second…some people need to get a life…it’s not that serious…and her legs aren’t wide open they are closed with her legs (from the knee down) bent outwards…its not revealing in anyway…
mjoylaw

I guess Sandra knows how to get some discussion going! Well since I put my name out there, send me some clients yall! Anybody who needs legal advice hit me up, no charge just to talk! GO MICHELLE AND BARACK, YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS
terika83

I actually don’t see anything wrong with their posture..I don’t sit like that but it actually makes them look more approachable and more like us then some highly un-relatable authoritative figure.
terika83

Lastly…they are speaking with children…not giving a speech to the country. I’m sure the kids are more comfortable with them sitting like that.
shunda

Who the heck would put on make-up to go to the library and read to kids. We don’t know the standard for a black first lady because we have never had one. Michelle keep doing the great job that you are doing. People always have ish to talk.
iscream

@ Mjoy Not sure if you read all the post that are put up about Barock & Michelle but they are not positive in anyway. So a constructive comment on here can be viewed as an attack.

Sandra is it bc they are educated black ppl that you have no love for them? They aren’t LSLH, or Baby Mammas, Thugs with the pants hanging down… they’re oppisite of what you seem to not agree with.. Y all the hate? Guess you can’t say these things to ppl you know in your day to day life bc they may look @ you different. So you bombard us with these topics wheater we like it or not (comments off).
keely107

@heartbreaker:

Yeah you would see them reading to children, while a whole city goes under water.
-You also wouldnt normally see the first lady perm her hair, but yo ays do now!!! haha. Whoever loyal reader was need to find something constructive to complain about!
Amulet

@mjoylaw, I don’t agree with you. The Obamas look humble. I don’t think they look awkward at any time. They look personable and like they are ‘up for the people’ as they should.

BTW, What kind of law do you practice?
iscream

Oh & mjoy as far as the yt people are watching comment. Thanks for the laugh. You know good and darn well they don’t have any style. They are watching not to judge but to see how they can rip off her style… as they have done and will continue to do off of black people.
MissR2008

Actually, her body language is quite revealing. She is leaning into the children. Humans tend to lean into/toward positive things, i.e., things they enjoy. Her body language is implying that she is actually intrigued by them. Her posture and positioning show that she is not there by force.
lexdiamonz

Naima Says:

Michelle’s legs aren’t spread Sandra, I know you would live that so you could go in a take a dive.

__________*dead*_______________

anyhoo in michelle’s defense being 6 ft tall myself she is hunched over cuz she on that lil azz stool…. LOL!! no but she is engaging and entertaining the children and looks really into what the discussion is whoever wrote that damn email need to got sit down some where about time we have a “human” first lady and not some damn stepford wife
h0tsauce

As I look at this picture I see a woman who is engaged in a conversation with children and actually taking it serious. I see someone who could give two sh**s and a terd about what people think. She is LISTENING TO THE children and Barack is looking as if he is amazed by what a child has said. Sandra, If you look at any of the “POSITIVE” stories about President Obama you will see that he actually takes time out to speak with children and he always praises them either on their goals, their speech etc. etc… He is determined to help the children of our future.

FanMAIL: Reader Riled By the Way Michelle Obama Sits

Maybe If Cops Searched All Rappers There Wouldn’t Be So Much Violence in Hip Hop?

Audio: Etta James wants to whup Beyonce’s Azz (can you blame her?)

related posts