Michelle Obama as American First Lady

a. Supporting Military Families

Supporting military families is one of priorities for Obama‟s Supporting military families is one of priorities for Obama‟s

"I want you to know this: military families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration. We‟ll raise military pay, and continue providing quality child-care, job-training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families that have known the separation and stress of war. We will also heed the lesson of history-that those who fight in battle can form the backbone of our middle class..”

(http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/03/michell e_obama_8.html accessed on Monday, January 17, 2011, 8:31 PM).

Basically this program functions to appreciate American soldiers because of their sacrifice in the battle to defend America; it also functions to invite American society to appreciate the military soldier‟s families. Michelle says “Military families have done their duty, and as a grateful nation, American

society must do everything in their power to honor military families by supporting the m; not just by word but by deed” (Michelle in Brown as cited in http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/03/12/michelle_obama_shines_her_ spot.html accessed on Monday, January 17, 2011, 9:18 PM).

b. Helping working women balance career and family

Michelle Obama is a role model for many modern women. She tries to show her independence as a woman through her choice in balancing work and family life. Nowadays, there are many people who forced by their economic feature. Millions of women and men are challenged to balance their burden over their jobs and the needs of their families. This condition consequently could make the parents have no more attention over the children.

that they do not have to choose between their jobs and meeting the needs of their families. Unfortunately in fact, it is not easy to balance the needs of the families and the jobs. Sapiro states “Having a family and a challenging career at the same time in those days was extremely difficult … that women should not hav e to choose between having a career and having a family” (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/01/14/meet-women-administration- miriam-sapiro accessed on Monday, January 17, 2011, 9:04 PM)

A strong nation is made up of strong families. Every family ought to have the chance to make a better future for themselves and their children. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/family accessed on Monday, January 17, 2011, 8:44 PM). Therefore, to encounter this condition, the president established a White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families which is focused on raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America (ibid).

c. Let’s Move! initiative

Let’s Move! initiative launched by Michelle Obama, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Mrs.O has seriousness

in succeeding this program; therefore she expects American society to lend their hand over this program. There are five purposes of this program, they are: Creating a healthy start for children, empowering parents and caregivers, in succeeding this program; therefore she expects American society to lend their hand over this program. There are five purposes of this program, they are: Creating a healthy start for children, empowering parents and caregivers,

Let’s Move initiative functions to create an environment where parents, schools and communities are able to provide healthy life for kids and

families. Sebelius (Secretary of Health and Human Services) says “That means not just changing habits, but empowering consumers to make better food choices and teaching them to understand nutrition information. It's also about taking time out of our busy lives to make sure that kids get the 60 minutes of daily

(Sebelius in

http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2010/02/18/healthier-families-and-healthier- nation accessed on Monday, January 17, 2011, 7:59 PM). Through the garden activity, Mrs.O began to have discussion with kids about nutrition and the role food plays in living a healthy life. That discussion grew into the Let’s Move! Campaign (http://www.letsmove.gov/about.php accessed on Monday, January

17, 2011, 8:15 PM).