This just in: Barack respects his wife
Relationship experts Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks have made another interesting observation about Barack and Michelle Obama over on HuffPo.
Using the recent 60 Minutes interview as an example, they draw attention to the fact that Barack actually looks at Michelle when she’s talking. No, really! Apparently, this is a complete rarity among First Couples:
“With Michelle and Barack’s relationship, their level of ease, affection and respect carries a deep sense of authenticity about it. After nearly 40 years of counseling couples, individuals, business executives and others, we’ve seen just about every form of concealment, subterfuge, defensiveness and guile there is to see. If you’ve been watching presidential couples for a few decades, you’ve also seen just about every form of concealment, subterfuge, defensiveness and guile there is to see. Maybe now we’re embarking on something new and long overdue: a role model of a healthy relationship in the White House.”
And amen to that. Here’s a clip from the interview if you want to see all that, y’know, looking:
And here were some of the most interesting observations on the HuffPo comments board:
“I think the solid relationship between them contributes a great deal to the President-elect’s famous calm and even temperament. It’s a lot easier to forgive insults and move on (Lieberman & and all the rest) when your life is filled with strong, authentic love. It keeps everything else in perspective. It lets you approach everything from a position of strength and confidence. I have often thought in the past about how personally lonely and bereft some politicians seemed to be (Nixon comes to mind, as does HRC) and wondered how much that affected their public personalities.” - myjazzyhands
“There is no doubt that the two share a special chemistry and relationship that will do wonders for americans. We have had years of polarization, anger and resentments towards each other as a people. And it’s considered cool to put down your spouse and show disrespect to them… The people of this country are tired of being afraid, depressed and angry. And the fact that the Obamas respect and love each other and are not afraid to show it to the world is another layer of the tone and thinking and mood changing.” - lafrance
“One thing that makes me feel hopeful for women’s rights is that Obama sees his wife as his peer, as another human being. I don’t think he would ever deny that she is capable of making her own choices about her body and her life. To many men, their wives are all women, and all women can generally expect to be treated the way a man treats his wife and daughters. If this holds true, the women of America are in for one of the best four year spans in their history.” - Anpan
“Barack won over lots of hearts because he is a good listener and is actually interested in what people have to say. It begins at home and is a great quality for a parent to have as well as a husband.” - roshni
“One thing I noticed this fall - Barack Obama consistently looked supporters in the eye as he shook their hands during the campaign. People would post about it as well, so I know it was not my imagination! Contrast that to film clips of Palin working the rope, and you’ll see that she had this kind of frantic look about her - no looking at people’s eyes, simply looking for those open doors that she could plow through…” - sonomarc
“The famous “terrorist fist jab” pic said it all to me. The instant I saw it, I thought “that’s how I want a woman to look at me.” Well, actually the thought that ran through my head was “that dude’s SO getting laid tonight,” but it amounts to the same thing. That’s not a look at, that’s a look right through. Lucky man.” - ElBruce
“Oh God I want to be in this family. I’m 32 years old and I’ve never wished my family life was different; one learns to accept what one has. But the more I see this family, the more it hurts. I wish I was Malia or Sasha. I can’t believe I envy a 6-year-old. Deeply. — just another black girl from a broken home.” - karinova
“I am a white guy from the Bronx and I feel the same as you. Maybe they will adopt us?” - Ed Shapiro
Tags: 60 minutes, barack and michelle obama, barack obama, body language, huffington post, Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks, Michelle Obama, obama body language
November 24th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
What a fascinating article. I think we saw throughout the campaign when they were together, what a strong bond they have. You can really see how ‘in-tune’ they are with each other, and what a great partnership they will bring to the White House. Unlike the Clinton’s who after the Lewinsky scandal, now come across as a couple who are doomed to a marriage of convenience, to help their careers.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Yes, while the Clintons are also something of a match of equals, like the Obamas, they’ve always seemed to have been very much more of a ‘power’ couple. you never saw warmth and open, natural affection between Hillary and Bill like you do between Michelle and Barack.