Michelle's difficult time on TV

Washington: Barack Obama's decision to move his campaign headquarters to Chicago suggests a redesigned, tightened-up election effort aimed at his rival John McCain, with no bitter aftertaste from the Democratic primaries. It will be quite a change, for better or worse.

There was a major television roll-out of a supposed new image for Michelle Obama, who shapes up as a controversial, hot target for her goofy remarks about America's presumed shortcomings. The public relations stunt didn't work very well: Michelle Obama seemingly called her husband "pathetic" on The View on ABC, not exactly what the adoring wife model voters prefer. She quickly insisted that she had called him "empathetic," meaning he's sensitive to the feelings of others. She was out there to soften her public image as a lovable partner who is patriotic and mainstream despite her remark: "For the first time in my adult life I am really proud of my country."

She's made other controversial statements, such as this country is "just downright mean." To her credit she is, pardon the comparison, a little too independent and outspoken in the mold of Hillary Clinton to be palmed off as another Laura Bush.

The current first lady is popular mostly because she's just a ghostly presence who stands by the president's side and shows up in pretty clothes. She has kept her thoughts to herself and her mouth shut during most of the White House years, wasting the opportunity her position offers and thereby offending no one. Only recently has she discovered trouble spots in the world, such as Myanmar, but all she provides is soothing words that international power brokers can feel free to ignore.

By contrast, Michelle Obama is adroit at displays of outrage. She gets mad at perceived sleights aimed at her and her family by the media and Republicans. But campaigning for her husband makes Michelle Obama fair game. This is not a two-standard deal. She can go out and shill for him on the road but opponents can't hit back? Nonsense.