‘The View’: Michelle Obama on Hillary Clinton, sexism and the vice presidency

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Michelle Obama made her debut appearance as a guest co-host on ABC’s ‘The View’ this morning, as her husband, presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, works to shore up his appeal to female voters.

Although Michelle Obama may have sought a new introduction to the public -- having been dogged especially by the comment she made four months ago that ‘for the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country’ -- she played up traditional first lady attributes such as graciousness, comportment, good grooming and style.

Among Michelle Obama’s most magnanimous moments were her public thanks to other women in the political spotlight. She thanked First Lady Laura Bush for her kind words after her ‘proud’ comments were misconstrued.

Asked by co-host Joy Behar if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign was overcome by sexism, Michelle Obama said yes, and that Clinton created ’18 million cracks on a ceiling, and we need to keep pushing it and pushing it.’ In Obama’s view, Hillary Clinton has taken those ‘painful hits’ so that ‘my girls, when they come along, they won’t have to feel it as badly.’

Barbara Walters tried to corner Michelle Obama on the ‘Hillary Clinton as Barack Obama’s running mate’ question, but Obama deftly dodged it, saying she was glad she would have nothing to do with it.

Here is an excerpt from the episode:

-- Sheigh Crabtree

Photo: Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Illinois) co-hosted ‘The View,’ on June 18. Courtesy: ABC/Steve Fenn