Michelle Obama: President Needs Strong Family

(Cross-posted at Carroll Daily Times Herald)
By STEPHANIE EIFLER
COUNCIL BLUFFS - It may have been a hot, muggy Friday in western Iowa, but that didn't stop about 200 people from cramming into a room in downtown Council Bluffs to greet Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Michelle entered historic Bayliss Park Hall to a standing ovation and immediately began speaking about the importance of family in her husband's campaign. She cited examples of how their two children Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, are dealing with the high-profile life-style.

"We are always putting the girls first," Michelle said. "We want to keep them on target. We make sure that their lunch is packed and they are off to camp on time. It's critical for them to stay in their own world. This is important because if we want to lead this country, we need to put our family first and set an example in our own home."

To aid her family during her husband's campaign, Michelle is working only 20 percent of her previous hours as the vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. In an interview with the Daily Times Herald, Michelle said the sacrifice is one she is happy to make.

"I'm not giving up my career because of my husband, but because I'm passionate about this," said Michelle. "You can't have a president of the United States without a family at his side. This is a family endeavor. Some-body's got to be a parent, and we're not going to sacrifice the health and well being of our children."

Read the rest of the story at Carrollspaper.com.