Femme Power

Posts Tagged ‘Obama’

Yeah, yeah, she’s the lady behind the man whom the whole world adores.   But aside from being the wife of US Pres. Barack Obama and great mom to Malia and Sasha, how much do we know about the First Lady Michelle?

Here’s a quick look of her from what I gathered from my readings, compiled in a nutshell to save you time researching.

1.   Full Name: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

2.   Profession: Lawyer

3.   Birth date: January 17, 1964

4.   Hometown: South Side of Chicago

5.   Schools attended: Whitney M. Young High School, Princeton University, Harvard Law School

6.   Where she met Barack: Sidley Austin Law Firm, one of the oldest and biggest law firms in the world

7.   Married Barack Obama in October 1992

8.   Past Careers:

• Marketing & intellectual property associate at Sidley Austin Law Firm, Chicago Office, where she also acted as advisor to then summer associate Barack Obama in 1989.
• Assistant to the Mayor of Chicago
• Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development, City of Chicago
• Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization
• Associate Dean of Student Services, University of Chicago
• Executive Director for community affairs, then to Vice President for Community and External Affairs, University of Chicago hospitals
• Salaried Board Member, TreeHouse Foods Inc. (a major Walmart supplier); Chicago Council of Global Affairs

9.   Income:   Based on the Obama couple’s 2006 income tax, Michelle was earning about 75% more than her husband when Barack was an Illinois senator.

10.   On the campaign trail of her husband’s bid for presidency:  Michelle wrote her own speeches with eloquence and intelligence and spoke without notes.

11.   Featured as one of the world’s best dressed people in Vanity Fair and People in 2008

12.   Landed in the list of The Harvard 100 as 58th most influencial Harvard alumni

Despite being a busy career woman, Michelle has always emphasized that family is her priority.

In one of US Pres. Barack Obama’s famous speeches last year, he said “And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years … the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation’s next first lady … Michelle Obama.”

If US Pres. Barack Obama were Superman,

We better not be his kryptonite.

CHANGE.

YES, THE WHOLE WORLD CAN.

It was a day of hope, unity and jubilation.   Notwithstanding the freezing temperature, a   massive crowd of two million gathered in Washington’s National Mall to witness and celebrate the inauguration of the first black President in American history.   Barack Hussein Obama has finally taken oath.

“We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” said Obama, 47, in his historic inaugural speech being the 44th president of the world’s most powerful nation.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many.  They will not be met easily, or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.”   The former Illinois senator inherited enormous challenges from the Bush administration - the worst US economy since the Great Depression and two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among others.

Obama also enumerated the pressing concerns that his administration will address including the rising cost of health care, unemployment, terrorism, environmental issues and the staggering economy.

But in the midst of high hopes around the globe, news feeds say that share prices in Wall Street and some Asian Markets plunged on Obama’s first day of office.   Analysts say that investors may be wary of Obama’s lack of concrete plans in combatting the present economic downturn.

Expectations are high on the first African-American President of the the crisis-stricken US.   As the US economy sinks deep into recession, Pres. Obama called for a “new era of responsibility”

“Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to mark hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.”

Various leaders from around the world has expressed support over the new US leadership, including French Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy who said he is eager to work with Obama in “changing the world.”

How long will the Obama heat last and to what extent of goodwill will it lead the US and the rest of the world?

The whole world is watching.    The whole world is hopeful.