christiefan915
Catalyst
First off there is zero comparisson between Hillary and Laura Bush as first ladies. Can you recall anything Laura that was really political in nature other than saying she supported her husband?
I always liked Laura and didn't hold against her the fact that she married that boob. I read her book recently, along with Hillary's and Palin's books. You'll be surprised to hear that Laura and Hillary have a lot of similarities in their backgrounds, actions, interests, etc. Also both woman came off very well in the telling of their own stories. They're both intelligent with a cute, self-deprecating humor, and neither spent a lot of time trashing other people. They liked and spoke well of each other. I probably leaned just a bit more toward Laura because she's like me, an introverted bookworm.

That aside, Laura made a lot of political and nonpolitical trips. She went to Africa a number of times and she took a daughter with her. She met with leaders and their wives. I was surprised to read how many trips she made, because I don't recall hearing about them when she was First Lady.
Just my opinion but maybe Laura didn't say a lot of political things because she was on the opposite side of her husband in a number of issues, being pro-choice was one of them and supporting gay marriage was another.
She was pretty much in the background. During the campaign Hillary said you were getting two for one with her and Bill and then when she took the lead in writing the health care bill that put her right on the front line. I'm not passing judgement here just saying those two were completely different so of course coverage of them was going to be different.
I agree she was in the background but why? She did a lot of different things while bush was in office and they didn't get into the news. If you find it hard to believe she was so active, read her book.
I'm sure there is partisanship involved in criticising Michelle but her husband isn't all that popular at the moment and the economy is not doing well. There is nothing wrong with her wanting to take her kids overseas
People taking out their discontent with Obama on his wife and kid is just mean-spirited. (It was only one kid on the trip, but that's neither here nor there.) Laura took a lot of her pals on hiking and camping trips but that never hit anybody's radar, and she did it while her husband was losing support over an unpopular war.
It was probably a great experience for them. But can you make the argument considering what's going on economic wise in our country it shows somewhat of a tin ear politically? I think you can.
I don't hold Laura's trips against her, or Michelle's against her. You write that Michelle's trip shows a political tin ear because of the country's economy. Would you also say the same about Laura taking friends on trips during a war when some families were losing their loved ones overseas?