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Michelle Obama - Her Bio

by: TerryFisher
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Born on 17 Jan1964 in Chicago Illinois, Michelle Obama's mother Marian was a secretary, and father Fraser Robinson a city water plant worker. She was raised in a conservative home, alongside older brother Craig. Michelle's father's high morals and levels of expectations are qualities she has carried with her. Brother Craig is also a success story, with a checkered history in men's basketball.

Listed in 2006 among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women" by Essence magazine, Michelle Obama followed up in 2007 with Vanity Fair magazine nominating her as one of the "World's Ten Best Dressed People."

Also in 2007, she entered "The Harvard 100" ranking 58th on a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni; husband Barack was ranked fourth. She keeps good company, having made two campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey. A recent fundraising lunch she hosted for Governor Chris Gregoire raised over $300,000 for the governor's campaign against Dino Rossi. The wife of Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama she may be - but Michelle Obama is her own success story.

Following Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Michelle went to Princeton University, graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in African American studies. She then continued at Harvard Law School, earning her law degree in 1988. Following law school, Michelle Obama worked as an Associate in the field of marketing and intellectual property at the Chicago law firm, Sidley and Austin. It was at Sidley and Austin that she met Barack Obama.

Leaving the corporate law world in 1991 to pursue a public service career, she became an assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, and then Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development for Chicago. Michelle Obama then served as Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's first Community Service Program.

In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as an Executive Director for Community Affairs, and then as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. She now works this position part-time, to enable her to have more time to devote to her family.

She became "Michelle Obama" in 1992 after marrying Barack; they now have two daughters, Malia Obama (born 1999) and Natasha Obama (born 2001). In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization helping young adults develop skills for careers in the public sector.

After Barack Obama declared his Presidential Candidacy in May 2007, Michelle reduced her professional responsibilities by eighty percent. She has endorsed the role of aspiring First Lady, travelling the country alongside her husband, giving speeches and attending events. Due to her strong family commitments, Michelle makes sure she is never away from her daughters Malia and Natasha for too long. She has been described as focused, tough, steely, and has a sharp sense of humor.

Life for both Barack and Michelle Obama has changed for ever. Secret Service protection is now a way of life, with Michelle having her own dedicated team, as they face the fears of extremist action.

Naturally competitive, intelligent, inclined not to take things for granted and with a direct, practical approach toward politics, Michelle compliments her husband well. Michelle Obama likes to keep things calm, keeping Barack focused, with his feet firmly planted on the ground. She displays a determined passion for the Barack Obama campaign and is amongst his biggest assets. However, she may also be his achilles heel; Barack seems able to shrug off criticism of himself far more easily than criticism of his wife; and, increasingly, Michelle Obama is being targeted by those that want to unsettle Barack.

About the Author

Author Terry Fisher runs the Barack Obama Videos Site plus the Hillary Clinton Videos Site. Catch the latest Presidential Race News on Video!

Michelle Obama - Her Bio

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