The Secret Weapon Is Unleashed

Following months of a stalemate in Washington over the Obama agenda, senior Administration officials have come to the realization that they need to change their approach to healthcare reform and a host of other policy issues. Rather than shaking up his staff and sending out pink slips, the White House deployed its secret weapon into the pitch of battle – First Lady Michelle Obama.

Widely popular across the country with a 71% approval rating, the Princeton-educated First Lady is not only seen as a loving Mom of two but, also a sharp, incisive advocate of the President’s policies.  It appears she’s ready to roll up her sleeves and fight in the trenches. Michelle Obama’s tenacity was on display as she announced a comprehensive effort to fight childhood obesity – a major issue facing the health of America’s children [In fact, I believe obesity is THE public healthcare issue of the century in the United States]. Her “Let’s Move” campaign is a multi-faceted program tying families and communities together with the public and private sector.  From my good friend Mike Roizen, MD (Co-Author of You, the Owner’s Manual) I learned this past week that the average kid in Cleveland consumers 3400 calories between breakfast and lunch.   Astonishing!! 

Michele Obama’s announcement brought to mind the efforts of prior First Lady initiatives like Lady Bird Johnson’s “Don’t Litter”, Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” and Barbara Bush’s “Just Read” and others.  Might we see her unleashed on other areas where the American public holds positive sentiment?  I think so…wouldn’t you?  Michele Obama’s obesity initiative comes in the wake of another First Lady effort – getting the President to allocate $8.8 billion in FY 2011 budget for support of military families.  She is quietly assuming the role of a renaissance woman in the new Administration.

In the same vein as Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and Nancy Reagan, Michelle Obama’s emergence as a mother, feminist icon, and policy leader is a critical move for the White House at a time when their political capital is disappearing on a daily basis.  As the Administration’s secret weapon on a host of issues, the First Lady is slowly building trust with the American people which will be more valuable to the President than anything Congress could ever produce. A role model for young women across the country, I am certain that we have not seen the last of Michelle Obama as an advocate for the White House’s agenda and as a prominent figure in American culture.  She has the potential for truly bending the curve – a term used for describing what we need to do in healthcare.

Kevin Fickenscher, MD

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.