Michelle Obama Reintroduced in "The View"; Senator Obama's New Problem with American-Muslims
MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF SENATOR OBAMA: I think the one thing that a nominee earns is the right to pick the vice president that they think will best reflect their vision of the country. And I'm just glad I will have nothing to do with it.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have no say-so whatsoever? You cannot --</s>M. OBAMA: I don't want it.</s>COOPER: Michelle Obama on "The View" today. Part of a reintroduction, you might say. Some would call it a makeover. Trying to soften her image for the general election. We're going to show you more from that appearance in a moment. But first, a sign that Michelle Obama is still very much a lightning rod. In a new interview, Cindy McCain today, discussed Michelle Obama's past comments about America. And both candidates criticize the other for allowing their wives to be put under the microscope. Senator Barack Obama fired the first shot on today's stand by your woman showdown. CNN's Tom Foreman has the Raw Politics.</s>TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Many families feud. But they better not on the campaign trail. That was the pointed message from Barack Obama to John McCain, in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think families are off-limits. I would never consider making Cindy McCain a campaign issue. And I -- if I saw people doing that, I would speak out against it. And the fact that I haven't seen that from John McCain, I think, is a deep disappointment.</s>FOREMAN: Obama was talking about attacks on his wife, Michelle, questioning her loyalty to the country. But the McCain camp fired back promptly, charging that the Democratic National Committee openly criticized Cindy McCain for not including enough information when she released her tax returns. In a written statement, McCain's campaign said, Senator McCain agrees with Senator Obama, that spouses should not be an issue in this campaign. And he has stated that position frequently. Unfortunately, when the Democratic National Committee was attacking Mrs. McCain, Senator Obama was not strong enough to stand up and speak out. This is just the latest in the battle of the spouses. The Tennessee GOP put out an ad in May, suggesting Michelle Obama was unpatriotic, for saying this was the first time she was really proud to be an American. And "Good Morning America" is now promoting an interview tomorrow with Cindy McCain, where as she has before she once again slams Michelle Obama over that comment. Everyone has their own experience. I don't know why she said what she said. All I know is that I have always been proud of my country. Traditionally the families of politicians have been somewhat off- limits. Depending, of course, on how much they campaign. And frankly, what they say about the opposition. But this is hardly a traditional election. So, no matter how many times a candidate says --</s>B. OBAMA: But I also think these folks should lay off my wife.</s>FOREMAN: The family feuds may continue. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.</s>COOPER: Certainly seems like it. On "The View" this morning, Michelle Obama clearly wanted to try to show viewers the kind of woman she says she really is as opposed to the way she's often been portrayed. It was the first step in what you might call her re-launch. On a popular show, whose viewers, mostly women, are a key demo her husband needs to win over. Here's CNN's Randi Kaye, "Up Close."</s>RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Conservative blogs have called her an angry black woman. Even accused her without evidence of using the word, "Whitey." One way to tackle ugly rumors on the blog, is with the ladies of "The View."</s>M. OBAMA: I have to be greeted properly.</s>KAYE: For nearly an hour, the Mrs. who might be first lady, talked about everything from politics to pantyhose. No, she doesn't wear them. She also defended her now-famous comment critics called unpatriotic.</s>M. OBAMA: Of course, I'm proud of my country. Nowhere but in America could my story be possible.</s>KAYE: Her story is something you'll be hearing more of. Her stump speech is getting a makeover, as the campaign attempts to reposition her.</s>M. OBAMA: I'm a girl that grew up on the south side of Chicago. My father was a working-class guy.</s>KAYE: Less controversy, less heartache for the campaign.</s>M. OBAMA: People aren't used to strong women.</s>KAYE: Political expert, Larry Sabato.</s>LARRY SABATO, POLITICAL ANALYST: If you're a candidate for first lady, probably the best thing you can be is innocuous.</s>KAYE: Sabato says softer settings like "The View" and the style section are good venues for avoiding controversy.</s>SABATO: The idea is to let that candidate for first lady get known in a softer form. Have the personality come out. Have the roles as mother and as wife come out. Be known. That's going to be attractive to a lot of women and men.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does Barack take out the garbage still?</s>M. OBAMA: No.</s>KAYE: A new "Washington Post"/ABC news poll, find about half of those questioned view Michelle Obama favorably including 54 percent of the women. Nearly nine in ten African-American women polled view her positively compared to about half of white women. As audience members filed out of "The View" studio, many told me they were impressed with Michelle Obama. They thought she was funny and relaxed. They felt like they got to know her.</s>M. OBAMA: My name is Michelle Obama.</s>KAYE: Mrs. Obama shared she's taking cues from First Lady Laura Bush.</s>M. OBAMA: There's a reason people like her. It's because she doesn't, sort of, fuel the fire.</s>SABATO: You do not want a first lady candidate taking any positions that are harder-edged than her husband because it raises questions about who's really going to be governing in the White House.</s>KAYE: Instead, Mrs. Obama shared stories about her girls and the struggles of parenting during a presidential campaign.</s>SHARON BYRD, AUDIENCE MEMBER: Made her softer; a softer image. That's the way I thought it was anyway. It was good.</s>KAYE: Does Michelle Obama need softening?</s>BYRD: Maybe a little. I think we all do.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She stands up for what she believes in. And her family's first. And I give her high praise.</s>KAYE: Exactly what the Obama campaign wants to hear. Barack Obama needs women in his corner. Michelle Obama may help get them there.</s>SABATO: The less she says and does, the better it will be. The less she is on the front pages, the less she is profiled. The better it will be for the Obama campaign.</s>KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.</s>COOPER: Well, just ahead, we dig deeper with our panels. See what they think on the battle over the running mates. Plus, an apology from the Obama campaign, for its treatment of two Muslim women. Why didn't they want Muslim-Americans in head scarves to sit behind Obama in the crowd? We'll have details and the fall out. Also ahead remembering Tim Russert his memorial service was filled with memories and music and some magical moments. World-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Wayne Isom will join us to talk about the silent killer that felled Tim Russert and what you can do to help your heart.