Michelle Obama To Celebrate 50 Tonight
WHITFIELD: First lady Michelle Obama is now 50 years old, and she's ready to party. Her birthday actually was yesterday, and the White House is celebrating tonight. It's apparently telling guests eat dinner before you come and be ready to dance. We understand there will be lots of drinks and lots of desserts because that's the way she wants it and even there are reports that Beyonce and Adelle might be performing tonight. The first lady is, of course, embracing this milestone and here's the latest example of that. She actually tweeted a picture of herself, a selfie there with her AARP card yesterday, and said excited to join Barack in the 50 plus club. So I'm joined now live by Sally Quinn, columnist for "The Washington Post." So Sally, it's nice to see that she's celebrating 50 and we know in a very big way. What kind of details have you learned about this party tonight?</s>SALLY QUINN, COLUMNIST, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Well, you know, they are keeping it very much under wraps. Everybody's speculating about who is going to be there and who's not going to be there and talking about the fact that it's eat first. I suspect that there is going to be plenty of food, knowing the Obamas and knowing the White House so I don't think that's going to be an issue. But you know, this is going to be a party of her friends. This is not official Washington and they have never been really part of official Washington and I think for her 50th birthday it's probably the most appropriate way to celebrate it with people that they are close to and that they care about.</s>WHITFIELD: Right, and it's common knowledge that she and her husband don't necessarily, you know, run around town with the Washington circles. Every now and then, you see the two of them going out to dinner, but I understand she does get out and about on her own, meeting up with her BFFs at favorite restaurants. Even sometimes, showing up at Target like everyone has seen in the past, she's like to find ways to have her me time. And what does that say about her? Whether it be this milestone or really just about this first lady, trying to make sure there is room for me time and just doing it my way?</s>QUINN: Well, I think first of all, the Obamas have never had been part of Washington and they're very much to themselves. They have their own friends who come to the White House. She goes out a lot with her girlfriends and pals and has dinner, but you don't ever see them on the circuit at all. But I think the most important thing I would say about Michelle Obama right now is that there's incredible sense and she's imparted this to women all over the country, all over the world, really, of liberation. She talks a lot about balance in her "People" magazine interview, she talks about how she started doing more yoga because she wants to stay balanced. She doesn't want to lose her balance when she gets older and break a hip. You could talk about that in terms of her life as a whole. That she has really managed to balance being a mother, being a wife and also, being involved in issues that she cares about and nothing too excess. She's balanced everything in a way that she's saying to women everywhere, look, this is what I'm doing with my life right now and this is just fine. And whatever you want to do with your life is also fine. You know, there have been a lot of criticism about her, why didn't she take some big job? She's got all this education. She went to Harvard Law School. But what she's doing I think is more important than that, which is that she's showing people that this is my life, this is what I want to do. I want to spend this time, precious time with my children I will never get back. I need to support my husband. He's got the most powerful and stressful job in the world. I can be a great help mate to him and also, I have a great platform for doing incredible work with the military, with obesity, with education, as she announced the other day. And have an impact that she would never be able to have in any other position.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes, and she does seem to have an ease that she exudes that I think is very complimentary and really very reassuring to a lot of women, whether they're working inside or outside the home. Sally Quinn, always good to see you. Thank you so much. And we'll be right back with much more.