Michelle Obama

In a creepy new ad called "Voices," from bipartisan anti-poverty group ONE, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and others speak through Matt Damon's face.

Mr. Damon opens up the ad with his own voice, saying, "Thanks to everyday Americans who chose to make a difference, millions of lives have been saved in the world's poorest countries." But the rest of the message is relayed through the voices of politicians and other Americans coming out of the actor's lips, Exorcist-style.

The ad is meant to encourage people to vote for a president who promises to commit to fighting world poverty. The organization, while not endorsing any candidate, believes that more can be done for an issue that hasn't gotten much airtime yet this election cycle.

[via HuffPo]

When it comes to Barack Obama’s running-mate search, the question of “when?” is now being asked just as often as “who?”

The Politico is reporting that Obama’s decision is expected this week – but that it also might come “as late as this weekend,” or even “the beginning of next week” at the Democratic convention. Which doesn’t really narrow it down at all. Marc Ambinder, meanwhile, notes that Obama is scheduled for a down day in Chicago this Friday and that “Democratic advance folks are being called to Chicago,” suggesting an end-of-week announcement could be in the works. Or maybe not.

It’s worth noting that the last time a VP choice was announced during a convention was in 1988, when George H.  read more »

The latest issue of Harper's Bazaar features a fashion shoot featuring Tyra Banks playing dress-up as the possible future first lady, Michelle Obama. Now, we could talk about how Ms. Banks might be bit too fierce (in more ways than one) to play the Jackie O-esque role of Mrs. Obama. But we're not going to do that! We're just going to let you judge for yourselves from this behind-the-scenes video of the shoot. Watch as Ms. Banks hangs in the Oval Office and ends the video by saying, "Michelle and Barack Obama, y'all might just be going to the White House, but I'm heading to White Castle!" Bring us back a slider, Ty-Ty!

[Via The Cut]

John Kerry's reps says that he was not partying with co-eds as the pictures of the Massachussets senator surrounded by college women and holding a beer might suggest. [Us Weekly]

Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong may be over. [P6]

Tim Gunn reportedly appeared on the first season of Project Runway free of charge, and made only $2,500 per episode during the second season. [NY Daily News]

Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, is reportedly having some trouble with his summer programming choices as ratings have dropped. Who knew Baby Borrowers and American Gladiators could fail? [P6]

Michelle Obama made Vanity Fair's best dressed list alongside Julian Schnabel and SJP. [VF]

Madonna's rep says her client, who was recently photographed looking thin and sickly pale, is a just victim of an unfortunate and possibly touched up photo. [NY Daily News]

On Monday, July 21, at the top floor of the Hearst Tower, a crowd of wealthy-looking women gathered for a reception and panel discussion sponsored by Every Woman Counts, a nonpartisan endeavor of Redbook magazine and the Lifetime Network encouraging ladyfolk to participate in the coming election. And by “participate,” we assume they mean to wave placards around, perhaps; to knock on doors, sure—but also to just plain vote!

Redbook editor in chief Stacy Morrison said the event correlated nicely with her goals for the magazine: to bring women together. “I think women are resistant to the polarizing aspect of politics,” she said, conjuring a lovely, idealistic image of Our Bodies, Ourselves-era post-hippies braiding one another’s hair and clasping hands over “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.  read more »

There has apparently been a collapse of comic literacy in the United States of America, as the magazine-reading class in this city has deteriorated to the point at which it can no longer absorb a political cartoon. Barry Blitt’s assault on the bias and profiling leveled at Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama, “The Politics of Fear,” on the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker embodies the kind of wit that was once standard issue in great cartooning from John Tenniel to Herblock.

Mocking the racial preconceptions that the yahoos have tacked onto the Chicago politician Barack Obama—whose first name isn’t much stranger to the American palate than Adlai’s or Lyndon’s once were—was Blitt’s really good idea.  read more »

Slate's Christopher Beam has something to get off his chest.

In a post last night, Mr. Beam, who writes the website's 'Trailhead' blog, confessed that he may have accidentally set off the ridiculous Barack and Michelle Obama "terrorist fist-bump" meme that found its way into this week's New Yorker's cover illustration by Observer contributor Barry Blitt. That cover has spawned more op-eds, blog posts, news segments, and articles than, frankly, Media Mob is willing to link to, making it the most talked about magazine moment in history since Miley Cyrus bared her back in Vanity Fair, lo, two months ago.

According to Mr.  read more »

Women’s bodies are revolting! I don’t mean that the way it sounds. The girls of the world have simply had enough. They are mad as hell and they are not going to take it anymore. Anarchy and change are in the air.

But what exactly is going on? Is the super-skinny trend coming to an end? Are real women—remember back when being naturally curvaceous was good thing?—about to make a giant comeback? Are Michelle Obama’s arms too thick or too thin? Will Angelina Jolie’s womb continue to burst with babies? Is the anorexic-but-busty trend—that ho look against which I inveighed in my most recent book, Eccentric Glamour (Simon and Schuster, $24), finally beating a retreat? So many questions!  read more »

Let’s start with the ho trend.

In his media column today, David Carr revisits the hubbub surrounding Barack Obama's decision to allow Access Hollywood to interview his daughters. Obama eventually told Matt Lauer that the family "won't be doing it again," but Carr suggests that the whole incident ultimately worked to the Obama campaign's advantage.

To be sure, the Obamas haven't shied away from softer media outlets, and at least one expert thinks that is a good thing for them.

In an e-mail exchange last week, I asked Jin Chon, Hillary Clinton's press secretary for specialty media, who had a fair amount of success putting Clinton in the generally friendly confines of entertainment shows, about the merits of politicians using entertainment-focused media.  read more »

Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain?

That's what Tim Gunn was asked as part of Time 's 10 Questions feature, and to which it seemed he gave a fairly benign answer:

Michelle Obama. Absolutely. She looks so comfortable and relaxed in her style, in her fashion, and she exudes that. She has a presence that gives you confidence in her.

But New York Magazine's The Cut fashion blog discovered that in the videotaped version of the Q&A, the Project Runway host gave a rather more severe answer. After giving praise to Mrs. Obama, he compares her to Mrs. McCain, whom he says "looks like someone has twisted her ponytail into a knot and tried to give her a face-lift." Zing!

Also, of note: Mr. Gunn refers to himself in third person, beginning the interview by saying: "Tim Gunn is absolutely, completely floored, and exhilarated and thrilled to be here!" O.K., wow.

In an upcoming four-part interview with Access Hollywood (click 'play' above, or here to view a preview on their Web site), the Obama family was grilled by the bubbly Maria Menounos about the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's fashion status. 

Senator Obama's 10-year-old daughter, Malia, told Ms. Menounos that she recently spotted her "papa" in People magazine, which was weird because she typically sees people like Angelina Jolie in there, "a real important person, no offense," she said, laughing with her mother.

Malia and 7-year-old Sasha also said that they give their father fashion tips, to which Senator Obama said, “Malia basically avoids me embarrassing her by giving me these tips, especially when I am around her friends.  read more »

Not everyone in the crowd at the Waldorf Astoria last night, where Michelle Obama addressed gay activists at a fund-raiser for the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee, was bowled over by her talk of “robust civil unions,” even as she received a generally warm response for the rest of her speech.

Obama, who followed New York first lady Michelle Paterson and took the stage to the theme song “Michelle, My Belle,” mostly spoke about how her husband would continue to hold onto his principles through the campaign. She made no explicit mention of his calculated decision to absorb a big editorial hit by opting out of the public financing system, except to say how happy she was about the large number of small donors the campaign had attracted.  read more »

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Michelle Obama did her part for Democratic unity here today, referring to Hillary Clinton as an "extraordinary woman" at a round-table event with former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

"Because of Hillary Clinton's work, the issues of importance to women and working families are more at the forefront than ever before," Obama said, the day before Barack Obama will appear with Clinton for the first time since the primary ended.

Naturally enough, she sought to portray herself and her husband as closely in tune with female concerns.

One of the first rounds of applause during her brief speech came when she paid tribute to her mother for resourcefulness.  read more »

Another sign of a thaw between the Obama campaign and some of the powerful women who have long been allied with the Clintons: Michelle Obama will speak at a lunch for the National Partnership for Women & Children tomorrow.

The release from the campaign notes that Emily's List founder Ellen Malcolm and Cheryl Mills, who was deputy White House counsel under Bill Clinton, are both on the board of the organization and will be at the event.

Here's the announcement:

Chicago, IL – This Friday, June 20, Michelle Obama, wife of Senator Barack Obama, will speak at the National Partnership for Women & Families 2008 Annual Luncheon.  read more »

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Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis have both reportedly paid a visit to the doctor shortly after Sex and the City's release, opting for a breast augmentation surgery and a varicose vein removal, respectively. [P6]

Barack and Michelle Obama appear on the cover of Us Weekly this week with Mrs. Obama depicted as a "down-to-earth mom." Never mind the fact that she graduated cum laude from Princeton followed by Harvard Law. [Us Weekly]

Exes Anne Hathaway and Raffaello Follieri stayed at separate residences in New York yesterday—Ms. Hathaway at Gramercy Park Hotel and Mr. Follieri at his rental in Trump Tower—but were reportedly planning to meet up for dinner at Cipriani's.  read more »

Here's one example of how Michelle Obama is, as the New York Times said in a profile of her today, "softening her image."

A "source" at last night's Obama fundraiser hosted by Michelle Obama, Anna Wintour, Calvin Klein, and Andre Leon Talley says that Mr. Talley might have his sights set on styling Mrs. Obama. [P6]

The Trump kids found out about their parents' marital troubles when they saw covers of the Post, one of which read, "Marla Boasts to Pals about Donald: BEST SEX I EVER HAD." [P6]

Taking a cue from Katherine Heigl, Lindsay Lohan has taken herself out of the Emmy race in hopes of improving her chances next year for her appearances on Ugly Betty. [US Weekly]

Kate Moss, Daria Werbowy, and Lara Stone posed for a group "summer camp" spread in W Magazine that doesn't look like any kind of summer camp we've ever been to.  read more »

A suitcase filled with $15,000 worth of Russell Simmons jewelry was reportedly stolen when one of Mr. Simmons' employees left it in the hallway of a Bleecker Street building for about 30 minutes. [P6]

Heidi Klum says that Project Runway will get a facelift on Lifetime that will include more catch phrases and a "Hollywood flair." [Forbes via The Cut]

Jennifer Lopez stopped by Obama's offices to talk about "matters close to her heart." [People  read more »

Yesterday on Fox News—America's Election HQ!—Megyn Kelly interviewed Fox News contributor and New Yorker profile rejecter Michelle Malkin about potential First Lady Michelle Obama. During the course of her echo chamber-like criticism of Ms. Obama (that's not a metaphor: someone should've checked Ms. Malkin's mic before putting her on air), Ms. Malkin said, "it's not just Republicans who are criticizing some of her comments, but also statements have been made in the left-leaning blog Salon about her comments."

That darn Salon!

Not so fast, Ms. Malkin. Alex Koppelman, Salon's War Room blogger, searched his site and couldn't turn up "anything like what Malkin is talking about." After posting a clip of her appearance and emailing Ms. Malkin, he solved the mystery:

Malkin responded to my e-mail; she says she misspoke and that she meant to refer to Slate, not Salon.

Let's call it the narcissism of minor differences.  read more »

Carla Bruni says she was seduced by Nicolas Sarkozy's "physique and intelligence" in a new book, Carla and Nicolas, The True Story. [P6]

Ethan Hawke can't get out of jury duty. [P6]  read more »

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In a long, impassioned speech last night, Michelle Obama tried one last time before the primary here to combat the idea that she and her husband were elitists, and excoriated Hillary Clinton for her gas-tax “holiday” proposal and her 2002 vote on Iraq.

The personal slights aimed at her family seemed to irk Ms. Obama most of all.

“See, there’s a whole lot of talk in this race about elitism and people being out of touch,” she told a crowd of approximately 1,500 in the Ovens auditorium.  read more »

INDIANAPOLIS—Barack Obama has become a family values candidate.

Wracked by questions over his beliefs, patriotism and values following the most tumultuous passage of his campaign, Mr. Obama has sought solace – and a new story line – in family.

Over the past few days, Mr. Obama steeped his speeches in talk about his grandparents and parents and physically evoked the imagery of idyllic Americana by campaigning with his wife and two daughters around picnic tables and playgrounds.  read more »

Big moves in tab-land! The unstoppable Janice Min has signed up two new high profile writers for Us Weekly, her glossy juggernaut of Brangelina speculation and Hills entrail-reading. The new issue (Inside Beyoncé's Wedding!) features articles by Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama. The articles are each teased on the cover with "Vote For My Spouse!"

Mr. Clinton is the author of 2004's My Life, an autobiography. He has also contributed to The New York Times on April 29, 2007 and August 22, 2006. Mrs. Obama is currently being courted by several publishers interested in her work, according to The Observer's Leon Neyfakh.

Laura Bush is writing a children’s book with her daughter. Publishers in New York want Michelle Obama to write a grown-up book, by herself. Although her husband Barack has not yet secured the Democratic Party presidential nomination, Ms. Obama has been approached by “over a dozen” publishers so far, according to Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a communications director for Ms. Obama.

Most of the calls have been going through Robert Barnett, the D.C. lawyer who represented Ms.  read more »

Scarlett Johansson was born and raised in New York City, but you probably wouldn’t know it from watching this video, in which she stumps for Senator Barack Obama. In the clip, filmed at Carleton College, a small liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minnesota, Ms. Johansson speaks to a group of students in an almost pitch-perfect Standard Midwestern accent. Amid the “yuh knowas” and “makun’ likes,” she recounts the first time she met Mr. Obama, someone she calls “an incredible thinker and mind.” The 23-year-old actress was apparently so “starstruck” by the encounter that a slightly unusual greeting tumbled out of Ms. Johansson’s mouth: “I love your wife!” The presidential hopeful returned the compliment, she tells the crowd, by “paddun me on tha hayd.”

LOS ANGELES—This could be big.

Maria Shriver, the first lady of California (wife of Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger) just endorsed Barack Obama on a stage here at an event at UCLA with Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and her cousin Caroline Kennedy.

Shriver, the daughter of Eunice Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's sister, said that above her computer in her office she keeps a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that said “Do one thing every day that scares you."  read more »

A release just came in announcing that Alma Rangel is endorsing Barack Obama.

Her husband, Representative Charlie Rangel, is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and a major Hillary Clinton supporter.

Earlier this week it was reported Alma Rangel had attended a fund-raiser hosted by Michelle Obama.

Here's the release:  read more »

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Barack Obama raised the specter of his defeat in New Hampshire during his final pre-election speech to supporters here last night.

Obama finds himself, as he did in the Granite State, with a significant lead in the polls heading into Election Day. But a repeat of his traumatic loss in New Hampshire would deal his candidacy a potentially fatal blow.

Speaking to a capacity crowd at the Koger Center for the Arts shortly after 11 p.m. last night, Obama recalled that "everybody was so excited" after his win in the Iowa caucuses.

"I think people started thinking, 'This is not hard.' But you know that the status quo doesn't give up that easily…The status quo resists," he said.  read more »

PHILADELPHIA—During a short press conference at an event at Philadelphia’s City Hall where Hillary Clinton received the endorsement of Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, a reporter asked if the governor approved of the aggressive campaigning Bill Clinton has been doing in the last few weeks against Barack Obama.

“Let me say this,” Rendell began. “You know that I have in my political career eschewed negative campaigning. But this is a rough and tumble, as Senator Clinton said, this is a tough election and the stakes are high. And everybody talks about not only what they want to do but talks about the weaknesses of what they think the other candidates” are.  read more »

Michelle Obama—or 'The Closer' as she is known these days to her husband and his campaign team—sought to live up to her nickname with the people of Plymouth this evening.

Speaking at a well-attended meeting in the Obama campaign's local office—organizers estimated attendance in this small town at around 200—she tried to defuse the idea that her husband lacked adequate toughness for the rigors of campaigning or governing.

Baldly asserting that "Barack is not naïve," Obama drew attention to her husband's stint as a minority member of the Illinois State Senate.

Referring repeatedly to "tough Illinois politics," she told the crowd that when people suggested the senator may be too soft, "I just think, 'C'mon people, where do you think we have been?'"  read more »

Giuliani puts out another campaign ad (right after everyone else.) [Jonathan Martin]

Robert Novak sort of defends the column that started the war between Obama and Clinton this weekend. [Ben Smith]
 read more »