Why our girls have had to get tough

Nancy Benac – 30 May 2012 10:05 AM

MICHELLE Obama says her daughters are learning that even the children of politicians have to have a thick skin.

"Politics is tough," the first lady said. "That's just sort of the nature of the beast."

But she said daughters Sasha (10) and Malia (13) know that, no matter what happens in the November election, "their life is good".

Mrs Obama talked about family life, this year's re-election campaign and what's not ahead for her -- a career in politics -- during a round of interviews promoting the release of her new book on the White House garden.

As for the personal attacks that swirl around her husband in a campaign year, the First Lady said: "You just sort of have to have a thick skin in this thing. And your kids do, too."

Rumours

Malia and Sasha "understand that their world is secure no matter what", Mrs Obama said. "They've grown to understand that home is wherever we are... And Dad is always going to be Dad. So they're good."

She left no doubt on the question of a political future of her own: "Those are other people's rumours. I have no interest in politics. Never have. Never will."

Later, with Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, Mrs Obama talked about the virtues of fresh vegetables and wouldn't bite at his suggestion that she use her higher poll ratings as a weapon in any argument with her husband.

"I don't wield it over him," she said. "One of the things I've seen over the past three-and-a-half years, I've seen what it takes to be president. I kind of watch this thing pretty closely. You know, the president is getting all the hard decisions, where there is no easy answer."

hnews@herald.ie