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October 9th, 2008 at 8:49 am

Video & Photos: Michelle Obama Daily Show with Jon Stewart Interview 10-8-08

Michelle Obama on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, October 8, 2008

Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, made an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central, the second of two interviews she gave on October 8, 2008 (the first, on CNN Larry King Live) the day after the second Presidential debate on October 7.

Despite the lighthearted tone of the interview, Michelle Obama expressed her viewpoints on the substantive issues of the campaign, including a response to the assertions that Republican VP candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has made about Barack Obama’s association with Bill Ayers, the now infamous “palling around terrorists who targeted their own country” remarks.

Sarah Palin at a rally in Carson, California, October 4, 2008

As she did on the Larry King Live interview, Michelle Obama stressed the importance of focusing on issues that American citizens face in their daily lives, namely the economy.

She took a decidedly non-partisan approach as she offered reassurances about her husband — and herself — and sought to court voters, especially working-class women and independents, who may be attracted to Ms. Palin.

“Most people really want to find solutions,” she told Mr. Stewart. “And they want leaders who are going to unite us around a set of solutions that are going to make sense.”

Michelle Obama on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, October 8, 2008

Besides, Mrs. Obama told Mr. King, she and her husband don’t see the negative ads because she is too busy to watch TV and when her husband watches, he tunes into sports.

She made the same point with Mr. Stewart, to more amusing effect.

When she said she had “stopped reading and watching a lot of stuff,” Mr. Stewart put in: “So, you’re a lot like Sarah Palin?”

The line got a big laugh and applause.

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Tom Brokaw, Second 2008 Presidential Debate, October 7, 2008, Nashville, TN

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Tom Brokaw, Second 2008 Presidential Debate, October 7, 2008

On Comedy Central, Mr. Stewart noted that the role of First Lady was becoming almost like an elected office itself, as the spouses were being vetted as much as the candidates.

Mrs. Obama attributed that to the 24-hour news cycle, where the media says: “Now we know what the candidates are like, where can we go next? Let’s take a look at their wives and their houses and their — all of that good stuff.”

She added: “I think it’s fair because we’re in there, you know, and it’s important for people to — they need to have a comfort level with me as well as with Cindy McCain.”

Barack Obama, John McCain, Cindy McCain, Second 2008 Presidential Debate, October 7, 2008, Nashville, TN

Barack Obama, John McCain, Cindy McCain, Second 2008 Presidential Debate, October 7, 2008

Mr. Stewart, continuing with his theme about the First Lady being an elective office, said how weird it would be if Mr. Obama were elected but then if Mrs. McCain were elected too. “She has to move in, and that’s tough,” Mr. Stewart said.

Mrs. Obama agreed. “We don’t want that to happen,” she said.

Source: Michelle Obama Dismisses Criticisms

Photo credit: AP, Getty Images North America

Michelle Obama’s interview was proceeded by Jon Stewart’s entertaining commentary, skewering both the second Presidential debate and its town hall format, and the negative tone the McCain-Palin campain has taken. (”World War II
Barack Obama poses for the cover of a 1960s soul album, while John McCain wanders the outer reaches of the stage. “)