Michelle Obama Tells Colbert, There Wasn't Any Room for Anybody in Our Administration to Be Indicted

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Former first lady Michelle Obama appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Friday as part of her Becoming book tour, where the conversation ranged from how she adjusted to living in the White House under Secret Service protection to how Barack proposed (it was during a fight).

During the interview, which was shortened for broadcast but posted in full on YouTube, Obama spoke of the pressure she felt to be perfect during her husband’s tenure, considering he was America’s first black president. “We couldn’t afford to make a mistake, we couldn’t afford to look cavalier, we had to watch our language. We had to speak carefully and intelligently and clearly and we couldn’t just say things off the cuff.”

Although she did not mention President Donald Trump by name, Obama made clear the contrasts between her husband’s administration and the current one: “There wasn’t any room for anybody in our administration to be indicted… We had to be highly ethical. We showed our taxes, we divested our money. This isn’t shade. This is just the sort of stuff we had to think about doing. This isn’t shade, it’s the truth!”

Obama also said the years of pressure were so stressful, she felt a sense of relief when they left the White House for the last time as president and first lady, telling Colbert, “One of the things I don’t talk about in the new book, but I talk about on the road is that I do remember at the end of that last flight that we took out when I was leaving from the Capitol, we waved and got on Air Force One for the last time…I cried for about 30 minutes. It was the release of eight years of feeling like we had to do everything perfectly. We couldn’t slip, our tone had to be perfect. That was the bar that was set for us.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/michelle-obama-becoming-colbert-762267/

[RockRaven]

1. It's f*cking despicable the double standard in behavior the media & GOP has for the Obamas/Trumps.

She is right about the bar that was set for them.

[MontanaMama]

2. "That was the bar that was set for us"

President and Mrs. Obama surpassed every expectation. I firmly believe this is one of the reasons they were so vilified by the racist right.

[Caliman73]

3. I cannot imagine the pressure.

That is what many people of color feel on a daily basis. "I have to do it right" because we represent our entire people. If we mess up it is because we are acting our color, just the inferior genes coming through. I am sure, that despite their pretty flawless tenure in the White House, there is a not insignificant percentage of people who are thinking that we should never again allow Black people to reach such a high office.

I am glad that they got out relatively unscathed and continue to exude the intelligence, grace, and humanity that they have always shown.

[msongs]

4. sad that decent people have to make so much effort to be extra decent ie perfect nt

[Control-Z]

5. Thank you for posting what you did.

I have Friday's show recorded. I wasnt going to watch it but your post made me change my mind.

So thanks!!

[BigmanPigman]

6. I would had to cry for a few weeks to release all the stress

of being perfect for 8 years. The two presidents, their families and administrations couldn't be more different if they tried.

I hope we stop normalizing this BS that has been going on and we hold every single person accountable for their crimes (including both chambers).

[Cha]

7. Although she did not mention President Donald Trump by name, Obama made clear the contrasts between

her husband’s administration and the current one: “There wasn’t any room for anybody in our administration to be indicted… We had to be highly ethical. We showed our taxes, we divested our money. This isn’t shade. This is just the sort of stuff we had to think about doing. This isn’t shade, it’s the truth!”

Most of us Appreciated it, Michelle!

[SunSeeker]

8. K & R

[nilram]

9. Even if you already watched the two Colbert clips online

this full interview is completely worth it (except the 25 seconds about cheese toast at the start).

[Luz]

10. And she did a magnificent job, too. It was quite amazing

to watch her change and grow onto the roll of FLOTUS.

[Kaleva]

11. We have seen the extremes. The very high bar for the Obamas and the very low bar for the Trumps

[VOX]

12. With the Obamas, the Jackie Robinson comparison is valid.

In 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in modern-era Major League Baseball, he had to stick to business. No matter what was said or done by players or fans, regardless of how reprehensible the blind hatred was, he had to retain his composure and “take it.”

Robinson's character, his avoidance of hostility, and his sheer talent challenged the institution of segregation, which was predominant in many aspects of American life at the time. His influence contributed significantly to the civil rights movement, although the stresses took a toll on Robinson, who died of a heart attack at age 53.

And so it was with the Obamas, some 60 years after Robinson’s achievement. They had to project as perfect an image as possible, as the consequence of any error would be magnified for them. They walked a chalk line for eight years, and gave their best.

And what did just enough idiotic Americans do to the Obamas’ legacy? They voted in Trump, a vile, deeply disturbed autocrat who was/is in league with a hostile foreign power. A person who daily flouts the law and basic human decency. A person who cannot even grasp the ideas of democracy and effective leadership. A ticking time bomb.