Don't Ever Compare Michelle Obama's Biceps to Say, Mr. Universe...

"Anyone who criticizes Michelle Obama's right to bare arms is jealous of how gorgeous and elegant she looks when she does so." - GLENDA BAILEY, editor-in-chief, Harper's Bazzar




"Is Michelle Obama supposed to wear a burka?," quieres Bonnie Fuller in the Huffington Post. "Since when are a woman's arms considered an erogenous zone here in America? Why would it be inappropriate for the First Lady to attend her husband's address to Congress in a beautiful, purple Narcisco Rodriguez SLEEVELESS dress? Whoever those twitterers — or should I call them "twits" — are out there who have raised the question of propriety, they should not only get a life, but also a history book. Not only have many First Ladies been photographed at official state and White House events, America's most fashionable previous First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy practically made sleeveless looks her uniform, whether they were dresses or two piece shirt and skirt ensembles."



Fuller goes on to add, I actually think her look says even more than that. Michelle's sleevelessness conveys the fact that she is ready to get to work as First Lady, doing everything that she can to help the American public. It's her variation on the look that men use to visually telegraph the fact that they are hard at work on important business. When the President is rolling up his shirt sleeves, we know we're being told that his job is far more than ceremonial. Michelle's saying that exact same thing.

Michelle's also giving us another not-so-subtle message — she's strong and tough. Those arms with their well-defined biceps (and let's not fail to mention her beautifully sculpted shoulders) look powerful enough to wrap around a distressed nation and lift it up. She's no frail, half-starved Nancy Reagan type who doesn't rub shoulders with the masses. On the contrary, Michelle Obama is a big hugger and doesn't restrict her hugs to big ticket donors or Hollywooders. At her husband's address to Congress she warmly hugged her seatmate, 8th grader Ty'Sheoma Bethea from Dillon, South Carolina, who had written to the president for help fixing her failing school. Michelle's strong arms convey the message that if she can personally hug and lift us out of a lousy economy, and a lack of top healthcare or education for everyone, she will.

And in a previous posting, Fuller attacked those who dare attack Michelle's biceps:

"Have the Republicans reverted to a party with so little to say that they are reduced to making feeble jabs at Michelle Obama's biceps? Are they so afraid of the new Obama era that the First Lady's arms are a enough of a symbol of power that they cower before them?

That can be the only explanation for Republican lite David Brooks, the New York Times columnist, to tell his fellow Times columnist Maureen Dowd that Michelle Obama should put away her arms, "Thunder and Lightning."

Thunder and lightning? Has he actually named the biceps that offend him?"

And just when men started feeling emasculated by the sight of her biceps?

Apparently they're machismo-challenged themselves.