In a fawning softball interview with First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday's NBC Today, special correspondent Ryan Seacrest was eager to know how she helps the President during debates: "What
did you say to him when the two of you walked backstage after the first
debate?...Have you spoken to him about the prep?...does he make eye
contact with you? Does he look at you for encouragement?"
The First Lady explained: "I'm perched. I'm looking at him. I'm
smiling. I'm giving a thumbs up if he can see it....I assume that he
can, so I make sure that I'm always giving him that positive love."
Seacrest
began the exchange by helping Obama promote the early voting effort for
her husband: "So you cast your ballot today....You voted via absentee
ballot. Does that take any fun out of it, not going to the polls and
seeing all the pomp and circumstance?" Obama replied: "You know,
actually, as a busy mom, I'm still a working mom, I look for
convenience, because who knows where I'll be on election day. There's no
reason, with early voting and absentee ballot voting, that citizens in
this country shouldn't be able to make their voices heard."
Here's a sample of some of the other puffball questions the American Idol host lobbed to the First Lady:
> You said something about him that I wanted to ask you about. You
said that, "He'll go out of his way to inconvenience himself and take
the heat," to make sure you and the girls, "experience as few bumps as
possible." So what's an example of that?
> Both of you trying to achieve that balance with intense schedules.
Your schedule is very impressive. Do you get a chance to stick to a
normal healthy diet? Do you get a chance to exercise? What's life like
on the road for you?
> Do you have a guilty pleasure when you're traveling? Because I know for me it's peanut M&Ms.
>
Back to Malia and Sasha. What do you think has been the most
eye-opening experience for the girls since they've been at the White
House?
> There's no doubt that you've had to sacrifice a great deal for
this life, and I'm wondering, at the end of your time at the White
House, since your husband has had a chance to pursue his dream, is it
his turn then to support you in what you want to do? And if so, what
would that be?
In contrast to Seacrest's friendly chat with Obama, in August, Today news anchor Natalie Morales grilled Ann Romney [1]: "She fiercely defended the Romneys' decision not to release tax returns from before 2010. A lot of people still are asking why not be transparent and release more than the 2010 and the estimates for 2011.... It's been in the press quite a bit. Now are you angry that it's been in the press? I mean, should you not be questioned about your finances?"