USA Today recently offered readers an “in-depth” investigation of the life of Michelle Obama and her relationship with her famous husband. Forcing myself to read this bilge made me aware that one would have to turn to the Soviet press under Comrade Stalin to find anything quite so cloying. The fact that this national newspaper and others like it cannot discuss their puffed-up heroes and heroines without nauseating exaggeration has left me feeling even more depressed about American journalism than ever. Michelle’s life has been made “fuller,” USA Today assured me, because it’s been associated with a truly great man. And let’s not forget that a C-SPAN sponsored historians’ survey revealed Obama to be one of our 10 greatest presidents. Furthermore, he was edging toward the pantheon of the five greatest when his illustrious term came to an end.

Of course, Michelle is presented as great in her own right. She’s been married to a demigod for 33 years; and these two extraordinary luminaries just continue to enrich one another:

“He made me think more broadly about what I could do with this Harvard law degree besides be a lawyer. He gave me the courage,” she continued. “He was my ballast. He was like, ‘I got you.’ And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.”

For his part, Barack Obama’s life is simply richer with Michelle in it, even three decades later.

“Just being with her made me better, and she still does. And that she would [give] our kids a foundation that would pay off for them,” he said. “That’s in fact what’s happened. And she grounds and anchors me.”

This is entirely typical of the intellectual depth and objectivity of that paper’s treatment of their favorite leftist couple. Quite predictably, the article about this pair goes on to relate how magnificently they have raised their two daughters. That was followed by an announcement of the “star-studded event” that took place at the opening of the Obama Library in Chicago “on the day before Juneteenth.”

Equally revealing of USA Today’s bias was an exploration of “Obama hate” by reporter Josh Peter on June 23. In his impassioned commentary, we are told about all the untold suffering that’s been visited upon our former First Couple because of the malice pouring out of the right. Peter is particularly outraged that a UFC fighter commented on the mannishness of Mrs. Obama, a remark that supposedly shows the irrepressible cruelty of the Obamas’ enemies. But as fate would have it, I chanced upon a very unfavorable reference to Mrs. Trump in USA Today about a week before reading this fluff piece on the Obamas, a double standard that I’ve detected in the newspaper several times before. Apparently, malice is only a factor when its target is someone whom leftist journalists are trying to protect.

Being perfectly objective about this matter, it is hard to see how Melania Trump, whom USA Today invariably treats as an empty-headed mouthpiece of her demagogic husband, is less attractive or less intelligent than Michelle. In fact, one would have to be blinded by ideology to come to that bizarre conclusion. Unlike Michelle, Melania is multilingual, physically attractive, gracious, and tactful in conversation. Michelle is often irascible, accuses her opponents invariably of racism and sexism, and (not to be too blunt about this matter) noticeably plain-looking.

As I observed a few years ago, it is hard to buy the idea that Michelle is greatly honored across media because she is an outstanding role model to young black woman. Why isn’t Candy Carson, the thoroughly accomplished wife of Ben Carson, a former cabinet official and renowned neurosurgeon, a media celebrity? In fact, it is hard to find a couple of any race who seem more impressive than the Carsons. Mrs. Carson is a gifted violinist, educator, Protestant theologian, and the head of many serious philanthropies. She also speaks intelligently on many subjects and has never played the victim card. Unlike Mrs. Obama or the former president but like her husband, Ben, Mrs. Carson grew up in poverty in Detroit and worked her way up to professional distinction, without a lift from the Chicago Democratic machine.  

What makes Mrs. Carson less appealing to the media and black organizations than Michelle is her lack of leftist politics. Racial and gender grievances have been Michelle’s calling card, and that is precisely why USA Today, People magazine, and other mass publications celebrate the Obama family nonstop. She fits their political narrative. I also don’t accept the notion that the Michelle-adulation gushing from the mainstream media is attributable to her being the wife of our first black (or half-black) president. Is anyone thick enough to believe that if Clarence Thomas or Ben Carson became our second black president, that person’s wife would be showered with similar Stalinoid praise? The latest puff piece about Michelle and her heavenly family is most definitely politically motivated.