Does anybody know whether her "role" will survive a change of administration? What happens especially in the event Obama wins? Is her appointment term tied to the current administration? I hope not...
I believe what happened was that Michelle struck up an instant friendship with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when Michelle was invited to a luncheon at the White House in honor of Chinese President Hu Jingtao. Rice was a former figure skater as a teenager -- not too bad, I understand.
The week before, Kristi Yamaguchi was invited to dinner at the White House with then-Prime Minister Abe Shiuzo. Note that the leader of Japan got a dinner, plus a visit to the ranch, but China only got a lunch. This was carefully orchestrated by the Bush administration to show that Japan was a valued ally but China wasn't doing it's share to keep North Korea and Iran in line. China was duly insulted and expressed displeasure through diplomatic channels. Not displeased about Michelle versus Kristi, I don't mean, but the informal lunch versus a state dinner. I love international politics!
Anyway, Michelle got to sit at the head table between Hu and Bush, and at the end of the dinner she said to Secretary Rice, "If there is ever anything I can do for my country, please call on me." So a couple of weeks later, Ms. Rice called, saying, "how would you like to be a roving good will ambassador? And by the way, you ought to enroll at Denver University, my old alma mater, and study politics and international relations like I did." (And the rest is history.
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So Michelle's fortunes are definitely connected to Rice and the Bush adminstration.
However...that's where we come in! Some idiot named Mathman over on the Michelle Kwan forum is trying to get a letter writing campaign together to bombard the new President, whoever he may be, with a million letters urging him to keep Michelle. Power to the People!
hwell:
), but is not fluent.
