President Obama and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney have been on the campaign trail canvassing for votes from American citizens. But behind these powerful politicians are two strong-willed women working just as hard to advance the political and philanthropic goals they believe in.
Michelle Obama
First lady Michelle Obama has reinforced the role of first lady as more than a mere figurehead. In 2010, she started the Let’s Move initiative dedicated to elimnating childhood obesity so that the next generation can live a healthier life. The initiative combines various strategies to teach kids about the importance of exercise and nutritious eating while providing parents with ideas and information to support nourishing choices at home. After spending three years making media appearances to advocate healthy living legislation, the first lady announced last January a $3.2 billion plan to reform school lunch nutrition standards. During her term, she also wrote a book to share her experiences with revamping the White House Kitchen Garden and to illustrate the importance of making nutritious, affordable food part of the American diet. If President Obama wins a second term in November, we can expect Mrs. Obama to continue “supporting military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, promoting the arts and arts education and fostering healthy eating and healthy living for children and families across the country,” according to the White House.
Ann Romney
Ann Romney has been out on the campaign trail for the last 18 months supporting her husband in his five-point plan to restore the American economy. The former first lady of Massachusetts is no rookie to the world of political campaigning — she was an active member of Mitt Romney’s first presidential campaign in 2008. In 2007, it was revealed that she donated $150 to Planned Parenthood in 1994, but since then her political views have evolved to align with her husband’s pro-life stance. Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen has criticized Ann Romney for not having worked “a day in her life,” but the former stay-at-home mother has been actively involved with several charities, including Right to Play — a nonprofit that focuses on using sport and play as a developmental tool for children in disadvantaged areas of the world. Ann Romney, who was dianogsed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, has also been an advocate for raising awareness of the disease as a Board Member of the New England Chapter of the MS Society. Although she has been tight-lipped on specific issues like gay marriage and women’s rights, she has defended her husband’s character in the wake of his “47 percent” remarks. She told Jay Leno during an interview on the “Tonight Show” in September that her husband is “a guy that cares for the hundred percent.” As election day looms near, we can expect Mrs. Romney to stand with her husband on his economic policy.
A version of this article appeared in the Friday, Oct. 26 print edition. Courtney Marmon is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
