During the campaign , columnist Cal Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama as an " Angry Black Woman " and some web sites attempted to promote this image . Obama said : " Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now , and we 've developed a thick skin along the way . When you 're out campaigning , there will always be criticism . I just take it in stride , and at the end of the day , I know that it comes with the territory . " By the time of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in August , media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race , focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them , and giving interviews to shows such as '' The View '' and publications like '' Ladies ' Home Journal '' rather than appearing on news programs . The change was reflected in her fashion choices , as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces . Partly intended to help soften her public image , her appearance on '' The View '' was widely covered in the press
2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
Michelle Obama