evidence: In eight years, Michelle Obama has gone from obscurity to becoming one of the country's most popular Democrats. The first lady has earned high approval ratings and praise for her authenticity. [...] MICHELLE OBAMA: Let me tell you something. For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country. [...] SLEVIN: Half the country knew exactly what Michelle Obama was saying and didn't think very much of it. But it's unquestionable that what she said made the Obama campaign nervous. And very quickly she was caricatured in some quarters as an angry black woman.