IS THIS SERIOUS? - AT 8:57 P.M. ET:  Michelle Obama has stepped into the health-care debate.  After Obama supporters claimed this week that racism fueled much of the opposition, Michelle plays the gender card:

Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- First lady Michelle Obama sought support for the administration’s health-care plans from family advocacy groups and health-care professionals, saying the treatment of women under the current system is “unacceptable.”

As President Barack Obama campaigns to generate backing from voters for his health-care overhaul proposal, the first lady joined the effort today with a more focused pitch.

Michelle Obama said women are being “crushed by the current structure of our health care” because they often are responsible for taking care of family illnesses, arranging checkups and monitoring follow-up care.

COMMENT:  Pretty demeaning to women, I think.  You know, this administration would be wise to stop dividing the nation by groups.  Simply address the issues.

Michelle Obama's comments nudge her closer to her early campaign days, when she said that her husband's campaign made her proud of the United States...for the first time.

September 18, 2009