Is Michelle Obama on the Side of Progressives?

 New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor has just released a new book entitled The Obamas, and it's got some interesting points about Michelle Obama, who allegedly sparred with Rahm Emmanuel over policy issues:

In the days after the Democrats lost Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat in January 2010, Barack Obama was even-keeled as usual in meetings, refusing to dwell on the failure or lash out at his staff. The first lady, however, could not fathom how the White House had allowed the crucial seat, needed to help pass the president’s health care legislation and the rest of his agenda, to slip away, several current and former aides said.

To her, the loss was more evidence of what she had been saying for a long time: Mr. Obama’s advisers were too insular and not strategic enough. She cherished the idea of her husband as a transformational figure, but thanks in part to the health care deals the administration had cut, many voters were beginning to view him as an ordinary politician.

The First Lady's beef was similar to that of many progressives: the concept that the platform her husband won the Presidency upon was being cast away for compromised bipartisanship with an extremist and uncompromising Republican Party. Kantor writes that this was due mostly to Barack Obama's advisors and cabinet, who were going for easy wins rather than hard-won ideals. 

“She does think there are worse things than losing an election,” Susan S. Sher, the first lady’s former chief of staff, said shortly after the 2010 midterm elections. “Being true to yourself, for her, is definitely more important.” 

Fascinating. Kantor's book is out Tuesday; read the full excerpt at the New York Times.