You're correct. The right answer was Laura's answer of "leave Michele alone." That's always the media's right answer. She's out there with a new speech writer stumping for hubby, but she's off limits. She can say what she wants but you better not dare take exception to it or criticize her. If you do, you're mean spirited and unfair. If you criticize Barrack, you're a racist. Hell, NBC spent more time on the Today show talking about the dress she wore on The View than they did on the Mid-West floods, but they only spent about 30 seconds talking about how Obama had, "changed his mind" about not accepting public campaign funding. Keep it up guys. Keep up that pandering "Don't you just love 'em" coverage and middle-America will be sick of them by November.

Cheap shots Susan. Mrs. Obama does not have to say anthing because she has democrats like you to do it for her. I did not find Mrs. McCain's comments offending and please note in your articles the good Cindy does representing her country. You know as well as I do the influence wives have on their husbands especially Hillary. Please do not compare Mrs. Obama and Mrs McCain with Hillary for that is an insult.

If Cindy Bush McCain becomes First Lady, will she hand out stolen drugs at the White House on Halloween?

Hi Susan. I think that you are wrong about leaving the spouses totally alone. Especially if they have been sent out to campain for their husbands.
Analysing what they say and do can give great insight on the candidate. For example, if you look at what Mrs. Obama said in her Thesis and in the speach about being proud, you will find the same sentament being presented. She states that she never felt a part of that university because of her race. She accomplished great things but felt seperate. In the thesis she explored this with other African-Americans. In the end she was concerned that she would be cut off from the African-American community and not be fully accepted in the community at large. I believe that this is the reason that the family stayed with their church even with all the hate being preached from the pulpit.
By the way I expect that the family will return to the church after the election is over. If you remember they won't sellect a church until sometime in December.

Susan, Maybe it's just a coincidence that Cindy bears some resemblance to Cruella Deville, but I can tell you that ever since I put that Cindy McCain blow-up doll out in the front yard, the neighbor's Dalmatians have stopped crapping on my lawn.

Dear Susan, it is always OK for liberals to mis-state their real opinions as Ms OBAMA did according to you. The problem is that as other bloggers have stated she always has someone like you to defend her. I don't want a women in the WHITEhouse representing the USA who said she was never proud of her country until her husband ran form President. If she is the future first lady she is fair game. She will represent this country and if she isn't proud of it I don't want her in the damn house.

Susan, Susan, Susan. You are better than your comments suggest so I'm not sure why you're invoking moral equivalents. Where to start? The NYT innuendos about a McCain affair had no foundation and were quickly debunked. Mrs. McCain did get hooked on prescription drugs, sought rehabilitation and has been open, candid and classy about it. Mrs. McCain is entitled to put more on her credit card than 99% of Americans make in a year - because she has it. Are you penalizing her because she's rich? Suffering from wealth and class envy? Mrs. McCain's response about Mrs. Obama tactless remark about not being proud of the US until it starting voting for her husband was stupid on a lot of levels so she left herself wide open to legitimate criticism. Mrs. McCain's response to that was, at worse, neutral. True, Laura Bush's comment was pure class - and who didn't love her mother-in-law! But there was nothing wrong with Mrs. McCain's remark.
So I'm left wondering why you threw out unfounded innuendos, brought up old news about a redeemed drug addiction and slipped in wealth envy to suggest being successful (or from a successful family) is a bad thing. You're too sharp to be among the swooners. I thought.

Susan, In your colum "The Wives" you say word-for-word what Cindy McCain should have said in reply to a specific queston.

I understand your reply and disagree with you, because as a republican I prefer an honest and candid answer to all questions, instead of a scripted answer.

To bad that truth, honesty and straightforwardness is not a characteristic you want in politicians to exhibit. Choosing a wife is an important decison. Beng President requires many important decision. When you imply that becaus she is not running for the presidency her personality is not important, shows that you lack the ability to connect decision making with the Presidency of the United States of America...so on so many levels you are just wrong, as usual.

Where in your article, Susan, was mention that Cindy McCain has worked tireless for underpriviledged children personally (I mean she goes actually goesthere over and over)in Viet Nam, Cambodia, and other places like that (mostly Operation Smile which provides surgery for children born with cleft palettes)? Where is the mention that Cindy McCain adopted a little girl with physical problems from Bangladesh? Where is the mention that she has a son serving in the Marines in Iraq in harms way? Where is the mention of the several charitable foundations she is heavily involved in? Where is the mention that Mrs. Obama attended Rev. Wright's church for many years without so much as an "I didn't know he said that!" Or, how about the good buds of the Obamas, MR. and Mrs. William Ayers (Googlel them folks). I expect this from you because you are scared that John McCain will win. Shame on you and all the other liberal hacks who call themselves journalists.

Ms. Estrich, Although we are on opposite sides of the political aisle. I usually enjoy your columns and find them to be fair minded. This one was not, and your smears are beneath you. Cindy McCain only said that she didn't know why Mrs. Obama said what she said. Is that an unfair statement? Those were not Michelle's only comments that were very critical of my country, and of Americans, whom she described as " broken, bitter and mean ". The criticisms of Michelle were not racist, or sexist ; they were objections to her remarks - and if she chooses to inject herself into the campaign, her words are fair game.
Cindy did not " take drugs" , she developed an addiction to pain medication. It is a malady that befalls many people who suffer from chronic pain and I would think you would be sympathetic. And, you are also wealthy, are you not? As is Michelle Obama, who also spends money freely - Jimmy Choo shoes!! As another person commented, she - Cindy- also works tirelessly for many charities. This a foul column, and you should be ashamed.