Humanity on Parade: The New York Times Takes on the Obama Marriage

Two weeks ago, the New York Times published the tale of two young lawyers who fell in love when she was in charge. Now, with their careers and lives taking them in new and, perhaps, unexpected directions, he seems to be one with, arguably, a bit more responsibility.

By the time I got around to reading the tale of the Obamas' Marriage, earlier this week, it was still on the list of the most emailed articles in the Times. Though New York Times readers may not represent the best cross-section of America, it's clear, that politics aside, America has fallen for the marriage of Barack and Michelle. The article takes a personal look at the first couple's marriage, how they relate to each other, what she's had to give up, and how they are actually spending more time together now than ever before in his political career. It's a great article that does an excellent job of portraying the very human relationship between these two smart cookies (as my mom would say), but as an student of the way the New York Times writes about weddings, my curiosity lies in what draws us to the Obamas as a nation and how the Times advertises their marriage.

Don't get me wrong. I think that the union of the Obamas is a happy one. While the article makes allusions to the Clintons, I am crossing my fingers that mistresses aplenty don't reveal themselves in the coming years. It just doesn't seem like his style. Their legitimate and real happiness aside, I do believe that there is somewhat of a calculated public image and I don't mean that in a bad way. I just believe that they are too smart and value their marriage too much to put all of it out there for all to see. But I think what draws us to them is that they give us enough of their humanity to see ourselves in their marriage. This article portrays them, particularly Michelle, as real people with valid concerns about diving face first into public office - and a public personal life. This is what makes them so brilliant: they still look like real people, despite being in a position most of us will never be in.

And it's an example of what the New York Times does so well. Turning people who have lives that are completely foreign from what most of its readers know into real people who we can empathize with is no small feat. And they said education was the great equalizer. For now, though, I'm giving the credit to the Obamas, because I've seen less endearing and more regular folks in the Vows columns who come out with a little bit less of my empathy. The best writers may be able to bring out the humanity of their subjects, but there's got to be some there to start with.