Former First Lady Michelle Obama says she would prefer a quieter life for her family and appears ready for the Democratic Party to embrace a new generation of leaders rather than continue relying on her husband, former President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The comments came during the Obamas\u2019 first joint interview since leaving the White House in 2017 as they discussed the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The center officially opened on Friday and serves as the culmination of a political journey that took the couple from Chicago\u2019s South Side to the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barack Obama said one of the center\u2019s primary goals is to inspire future generations and encourage new leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople are a little discouraged right now,\u201d the former president said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, again, I believe that we go through these cycles, and there\u2019s going to be a younger generation that pops up and there are going to be leaders who pop up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obama said he now views himself less as an active participant in politics and more as a mentor helping younger leaders emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since leaving office nearly a decade ago, he said he has deliberately limited his involvement in public policy debates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou pick and choose your spots. I\u2019m not suggesting I\u2019ve done it perfectly,\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former president compared his approach to that of George Washington, who stepped away from political life after serving the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe kind of said, \u2018All right, I\u2019ve done my stint. And now I\u2019m going, you know, back home,’\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obama then revealed that his wife strongly favors that approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think Michelle, you know, very much would prefer a quieter life for us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, Obama acknowledged that some Democrats would like to see him take a larger role in national political debates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019ve been some folks who would like to see me out every day, right, banging the drum,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, Obama said he believes it is time for younger leaders to take center stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former president argued that members of the baby boomer generation have remained in positions of influence for too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBaby boomers like myself \u2026 have been hanging on in all walks of life and have not made room for young people,\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that he would like to see that change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obama said today\u2019s media environment makes it more difficult for rising political figures to gain national attention than it was during his own rise to prominence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pointed to his breakout speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention as an example of how a single moment could launch a political career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPart of what I\u2019ve been trying to do is point out young talent and help lift them up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michelle Obama echoed themes that helped define her husband\u2019s first presidential campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former first lady said she still believes the messages of hope and change remain relevant despite today\u2019s highly polarized political climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople just have to be fed up enough. They have to want more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that the presidential center is intended to remind Americans that meaningful change remains possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michelle Obama also reflected on the significance of becoming the nation\u2019s first Black first family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said one exhibit at the center highlights how many people once believed America would never elect a Black president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have one exhibit where people thought that it could never happen, that a Black man, a Black family would never live in the White House,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd lo and behold, the whole country, you know, the vast majority of the country believe differently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former First Lady Michelle Obama says she would prefer a quieter life for her family and appears ready for the Democratic Party to embrace a new generation of leaders rather … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n