When Bill Clinton was running for office, Hillary famously said, “When you vote for Bill, you get two for the price of one.” She felt that her policy prowess was an asset. Conservatives went crazy when she said that. They said that she wasn’t on the ballot and that First Ladies shouldn’t meddle. Later when Bill was in office, she seesawed between portraying herself as Hostess in Chief to Health Policy Guru. She never quite nailed her position as First Lady.

Michelle has been very vocal that her primary job is taking care of her children. But she also embraced policy and politics, especially in mom-friendly issues like food politics and health. She’s also been an asset for the president on diplomatic missions. She can lighten up dense political negotiations. There are stories about her clothes to distract the media. And she is adept at schmoozing with other diplomatic spouses.

Michelle, like other parents, is busy this month with end-of-the-school-year activities for the kids. In FP, Dan Drezner says that Michelle is forgoing a diplomatic summit with Chinese officials, because she is needed at home. Drezner thinks that this is a misstep. The Chinese officials are going to be pissed off.

I’m with Michelle on this one. The kids need her, and being a First Lady isn’t a real job. There is no salary, no job description, no  official responsibilities. Being First Lady is a huge opportunity for the political entrepreneur, but it’s an optional opportunity. There are times when world politics has to be secondary to one’s family, and this is one of those times. I admire her for creating those boundaries.