Mrs. Ann Romney
Photo from Five Brothers Blog

I realize it’s early in the campaign, but as a wife and a mother, I cannot help but notice that not a lot has been mentioned in the MSM yet about potential First Ladies, and the importance of the role they play in a Presidency. In reality, it is a factor that should be taken as seriously as the candidate himself. Like the President, the First Lady represents us all, and I will be forever appreciative to Laura Bush for returning a more traditional sense of dignity, charm, and graciousness back into the White House.

In recent campaigns, exposure and background of potential First Ladies has actually hurt a candidate. I remember the hilarious emails, with photo’s attached, of “The Right Stuff/The Wrong Stuff” showing Laura Bush as The Right Stuff, and “the other candidates wife” as The Wrong Stuff. Could it be true that a majority of American’s have certain expectations for the role of First Lady, just as they do the President? And would it not also be true that, while we have endured First Ladies that have broken that mold and that some may have been comfortable with, most American’s seemed uncomfortable with a non-traditional First Lady.

Unlike the pleasant and frequent exposure that Ann Romney seems to be receiving, I have had only brief sightings of the other candidates’ wives, or the wives of the “johnny-come-lately” possible candidates, for that matter. Actually, if curiousity motivates you enough, you can go looking for most of the candidates wives by conducting an internet search. I hope to think they are in attendance at their husbands various fund raisers, events, and television interviews, and that perhaps I am just tuning in to the wrong shows, at the wrong times, or looking at the wrong websites. Ann Romney, however, seems to be wherever Mitt goes, and she certainly brings with her a loving, gentle, wise, and genuine ladylike presence. The Romney’s are more often seen together, than not. They definitely compliment each other; their strengths seem to merge when they are with each other, and it seems obvious that they take great joy and comfort in each others company.

Knowing that Ann & Mitt Romney have raised five boys, and have quite an extended family, including 5 daughters-in law and 10 grandchildren, only strengthens my admiration for her. The fact that the Romney’s have been married just once, to each other, is also another source of the great confidence that I have in them. There is no denying Ann Romney is a beautiful woman,and in terrific shape, for a mother of five and grandmother. I have no doubt that she has experienced her share of hard work, sacrifice and heartache. Her life has been touched by illness, only to battle back through the strength of both her family and her faith.

Her smile is genuine, and her love for her husband and her family, this country and it’s people, radiates through in her openess, humor, and honesty when she speaks. She has given of herself to many causes, and it is evident that there are many people’s lives she has touched who admire and respect her deeply. It’s easy to see that, considering they have been married for 38 years, the Romney’s are still crazy about each other… I had to laugh when Mitt called her a “Babe” during a national television interview, and it has been written that he fills the house with Lilacs for her as a Mother’s Day tradition… these certainly seem like genuine endearments to me. He refers to her as his CEO, and values her opinions and input, most specifically on character, and matters of the heart. Mitt says that one of her strongest character traits is that “she is extremely, totally, entirely honest. She is incapable either through her eyes or her mouth of lying. ”

As the campaign progresses, and we get to know more about each of the candidates and their wives, one can be assured that Ann Romney accompanies her husband in his campaign because she wants to be there. Not because she required by duty, or that her intent is to effect policy. She is there to support her husband, to give him strength and joy, and to offer herself up for this countries considerations as an intelligent, honest, devoted, committed, strong, gracious, charming and beautiful First Lady.

Donna L.