First lady: Not surprised by reaction to Oscars

The Associated Press, Friday, March 1, 2013, 1:06am (PST)

CHICAGO (AP) — Michelle Obama says it was "absolutely not surprising" to her that her satellite appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony raised questions about whether it was appropriate.

Some conservatives have accused her of crashing the event to selfishly make it all about her.

In an interview Thursday in Chicago, she attributed the reaction to that of the bloggers, tweeters who talk about anything and everything all the time.

Mrs. Obama said only somewhat jokingly that even her bangs and her shoes can set off a national conversation.

She was beamed live from the White House into Sunday's awards ceremony to help announce the Best Picture award would go to "Argo."

Hers was not the first Oscar appearance by a first lady. In 2002, Laura Bush appeared at the ceremony on videotape.