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Why Michelle Obama isn't watching the GOP convention

Michelle Obama told David Letterman she's not watching, but said every American voter should watch the Republican and Democratic conventions.

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(AP Photo/CBS, Jeffrey R. Staab)
David Letterman laughs while talking with first lady Michelle Obama on the set of the “Late Show with David Letterman,” Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 in New York. It was the first lady’s third appearance on the show.
  • By Staff Associated Press

Michelle Obama says she isn't tuning in to this week's Republican National Convention. But that's just her.

Appearing on CBS' "Late Show" on Wednesday, the first lady encouraged every American to follow coverage of both political conventions. It's a good way to help each citizen decide which presidential candidate to vote for in November, she told host David Letterman.

But Mrs. Obama noted that her decision is already made. So is her decision about watching this week's convention. As the wife of the guy the Republicans are running against, "I tend not to watch it," she said.

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Mrs. Obama's appearance on "Late Show" was part of her back-to-school media tour. She also recorded appearances Wednesday on "The Dr. Oz Show" and "Rachael Ray", which will air in September. According to the White House, Mrs. Obama is discussing improvements to the federal guidelines for school lunches that go into effect this school year, and updates to the Presidential Youth Fitness Program. 

As part of her anti-obesity campaign. last week she hosted the first-ever Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House, welcoming 54 budding chefs (between the ages of 8 and 12) to a formal luncheon in the East Room.

Each of the guests, along with their parents, submitted a healthy recipe as part of the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, which invited families to create an original lunchtime recipe that is healthy, affordable and delicious, and follows the nutritional guidelines of MyPlate.

“Believe it or not, more than 1,200 kids submitted recipes for this challenge — 1,200.  It’s a big competition,” the First Lady said.  A panel of judges from the organizations that teamed up with Mrs. Obama on this initiative — Epicurious, the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture—tasted each of the recipes that made it to the final round of the competition and picked their favorites from each state, as Mrs. Obama explained, according to the White House blog.

RECOMMENDED: Are you more (or less) liberal than Barack Obama? Take the quiz

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