Michelle Obama on Republican National Convention: ‘I tend not to watch it’

During yet another late night television appearance, first lady Michelle Obama told David Letterman that she hasn't been watching the Republican National Convention this week—but that doesn't mean American voters should follow her lead.

"As the wife of the guy they're running against, I tend not to watch it," the first lady said on the "Late Show" on Wednesday in a Letterman interview that aired shortly after Paul Ryan gave his convention speech as Mitt Romney's running mate. "But I think it's important for everyone to watch these conventions, because this is the time you get to know the party, you understand the platform, you understand the candidates.

"You know, this is technically where the campaign begins," Mrs. Obama continued. "So I think it's very important for everyone to watch as much of both conventions as possible to make their decisions."

[Complete coverage: Republican National Convention]

The Democratic National Convention kicks off next week in Charlotte, N.C., where the first lady is expected to be one of the prime-time speakers.

She sidestepped a rambling question from Letterman about the controversial "legitimate rape" comments made by Missouri Rep. Todd Akin.

"When you have a guy, and I don't want to embarrass anybody… like Todd Akin, and, for whatever reason, he says something that he wishes he hadn't said, and there's some embarrassment, is it a big deal?" Letterman asked. "Is it not a big deal? I don't know, dumb guys are allowed to say dumb things?"

"That's how guys are," Michelle Obama joked.

[Related: Jan Brewer accidentally endorses Obama at convention (VIDEO)]

The first lady was then asked whether she discusses the "dumb things" politicians say with the president.

"There are moments when there are interesting things that happen, and we discuss them," she said. "There are times."

In a "Late Show" appearance in March, Letterman asked her a similar question.

"Hypothetically speaking, at the end of the day, has your husband ever come home and said to you, 'Oh, that John Boehner, what an idiot'?" Letterman asked.

"It has never happened, never, never," she replied. "He is always upbeat, particularly about Congress."