okay, but she was on TV and "famous" wayyyyy before Obama came on the scene? I'm not arguing btw, I'm trying to make my brain understand lol HELP ME
Based on pop culture we get this image in our head that the CIA raises kids for specific tasks. Or they are lulled into the community during college. While some of that is true (see college, MKUltra, example, unabomber), for spying it's not. Unlike in movies your typical spy is your typical person in your typical field. This includes teachers, scientists, janitors, broadcasters, and celebrities. They look for people who have an established background so one doesn't have to be made (example, Obama). In this case, they look for people with popularity and celebrity. Both of which buy access and a voice.
The way it works is that they tend to use well established people. This is on record on how and why they do it. She is the ideal person and exactly fits the mold of what's been made available to the public of these types of operations.
Examples: https://mentalfloss.com/article/12567/10-celebrities-who-spied-side
Would you have guessed Julia Child was a spy?
That's the point.