2008 election, Barack Obama, Barack Obama 2008, democratic primary, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama Barack, obama
2008 election, Barack Obama, Barack Obama 2008, democratic primary, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama Barack, obama

Newsweek's Cover: "Barack's Rock"

Newsweek   |  Richard Wolffe   |   February 17, 2008 02:26 PM


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Michelle Obama was never much interested in calling attention to herself. As an undergrad at Princeton in the 1980s, she was interested in social change, but didn't run for student government. Instead, she spent her free time running a literacy program for kids from the local neighborhoods. At Harvard Law, she took part in demonstrations demanding more minority students and professors. Yet unlike another more prominent Harvard Law student who would later take up the cause, she was not one to hold forth with high-flown oratory about the need for diversity. "When [Barack Obama] spoke, people got quiet and listened," recalls Prof. Randall Kennedy. "Michelle had a more modest, quieter, lower profile." Barack won election as president of the Law Review. Michelle put her energy into a less glamorous pursuit: recruiting black undergrads to Harvard Law from other schools. For her, politics wasn't so much about being inspirational as it was being practical--about getting something specific done, says Charles Ogletree, one of her professors. "She was not trying to get ahead."

She no longer has the luxury of keeping a low profile. Now a very public figure, Michelle has accepted the role of aspiring First Lady and the sometimes uncomfortable scrutiny that comes with it. On the campaign trail, she is sometimes slated as the opening act, introducing Barack to the audience. Direct and plain-spoken, with an edgy sense of humor uncommon in a political spouse, she complements her husband's more grandiose style. She can be tough, and even a little steely, an attitude that stems, at least in part, from wanting to live up to the high expectations her father set for her. She wants to change the world, but she also wants to win this thing now that they're so deeply invested. If his loftiness can set him apart from the crowd, her bluntness draws them in. Standing up before large audiences wasn't easy at first. "I've never participated at this level in any of his campaigns," she told NEWSWEEK last week. "I have usually chosen to just appear when necessary."

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Isn't she the one who could find no reason to be proud of her country before her husband ran for president?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:07 PM on 02/19/2008
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Increasingly, every time this woman opens her mouth the Republicans smile a little more. They won't need to trot out old clips of Jane Fonda during the general with Mrs. Obama spouting anti-American comments. And these are the Democrates to unite the country?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:22 AM on 02/19/2008

Anti-Americanism from Mrs. Obama

Our next First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama

"www.boston.com/news/politics/pol···_na.html

quote:MILWAUKEE -- So what did Michelle Obama think of the United States before her husband decided he wanted to run the place?

"For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country," she told a Milwaukee crowd today, "because it feels like hope is making a comeback."

I know a lot of lefties who likely agree with Mrs. Obama, but this is a vile statement to come from someone who seeks the White House for her husband. It is revolting to think that she has the nerve to say that she has not been proud of America for nearly 30 years. Differing with specific policies of certain administrations is one thing. But to not have pride in America itself, what it is, utterly disqualifies these people from holding any office.

I find it to be highly objectionable and revealing to state her disdain for our country only now that she thinks that they're ahead in the race. It's vain and self-centered. It's a big deal.

Here's Mrs. America on tape, today in Milwaukee.

"www.breitbart.tv/html/49244.html

Will she read books to schoolchildren in the White House telling them how bad America was until Barack got elected?

This is the shit the they teach at Trinity United.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:31 PM on 02/18/2008

Congratulations - the final line of that epithet cinched you "HufPo Ignoramous Of The Year". It's a much sought-after title, gained by, in a single post, insulting the most people, saying the stupidest things, and overall maxing out on the jackass meter.

Thanks for all the work on that.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:51 PM on 02/18/2008


Given the chance, I think I might vote for Michelle Obama, or Elizabeth Edwards for that matter. I'll be holding my nose if it becomes necessary to vote for the Clinton.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:11 PM on 02/18/2008

WOW, I can see it now, you're holding your nose while you have your thumb up your ass in the voting booth.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:21 PM on 02/18/2008
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Many Clinton supporters have claimed that they would not vote for Obama because some of his supporters are rude. There is no doubt that some unfortunately are. But you, Marrob, prove unequivocally that the Obama campaign does not have a monopoly on rude supporters.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:23 PM on 02/18/2008

NOT NOT NOT to be "anti-" BUT GOSH, I am extremely disappointed that Mrs Obama is more like Hillary and less like Mamie Eisenhower in her attitude and approach to the job of first lady.

I would rather hear Mr Obama say that he would consider a good cabinet his presidential rock...a cabinet of people like JFK's...w. keynsian economics to neutralize negative glob'n impacts on US people, Sargent Shriver social programs, RFK Justice and Constitutional law etc+

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:35 AM on 02/18/2008
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" As First Lady, her outgoing manner, her feminine love of pretty clothes, jewelry, and her obvious pride in husband and home made her a very popular First Lady.

Mamie was known as a penny pincher who clipped coupons for the White House staff. Her recipe for "Mamie's million dollar fudge" was reproduced by housewives all over the country after it was printed in many publications."

Michelle Obama an attorney with two Ivy League degrees, who ran various not-for-profit community ventures should be clipping coupons for the white house staff....is this about right?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:04 PM on 02/18/2008

LOOK HILLARY WISH SHE COULD HAVE AS MUCH CLASS AS MRS OBAMA. SHE IS A SELF MADE WOMAN THAT DID NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE OF HER HUSBAND. SHE RAN SOMETHING BEFORE! SO PLEASE DO NOT PUT HER IN THAT CATEGORY. SHE IS THERE FOR HER KIDS. SHE DOSE NOT HAVE A NANY. HER MOTHER TAKE CARE OF HER KIDS. GIVE CREDIT WHEN IT IS DUE.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:05 AM on 02/19/2008



america won't accept this woman as first lady. end of story.

dream on sheep.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:05 AM on 02/18/2008

That settles it then!

I love pronouncements like this that have nothing to back it up. She's been accepted by the State of Illinois, which in point of fact is a rural state with a few mid-sized cities and one huge megalopolis. Sort of a mini-version of the country. She'll be accepted across the country just fine.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:51 AM on 02/18/2008
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Remember these Trolls, adore the WAXEN CRIMINALS, BARBARA

AND LAURA.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:16 PM on 02/18/2008

So are you predicting that they are going to be getting divorced prior to his swearing in as President?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:24 PM on 02/18/2008
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We are America and we like her.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:32 PM on 02/18/2008

They accepted Hillary as first lady. How much worse could Michelle be?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:54 PM on 02/18/2008

Well, she may be the woman behind the throne now, but she better never want to do something in politics on her own. Just ask Hillary -- you better know your place, girl.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:25 AM on 02/18/2008
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I disagree even though Mrs. Obama doesn't seem inclined to ever want to run for political office.

Hillary is a New York State Senator and she should

be very proud of her position. There are only

14 - 18 female senators.

One of her first mistakes and a major one for Senator

Clinton was voting for Bush's War of Choice and

her refusal to admit she was wrong to have done so.

While I wish her well in her campaign, I, also, wish

she was running it differently and would consider

keeping her options open to become the FIRST

woman Vice President of the USA, should Obama

become the nominee.

It has to be awful to have been told you are the

Frontrunner to become the next President for so

many years and then have that challenged and perhaps

taken away forever.

So again, why hasn't she admitted her vote for Bush's

War of Choice for Oil was a mistake?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:42 AM on 02/18/2008
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You better read the article "girl"...before posting absurd conjectures.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:05 PM on 02/18/2008

People talk about the image a black president would portray, but imagine having a smart, beautiful, black woman like Michelle Obama as First Lady. Americans should be proud to have a diplomat like her.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:49 AM on 02/18/2008



uuugh - it Oprah lite and no thank you

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:04 AM on 02/18/2008


next week's Newsweek cover story?

"HILLARY'S MILLSTONE"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:08 AM on 02/18/2008

ROTFL!! Imagine a year ago someone telling you that Obama's spouse would be a better campaigner than Hillary's.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:50 AM on 02/18/2008

and imagine all the talking heads as well as the Media ,screaming for Bill to shut up and go away because "you're ruining Obamas rise in their eyes, while sending missy O out to nasty mouth Hillary" !!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:45 AM on 02/18/2008

a portrait that is almost majestic.....a worthy first lady.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:34 AM on 02/18/2008

some people are educated beyond their intelligence...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:55 AM on 02/18/2008
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That's OK. You can deny ever having graduated high school...asuming you did.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:35 PM on 02/18/2008

rather see her pretty face on the cover than karl rove's. yes karl rove is now writing articles for newsweek.

used to subscribe to newsweek no more. the last thing I want to read is an article written by karl rove. he is using newsweek and fox noise to rewrite history.

how low can a news journal sink to have this horrible man write in their journal.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:02 AM on 02/18/2008

Didi47 (See profile | I'm a fan of Didi47)
blackpops:
For your information: Newsweek is owned by Time Warner, which owns CNN and most of the major media outlets that have been on a pro Obama media blitz for the last 2 months; so they can get McCain elected.
As for Obama living a humbling life.. I don't think he has, but I have a feeling that he might after the same media that's been building him up, warms up for his fall.
Reply | Parent | Favorite| Flag as abusive | posted 06:17 pm on 02/17/2008
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BrooklynLager (See profile | I'm a fan of BrooklynLager)
Will you please go back to freerepublic.com?
Reply | Parent | Favorite| Flag as abusive | posted 07:01 pm on 02/17/2008
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blackpope (See profile | I'm a fan of blackpope)
didi it's pope not pops....u are freaking moron!!! pro-Obama blitz...the media only reports stories that sell...it's not obama's fault that his story is selling and sorry clinton's is not...I see your post everywhere you just open your mouth and let words fall out...ignorant claims that you can't substantiate...why don't you go post on the stupid site you have been referring people to.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:38 PM on 02/17/2008
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blackpope, the post above reads like a lot of gibberish. I think I'm agreeing with Didi47 ... without doubt Obambi is being pushed forward by a Karl Rove based "surge" and in that regard I guess the repigs are right that the surge "is uh workin."

But seriously, the majority of Americans want HILLARY CLINTON for President. But after the repigs stole the wins of Gore and Kerry ... I guess they will soon be 3-0. You are Obama-istas are buying right into their trap.

Time to think about moving to a smarter country.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:20 PM on 02/17/2008
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There's plenty to choose from.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:13 PM on 02/17/2008
- ayc I'm a Fan of ayc permalink

Close to the majority of citizens view Senator Clinton unfavorably. Those of you who think she can win a general with those odds seem to be delusional.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:26 PM on 02/17/2008

Yeah move to Dubai with Hillary and Bill Clinton and become there slave. Please do not let the American door pat you on the way out. By By LOL

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 AM on 02/18/2008
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I think Obama and future first lady Michelle can easily win the election without any help from the degenerate Red Neck Uneducated Nascar fans, who I am told are really gay and love to suck on exhaust pipes.

Was your mama also a disgusting racist bigot?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:46 AM on 02/18/2008

Nearly 45% of Americans have a negative opinion of Clinton. Obama is leading her in the national tracking polls among Democrats.

Where is her invisible majority?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:06 AM on 02/18/2008

So the aricle says she stays out of help with policy. Does Obama stay out as well? Where does he stand? What are the details? Why aren't they part of his campaign trail?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:29 PM on 02/17/2008

Oh god - do we need to do all the reading for you?

You can start with his website, which details his policies:

barackobama.com

There's even a wikipedia site:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/02/18/samantha_power/

And that's just for starters.

I also want to just add for all you people who can't stand to hear a speech without data you don't even understand or can even corroborate: all policies will change once any candidate steps into the White House. That goes for Clinton, McCain and Obama. It's what has always happened (don't you all remember Bill's first crack at the WH circa 1992?).

The policies between Hillary and Obama are practically identical. *And* they've both borrowed stuff from each other, as well as all the other candidates that were once running for the Dem nomination. Policies at this point are a non-issue. *Especially* since Dems don't even have a working majority in Congress.

What Dems should think about is this: Who can win the White House against McCain? And once in the WH, who can gather and create a larger Democratic coalition both in and out of Congress so that Democratic policies can actually have a chance to be passed into law?

Keep your head together people and think ahead.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 AM on 02/18/2008

oh correction - sorry - i put the wrong link for the wikipedia site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:57 AM on 02/18/2008

I can't stand Barak or his little misses....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:06 PM on 02/17/2008
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I agree. Her Highness MissHell seems comfortable with using conk processing on her hair. WOW, even way back when they leaped all over James Brown for his conked hair. Now it looks like this is a totally acceptable practice for someone proud of being black.

What the hell ... it's Misshell, she can do whatever she wants. She tells Obambi that every morning.

Guess who has the brass balls in that family?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:37 PM on 02/17/2008
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you are an ass

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:44 AM on 02/18/2008

Bigots for Hillary!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:17 AM on 02/18/2008

Got my white sheet on, but I forgot my hood, I will be right back to join you fellas. Incidentally are we going to howl at the moon tonight again fellas.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:33 AM on 02/18/2008
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God, you're a pig! Who cares what she puts on her hair??? There are very few women over 30 who don't alter their hair in some way. As for "brass balls?" I pity your wife if you have one.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:42 PM on 02/18/2008
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Michelle is our Next First lady !!!!!!!!Hello ALL Fellow Obama Warriors. Just want you to know that Ohio is 'Fired Up & Ready To WIN'....Don't believe the media.....This will be a true battle for The Clintons and it won't come easy.

Visit Ohio based: www.Blacks4Barack.org
(A Multi-Racial Organization)

Obama News, Views, Issues, Photos, Voter Registration, Volunteer Info and Much More !!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:04 PM on 02/17/2008
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"Fired up and Ready to win!"

Now isn't that just the dumbest slogan you could ever dream up for a candidate who claims to be anti-war?

Yes, yes, I've been there when he was first trying out that little tag-line. He said it came from a little old lady in South Carolina and it had something to do with firing a cannon. That sounds pretty war-like to me.

This slogan sounds good for someone who wants to take the country back to the 1860s. Guess that is why he appeals to all the youth?????? Uhhhhh, they want to see history first hand??? Hmmmmmm? Nope, can't see this slogan as anything but tired old drivel. Like the rest of his weak rhetoric.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:04 PM on 02/17/2008

the fat lady ain't sung yet gretjones

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:11 PM on 02/17/2008
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