Michelle Obama Remarks Stir Controversy

Newsday:

Here's a quote from Michelle Obama, via the Globe and Politico, that seems to have trouble written all over it:

"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."

A lot of Republicans, and Democrats, and Independents will be surprised to learn that pre-Obama, there was no reason to be proud of America. Probably she didn't mean that. But what did she mean?

Read the whole story: Newsday

Comments

[Seattlelite]

Oh my god I didn't realize the Barbie Doll could speak! And the first time she does she takes a dig at another candidates wife. Go check your make Cindy looking a bit smuggy.

[AurigaRa]

Cindy for first lady. Now THAT's exciting.

[ceasenake]

Really, she should never contrast her opinion with The Great Michelle Obama.

She must be a racists!

[youthrewaspark]

No one said that, did they? Are you racist?

[gonavy]

Actually, that was not the first time Cindy spoke publically. It was the first time the news picked it up. Are you really that dumb, or are you just jealous.

[youthrewaspark]

Nice try. Cindy is an addled twit.

[ceasenake]

Keep talking Michelle; you are classic!

[enoughalready13]

I am amazed at how blinded Obama supporters can be - it's disgusting. You can dish out criticism yet not take it? What she said was not helpful, patriotic or sincere.

[ceasenake]

Um ...

i·ro·ny

1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.

[dajay]

I have a feeling she is going to cause a lot of problems for Saint Obama if he is the nominee going up against McCain and the mean Republicans.

Obama and supporters, and Michele: Get ready. You guys are going to get eaten up by McCain and crew.

[GeoLee]

So is the Edsel if you won one.

[DoninJoisey]

BOGUS.
She did NOT say, "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,"

What she DID say was "For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country,"

REALLY proud, as in VERY proud. This is slime politics to delete the adjective from the quote.
It does NOT imply - as spun - that she was never proud before, it says she is even PROUDER now.

What devious spin - Wolfson must've studied under Rove.

[sarainitaly]

well, sorry but she did. She gave the speech twice. She amended her second speech to include the word really.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/19/michelle-obama-is-proud-of-her-country/

Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, “People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and … for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.”

Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis.

“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country … not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change,” she said. “I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappoint­ment.”

[zumper]

people stop trying to spin this in her favor /////the original speech she did not have 'really' in there , i heard the first speech in milwaukee.­....really wasnt in the line it was added in her second speech....­..what it meant is immaterial but when you try to amend the sentence it looks bad

[ceasenake]

Wrong - there was not a cut or splice, she said "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country."

Is she Cuban?

[GeoLee]

Continued from above: Perhaps both spouses of both Democratic candidates should just zip it up so they don't get the right wing much more stirred up and out to vote in November. The division between the democrat candidates is already going to tamper down votes no matter which one wins...we don't need spouses tamping down more, thank you.

[rollingdivision]

Michelle Obama's remarks are indicative or just how much the Obamas dislike the country. The rest of her speech was just as positive about the USA as her never proud remark. Princeton, Harvard law and a partnership in a top law firm and this is some sort of bad place?

[enoughalready13]

MICHELLE OBAMA = why do you think everyone owes you something! How smug and entitled of you to say! Why don't you look around at the rest of the world and see where YOU would rather be.

[realwoman]

Amen to that.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

You know what? All of this time, as much as I like Senator Obama, I just never could wrap my brain around his wife. I just don't like her. I said to a friend of mine, it feels like she has a chip on her shoulder or something. But the moment I read your post I thought "Eureka". That's it. It's like she feels that people "owe" her something. God..thank­s. This was driving me crazy.

[dajay]

Yes, smug does fit her. I have found Obama smug and arrogant from day one.

Those two think their Poops don't smell!

[youthrewaspark]

Are you suggesting that she should be uncritically grateful for those degrees and that partnership? Were they given to her, or did she earn them?

[ObamaEdwards]

ANYONE who doesn't get exactly what Michelle Obama means has been UNCONSCIOUS for the past three decades. Come on, America, stop playing stupid. You know what she means. We all do.

[ceasenake]

That she's ungrateful to a country where she has become well educated, rich, and powerful and where she is free to exercise her right to put her foot in her mouth.

[youthrewaspark]

I'm not "grateful" to this country. I follow the law, pay taxes, and enjoy my rights as a citizen. There are things I love about it, and things about which I'm critical. What's with the jingoism? I bet you have a bunch of 9-11 stickers on the bumper of your SUV.

[lovethesinner]

To: Media Matters (tips email)

http://mediamatters.org/contact_us

On Hardball with Chris Matthews (early edition 2pm PT) a clip of Michelle Obama making her remarks about being "really proud to be an American", the word "REALLY" WAS CUT OUT! Also, showing this clip without her previous statements about "when I look out and see what's happening in America-and not just because of Barack-for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country."

It sounded like it was an audio drop out, but it could be something more sinister. I leave it to the people at MEDIA MATTERS to decide.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE MEANING OF THE QUOTE TO MAKE IT SOUND AS IF SHE'S NEVER BEFORE BEEN PROUD OF HER U.S. CITIZENSHIP. (something patently ridiculous)

What she's clearly talking about is the movement building up for change. (some even earlier remarks explain this)

Here's the entire quote from the clip,

"for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country."

Please check it to the early broadcast, and correct it, please.

[sarainitaly]

You should have spent 2 seconds researching this before you wrote that letter.

Michelle gave the speech twice. She amended her second speech to include the word really.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/19/michelle-obama-is-proud-of-her-country/

Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, "People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."

Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis.

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I"m really proud of my country not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change," she said. "I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappoint­ment."

[rollingdivision]

After it was noticed that Michelle Obama had just blasted the country "really" was quickly added to mitigate the damage. She is an intelligent person. She is Princeton and Harvard educated. Michelle Obama said exactly what she meant and she meant to attack the USA as a place a black woman would not be proud of for the last 26 years.

[youthrewaspark]

Maybe you would have been happier with a Stepin Fetchit routine? Was she really talking about race, or is that just the only lens through which you view her?

[zumper]

people stop trying to spin this in her favor /////the original speech she did not have 'really' in there , i heard the first speech in milwaukee.­....really wasnt in the line it was added in her second speech....­..what it meant is immaterial but when you try to amend the sentence it looks bad

[pollster08]

I understand EXACTLY what Michelle Obama is saying and so do many of you who are playing 'stupid' right now.
There is an UGLY history in this country---RACISM does exist here and if you are of ANY minority---and even if you are not YOU KNOW that these issues exist here! Do not deny it!
I wonder if Cindy McCain was proud of her country when blacks were being water hosed in the streets of Alabama or lynched in Mississippi. Any black person that has dealt with discrimination directly or indirectly­....discre­etly or overtly could never feel completely PROUD of this country.
Yes, we may be PROUD to be Americans but not exactly proud of Americas ugly history...­.and remember..­..the history still exists today..eve­n though it may be subtle.

I so hate when people try to ignore the obvious! I love America but America is NOT perfect and there are many days when I am NOT proud of America. I'm not proud that America is a big bully. Why are we in Iraq? I'm not proud of America when there is no funding to repair the bridges in this country and people die because the bridge collapses. I'm not proud of this country when those boys in Jena go to jail for a school yard fight. I'm not proud of this country when a man is dragged to his death from the back of a truck in Texas. I'm not proud of this country when there are people suffering because our so-called leaders are too busy lining their pockets and forgetting why they were elected to lead to begin with!

There I said it! Sometimes I am not proud of America!

I am proud to see Obama running...­...I am even proud to see Hillary running (although I don't like her). It's great to see these two people running and ACTUALLY have a chance to become president! This is something we can all be proud of today! Get over it! You are taking this womans words out of context and I'm sick of it! Issues Please!

[realwoman]

Boo hoo. Bad, bad America!!! Whhaaaa! Let me go on the Huffingtonpost with the other America haters and talk about all the bad things we do. While we're here we might as well defend Fidel Castro like so many others on this web site are doing as a man America should try to be like. He gave FREE medical coverage to his people. The Americans forced him to put all those people into jails. It was Ameriica's fault they had no freedom. Don't you see, EVERYTHING here on the HUffpost is America's fault. We still think it's 1969, we're still 18 years old and we still hate mommy and daddy, who have no time for us because they're out being capitalist pigs.

[youthrewaspark]

What's your excuse for being here? Got a fetish for bratty 18 year-olds?

[DoninJoisey]

This is BS!!! I just heard the actual clip and Howard Wolfson is spinning. Michelle did NOT say:
"For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,"
What she said was:
"For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country,"
It totally takes away Wolfson's and Cindy McCain's spin that it implies she wasn't proud before - it's that she's REALLY proud now - find the clip and hear for your self.

Typical dirty politics.

Same as the "plagiarism" charge:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080218/cm_huffpost/087209

I guess the Clintons couldn't afford Rove so they settled for Wolfson - same mold.

[sarainitaly]

Sorry, but it is not BS.

Michelle gave the speech twice. She amended her second speech to include the word really.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/19/michelle-obama-is-proud-of-her-country/

Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, "People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."

Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis.

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I"m really proud of my country not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change," she said. "I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappoint­ment."

[DoninJoisey]

I just learned that you are correct. All this flap about an ADJECTIVE?
Clearly the version with "REALLY" is acceptable.

I think she should just come out and say she gave the speech twice and meant to say "REALLY proud" both times.

[OneLiberalLady]

The quote was taken out of context: what a surprise! If you take the time to read the whole article you will learn what she really said. Here is the whole quote:
"What we have learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something — for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I’ve seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it’s made me proud.”

[sarainitaly]

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/19/michelle-obama-is-proud-of-her-country/

[DoninJoisey]

I just heard the replay of Michelle Obama's statement, and in the article above, she is misquoted. She did NOT say "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,"
what she said was, "For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country,"

To me, that's a huge difference. It completely takes away the argument that McCain's wife spun on, that it implies she wasn't proud before. She was proud, now she's REALLY proud.

I am sick of this typical Clinton spinning. Billary's campaign sleaze should work for Rove.

[sarainitaly]

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/19/michelle-obama-is-proud-of-her-country/

[AurigaRa]

don't waste your breath...t­his along with the "plagiarism" attacks are the desperate attempts by the clintons to save their campaign.

If folks believe this crap and vote accordingly, they'll be voting for what they really want: NO CHANGE. And we'll all suffer for it. Sad, but true.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

So now you're blaming THIS on the Clintons? There is a good medication for paranoia. Check with your doc. and he/she can probably give you a script for it.

[rollingdivision]

"Really" added for the second presentation of this speech.

[youthrewaspark]

Oh, then that settles it. She is a communist-­islamofasc­ist! Behead her instantly!

[DoninJoisey]

I have learned that you are correct. Speech given twice - once with, once without "really"..­...

[brwnizofmine]

I swear I did not know Barbie doll could speak.

[Kim445588]

Yeah, thought little miss makeup would play the deaf mute all campaign. No such luck, we got another twit in the game. Wake me up when this nonsense is over. :-)

[youthrewaspark]

She can, she just has to be really careful what she says. One wrong word and Bomb Bomb McCain slaps her around.

[johnnyjust]

I don't care about the "African-American Experience" (Are You Experienced?) and that the justification for Mrs. Obama's remarks are because "they can only be proud because a (half) black man is running for office."

If that's what it takes for anyone to have pride in the United States then you're in the wrong country. This country was great before you were born, it's great now, and it will be great long after you're dead and gone and the only memory and legacy you leave will be a whine in the wind, reminding future generations about the only real problems this country ever had.

[reseller7]

Michelle, said as an adult!

Why should be proud of 7 years of Bush? Are you?

Why should she be proud of "The Clinton" scandels" of the 90'S His impeachment. Her whitewater and other legal issue's? Are you?

Why should she be proud of 4 years of Older Bush and 8 yeras of Reagan? Are you?

That covers her adult life!

[sarainitaly]

she was not talking about the government, but the people. she is now proud, because the people are hungry for change.

[DoninJoisey]

I keep trying to post this - 0 comments pending, but mine doesn't show up????

BOGUS.She did NOT say, "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,"
What she DID say was "For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country,"
REALLY proud, as in VERY proud. This is slime politics to delete the adjective from the quote.It does NOT imply - as spun - that she was never proud before, it says she is even PROUDER now.
What devious spin - Wolfson must've studied under Rove.

[Silpat]

"I don't care about the "African-American Experience" johnnyjust


You have summed up why Mrs. Obama and the African-American community have found it hard to "really" be proud of America over the years. Ask yourself if you would you be proud of a country that forced your ancestors into slavery? Would you be proud of a country that said you did not qualify as human? Would you be proud of a country that adopted "Jim Crow" laws to oppress your people? As I stated before, African-Americans have come full circle and therefore it is understandable why Mrs. Obama is "really" proud of her country now more than ever.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

You are wasting your breath. White people will only respond to you, "I never owned slaves and neither did my father or my grandfathe­r"....I then usually proceed to ask them how their father/grandfather felt about MLK and the Civil Rights movement. Like I tell my black friends who say to me, "White people who support black folk only do it because they feel guilty about all that has been done to black folk". My response is always..."­Wrong...wh­ite folk feel guilty about NOTHING". Don't get it twisted.

[desertdweller]

I agree with Michelle. America must meet the expectations and aspirations of its citizens and not the other way around. More than 30 years ago I realized that "liberty and justice for all" were just empty words. When those words fulfill their promise, I will buy an American flag and proudly display it at my home, but not until.

[oscarp]

Where was she before? Perhaps in Indonesia and never heard of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? So could we put as First Lady someone who has not been proud of our country before? Does she have a US passport? What country does it belong to? When you are not proud of your country, you leave, so I guess she was not here all these years.

[reseller7]

Michelle, said as an adult!

Why should be proud of 7 years of Bush? Are you?

Why should she be proud of "The Clinton" scandels" of the 90'S His impeachment. Her whitewater and other legal issue's? Are you?

Why should she be proud of 4 years of Older Bush and 8 yeras of Reagan? Are you?

That covers her adult life!

[dottedzebra]

"When you are not proud of your country, you leave"

Who says? You? Why not stay and make it a better place. You'd just leave your country if it dissapointed you? Besides, she never said she wasn't proud of her country. Read the real quote.

This is a really dumb story anyway.

[DoninJoisey]

The quote is false - they took out "REALLY" before proud - see my post above.

[TxWonderWoman]

GOOD FOR CINDY MCCAIN!!!

[youthrewaspark]

Caps lock.