Obama Defends Wife Over 'Pride' Remark

BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Democratic Sen. Barack Obama sought Tuesday to clarify his wife's statement that she is proud of the U.S. "for the first time in my adult life." He said her newfound pride is about the political system and was not meant to disparage her country.

He commented after Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, made a veiled reference to Michelle Obama's recent remarks.

Cindy McCain told a Wisconsin rally on Tuesday: "I'm proud of my country, I don't know about you, if you heard those words earlier."

Barack Obama, interviewed on WOAI radio in San Antonio, Texas, expressed frustration that his wife's comments became political fodder.

"Statements like this are made and people try to take it out of context and make a great big deal out of it, and that isn't at all what she meant," Obama said.

"What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America," he said. "Because she's pretty cynical about the political process, and with good reason, and she's not alone. But she has seen large numbers of people get involved in the process, and she's encouraged."

In Milwaukee on Monday, Michelle Obama said: "Let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change."

Cindy McCain asserted, "I have, and always will be, proud of my country," and repeated the sentiment later in Columbus, Ohio.

Comments

[Whycee54]

Michele Obama doesn't need anybody to put her own personal thoughts into context. She said what she meant. As growing up as a black woman in the 70s and 80s in this country, I find it amazing that people actually think America has done such limitlessly fantastic things that we should be so proud? Are you proud of the residual racism that prevails? Are you proud of the sexism that is very much alive and well? This campaign is evidence of that. Are you proud of the fact that the USA uses most of the world's resources yet comprises only 6% of the world's population?Are you proud of the invasion of Iraq? Are you proud of the current president and his presidency? America be proud but WAKE UP. We have work to do.
Mrs. Obama, you do not owe anybody any explanation. WE who have experienced what you have experienced in the later 20th century know exactly what you are talking about.GOD BLESS YOU and your husband. We got your back!

[AurigaRa]

amen

[texassouffle]

White men in Texas got your back too!!! I can honestly say that I have not been proud of my country my whole adult life either. I will do everything I can do to make sure Obama wins handily here. Texas will finally get to make a difference in an election.

[kimbari]

Cosign.

[reverence]

Intelligent people know that Michelle was talking about the spirit and numbers of people getting involved in the political process. So she didn't state it very well. Get a life people! Now we must endure the petty people who will play it over and over again on the cable stations, and the Neo-Conservatives will start waving the countrys flag as if it only belongs to them,and Mrs. McCain will make high school girl passive aggressive slam remarks, and the Clinton campaign will try to use it to score some more votes. Disgusting, all of you!
Do you all really believe that the general public is this stupid?

[AnninCA]

Quite the contrary.

Intelligent people hear the deep victim message of what she said and are truly repelled.

Opposite of his superficial hope, this campaign is all about hate, disillusionment, and despair.

It's honestly very sickening.

But I also thought Bush was sickening too.

And he won.

So I'm prepared, once again, to lose.

[AnninCA]

No, I think she's all about fear, actually.

[ATLiberal]

Come on Annin. I see you post so much of this hateful stuff about Obama. Is it really necessary?? Where does it come from?? I understand you support HRC. Good for you.

Can't you step back a minute and see how small minded and capricious these constant attacks are?? All of us, HRC and Obama supporters need to take a deep breath and step back from the brink. We want a Democrat in the Whitehouse. This is counterproductive.

[RusStyles]

LIsten to Michelle on MSNBC--she's awesome!

[veracal]

Yes she is!!!

[pineapplegal]

I have spent the last couple months trying to figure out if Cindy is his daughter, sister, who?? His wife!? OMG - please, please, don't let her become our First Lady. We need someone with brains and class to represent women at the helm, not neither!

[roncraw]

I'm a Dem. and have to say you Obama supporters are a angry,vicious bunch.I think a good share of you need help.

[nuglet304]

amen.

[Ramirez]

That's because you have not yet seen the Light.
******

"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama"
- Barack Obama
Lebanon, New Hampshire.
January 7, 2008.


You can learn more about Him here:
http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/

[HowietheScreamer]

You don't read much do you? Seen the comments from the REpubes for the last 15 years? If you ARE IN FACT a Dem, then you should be disgusted at what has been thrown at the Democratic party by the lying, toetapping, page baiting, hypocracy that's been laid bare by the years of Repubic power in this country. MORALLY BANKRUPT.

Simple, you are either FOR CHANGING that situation, or you are PART OF THE PROBLEM.

[RusStyles]

roncraw:

And all HRC supporters have been paragons of civility, huh? i.e. Jayhomie, Confused American, et al...

[Amomma]

I second that. People honor what came before you. There are a lot of diverse people in the USA who stood up for what was right during the entire history of this country. RELAX Know one claims perfection here, just don't throw out the baby with the dishwater.

[PhDcommonsense]

Corrected Post

White America once again is taking Michelle Obama's comments out of context. When will they understand when statements are made that they sometimes don't truly understand the implications behind those comments?

So for biased pundits like Pat Buchanan on MSNBC to toss his cookies over the statement is truly amazing or not. But let me attempt to break it down to him and rest of the world.

Why should Black Americans be proud of a Country thus far until the 2008 - 21st Century that an African American truly had a chance at being President of the United States? Tom Brokaw of NBC commented that he never though he would see the possibility in his life time.

I ask the Pat Buchanan’s of the world, How long did it take Black American to truly be proud of something in this country. Blacks, fought valiantly in the Civil War, WWI WWII, Viet Nam, Korea, and yet did not have equality here on the home front. What about the lynching’s in the South and those responsible were acquitted by all white juries.

And, Yet, with all of what Black Americans have gone through to get equal footing in this Country still stayed stead fast in their resolve to become a true and integral part of this nation.

I ask are those things Most Black people can say they are proud to be an American on. Let's not forget the Civil Rights Era? Michelle saw the hurdles her parents had to overcome to educate her and brother just so that they would have a chance.

So for White American to say that she being unpatriotic, Read that as buzz words for the Republican Attack machine gearing up to scare and cause another round of biases to make the American public think the Democrats are not as Patriotic as they are. I truly hope there are enough voters out there who can see through this BS and call it what it is a distraction.

[iPolitics]

This election is not about race. Obama is the best candidate. Every candidate gets slammed. Their family too if involved. McCain wants "more wars and no jobs." Hillary is divisive and voted for Iraq

[AnninCA]

Sorry, but this election is actually quite a lot about race.

[HowietheScreamer]

Yes, they are trying to scare the white folks to Fear the Brown people. Same as they have always done.

[Jazz42]

I was born 65 years ago.
The fact that an African Americans say for the first time in their adult lifetime. They they feel proud to be an American. I to haven't seen much for African Americans to be proud of. I remind you it has been only fifty years ago African Americans and, were allowed to share public places with white people. It has been only forty years since African Americans were allowed to vote, keep in mind segregation in public school was law. African Americans by law were not allowed to to vote, until the voting right act was signed into law in 1965. I read an article yesterday stating that our beloved President Bush fore fathers were slave owners. In case you don't know who were held as slaves. It was African Americans, who were held in slavery for hundreds of years, you bet. I have no problem saying, for the first in my adult life, I'm proud to be an American.

[AnninCA]

Well, if this is what it takes to invoke a sense of pride?

I guess that this is what it takes.

LOL*

Amazing to me, anyway.

But my opinion isn't relevant.

You are electing him.

You seem to think he's positive.

I disagree. I think he's highly negative.

So you win.

I sit back and watch the show.

And it's fairly relaxing.

[nuglet304]

at this rate, obama's gonna have a nice long summer and fall tryin to put all his wife's bravado in context before the general election...

that's not gonna be a good thing if she keeps it up.

[HowietheScreamer]

Riiight as opposed to sHillary trying desperately to muzzle Billy boy. Yup, it's hard hard work.

[nuglet304]

what's that got to do with barack and michelle obama? i don't think i mentioned either clinton.

[AnninCA]

No, I think you're wrong.

I think he'll win in the Fall.

Just like Bush did.

And we're just going to have to survive him, just like we're surviving Bush.

[kimbari]

Yeah. It feels great to be on the winning side, for once.

[Bobleblah1]

Time out folks.
Can you even imagine Barack lowering himself to the level of talking about John McCain's wife in the hopes that it would help him politically?

Sen Obama would never lower himself to such a petty level.

I cant wait untill Barack starts pointing this out. He will fire up his support even more.

[nottoworry]

This is truth. One of the traits I like most about Mr. Obama is that he would not stoop that low. He is first a good man, then a politician. Cindy would do well to keep her mouth shut. her time may come for "being whacked" unfairly. The election is not over and if Ms. Sharp Fingernails wins the candidacy, then look out.

[AnninCA]

AS that old joke goes?

We already know he's a whore. We're now debating his price.

[HowietheScreamer]

Quite, and given McStains marital history there's QUITE A LOT of fodder there for it.

[saami]

I'm a white American and I have been ashamed of my country for the entire Bush administration and many times in the past for our arrogance and total disregard for the rest of the world, and can say that I am now proud of the people in my country for taking our country back. I'm for Obama and I am white, old and female. So much for pigeon holing that constituency!

[AnninCA]

Oh, without a problem.

Look at his tactics against the Clintons?

He'll say anything and do anything.

No doubt about that at all

[PhDcommonsense]

White America once again is taking Machelle Obama's coments out of context. When will they understand when statements are made that they sometimes don't truly understand the implications behind those comments.

So for biased pundits like Pat Buchanan on MSNBC to toss his cookies over the statement is truly amazing or not. But let me attempt to break it down to him and rest of the world.

Why should Black Americans be proud of a Country thus far until the 2008 - 21st Century that an African American truly had a chance at being President of the United States. Tom Brokaw of NBC, commented that he never though he would see the possibility in his life time.

I ask the Pat Buchanans of the world, How long did it take Black American to truly be poud of something in this country. Blacks, fought valantly in the Civil War, WWI WWII, Viet Nam, Korea, and yet did not have equality here on the home front. What about the lynchings in the South and those responsible were aquited by all white juries.

And, Yet, with all of what Black Americans have gone through to get equal footing in this Country still stayed stead fast in their resolve to become a true and integral part of this nation.

I ask are those things Most Black people can say they are proud to be an American on? Let's not forget the Civil Rights Era? Michelle saw the hurdles her parents had to overcome to educate her and brother just so that they would have a chance.

So for White American to say that she being unpatriotic, Read that as buzz words for the Republican Attack machine gearing up to scare and cause another round of baises to make the American public think the Democrats are not as Patriotic as they are. I truly hope there are enough voters out there who can see through this BS and call it what it is a distraction.

[AnninCA]

BS........try to make this all about race if you wish.

She said what she meant.

She meant what she said.

Deal with it.

You just won't get by now with 'splaining' the attitude away.

[tgood]

With her college degrees, you wouldn't think Michelle Obama needed others to interpret her words. Her "angry young black woman" act blew up in her face and this is just damage control.

[nuglet304]

i think the obama campaign would be wise to set up a damage control staff to follow michelle everywhere she goes, especially once barack gets the nomination.

[veracal]

Like the men in the white coats who follow you?

[VOTER]

tgood

Mrs. Obama is a fine intelligent young woman, wife
and mother.

Your comment is asinine.

[2liveNdie]

Mrs. McCain born with a silver spoon, of course she loves this country. Everything has basically been given not earned for her!

[VOTER]

Mrs. McWar was roasted by the Bush Republican

Party eight years ago. Was it unfair and awful?

Yes.

Was it wise of Mrs. McWar to do her little on-camera

chastising of Mrs. Obama's words?

No!

If Mrs. McWar wants to play dirty politics and to join

in the battle, then she, too, will become fair game

including her spotted history of drug abuse.

Hmmmmmm

[gallonjug]

Ohhh! Busted! Michelle got busted! Naaanaaanaaanaa... Quick Cindy go up there and say you're patriotic! Haha. Now, for the next 48 hours you can be relevent to this campaign.

[pheepher]

Cindy McCain should put away the spackle knife she uses for her make-up because it seems to be affecting her brain. Any woman who would allow someone to slime her child and herself then stand back and watch her husband hug the guy has no self respect. She certainly doesn't have any room to be critical of another woman.

[belikejeanvaljean]

For pete's sake, the woman has a right to her opinion. If she didn't love her country, she wouldn't say she now felt proud of it.

I deeply love my country, am proud of many things about it, but am ashamed, for example of my country's invasion and occupation of Iraq, among other things. I would have no trouble tell that to Larry King, either.

[AnninCA]

No, she doesn't love her country. She's ashamed of us.

That is precisely the point.

ANd she meant it, too.

[kimbari]

Nah, she's ashamed of *your* ass...

But then, I don't know what she thinks any more than you do.

[outnow]

Michelle said that she was "really" proud...Fox News edited out the "really" part. I heard both versions on the Thom Hartmann show on Air America.

The two versions are diametrically different. This, too, will backfire on Insane John. Michelle indicated that she was really proud for the first time. Unbelievable! Matt Dudge is behind this. You must hear the tapes and see the video.

[peskyliberal]

I heard the two version too. You can clearly hear where "really" was edited out.

Michelle doesn't have to say sorry for a damn thing.