Obama To Tennessee GOP: "Lay Off My Wife"

WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama has a message for Tennessee's Republican Party: "Lay off my wife."

Obama, his party's presidential front-runner, and his wife, Michelle, were asked in an interview aired Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" about an online video last week by the state's GOP taking her to task for a comment some considered unpatriotic.

"The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record," Obama said. "If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family."

He called the strategy "low class."

The video, posted on YouTube, centered on remarks Michelle Obama made while campaigning in Wisconsin last February, when she said: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country."

The four-minute video replayed the remark six times, interspersing it with commentary by Tennesseans on why they are proud of America. In a news release that included a link to the video, Tennessee's GOP said "the Tennessee Republican Party has always been proud of America." It urged radio stations to play "patriotic music" during Michelle Obama's visit to Nashville last Thursday.

Michelle Obama later clarified the remark, saying she meant she was proud of how Americans were engaging in the political process and that she had always been proud of her country.

"Whoever is in charge of the Tennessee GOP needs to think long and hard about the kind of campaign they want to run, and I think that's true for everybody, Democrat or Republican," Obama said in the ABC interview, adding: "These folks should lay off my wife."

Obama said his wife "loves this country. For them to try to distort or to play snippets of her remarks in ways that are unflattering to her is, I think, just low class. I think that most of the American people would think that as well."

Tennessee's Republican Party was roundly criticized in March, including by likely presidential nominee John McCain, for a news release that used Barack Obama's middle name _ Hussein _ and showed a photo of him wearing what it said was "Muslim attire."

The release ultimately was removed from the party's Web site at the urging of the state's two Republican senators and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan, who said he "rejects these kinds of campaign tactics."

Comments

[Deaninphilly]

A bunch of hypocrites is what this is about. The Democrats cannot go after John McCain's wife then cry when something is said about Sen. Obama's wife. If she is fair game so is Michelle.

I think Sen. Obama made himself look like a big baby who can't take the heat. Perhaps he should just go home now if that is what I have to look forward too.

[sebocd]

God bless Senator Obama. Yes he can get emotional and it should make us more confident in him as a leader. He's following a grand Democratic tradition in step with Harry Trumam. Heres a refresher
Truman's daughter Margaret pursued a singing career during the late 1940s.
Following a performance in December 1950, Washington Post music critic Paul Hume wrote she was "extremely attractive on the stage... [but] cannot sing very well. She is flat a good deal of the time." Her father (and president of the United States) Harry Truman wrote back to Hume, "I have never met you, but if I do you'll need a new nose and plenty of beefsteak and perhaps a supporter below." Years later Margaret Truman recalledd, "I thought it was funny. Sold tickets."
(Mostly From Wikipedia)
Has it been that long since seen husband zealous for the honor os his wife?
GIVE'M HELL BARRY!

[JulianDamanas]

How appalling! And how inflammatory and laughable! Obama thinks he can dub the attack on his wife "low class" and muzzle the dog that his wife let out in the first place? What about her comment about being "proud of America" then? Was that "high class"? Is Obama's pastor "high class"? if you ask me. The Obama's have shown a lamentable lack of taste in many things: friends, associates, religious mentors and behavior. If they were scions of good behavior, they would have long ago appealed to their supporters to cease and desist the vulgar catcalls for Ms. Clinton to "step down". Did they? If you want the truth: Obama is simply scared of competition. He shies away from confrontation and gets sullen. He's not a good sport. That alone makes him pretty low class. Petulance and pouting. Not good traits.

[sebocd]

What a great parable. But what does it mean?

[meanguy]

there used to be a kid in our school who would talk smack after school just as his mom was coming up the street to pick him up...always confident that we couldn't do anything in front of her...the obamas remind me of that kid; but they need to keep in mind what happened to that kid. one day mom's car broke down and he had to walk...it was the longest and most humiliating (not to mention, painful) walk of his life

right now obama is standing in front of the school. sticking his tongue out at the 'bitter typical middle class white voters'...and guess what? the car's not coming, the gop machine is...oh, the humanity-he won't know what hit him

[PSmooth]

Oh No! Not the GOP Machine! Do you mean Bush and his frat-boy posse or McCain wobblying along on the "Double-Talk Express"? Will Obama will be able to avoid the painful fate of that little kid talking smack after school. Are you the bitter typical middle class white boy that will (figuratively I assume) put the big hurt on OB? Can I watch?

[EinChicago]

Obama says "Lay of my wife...pretty,pretty please or I'l cry and stamp and hold my breath till I turn blue!"

[Wanod]

To the Diva lady, get your head out the sand. If B.O defends Michelle it's admirable, but if Bill defends Hillary he's an a hole. SICK! B.O.can't and won't win without Hillary, so you and your kind just keep the hate coming. You're the one's that destroying the Democratic party, it's not Hillary, it's people like you.

[politicgirl999]

Right on!!! He put her out there and she is fair game. It's going to be fun to watch!

[realwoman]

Can it be that Obama knows something that might be out there about Michelle and he's trying to build a wall of fire around the subject so that others feel intimidated to cross? I have heard about a speech/sermon she gave at their Chicago church where from the pulpit she was talking about "whitey"
I don't know if this is true or not, it's just very interesting.

[lenoirlady]

You're no realwoman! Lies and more distortion is what you're about. No firewall needed. "I don't know if it's true or not"!!!! It doesn't matter what the heck tou say - your credibility is GONE!!!

[sebocd]

Real woman I think your onto something big. I heard she gave birth to two black babies. But don't tell anyone. We"re saving it for a November surprise

[pupbayer]

Wanod, you are right! Whatever divisiveness there is in the Democratic Party can be laid at Obama's' feet. He will pay for it. Unfortunately, so will the rest of us.

[janvoght]

i would disagree with your opinion based on the fact that bill wasn't defending personla opinions of his wife's. he was defending factual mistakes...the repeated Bosnia recollection. when she said they were under sniper fire, and no one in her own camp bothered to check the facts and correct her mistake, and then bill jumped in and said, she said it once, at the end of a long campain day, with little or no sleep...that is not good politics, and bill can do much better than that...but when his wife is concerned he simply went to her defense, much like any other good husband would have.
michelle obama, has more than once corrected her mistake, and to try and brow beat her, because they have nothing else to attack, is simply not acceptable to her husband, the presidential candidate. i for one, want to see the future president of the USA, defend the good name of his worthy wife.
obama '08 & 2012 peace-out

[PhDiva]

I think it was very smart and sincere that he defended her. I was waiting for him to do this. If you're going to defend the country, you have to defend your wife (or husband). Period.

Sure, she's fair game, but he still needs to stand up and protect her. It makes her attackers look like sexist bullies, and it makes him look like a hero.

They are so cute, they are always holding hands and gazing at each other. She always looks really giddy and proud when she's talking about him. Imagine having a first couple that is still in love with each other! Imagine, love in the white house. They will be a terrific first couple. I can't wait.

[Jules36]

So it's OK for Michelle Obama to get out on the campaign trail and disparage her husband's opponent.... but when she says something offensive to some people, and questions are raised about her comments, it's "low class" and "unacceptable."

If Barack Obama's wife is going to get into the fray of politics, bith he and she had better be preapred to take the good with the bad. If she doesn't like it when people disagree with what she says, or do not share her opinions, or may call her to task for comments others find unpatriotic, then she ought to shut up and get out of the spotlight.

Portraying a pity party under the guise of defending his woman smacks of a fairly "low-class strategy."

[politicgirl999]

Absolutely!!! She is the mouth from Chicago!!! Keep it up Michelle

[smayhew]

'Sure, she's fair game, but he still needs to stand up and protect her. It makes her attackers look like sexist bullies, and it makes him look like a hero.'

Are ANY of you Obama supporters paying ANY attention? Obama followers and the media had no issue with personally attacking Clinton daily. Were you concerned about sexism then? (just kept silent, eh? -really wanted to protest, right? sure).

No one is calling Michelle a 'whore', no one is mocking her clothes, her laugh, her hair, no one is saying she is 'David Duke' or making t-shirts that say 'too bad she didn't marry OJ'..

Your concern over Michelle and her 'sexist attackers' is ridiculous and insulting. Nothing has been done to either one of the Obamas to compare the the filth that has been thrown at Clinton DAILY.
Media Matters is now covering sexism in the media and they can't work fast enough there is so much filth to recount - on every station and on every blog - just like this one.

[Alethea]

Barak, you know I love ya, but if Chelsea is fair game, then so is Michelle. It's only fair.

That being said though, the argument that the Repubs have that Michelle isn't patriotic is down right nonsensical anyway.

I love my country too. I feel that the dreams and possibilities that America offers is the most unique and wonderful the world has ever seen and I extremely patriotic because of this.

But am I ALSO ashamed of my country? Absolutely. Moral people don't launch a preemptive war based on lies. Now 4,000 soldiers are dead, tens of thousands of them are injured and over 2 million INNOCENT Iraqi's are refugees from their own country - the very same people we were supposedly trying to save from Saddam.

So yeah, I'm ashamed that we allowed the Bush to bastardize the idea of "American Democracy" by thinking we can spread it with the point of a gun.

If anything, the fact that I do love this country so much makes Bush's betrayals just that much more painful.

However, recently I've also rediscovered pride in my country as I watch us get involved again and reach for the Dream that America offers. This is really what America's all about, and it's such a joy to watch it in action.

There's a difference between loving your country blindly, and loving it knowing that such a fragile thing can be destroyed by those who clearly don't understand it. Love is complicated sometimes.

[priscianusjr]

"if Chelsea is fair game..."
You mean, for the Republicans? But she's NOT "fair game." What I mean is, yes, she is a target, but that's not fair. It's the same thing as them attacking Michelle. I'm sure Obama would agree.

[cubalibre]

One can disagree with the things your country is doing. But to say this is the first time I'm
proud to be an American and belong to an anti-American church,Is beyond worrisome
for the wife of a U,S. president. Those comments are more than fair game. However it's so typical
of the left wing media to act like "poor me" this is unfair. All the while taking every pot shot you
can at the other side. It has some how become politically incorrect to even use this guys middle name. He has a middle name,why aren't we allowed to use it?

[GhostintheMachine]

Can't touch Obama's wife but his supporters feelfree to attack McCain's military career.

A prominent local Barack Obama backer bashed John McCain"s military record Monday, calling the Republican presidential candidate a "self-promoter."
In a nearly-half hour speech, Democratic congressional candidate Bill Gillespie praised Obama, his party"s leading White House hopeful. But he devoted most of his remarks to criticisms of McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up the GOP nomination and was in Savannah for a fundraiser. ¦
He said his "heart grieves" for McCain"s suffering as a POW. "After that," Gillespie said, "he was somewhat of a celebrity and it went to his head. ¦ I think he was a self-promoter for the last four years (in the Navy.)
Asked to cite specific examples, Gillespie responded, "I don"t have one right now."

[priscianusjr]

Attacking McCain's military career is attacking McCain, not his wife. Anyway, he wasn't "attacking McCain's military career," he was attacking how McCain allegedly behaved during the last four years of his military career. I don't know the specifics, but in principle what is wrong with that? By the very fact that someone is in the military, they cannot be criticized for what they do there?

[cubalibre]

Well I don't know, lets see. Lets attack a man's record after serving his country and
enduring torture for five years. That he could of avoided had he left his fellow
soldiers behind.That's ok. But lets not attack a women that said in her adult life
she had never been proud to be an American. Until know. that her husband has
a chance to be president. Oh yeah, and she belongs to an anti American church
that hates whites and Jews. That would not be ok.That should inspire a lot of brave
men to serve this country.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Charles Keating. Vicky Isemann. "Hundred years War" McCain hasn't met a K Street lobbyist he didn't like.

Whatever he did in uniform over 30 years ago, has been thrown aside in McCain's relentless quest for self-aggrandizement.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[janvoght]

john mc cain undermines his own military record when he votes against the GI bills designed to maximize the benefits that our military have coming to them, (after having fought in a "mistaken war"). he also sabotages his own record when he votes to over turn his previous stance on torture, having been subjected to the POW torture for 6 years himself. why flip flop, if it's not to stoop, to secure the office of president for another four years. it is obvious that he would do the war, just like bush did it. the republican tactics of running a primary or presidential race are such that if the democrats match them, they would be inventing lies, flip flopping on a regular basis, claiming to cut spending and heavy handed government...then we know what happens. once they secure the power, they do just what they please, which means if it benefits them and their "friends" it's good. we need to change those tactics, before the current brand of govt. takes our country down completely.
obama '08 & 2012

[ntmessage]

Hate so say this, but since she has been stumping and campaigning for her husband as well as attacking others, it opens the door for this type of retaliation. They are attacking her for her views and statements as a campaigner and inner circle representative of her husband. Not as a wife.

Other first wives were just that first wives and they did not receive the same attention. Clinton, as we all know was very involved in her husband"s candidacy and presidency (contrary to those here who still think she was just a wife and did not influence policy) and was fair game.

Michelle is no different. Stop attacking my "wife" is quite disingenuous.

[luziannagirl]

Well, if it's fair game to personally attack a candidate's spouse and question her character not because of any glaring character flaws, but as part and parcel of partisan warfare, then it should be fair game for the candidate to defend this active campaigner on the grounds she's a wife. Neither tactic has a monopoly on disingenuity.

The GOP in Tennessee also might should remember, before they sling any more mud, next fall their side of the political isle will likely not only be out of the White House, but way out of power in both houses of Congress. Before dragging a future First Lady through any more mud, and firing up righteous indignation in her husband, the future POTUS, they might want to remember the 05 hurricanes and what can happen to constituencies led by those currently out of power.

In fact, it would do everyone a world of good to remember that your own district is just one catastrophic disaster away from needing a BIG helping hand from the Feds.

It might be time for the GOP up there in Tennessee to take a refresher course on everything they should have learned in kindergarten.

[priscianusjr]

I agree with the general principle, which is in keeping with what Obama said, but -- are you suggesting that a Democratic administration would deliberately hold back on aid in the case of a natural disaster if it happened to hit a Republican-controlled state, as payback for the way the Republicans campaigned against him? That's totally absurd. True, that is how the Bush administration operates, but I don't know of any other administration, Democrat or Republican, that was vindictive to innocent victims of a natural disaster..

[OnceProudAmerican]

It looks like the Republicans are up to their usual tricks, Hatred, Fear and Character Assasination.
For a party that prides itself on "High Morals", needs to seriously rethink their standards.
They accuse everyone else of being Unpatriotic, all the while selling out the country to the highest bidder.
Now they have the ignorance to go after someones wife. Can anyone see a problem with this?
I'm glad to see that someone has the GUTS to stand up for his wife. If any of you fellow blogers can't see this then you need to have a long hard talk with yourself.
Just like not tugging on Supermans cape or pissing into the wind, You don't MESS WITH someone else's wife. If ever there was grounds for an ASSWUPIN this would be it!

[llex]

Where I come from, Brooklyn New York, "Lay off my wife" would normally be followed by "Or I'll beat the shit out of you". I hope that's what Obama was intending to convey. It would help him appeal to "hard working blue collar voters".

Unlike other posters on this blog, I don't see why her endorsement of her husband opens her up to political bashing. She is not running for office. She is merely supporting a man who is running for office.

Shall we spend the next six months talking about Hillary's husband's record? Or how about "forcing McCain's wife to disclose her finances? Try that and she'll end up refusing even if McCain is tossed out of the Republican Party as a result of her lack of cooperation.

Besides, is there anyone in his right mind, regardless of level of education who seriously thinks Michelle Obama is not patriotic? If so, I've got a bridge to sell you.

[BLinCincinnati]

Where I come from, Brooklyn New York, "Lay off my wife" would normally be followed by "Or I'll beat the shit out of you". I hope that's what Obama was intending to convey. It would help him appeal to "hard working blue collar voters".


If you watch the interview and see the look on his face, you'll see that's exactly what he's saying.

[immkib]

Boo hoo - don't send her out to campaign then.
Now you bring out your daughters tonight?????

[EGNY]

What the hell is the matter with you? You think a man shouldn't stand up for his wife (or a wife for her husband, for that matter)? What would YOU stand up for. Anything?

I watched that interview and I had the same reaction as Obama. My wife was standing next to me at the time. All I could think was how I'd feel if a bunch of slack-jawed, drooling, knuckle-dragging Repugs went after my wife. The Tennessee GOP is just pandering to the tooth-to-tattoo ratio crowd, otherwise known as their BASE.

I'm glad to see Obama react like any decent man would under the circumstances. You can do a lot of things, and I'll just stay cool. But go after my family, it's another matter altogether. Better not go there unless you're prepared to deal with what comes next...

[DutchOven]

Well, I guess people like you shouldn't run for president. Where were you when McCain said that Chelsea's father was Janet Reno and that's why she's so ugly?

They have a lot more in store for the GE - maybe we ought to not nominate a candidate in Denver who can't take the heat? Like Michelle Obama in Wright's church going off message in way that would shatter any BHO notion of "racial transcendence"?

[PhDiva]

Every candidate brings out the kids. They're cute, and they want to be a part of the experience. What's wrong with that? Clinton and McCain's children are stumping for them, and Obama can't bring his daughters on the stage?

[vandegrasse]

Obama is a man of integrity. Hope he wins. The world needs men of integrity to all its many problems!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AGnkeHJ4h2U

[sklfcats]

Oh please Obama, are we allowed to say or ask anything about her or anything?
Sounds like you want us to shut up and sit down.
I ain't going to as I will vote for Hillary.

[sclucie]

Good Luck with that vote for Hillary. I hope you don't need health insurance - because under the McCain plan - it's not the employers who will be covering you, it's the insurance companies. And everytime your life changes - a death of a spouse, a divorce, the loss of a job, a move, changing jobs - you are evaluated. Any chronic diseases? Uninsurable. Obese (which is the majority of Americans) - forget it - obesity is a top reason for insurance denial. Got a kid between 18 and 30? Get ready - because we are going to be fighting ground wars on three fronts - and we don't have the people - and there is no way to get them without a draft. That child you had dreams for - forget it - there will be no money for college, no money for colleges and besides, they will probably be drafted anyway - fighting and maybe coming home disabled to build Islamic governments where clerics have the ultimate authority.

Want to start on Cindy McCain if spouses are fair game? Want a morphine addict in the White House? One whose moral compass was so completely lacking that she stole drugs from a charity he volunteered for? A woman who committed a felony and never served a day?

Or Bill? The only American President in my memory who lied on camera to the American people?

[EGNY]

"Or Bill? The only American President in my memory who lied on camera to the American people?"
--------------------------------------

Uh, you mean you don't count Bush -- you know, the guy who lies pretty much every time he gets in front of a camera?

I have no problem with the rest of what you say. Knuckle draggers who think it's fun to go after a candidate's family are just disgusting. I'm just saying, the Clinton bashing can get old. I'm an Obama supporter, 100%. But, I'm just saying, let's lay off clubbing our own.

[PhDiva]

Obama defends his wife, and you try to turn it into a sexist attack on you? This is the kind of hysteria that makes us as women look bad. I am saying this to you as a feminist. Get a grip. Sexism is too serious to run around pretending that you're being attacked when you're not.

How do you feel about your candidates racism and her trivializing of the entire civil rights and voting rights movements? Hillary Clinton doesn't care about women and women's rights. Hillary Clinton cares about her own ambition.

[lenoirlady]

Go Go Go, Diva!!!
Elect Sen. Obama!

[smayhew]

You equate imagined racism (do you mean from Rev Wright?) and make up this lunacy about abridging voting rights just to attack other women? Your little buddy has been really smart on this one. Given the violence against women in general, Hillary was doomed to be crucified by the media and his followers. Why would he have to express his own misogyny (aside from addressing women as 'cutie' and 'sweetie') when the likes of Chris Matthews will do is for him daily? You can't be a feminist if you are excusing the filth that has been thrown at Clinton and by extension all women. Either that, or you're too young to understand what we had to do to make any progress in the early movement.
All women should be appalled at the likes of the media and the fringe Barack followers. Misogyny lives in America and if anything has been again drummed into ambitious women its that we are despised and our country and party have deserted us.

[pupbayer]

Please tell me Obama is not as preoccupied with this as his supporters are. If this is his idea of a big problem, we are in big trouble.

[PhDiva]

He didn't say it was a big problem. He defended the woman he loves. Why is that an issue?