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

[ChicagoBob]

!

I have not been too proud of my country for the last 7 years.

But now that there is hope I am starting to feel better about the future.

I know what she meant and so did the GOP scabs who made the video.

So there!

!

[Boboday555]

How could anyone with a fully formed adult mind be proud of the disaster we call George W. AWOL?
And when you look at AWOL Boy's boss, Dick WAR DEFERMENTS Cheney, you really have to question the sanity of those 21% of Americans who still back those two yellow bellied GOP cowards!

But, for all of you who still do support those two 'men', why not go enlist?
I know Fox-Kids has been avoiding reporting on it but, your repressive heroes still need all the able bodied BUSHIES they can get to go to Iraq and fight for Halliburton and KBR.
Now 'git' a move on down to the enlistment centers;
AWOL BUSH AND WAR DEFERMENTS CHENEY WANT YOU!

[Kalima]

Good for Obama, It's what every man should do, if someone tried to insult their wife. I would
certainly jump to defend my husband too and would have been disappointed if Obama had
let it slide. Good character and judgment. It shows the respect and love he feels for his family.
That can't be bad.

[notthistime]

Exactly Kalima. That is a real man.

[dajay]

Just like when Bill Clinton tried to defend Hillary and vice versa and even their daughter from media and OBama surrogate attacks.

Good character and judgment, right?

[PhDiva]

Michelle Obama is the only spouse of a (major) presidential candidate who has NOT committed a crime. Cindy McCain was a drug addict who stole from her own charity. Bill Clinton lied to a grand jury. Why is she the sole target for all of this hatred and disdain? Is it better to steal from a charity and lie to a grand jury than it is to critique your country? Where is the logic here?

[kontar1]

If its ok to talk about Mrs Obama then why arnt we talking about Mrs McCains drug use and if she realy stoped or if John used them too.
http://www.concentric.net/~ronsm/cindy_mccain.html

[smart4u2]

Obviously Ms. Obama is not the sole target, look at the nasty attack you just made on Cindy McCain. I do think the ad was kind of a low attack, but maybe she should think before she opens her mouth. And I do think that Michelle Obama is fair game because if her husband becomes president, we'll have to lister to her yap all the time. Besides, remember how Barack Obama literally whined about Bill Clinton campaigning for Hillary and how his staffers were putting Bill down. Well, Obama, get over it. This is not la-la land, If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen get out. Their whining is exactly what scares me...this should be like water of a duck's back and he should be talking about the issues, not letting his inexperience show. The republicans are going to roast him. Friends, while we still have a chance, vote for Hillary and lobby your superdelegates, because with the way the media has attacked her in this election, we know she can take it and she'll still be focused on the issues and ready to run this country with smart solutions. I'm more scared of Obama's inexperience than anything else. About the only way I see that issue being solved is by putting them both on the same ticket.

[PLUMPLUM]

Okay, now. Hillary did 8 years of "yapping" and more. We are tired of her. Let someone else do it now.

[pupbayer]

"Why is she the sole target for all of this hatred and disdain? "

Uhhhhh....­because nobody likes her?

She actually isn't the only one. The others have been and will be talked about badly, too. It's just part of the game.

[smart4u2]

Dear PhDiva,
Obviously Ms. Obama is not the sole target here. Look at the way you just attacked Cindy McCain, and look at how the media has attacked Hillary all along; The name's she has been called and the mean attacks on her are hundreds of times worse. So, If Michelle Obama can't take the heat in the kitchen, then she should get out. Because if she and Barack think it;s bad now, just wait until the Republicans really start turning the pressure upl
Although I thought the ad was low class, she did say those things and the bottom line is that she is fair game. She has actually said some pretty classless things, such as her remarks about America being a " mean country" and Obama has whined on and on about Clinton campaiging (and still is) for Hillary and his staff said some things about Chelsa. that weren't so great. So Michelle, get over it, this should have been like water off a duck's back for your husband, and if he can't get past it, he might want to withdraw. Because Politics is not for whimps.

[notthistime]

Look at the history of American and tell me that you cannot cite at least 5 proven things we/government have done or allowed that could legitimately be construed as mean?

Let me help you start off this excercise
1. Katrina

[DutchOven]

"Michelle Obama is the only spouse of a (major) presidential candidate who has NOT committed a crime."

Not sure what you mean by that as you list the spouse's crime (Cindy McCain) "who has committed a crime" on the GOP side and then you list Bill Clinton as the candidate "who has committed a crime." Just a clarification: since when is Obama's use of cocain not a crime (if we are linking appraisals of the spouse to the husband, as you just have w/ Clinton)?

Though not written by Obama himself, many would consider the rantings of Rev. Wright to be "hate speech" - why did Obama draw such inspiration from it (according to his own narratives) and even title his book after such material?

Obama is starting to complain about the heat in the kitchen. I wonder how hot it will be when he loses in November? Do you think people will still think enough of him to re-elect him to the Senate after devoting most of his first term to running a failed bid for the Presidency? I'm not an IL voter, but I wouldn't. Of course, that doesn't mean that aren't thousands that have lined up for his Kool-Aid.

[dajay]

I can't imagine it. IF Obama doesn't win thepresidency, what are the Obama supporters going to do?

I guess there will be a lot of rich, elite in psychotherapy.

[ceesaw]

It really amuses me when I hear people say The Republicans will do this and that to obama in the fall.As if the Republicans don't have their own scandulous issues.The­re is no way that john mccain should be allowed to open his mouth.He has too many excess baggages. All of George Bushes failed policies belong to him as well. He embraced them. He authorized the war in Iraq. Resulting in 4000+ deaths, He is not familiar with foreign policies,on and on and on. His wife is a different story.So how can somebody like that with such a hideous record attack ? Please, I wish they would try! MCCain should be held for war crimes right along with Bush. This election, we are not letting the Republicans gloss over the issues.Thi­s silliness with michelle obama is just another one of their distractio­ns.And infact, SO WHAT?? Are you proud that your president lied and got innocent people killed? that he gave up golf to be in solidarity with the moms? that this country once allowed men,women and children to be enslaved? beaten, taken away from their families? not considered total human beings? have you been proud of these things? We need to stop the hypocrisy . are you not able to rationalize these issues? YOU LET PEOPLE ON TV PICK THE NON ISSUES FOR YOU. use your brain. Start thinking. There is a great danger in letting others think for you.Michel­l obama did not do a THING.

[robynuva]

He can take the heat, but a REAL man defends his wife (and doesn't humiliate as no women has ever been humiliated, and certainly doesn't call his wife a "c#$t" in public.

So I guess we know who the real man in this group is. And, as a women, I can assure you, it was HOT!

[BarryChamplain]

And THIS is exactly why Barack Obama should NOT have thrown Reverend Wright under the proverbial bus. It was a test; Obama flunked. He decided to disassociate himself from his pastor, completely, rather than deal with any more negatives to defend. And that's when Karl and the R's knew they had him.

Because now they've confirmed that Obama's m.o. is not to be defiant. It is to jettison baggage as coldly and quickly as possible.

He won't defend anyone who reflects poorly on him. And he can't exactly jettison his wife. Well, then, there's a chance that they might have nailed him...

I heard Obama's comments about his wife earlier, and didn't think much of it. But after a little research, I figured out what was between the lines of that spiel: it would seem the right-wing blogs already have started the rumblings of an "October Surprise". It involves Michelle. It's flat-out racial. I won't help these bastards spread what it is they allegedly have, but I will say that if it really exists, by God, they've done it again.

And don't shoot the messenger! If you're exposed to it yourself, please don't repeat any of that trash in places like this. But it remains to be seen if it's even possible for the Obama campaign to get out in front of something like this. If it's real, my initial feeling is that there is no surmounting it. Not in this society, not the way we are.

[Ariesjill]

For the gazillion time, blin3e loyalty is NO loyalty. Obama had never seen the distilled version of Wright's nacrcissism and rage which HIS EARNED ASCENT TRIGGERED!

Someone U care about & respect CROSSES THE LINE TO LUNATIC...­unqualifie­d luv NO LONGER applies. People,, over time, emerge as who they areally are. this primary, for the rev was a real litmus test. And he FAILED.

Forget, the good Reverend insults/exploits parts his constituency by EMULATING the homeboy thing; read his bio! He was raised by brilliant, educated, credentialed parents, attended mainly white schools, his acaemic CV is way impressive,. This man ain't from Compton, OK? OR the south Side like Michelle.

This is a very blessed in his endowments & legacies Godfather of Soul wannabe who can't figure out which demographic will earn him the most attention.­...nor, does he CARE.

Next U will Be tellng us abou the never snitch rule.

[BarryChamplain]

Aries:

I Would Die 4 U. Not :-)

I don't think you get it. There's a bigtime smear warming-up in the batter's box, in which the "scary Negro" thing will be going nuclear. In this country, shit like that WORKS. Even "liberals" feel they can breathe a sigh of relief, when stuff like Rev. Wright and this new one go down, because they're reassured that underneath it all, "They" are all the same. It's like the "get out of jail free card" of racism.


I don't even know if the smear is based on the truth, or a right-wing lie. Having said that, understand one thing: the Obama camp ALREADY KNOWS.

[1proudinfidel]

I knew someone would toss the race card in there. BHO camp has used it to solidify their position and any controversy is immediately stamped RACIAL. Can't talk about anything negative about the messiah because of the race baiters.

BHO brings nothing to the table except for oratory and rhetoric. And oh yes, change. Lets CHANGE, Lets tell the people what they can and can't do, let's tell them that WE can educate your kids better than you. Educate your kids that the USA is bad and racist and needs to be humbled in the eyes of the world. Lets take money from the successful and give it to people who spend a lifetime on the dole. Let;s cower to the mullahs in Iran so they can take over the gulf and control the worlds most precious commodity. Let's turn the USA into France!!

[Daisy1111]

Michelle Obama told a reporter she wanted to rip Bill Clinton's eyes out. Hillary didn't get upset. Quote:

In Wisconsin, I asked her if she was offended by Bill Clinton's use of the phrase 'fairytale' to describe her husband's characterisation of his position on the Iraq war. At first, Obama responded with a curt 'No'. But, after a few seconds, she affected a funny voice. 'I want to rip his eyes out!' she said, clawing at the air with her fingernails.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/04/barackobama

[dajay]

What a classy dame. Imagine if a Clinton said that about her or Barack.

[harriscrl3]

I take it back they are SMART GOP's

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/tennessee-gop-senator-takes-on-his-own-party/

He is smart enough to know this election is serious that they need to spend their time coming up with actual POLICIES TO FIX THIS COUNTRY rather than ads that attack.

So many thanks to Bob Corker

Carol

[MRb1000]

Cowards attack peoples spouse personally. Sound just like McBush!!! You can not stand up to Obama you have to attack his wife. What a bunch of wimps.

[harriscrl3]

If they dont lay off Cindy McCain is FAIR Game from what I heard Michelle Obama has nothing on her. McCain is such a WEAK Republican leader But he is there leader and open for attacks.

I just think that its the least courtesy they can do Obama hasnt attacked any of the spouses or their children. But of course they cant show him the same courtesy. They are sending out sccurilous email about his religion they are sending out pictures with him in ceremonial garb after visiting Somalia they are making fun of him ducking from a bullet, they've tried their guilt by association with his pastor, they've tried their Willie Horton Ad. Of course he hasnt returned fire at them or demand that they lay off him he takes it lets them kick the tire because its fair and he is asking them to just lay off his wife but of course they are not going to do that. Sounds to me though like Obama is issuing them a warning.

Speaking of kicking the tires I guess they kicked them on the straight talk express and 6 lobbyist fell off this week I can't wait to find out what falls off next week. From what I hear there is at least 50 more lobbyist to fall off. By the time we get to the general the straight talk express will have no wheels no door no top barely an engine thats about to crank out.

Carol

[IngeniousGirl]

Michelle Obama is a great person who is widely admired. She accomplished everything she has by herself. That is a tough thing to do when you have no money to help you get through college and law school, so she too, like Barack, had loans and paid them back, the ultimate Amerian Dream. That is exactly how I got my college and law school education, and years later mixing with the Yales and Harvards found myself among peers, but I did it my way, wasn't a trust baby and I felt really great. Michelle has my vote for First Lady.

[harriscrl3]

What the heck do they think she is going to do as first lady? Give away the country I mean give me a break with this stuff. George Bush one of their own was on Foreign soil and criticize members of the US goverment by referring to democrats as Nazi Appeasers and these FOOLS are worried about a woman who is going to be first lady saying Im really proud of my country for the first time. Is this a threat to America. Who is the real threat to this country.

It sickens me that they are so many post here agreeing with the GOP there is really no hope for us.

Carol

[Breni]

Kinda odd that the Obamas are just NOW paying back their student loans - in their mid-late 40's???? What did they do with all their money? Most working class families have paid back their loans by the time they are 30, at the latest! And, with the Obama's making over $300,000+ a year for several years nows, one would think that someone with that type of salary would've paid those loans off years ago. Maybe they like to waste their money on other things before they pay back the gov't for their loans???
'

[joeinvt]

Michelle Obama is fair game if she is putting herself out, there not just as the candidate's wife but as a political commentator. Having said that, throughout out this nomination process, there has been too much emphasis on people's inartfully expressed off-hand comments, both by the press and by the respective campaigns. Look what was made of Obama's comments about religion, guns, etc. Even worse were things like what was made of Bill Clinton's fairy tale commen, which also involved misrepresenting what he said.

[southernsepia]

Wow, why all the venom toward Michelle?

Could it be that some are a bit envious of the smart, talented, attractive Mrs. Obama.

I can see how it would be hard to accept that America deserves such an obviously principled, gifted attorney and caring wife and mother as first lady. But give it time - the concept will probably grow on you.

[harriscrl3]

Republicans have a problem with strong women it makes them feel less of the man that they are. Thats why they call democrats weak its because they believe if you have a strong woman it makes you weak their brain havent grasped the idea that strong women have strong men. But you have to excuse them they dont believe in evolution they believe in the bible.

Carol

[DAVESEAN]

all the obama hating liberals are commenting on here....u lot love any negativity as it relates to Obama....U­r candidate, hillary has the highest unfavourability ratings of all the candidates­.....Miche­lle is an articulate women who gave a msg that was distorted by right wing FOX NOISE....L­ot of liberals now watch fox news looking for any spin against Obama.....­LIBERAL/DE­MOCRATS or whatever name u would prefer....­see the big picture...­.......win­ning in the fall

[Exit]

Not talk about lies and distortions of Michelle? Not talk about Rev. Wright? Not talk about Ayers? Well, that is the Republican platform. What else would they talk about? Republicans only have lies and distortions to run on. Otherwise, they have no chance. Let the petty idiots have their issues and try to win after they elected the worse President in our history. That Idiot Bush.

[lincheryl]

Really low is editing the sound to take out the word "really."

[notthistime]

And there you have it lincheryl

[PatrickforO]

I really wanted to post on this issue, because it's close to the heart. We have this Republican campaign in TN that has played video of Michelle's "proud of America for the first time in my life" comment, then a whole bunch of supposedly regular citizens talking about why they have always been proud of America.

Hmm. Has anyone (besides Obama in his speech on race) had the guts to talk about this as it should be talked about? Nope.

I'm a 48 year-old white male, graduate degree, good success, etc. I love this country but I've NOT always been proud of it. And, if I had brown skin, and was followed by staff everytime I went into a store because they thought I'd steal something; if I could never catch a cab after dark; if I was constantly denied good prices and good interest rates on major purchases; if I had to grow up knowing my great grandad was a slave; if I had to grow up just assuming that I could NOT just be anything I wanted to be, well...I'd be really, really ANGRY. I would be ready to hit the streets and not stop until I had full equality under the law and in our economic system. Maybe we should thank Michelle, and ourselves, that she can be proud of this nation now instead of criticizing her with some kind of knee jerk "America, love it or leave it" attitude.

[piquet]

...well said. I totally agree. If I had to deal with that "glare" my entire life. Knowing my passion, I would be labeled an "angry black man".

[rpahk]

Thank you for this post.

[lincheryl]

Thank you for not crucifying someone on one misunderstood comment.

I am for Obama, but I understand that Huckabee is a good guy and didn't really mean the gun pointed at Obama comment--it was something said while in front of a lot of people without thinking, and he apologized and explained, and that is enough for me, because he doesn't usually do that sort of thing. With Bill Clinton, he did it so much that you perceived it differently, because it was the norm for him.

I look at the spirit in which something was said and try to understand the nuance and context, but the MSM and the opponents will beat that dead horse flat. Thank you for thinking about it and not instantly attacking.

[joeinvt]

I was with you until the "he did it so much that you perceived it differently, because it was the norm for him" part. What is it that Bill Clinton did so much?

[Oldtt]

If Michelle feels like this -great, she can believe whatever she wants. But when you're on the campaign trail with your husband speaking at rallies, it's time to learn a few things about politics and stop talking off the top of your head with no regard for how your comments might be perceived by those curious creatures called voters. Both Michelle and Barack show some serious signs of political inexperience when they are unscripted, and the Republicans will fairly seize on it. However, being smarter about what you say for public consumption would probably be anathema to Obama supporters since it smacks of the 'old politics.'

[notthistime]

I appreciate you being open PatrickforO but I want to add that Michelle said she was "REALLY proud of America for the first time in my life" alluding to the fact that color and sex were no longer an issue when we are looking at viable candidates ability to run in the presidential election. The magnitude of people getting involved in this election process i.e. young, old, kids, babies, all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The world around us are watching this years elections sitting at the edge of their seats, they are blogging on our US websites and they are viewing this with wonder . . . It is a big thing. We have come a long way but we have a ways to go.

Thank you.

Huckabee made a dumb joke the other day about Barack and I knew he simply made a bad joke. Huckabee is a really nice guy. I didn't get overly excited about it and you will notice the silence from the Obama camp because they recognized just like I did, it was a spur of the moment comment that was stupid but he didn't mean it the way it came out. That one statement did not change my view of his record or the positive things he has done and said in the past. Doesn't make him a bad person just human.

[Ariesjill]

Even given the now standard level in which the GOP is willing to wallow, anyone half normal knowing chapter and verse about Michelle Obama and the events & values which forged her still able to do this....is abetting their own demise. The days of apathetic, silly putty electorate­.....are over.

[RButler]

There's probably a double standard here. Imagine a woman candidate, not Hillary as her husband is a former president, sitting next to her husband in an interview saying 'Lay off my husband'. Obama gets a pass cause it's a man defending his wife which is acceptable but the reverse is probably not.

[Inaru]

Uh, no, a woman candidate can defend her family's privacy, including her husband, and will and has - unless the female candidate's husband is the former President, or some such influential politician. Hillary can defend an adult daughter pushing 30 soon, hedge fund managing by Chelsea be-damned, because Chelsea is not a politician. Hil can't make Bill off-limits, because he was our Prez and supposedly is a consummate politician.

[SENCvoter]

I agree. Hillary opened the door on Bill when she counted her White House years as her experience. After all, Bill gave her those years, so he is fair game.

[lincheryl]

Cindy McCain is refusing to submit income tax records because of "privacy." If the Repubs are going to beat the horse, they need to think about THEIR horses.

[darthmaul]

Bill is not off limits, because he is in there actively, aggressively promoting his Senator Clintons campaign. And he is doing it from the platform of being a former, popular president of the United States. It's just not any old spouse! What was it Hillary said recently? "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Maybe it's time for BIll to get out of the proverbial kitchen. I think Senator Clinton was doing better without his "help" anyway.

[livesimply]

Well, HELLO....B­ill Clinton was POTUS.