Laura Bush Defends Michelle Obama Against Patriotism Attack

The Huffington Post:

Laura Bush also defended Sen. Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, for a controversial remark on the campaign trail in February.

"For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback," Michelle Obama said in a speech in Milwaukee.

"I think she probably meant I'm 'more proud,' you know, is what she really meant," Bush told ABC News. "You have to be very careful in what you say. I mean, I know that, and that's one of the things you learn and that's one of the really difficult parts both of running for president and for being the spouse of the president, and that is, everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued."

Read the whole story: The Huffington Post

Comments

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

I always admired Laura Bush. She is a classy lady. That's probably why she is the only one associated with the Republican party that has a positive approval rating.

[GravitonX]

I think my eyebrows leaped off my forehead when I heard that Laura Bush was defending Michele Obama.

Wow! Is Laura Bush out classing Hillary as First Lady?

Someone throw a cold bucket of water over my head.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Laura was ALWAYS in another league of class compared to Hillary. Say what you want about George, but Laura has always been top shelf.

[ginnypoo]

Laura should really layoff the botox.....her face doesn't even move now. That book tour injection cycle will wear off and she'll look even older....sad when women can't accept their looks....but, I imagine looking herself in the mirror and knowing what a criminal her husband is must have made it difficult....so the injections and it's not her anymore, and she can now look in a mirror and not think about where George will spend it......firey pits of eternal flame come to mind. If she is so nice and caring, how does she defend that creep she's married to.

[happypup]

Why are you criticizing her appearance? Why the personal attacks? How is this even remotely relevant?

[Softnsweet]

ginnypoo,

Leave the woman alone, if you could afford botox you would use it.

[mixuga]

Why do some of your bloggers need or feel the necessity to start attacking a woman's physical appearance when she takes a step forward in courage and says the right thing? Furthermore, why do you have to drag Hillary Clinton into this griping? The story has NOTHING to do with her and you should GET A LIFE and let the long exciting primary go. Its over and done people. Leave it be. If you want to attack a woman then at least attack her on her actions or intellect and leave sexist attacks against her looks alone. Its 2008. Isn't it time we started acting like it? Why don't you take that negative energy you are projecting onto women and put it to good use...say work on global warming or the crisis in Darfur?

[rzan]

Please stop the sexist BS. It is really tiresome.

[DC]

Why is it that so many posts on this site are never posted by the monitors, yet so much junk gets through?

[alexaii]

Happens to me all the time. My comments are polite compared to others posted here. Go figure!

[Roose]

This system is seriously flawed and it really sucks.

[Softnsweet]

DC,

It is because our comments are not nasty. Yours are!

[DrCahill]

They say opposites attract. But what in God's name attracted Laura to George? ;)

[olivia]

$$$$$$$ and power

I don't think she's the brightest bulb in the room either, otherwise how could she have endured being married to him all those years.

[yngcelt]

Yeah, as opposed to HIllary who stayed with a lying, cheating two-faced scumbag of a husband.
Gee, then again maybe they're made for each other!

[Janel]

As a strong Obama supporter, I must admit that I've always admired Laura Bush. She is a gracious First Lady and one who has worked behind the scenes mostly on issues she is passionate about.

I appreciate her words of wisdom to Michele Obama and, in fact, to Cindy McCain. Laura has been at this for many years and knows all the pitfalls of trying to communicate with the public.

Thanks First Lady Laura Bush for once again making me proud of you.

[HopeObama08]

George is a lucky man. Can't say Laura is a lucky woman. But she surely is a lady despite the fact that she is married to Georgie. She knows manners and will be remembered as a model first lady in contrast with that dummy she has for husband. Indeed it looks like opposites attact.

[condieshoes]

Dash Riprock you are right.

This is an echo, to keep the misquote or statement alive....giving it more legs. I'd like to think that this was something other than that. But it's not. Why is Laura making a statement now instead of when the stuff hit the fan months ago????

I wish it were not true.

[Janel]

Although not a Bush supporter in any way, I have admired Laura Bush from the day her husband took office. In my view, she is an articulate, caring individual who has held her head high despite her husband's low ratings.

I believe she will be remembered for being a first-class First Lady. This is my hope, for she deserves it because of all she has worked at behind the scenes that has given hope to children and the disenfranchised throughout the world.

[MossyOak]

What is all this Laura is a "class act" Huff Stuff? Mrs. Shrub is an air head who supports a murdering traitor. If he is ever called up on charges like he should be, she will have aided and abetted a felon. And staying with this man makes her classy? It only makes her complicit and stupid, along with the majority of Americans who voted for them. Twice.

[Nolewoman]

I have to agree with you. She, of all people, should know what he is and is not. She condones it by staying with him. Michelle does not need Mrs. War Criminal to defend her.

[alexaii]

Laura's "past" was a sign of things to come. It appears that her hubby was jealous, wanted to outdo her in that dept, and succeeded. (You have to watch your wording or "you know what" will happen to your comment).

[marijam]

When, WHEN, will a REPORTER, honestly report? Michelle Obama said "...really proud". Get it right, or do not talk about it! I'm sick of this type of journalism, I really am.

[DC]

Yes, I remember when that happened. I was dumbfounded. ABC edited her true words and reported it as a truth, but it was neither what she said nor meant.

And we make fun of third-word propaganda?? If Americans only knew....

[Tommygun264]

Actually she said it both ways in the same day: once without the "really" in Milwaukee, WI; and the next time with the "really" in Madison, WI; later that same day. You can see both quotes in a single video posted on YouTube as:

Michelle Obama "Proud" vs. "Really Proud"

Drudge intentionally circulated an edited version of the "Really Proud" quote where you can hear Ms. Obama start to say the R and then the audio jumps to the word "Proud". Either he could only get his hands on the one quote and did some sloppy editing, or he intentionally used the poorly edited version knowing that Obama's supporters would pitch a fit about the audio being edited, so when the clean version where she didn't use the word "Really" came out it would make Obama's supporters look irrational. I tend to think it's just sloppy editing. Although Drudge has a black heart and will lie at the drop of a hat (a goofy hat in his case) I don't think he's bright enough to come up with such a plan. Either way, Ms. Obama's intent was clear to all except for those who are just looking for a socially acceptable reason to vote against a Barack Obama.

[pupbayer]

I don't believe your post got through! It won't last long, I fear.

Anyway, Tommy, you can say this (which IS the truth) until you are blue in the face. These people do not want truth. They will only see the world as they want it to be. Sad but true.

[evekendall]

Thank you for your comment, marijam! You got it right.

[hypnotoad72]

It's obvious Mrs. Bush has more character and dignity than what some people were led to believe.

And, yes, there are many ways Mrs. Obama's comments could be misconstrued. How old is she? "Adult life" - let's assume it's 18. Subtract 18 from her current age and that's how many years she's been an adult. What has happened during that time to make her feel less hopeful, or perhaps even hopeless?

And perhaps it's true, as some have suggested, that this is just about political trickery. Whatever; since when is politics ever clean? .

[TruepatriotinRI]

Cool. Even Laura Bush is on board!

[MelKnee]

Jenna Bush is considering voting for Obama. Maybe Laura is, too. ;)

[rolitt]

Laura has heard so many critics tear apart her husbands' verbal remarks until she is the last person to criticize anyone else's remarks. For I am sure George W. has often told her ' that is not what I meant to say..." And she is not afraid to stand up even if it is for the other side. Classy lady.

[ZimboChick]

In spite of her husband I have ALWAYS respected Laura Bush. If she wasnt half as gracious and centred, she would have walked out on GWB a long long time ago or started popping pills or something. Thank you Mrs Bush.

[paganmist]

Wow. Maybe this 2008 season has made me cynical, but for some reason I feel like Laura's trying to make sure she still gets invitations to White House galas.

[caldarone]

Everybody knows exactly what Michelle Obama said, the video they are circullation is fraudulent it was doctored an the word "really" was taken out.. The Republicans do not have enough substancial info to work against Obama so they will make it up ...