This is the second time Michelle Obama has said something really dumb (the first being her quote that she'd "have to think about it" when asked if she could see herself working to support Clinton if she won the nomination). [Ed. note: Corrected quote.]
This one's a lot more serious.
This will really turn a lot of people off. For somebody who held a highly-paid PR job, she doesn't seem to have a clue about how things sound. Someone has to tell her this is a whole new ballgame, especially when the famously sharp Sasha Issenberg is covering her on the campaign trail. Look what he caught her saying today:
MILWAUKEE -- So what did Michelle Obama think of the United States before her husband decided he wanted to run the place?
"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."
Those words will come back to haunt her.
It's almost impossible to control the surrogates on the campaign trail, because they always seem to think the candidate isn't aggressive enough and decide to throw a few bombs. It's even more difficult when the person shooting off his or her mouth is the candidate's spouse. (As Hillary Clinton can tell you.)
Voters aren't into nuance. They just know when it sounds like someone's attacking their country, and the Republicans will take every opportunity to remind them.
I do not understand this woman. Is she an idiot? How many of these grenades is she going to throw at her husband's presidential campaign before it dawns on her to shut the f^*k up?
Or, maybe she's just another Democrat who feels the party doesn't need disaffected Republicans to win. Maybe she, like so many, just wants to say of the non-pure (in this case "the Obamicans") "F^*k 'em." Because these are the people who won't like what she said. I mean...these are SOME of the people who won't. LOTS of people won't, believe you me.
I wonder what Michelle Obama is going to say next. I wonder, was Obama not really SUPPOSED to win, and his wife is the backup feature to keep him from it, every time it starts to look like he might (OOPS!) actually win this thing? It's working...! I have ZERO DOUBT that votes were lost by what she said. A great many votes or just some, I dunno, but votes were lost. And it doesn't matter one BIT whether you AGREE with what she said or NOT.
(I STILL have not gotten over the ICK of her saying her husband stinks and snores in the morning in bed so bad his kids won't go near him. Every time I nearly forget, and start to think everyone else has too, so we can get on with this...up she pops with another one. GAG HER, someone!!)
OBAMA '08
There are other instances, however, that make me cringe:
1. "black America will wake up and get it"
2. "I would have to think about supporting Clinton if she is the nominee"
3. if Barack loses, they won't run again
Her comment about Hillary not being able to run her own house, therefore couldn't run the white house, really bugged me. She put the blame on women who have husbands who have strayed. That was offensive.
You are incorrect. The question was not about supporting Hillary, the question was about working hard on Hillary's behalf and the response was "I'll have to think about that" or "I'll have to think about it"
During that same interview, a few seconds later, she said that everyone in the party would work on behalf of the eventual democratic nominee
I fully understand why Chelsea Clinton doesn't talk to the press. It is a no win situation.
I also think it is disappointing that she has felt alone in her frustration and disappointment in her desire for the country to move in a new direction. I think more then half of America has been screaming for change since Bush was re-elected. Did she never pay attention to the cries for change until Obama entered the race?
I was very proud of my fellow Americans after 9/11, and how America rallied around each other. I have always been proud of my country. I have been pissed off at the government (after Katrina, Iraq), and I have even been ticked off at its people (like when Bush was re-elected), but I have always been proud. I might have even been mad enough once to say I was not proud to be an American, but I have always been proud of our country, and its people.
I agree with AnninC, and feel her comments are a swipe at the past. We elected Bill in search of hope and change. Basically, I feel Michelle is taking a swipe at American people. And I can't help but feel her sense of pride in the American people wanting change, is because that change is an African American candidate. So, we were not worthy of pride before? I don't know. Kind of weird thing to say.
Perhaps this is being blown out of proportions, but it does ring of criticism towards Americans. We never made her proud, until now? hmmmmm Was she ever paying attention?
You uptight, whiny feminist white women need to get the hell over it.
I think the problem is you all are just not ready for the White house to not be so lily-white anymore.
OOO! Michelle said something that might be interpreted as a departure from the lizard-brained jingoistic exceptionalism in which a plurality of yahoo voters are mired!
Everybody knows that politicians must proclaim with every breath that Amerika is the Greatest Country in the World, past, present, and future! And the slightest suggestion that citizens might be other than mindlessly bustin' with Amerikan Pride is a whip that will be turned around and used to flay the offender.
I realize that we're saddled with a broken political process that has no use for grown-ups, but it's pathetic to dump on Michelle for daring to suggest that there was even a microsecond when she WASN'T busting with patriotic Amerikan pride.
Why do you practice the timeworn art of those trying to hide the truth instead of uncover it for the masses? You purposely truncated Michelle's statement and now are trying to make it into something that it isn't. Here is what Michelle said in its entirety.
“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country,” she told a Milwaukee crowd today, “and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."
Now, could you kindly point out what she has to be concerned about? In the future, please do not try and place yourself as an arbiter when you cannot be honest about the subject matter.
Wow...and we say Hitler was bad for trying to control his people's thoughs. Criticizing someone of her honesty that does not meet your measure of standards is truly oppressive.
Not only is this assault fascist, it is pandemic White Privilege in code and methodology. To be offended, one would have to think so much is so great and has been great about this country. That is a complete lop-sided view.
Wow...
I'm voting for Obama but I have to say he deserves this one because he voted for Bush's Patriot Act, which is fascist rule, and now it by this assault is supporting the argument against his wife's fundamental right to be honest and sincere.
Both sides are losing on this one and as well democracy when a citizen can't speak freely from the heart critically about her country and for all of us who are learning that they will be attacked if they do the same in manner. The fascists will come after you.
Michelle Obama is proud of her country. Her father was a laborer with MS who worked hard to send his children to Princeton. Both children are great successes. Barack and Michelle recognize that their type of success stories are uniquely American. Michelle was talking about the state of politics over the last 20 years, not dissing America as a nation.
Again, this is paraphrased
He's the chief strategist, of course he's going to clarify her statement. That's his job.
Wolfson was on a few minutes later and GASP, he actually spoke for his candidate.
Being an African American female in this country it is hard for other people to understand why you don't walk around with the American flag wrapped around your body. Most Americans think you can only say "good" things about America. I am very proud of my country but I realize that we have a long way to go. I am also VERY proud at the election dynamic. I NEVER thought in my lifetime that a woman or a minority would EVER be even close to becoming President - but if you live in the south where White Males run the joint you have pause when you actually have an option. I think she has a valid point. Just b/c the Votings Right Act was signed in 64 doesn't mean the African American were treated any better.And as a country we still have a long way to go.
Here is what I see, however.
I've never once seen anything great rise out of criticism of something else.
And Obama, from the Reagan speech on, has torn down all accomplishments by both the Democrats and the Republicans.
To me? This is the politics that attracts the angry. This divides, not unites. This dismisses the accomplishments of others. This is the true politics of fear.
I honestly knew the moment his Reagan speech aired what his true message was.
And it was so dismissive of others that I absolutely knew what the overall tone of his campaign would be.
You see, I loved what Clinton did. I think we need to feel pride in our party. I was super-proud when the Republicans could NOT pull the wool over Americans. After millions and millions of dollars, they never proved one damn thing. And he left office with 60% approval rating and is still the most popular living president alive today by any poll they have run.
Bush policies....I'm not crazy about and don't like the good ole boy connection. But that's a political difference.
I find that Obama and Michelle are insisting that we dismiss our accomplishments.
That message offends me. It definitely tells me that they simply have no use for my vote. They are replacing "my type" with the haters of all things in the world.
OK.
But I do think it's sad that this is actually working with so many people.