It's A Whole New Ballgame, Michelle

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.

Comments

[robbep]

I hope that Michelle tells the truth and says what every African American feels, that for the first time it looks like this country is going to live up to its ideas and not judge a person by their race. African Americans have a unique view of this country because unlike other immigrants they were brought here to be slaves. So while Cindy McCain has always been proud of her country she has not walked in the shoes of Michelle Obama. The media acts like 200 years of slavery, jim crow, the kkk, and the civil rights movement didnt exist. I as an african american know and feel exactly what Michelle said. For those of you who cant understand her comments I suggest looking outside of your perspective and look at hers.

[CarlyCorday]

The "plagiarism" stink isn't doing quite enough damage, so here comes backup, right on schedule. Michelle Obama can usually be counted on to pop out with one of her kickers when needed!

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

[LeeFromVA]

I agree with her statement 100 percent, and I feel exactly the same way. For the first time I'm proud of my country. For the first time I have someone I can vote FOR. For the first time in my life I have contributed money to a campaign. For the first time I feel like I can make a difference. Barack Obama makes me believe in myself, that I can help change the world. Yes we can, seriously, we can.

[JimR]

Why do I get the feeling if Elizabeth Edwards had said this, you'd point out the rigors of the campaign trail, chalk this up to fatigue and focus on the bigger picture of what she said?

[LAJonathan]

Um, yeah. Everyone I know agrees with this statement. Its an honest one, and it will not come back to haunt her because she is confident about her words. She doesn't just say things to say them, she's honest. We like that, remember? Like no one has heard this sentiment before....

[JamesMatsui]

I felt very disappointed by her comment. I cannot foresee a person with such unpatriotic perspectives to be First Lady of my country. Her husbands Messianic status never helped, but by her comments I feel betrayed as an American.

[Lemeritus]

Let me start by saying that I find nothing "dumb" about what Michelle Obama said in Milwaukee, either in its "truncated" or unedited form. I wholeheartedly agree with her; there is every reason to be proud that Americans are waking from their long slumber.

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

[sarainitaly]

I understood her explanation for #1. That one didn't bother me, it made sense when you heard her whole explanation. The other two did bother me.

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.

[veracal]

It bothers you that a woman would decide not to put herself and her children through the sacrifices and rigors of another modern day presidential campaign? Why?

[veracal]

Re: point #2

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.

[sarainitaly]

I think she would have been much better off saying, "for the first time since the Bush presidency, I am really proud of my country because we are standing up and demanding a change" or something like that. But saying it is the first time in her adult life that she is proud of her country, because we want change is kind of condescending. And she is talking about the people, not the government.

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?

[jade7243]

Seriously... I wish some of you people would STFU! Michelle Obama HAS NOT made any gaffes. She is a free, proud, independent, intelligent articulate, beautiful, sassy black woman. She can say whatever she wants to whomever she wants whenever she wants wherever she wants however she wants. SNAP!

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.

[DTGB]

Wow. STFU? You support Obama and his campaign of stolen rhetoric, hope, bi-partisanship, reaching across the ailes? The problem here is the absolute refusale to accept that the Obama's are POLITICIANS, not saints. The scandals are there my friend and they will come out, facts and all. Don't get so caught in your admiration that you blind yourself. I'm not an uptight whiny feminist but I am a realist, a pragmatist. And unlike you or Michelle, I will work to put a Democrat in the White House over McCain any day! We've spent 7 years fighting together against the Bush administration, we need to remember that we are not enemies, just passionate about our candidates. But digressing into hateful debate solves nothing and certainly blunts any sense of HOPE that any of us are working for.

[apresdeluge]

Oh. I thought Obama's campaign was supposed to "unite" and transcend race. I guess you didn't get the memo.

[CarlyCorday]

Oh my goodness, Jade. You have left me red-faced and open-mouthed. Yes ma'am.

*sigh*

Can we get back to winning now?

Hope so. May require some STFU out there in "Yammer Yammer this is all about ME" land. Some of you may have to DECIDE between "attitude" (which I enclose in quotes for the most sarcastic of reasons, I promise) and WINNING.

I pick winning over finger-snapping, cuteness and sass, please excuse me.

[CarlyCorday]

Nicely said, Jade. What we want is to WIN, and a little "snap" and "tude" will help get us there -- and if not, it certainly won't HURT anything, or take AWAY any votes for Obama.

That's the spirit. You go girl.

[LittleBrother]

I'm not an Obama supporter, but dumbed-down, phony issues like the "plagiarism" bugaboo and castigating Michelle Obama for this quote is making me more sympathetic toward the Obama camp.

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.

[krisellyn]

Unbelievable. The arrogance just oozes from these two. If what people say and what people do don't match, isn't that a clue that something is wrong?

[veracal]

Which of their deeds and words don't match?

[tonyroma]

Susan,

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.

[witchie]

Do you think that for the first time in MO's life Americans have sought change???? Darling, What rock are you living under? America has sought change at almost every presidential election..­.otherwise every president would have served 8 years and the same political party would have been in charge of the White House since Kennedy. I think, we all know why she is proud of America... I for one would like to be proud of America too. I would love to embrace Obama and feel the unabashed thrill and awe that so many of my wonderful Americans do..but I just can't. I for what ever reason, have this gnawing feeling in my gut that says..something ain't right. Maybe cause I have keep hearing my mother saying to me "If it looks to good to be true, I probably isn't true". I want to know more about this man..a man that won't answer to questions concerning his relationship with persons under investigation for fraud, mistreatment of the people that he was sworn to serve, and terrorist associations. This man that has copied the campaign and speeches of another man from 2006. (Governor Duval's campaign was one based on Change, HOPE and bipartisan­ship.)This man that won't or can't stand up and say... this is what I will do and this is how, without referring you to his website (by the way not everyone is computer savvy). I would like for someone to be honest about this man. I would like to know the man behind the smirk.....

[UppityNegress]

This is fascism. Watch what you say because the thought police will get you if your honesty is not appeasing to their ears. Sounds like some Republican dirty work to me. They, of course, think they are the gatekeepers on measure of values, virtues, and sentiments.

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.

[veracal]

David Axelrod on MSNBC a few minutes ago (paraphrasing):

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

[PortiaElizabeth]

David is not running. He should stop putting words in their mouths and just work the strings from behind the curtain.

[veracal]

Wow...are you really serious?

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.

[JimR]

No, that's part of what they do.

[KSH]

I am 28 years old and for the first time in the election I feel proud b/c I have never seen so many people engaged in politics.

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.

[AnninCA]

I fully understand that excitement.

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.