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

[ATLiberal]

Here is where you get it wrong. More and more, voters ARE in to nuance. In addition, voters now have access to the facts via the internet and do not have to take pundits/ bloggers/ MSM renditions of what happened in a given news cycle. They can find out the facts for themselves.
And your spin is not accurate or in context, as has been repeated throughout this blog. Have a nice day.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I guess I must be a Dumb, Stupid old white guy also, because I feel exactly the same as Michelle Obama.

I have been ashamed to be an American for many years now, going back to the end of the JFK peace corp days.

I have been appalled and disgusted with the nation where I was born, fighting and killing Southeast Asians and more recently bombing and killing innocent woman and children in Iraq.

I have not recognized the country I grew up in where we were once respected around the world and when I traveled people always had nice thinks to say about Americans.

Now I am afraid to travel overseas where Americans are justifiably hated for our barbaric killing of civilians as "collateral" damage.

Yes Michelle I completely agree with you, but you should realize that first amendment rights are ignored and speaking the truth in America can get you unmercifully stoned to death.

Obama your all inclusive egalitarian approach to governing definitely makes me proud to be an American again.

[AnninCA]

She is accountable for her own words, and that is not an infringement on her rights to speak.

I personally am not at all surprised by those words. As I posted, I think that's her attitude and the attitude of many of his supporters.

It's not a club I wish to join, but hey....it'­s a free country!

I'm very proud of our country and of many people. Sometimes our accomplishments are small. Never will see a headline. But they are still accomplishments, and I think the United States can take pride in that we offer a way to develop our potential as humans that has never before been seen.

So I'm personally appalled by the cynical nature of her remark.

I definitely believe we are facing some huge challenges, too. All isn't perfect.

But to make problems into a state where one feels no pride?

That really is sad.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I guess you must be really proud of the Bush-Cheney years.

You must be one of those my country right or wrong people.

It is pathetic when people are afraid to criticize their own country, unless of course you agree with all the violent actions right wing fascists have made on behalf of corporate America?

[Lisette]

I don't see anything wrong with what Michelle Obama said. Are you just picking on her?

[AnninCA]

Honestly, sort of. It's not her, Lisette, it's the attitude that I'm picking on.

She's just doing what all political wives do, and that is....spea­k on behalf of their husband's platforms.

Hillary didn't like NAFTA, either, but she spoke on behalf of that law as a wife. Today that's being paraded around like she drafted it. Really, she was just doing what wives must do. But setting that aside?

Michelle really isn't that important. She can be rough around the edges. The fact is that most president's wives are viewed as nothing more than appendges.

[CosmicRocker]

It is a terrible statement for a potential First LAdy to say.

I hated my government during the Vietnam war.
But I never evr was not proud of my country.

The FIRST time I was proud was when I was a child - i didn't need to wait to get to my adult life.

[veracal]

And of course you and Michelle Obama have identical life experiences so she should feel exactly the same way you do.

[PortiaElizabeth]

And of course her Ivy education and six figure income are sources of shame.
Where else on this planet would she have enjoyed the benefits she's had?

[rjean]

get a clue michelle..­.youre just in the first inning girl....

[bekc123]

I don't understand what the big deal is.

I feel the same way that she feels. Michelle and I are the same age, for whatever that is worth.

[dijo]

I completely agree. You can love your children and not be proud of their conduct (behavior) and in the same way, you can love your country and not be proud of the way our leadership has condusted itself.
I can be proud of the soldiers and not be proud of the war in Iraq, a war which was started for profit for a few. Before anyone jumps on that, I have two stepsons in Iraq and I am proud of them and pray for their safety, but I don't believe they are there to protect our country. They are there to protect the interests of Bush/Cheney OIL and for them to get richer.
This is just an attempt to make up something to cause a controversy. IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK HILLARY!!!

[AnninCA]

Those of you who love to blame Hillary for every news item which reports Obama and Michelle's missteps make me laugh.

You give her such power! LOL*

She's way too busy campaigning to be paying attention to Michelle Obama.

If she does have this power, I say we elect her fast. That woman could turn water into wine~

[sparkandy]

I think Michelle Obama totally lacks class. But I'm not so sure Cindy McCain and Bill Clinton are overloaded with it either. But a comment by one poster got me thinking. I'm old. Old enough to remember when the civil rights movement came up and flowered in the 60's. I wasn't one of the ones who participated, but I did reap the benefits by being able to be friends with a person of any color. I had the luxury of not teaching my children that race means anything - it's about what's inside. They took it for granted. It doesn't matter about race, gender, sexual preference because it never entered their minds that those differences meant anything. They didn't see the struggles my generation went through. The freedom to see people as just people was handed to them on a silver platter. And for a 30 something to say they agree with MO, that this is the first time they've seen something in their country to be proud of, all of a sudden makes a convoluted sort of sense to me. Not all people of that age, of course, are so limited in their perspective. It just struck me as interesting that their struggles are going to be so different than those of my generation.

[Boadicea]

You're right. I love her, but she really stepped in it there.

HOpe she learns from it.

[Seattlelite]

"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."

AND what exactly was wrong with her comment? I to am proud for the first time in my adult life to see this country once again believe in what we "claim" we stand for and are now willing to embrace and rally the idea and fact that hope and determination is what this country is all amount. We've just woken up after a long sleep.

[Tellmethetruth]

US News and World Report quoted Michelle Obama as Michelle said that Obama stunk and sweated too much and that was what she disliked the most about him was his smell and his sweatiness.

US News and World Report said that Michelle doesn't say much that is complimentary about her husband, complains a lot, and looks at the dark side of all situations in contrast to Obama's percieved positiveness.

[altohone]

I am so impressed.

I really am inspired to join a campaign determined to win by any means necessary. The Clintons and their supporters are just so honest, accurate, and good for the party I want to cut down a giant sequoia with my swiss army knife and carve the biggest lawn sign for Hillary the world has ever seen.

And then I'm going to take a... a...

A roll of barbed wire?

Yeah, I'll take a roll of barbed wire, and run it between my toes, and then I'll...

(note- please credit SNL for the above to avoid potential charges of plagiarism. My apologies for not knowing the name of the writer(s))

[barackstar]

I agree completely with Michelle. I am 35 years old, and I am proud of my country for the first time in my life. Unlike so many politicians we encounter, Barack and Michelle are not afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in. I support them wholeheartedly.

[BonoX]

^ Another obamaswoon here!

[Susan1968]

This is getting funny, no matter what Obama & company get called on, their supporters say: No big deal.

Maybe the slogan should change from "Yes we can" to "No big deal."

[homovivens]

What's really funny -- more like ludicrous -- are the recent desperate attempts to manufacture trouble for Obama because he's been nearly flawlessly pushing past Hillary at every turn. It's not fun losing.

Shakespeare (who borrowed more than a few lines) coined a few phrases for just such silly trivialities -- "much ado about nothing" or "a tempest in a tea pot."

Michelle's remark is neither revelatory nor nor newsworthy. Unless you're losing.

[2008andbeyond]

"homovivens" - I could not say it better.

[homovivens]

Ms. Madrak has mountaineered (based on 'electioneered') a Michelle out of a molehill. This is the second attempted "coup de vocable" against Obama (in matrimoniam, Michelle) in today's news cycle. (The other -- a ludicrous charge of a two-word plagiarism).

A little math might clear things up: from Michelle's 44 years, subtract 4 years of Bush, Sr.; minus 8 years of Clinton; minus 8 years of Bush, Jr. Her comment, "For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is making a comeback," would be just about right (early 20's), and if your allowed to handicap an additional 8 years of Bush, Sr. as VP, Michelle would have been 16.

Michelle's words reflect the zeitgeist that is looking beyond dynastic duos and two tired families.

[BonoX]

stretching , stretching­... hahahah...
poor obamaloons­.. they hv become so obsessed that they are starting to suffer from messiah complex! nothing coming out of the mouth of obama can be wrong! there must be explanation for EVERYTHING­... this was written... this was the destiny! poor idiots!

[m4me08]

Get the quote right. Michelle said "This is the first time I've been REALLY proud of my country" She didnt say shes never been proud of the U.S. She was saying this moment makes her very proud to be an American.

It is amazing to me how the Clinton freaks think we are a cult when they are jumping all over non-issues and trying to blow them out of proportion. Who is disillusioned about their candidate?

[casiguapa]

Even if her quote has been distorted and the correct one is "This is the first time I've REALLY been proud of my country" that's still really worrying because it can be interpreted as "I was proud of my country the way it reacted after 9/11, but not as proud as I am now people are voting for my husband" and THAT can and WILL come back to haunt them.

Basically, both Barack and Hillary should put a muzzle on their other halves.