Comments on: Distorting Michelle Obama

By: Anderkoo

Anderkoo — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:09:00 +0000

It’s a small misstep, but not a major gaffe. It’ll be interesting whether, after decades of carefully-scripted, totally soulless campaigning where every word is carefully combed over until all the life is beaten out of it, whether Americans are actually kind of excited about people who will speak their minds (or at least sound like it). Perhaps reality TV and YouTube has immunized at least the under 65 crowd to this kind of nitpicking.

By: dave

dave — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:08:00 +0000

I don’t think they need to apologize for anything. She said, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country,” Who the hell isn’t. To think that America, in some of the southern and whitest states could and are considering an AA candidate makes me more proud of this country than I have been, ever. To distort her words, as if she’s never been proud when the quote and video (which they seem to be trying to edit now and mute the word “really” which is kinda scary) indicates that she’s been proud but never as proud.

By: babyming

babyming — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:59:00 +0000

I am totally on Barack and Michelle’s side… in this case, I think it would be best if Michelle simply said WHAT IS OBVIOUS to all, “Look, that didn’t come out quite the way I meant it.”

Each of us in only human. We all say things we wish we could take back, or things that were sort of what we meant, but not exactly. Michelle’s comment really wasn’t that bad in the first place, but it wasn’t so great either.

Nothing wrong with saying “Oops” and moving on. Of course, I would never expect the Clintons or the Republicans to acknowledge any errors of their own. But I’m sure we all expect the Obama’s to be more human than their rivals.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Hello All,

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries on this (and the other linked blogs) blog. Thank you.

On the one hand I am both pissed and amused at the fake outrage (Pat Buchanan I am talking to you)the conservative right is trying to spin this story. What is really amusing though, I had no idea Cindy McCain could actually talk! She was on the campaign trail today with her “rebuttal” of sorts, but of course has declined to elaborate when pressed further.
I think Mrs. McCain maybe out of her league and should just stick to looking pretty.

Seriously, if folks were trying name all the ugly things in America’s history that one should not be proud of they would not be hard pressed to find examples. I think the great about Obama’s candidacy is that people recognize this, but are trying move beyond and heal old wounds.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/02/19/politics/fromtheroad/entry3847918.shtml

By: R. Planet

R. Planet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:19:00 +0000

Mrs. Obama seems like a wonderful woman. I hate that the media is reading so much into such a simple honest statement.

By: BrownSugaQT86

BrownSugaQT86 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:40:00 +0000

“Snory and stinky”…how? how? As a young black girl in the United States of America, I am, for the first time in my 21 years, proud of this country. Why should the disenfranchised and excluded be proud of a country that only caters to the status quo?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:36:00 +0000

I saw this speech LIVE. And the reaction to it is stupid. She needs to be more careful? How about the American public stop being led around like idiots

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:14:00 +0000

I think Michelle needs to be more careful. I was so upset with her over the “snory and stinky” comment. She could have found a better way to phrase “He’s not a perfect person” than that! In this particular case, she phrased the idea very badly. I hope she’s learning from this.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Lou Dobbs and Bill Schnieder added to the “pile on” last night on CNN. Schnieder said Michelle had “some splanning” to do. I wonder if Lou Dobbs well let Michelle Obama appear on his show to “splan” herself or if he will continue to do the “splanning” for her?

You can tell the opposition is desperate when they resort to using weapons of mass DISTORTION and fake outrage.

By: gab

gab — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:43:00 +0000

These people are so effing jealous over Obama’s woman making the cover of Newsweek.

I agree that they need to be careful, but dang–the other side is trying to make any issue out of absolutely nothing. People should keep this in mind.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:53:00 +0000

Is anyone surprised that Michelle Obama's statements would be used to promote negative publicity?

Let us not forget that Barack Obama was not supposed to do as well as he has. I imagine this is just the beginning of the hate attacks.

I like Michelle am proud of this country for the first time in my 44 years. I am proud that for a large majority of this country Senator Obama's race is not a factor.

Over the next few months, expect to hear from the select few who have enjoyed power and elitism in this country negative resistance in the form of ridiculous ridicule and in some cases undisguised hatred.

By: B-Serious

B-Serious — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Thanks for pointing this out. It’s a shame. Michelle has done wonders for the Obama campaign as she, herself, proceeds to break down barrier after barrier.

Watch out folks.. . They’ll probably try to paint her as the stereotypically sassy, finger-snappin’, neck-rollin’ sapphire.

By: D.

D. — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:45:00 +0000

Right in the middle of doing my own blog about how the Obamas were really only out for themselves…I read this. Now that I’ve read the whole quote, I’ll back off.

It does seem-at least to me-that the stresses of a presidential campaign might be starting to affect Obama and his wife in a subtle way. You couple the little line-stealing flap that took place over the weekend, with making a comment like Michelle made (which anyone could-and did!-take WAY out of context…and you get the makings of a couple who may be starting to crack under pressure.

These little mistakes/slip-ups are going to be a problem if they start to pile up.