Feb 21 2008
Michelle Obama responds, Plus she has some ‘comforting’ words
Hat tip to Beth at Blue Star Chronicles:
Michelle Obama offered the following as a non-explanation of her remarks about not being proud of her country ….
Asked by WJAR-TV if she would like to clarify her comment, Obama replied that she has been struck by the number of people going to rallies and watching debates, as well as record voter turnouts.
“What I was clearly talking about was that I’m proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process,” she said.
“For the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven’t seen and really trying to figure this out - and that’s the source of pride that I was talking about,” she added.
OOooohhh. Okay. She misspoke. She meant she’s never been proud of the POLITICAL PROCESS in this country. Wow. How silly of everyone to think she meant what she said and said what she meant.
She made these prepared statements in at least two speeches. She said it deliberately as part of her speech. She is a Princeton and Harvard trained attorney who has had a successful career. Attorneys make their careers as masters of language. Attorneys are never careless in how they word statements and/or questions. Yet, she misspoke these carefully prepared statements.
Typical of the LearJet Liberals to whom she was gearing her speech, its not cool to be proud of her country. Its also cool to hang around in their mansions and discuss how horrible the United States is for being an ‘empire’ and imposing its will on the rest of the world. She knew exactly who she was talking to and she knew what they like to hear. Communism is what they imagine to be the utopia form of government. Never mind its failed in every country that has ever tried it. She is Ive League educated, after all. She knows exactly what the intellectual elite expect from their politicians.
And even worse, how dare we expect her to actually have enough respect for the common people’s ability to understand the English language to own up to her own comments.
If I didn’t know better I’d think she thinks we’re all stupid.
Like I said yesterday, I think there is a reasonable argument that she was just using hyperbole, but Beth raises some good points. As a trained and skilled speaker, she should know better.
And to come out and try to clarify it the way she and Barack are doing seems too defensive. Why not just say “it was hyperbole, you fools”.
Geraghty’s unnerved, I’m relieved. In fully a year of campaigning — against the Clinton machine no less — His Holiness hasn’t made a single noteworthy mistake that I can think of. Thank god/Obama she’ll be around on the trail periodically this summer stepping in it and creeping people out.
You think Bush expanded executive power? Dude:
Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.
In her defense, there must be a lot of pressure that comes with being the bride of the Lord Obama on earth. Exit question one: Hillary’s trying to keep it real but she’d require you to work too, wouldn’t she?
Ok, let me say I think her point was that to show a comparison to the Republicans who she implies are trying to keep people ignorant and lazy. But again, it is a dumb comment, and not very well made. She seems to lack in common sense when speaking.
There is a lot of condescension there too: We are apathetic. Uninformed. Uninvolved. Comfortable. Cynical. Divided. Isolated. And Barack will lead us to the promised land.
The punchline? That we need to “Push…to be better.” Better than what Michelle? What if we think we are doing ok? Must you imply that we suck in order to show us you can save us?
Bottom line, the Obamas seem to be strong on emotionally charged rhetoric and slow on sense and substance. Sorry…not impressed.
Of course, Hillary has Bill going red faced and putting his foot in his mouth constantly, so fair is fair, but still.
Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Rosemary’s Thoughts, The Random Yak, , and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
2 Responses to “Michelle Obama responds, Plus she has some ‘comforting’ words”
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America can’t afford to place Obama – and his wife – in the White House. Their brand of socialism leads one place (as indicated by Michelle Obama’s Freudian slip):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbeit_macht_frei
Here are ALL her remarks when asked about this. I hope you won’t delete this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqsDydV-I6E
Reporter: Is there any clarification that needs to be made?
Michelle: I think the clarification has been made. What I was clearly talking about was that I’m proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process. I mean, everyone has said what I’ve said, which is “We haven’t seen these record numbers of turnouts, people who are paying attention, going to rallies, watching the debates.” For the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven’t seen [before] and really trying to figure this out. And that’s the source of pride that I was talking about.
Reporter: So then you hear Senator Clinton and Mrs. McCain saying, “Well, I’ve always been proud of America.” Have you always been proud of America?
Michelle: Absolutely. I mean, you don’t…
Reporter [white]: When we abandon the people in Rwanda? When there’s disparity between the rich and poor is growing…
Michelle: Well let me tell you–I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the possibilities of America. And I’ve talked about that. My father was a city worker. I went to Princeton and Harvard with scholarships and loan support. Barack and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the greatness of this country. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have challenges. That doesn’t mean that we can’t work for change and that any talk of change is unpatriotic. You don’t run for president of the United States and put yourself and your family through this if you don’t feel some level of deep pride, and possibility for your country. I love my country. I wouldn’t be in this if I didn’t care deeply and didn’t believe that every possibility that I had as a kid should be available to every single child.