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Pride in the name of self-love
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 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.”
UPDATE: This item was corrected from a previous version. Video of Obama's remarks in some context can be found here.
A lot of people of color and people with non mainstream gender identities have felt outside of the ideal America that we are all sold as children. 40 years ago, fire hoses and dogs were turned on African Americans, civil rights fighters were lynched and assassinated, in the south Black kids couldn't play on the same Little League team or swim at the same municipal pool as White kids.
America hasn't always been America to everyone. Let's acknowledge that while America has much to be proud of, there are plenty of reasons for various people to feel let down by this country. However, if we don't work to correct that which lets us down, we have only our selves to blame.
Michelle Obama became an "adult" in 1982.
There's been NOTHING in the past 25 years for her to be proud of?
Troubling, indeed. Apparently another ABAFer. ABAF (Always Blame America First)
She is not ready for prime time. Can't wait for her inevitable eruption.
Newsflash: People who use nonsense terms like "non mainstream gender identities" are ALWAYS going to whine about being "let down by this country". They would prefer to whine than to stake their claim in this country, or in any other country. So, I'm sure he's the candidate for you, Turner. And they haven't been telling kids those (mostly true) stories of ideal America for a long time, now; leftists who run the schools tell kids basically everything you already believe, that we're racist, sexist, suppress non mainstream gender identities (whatever that means), etc, etc.
There's plenty to be ashamed of in America's past, but if she can't find something to be proud of in the last twenty years other than a non-tangible "feeling" that she gets when people vote for her husband, she's got issues. I kind of questioned all of this "Obama cult" talk but with statements like this from the candidates wife, it is difficult to ignore.
If the elegant and well-educated Michelle Obama, even with her taxpayer-financed Harvard law degree, has never found a reason to be proud of her county, we know two things: one, the educational system in this country is even worse than we thought it was, and two, that Sen. Obama isn't selling hope, but hype and hypocrisy.
Forty years ago Americans, appalled by those images on their TV sets, stopped and changed that sort of oppression. The Civil Rts era was one of America's proudest times, and even with all the pain and horrors of the era and the previous 150 years, America gave anyone reason to be proud; 40 yrs ago and today. I might also add that hundreds of thousands of white men died in the Civil War to end slavery. They had nothing else specifically to gain - except a poor payout - but they fought. Maybe they weren't all exactly free of bigotry but in history, that hardly matters. It is still a ver y good reason to be proud of Amerca.
And I might note that a few short years ago America was attacked by people who make the most ardent redneck bigot seem progressive. Our response was magnicifent in its charity and compassion and courage. for mrs. obama's info, many of the 343 firefighters who gave all that day were black; see Leon Smith and Vernon Cherry of Ladder 118 for example.
In short, that is a silly and disgraceful thing to say. I'd like to think she was somehow misquoted, but I doubt it.
Boy I wonder how shes going to feel if Obama does NOT become President.
What a sad comment for this woman to make. Here she is, educated at Harvard, had a great job before she resigned, two great kids with a great future, basically living the American dream and she has never been proud of the country that gave her these blessings? What would she feel like if she was living in Africa say for example Kenya with the rioting or Darfur or Rwanda or Zimbabwe or one of the AIDS ridden countries.
And Turner, it's not 40 years ago.
She's just NOW proud of her country?
Amazing.
Turner,
Mrs Obama states she's proud of her country "for the first time in [her] life." There's been nothing in the last 40 years of US history of which she could feel pride? It took her husband's decision to run for president to elicit such feelings?
Thanks, ma'am, but, uh...we'll pass.
agreed, i will sometimes receive emails regarding how good, simple and wholesome life was back in the fifties, a nostalgic look back.
to those senders i always respond the same way and that is to say "only if you were a white male"
Amen, Turner, poster #1. Well said. While some of us consider ourselves firmly to have embraced our country, being grateful for its riches and privileges, as well as responsible for its well-being and its place in the world, there are many things for which it would be a stretch to say we are proud.
Sure. After Princeton and Harvard Law...No wonder she was ashamed of the country that did that to her.
Well ok, Hillary may not be black, but she is still a woman and you don't hear HER saying things like that. But I do like you're last night, what has she done to make this country a better place?
Or she could have mispoke ... and this snide reporter could have resisted the temptation for an easy, prickly blog post.
she wasn't proud of her country before this campaign????????????
So America landing a man on the moon didn't do it for you Michelle?
Certainly she expresses an opinion shared by many people of her generation.
If one thinks that the United States has been praiseworthy in the past eight years, I really have no words for you.
I am ashamed of our country's conduct, and the America that I was taught about in my youth would never even consider HAVING A DEBATE ABOUT USING TORTURE.
Yet, that's where we are today.
Well she is a liberal Democrat. Not exactly shocking that she has never felt proud of her country.
No one other then a patriot should gain office in any country; for if they do not love their native country, they may sell it out. If a person won't be proud of their country until they are in office (or close to it) then it is not unreasonable to say that she is proud of it now only because she's on top.
For crying out loud, she's a Princeton and Harvard educated LAWYER!!! She read about slavery, she wasn't one. Why do rich Democrats still perpetuate the victim neurosis?
Geez, the Obama's are really starting to fall in love with themselves. What will Barack do on the 7th day? I assum he won't rest, as only a God would have to rest and Barack is above such tireless descriptors.
I'm scared that we live in a country the runs its campaigns like American Idol episodes and where someone with absolutely no experience whatsoever has a good chance of becoming president based on a cult of personality.
Turner, shouldn't the fact that you yourself typed the phrase "40 years ago" give you a bit of pause before writing what you wrote? Mrs. Obama specifically said "for the first time in my adult life" - implying that she wasn't moved by the vast, vast majority of Americans embracing the civil rights movement and Dr. King's vision of a country where you're judged by the content of your character, not the color of your skin. We now live in a country where the civic ideal embodies the phrase "all men are created equal".
For a public figure to say such a thing is either a sad commentary on the negative outlook she has on our country, or a sad case of pandering to people who buy into identity politics.
she's unpatriotic
not proud of her country?
why didn't she emigrate much earlier then?
If you're not proud of your country, why don't you go to any other country in the world and see if you're treated better or have the same opportunities. Stop whining.
how typical of a liberal to point out the realities of race in America! a conservative black or hispanic (which i am) would say that only in America can one of any color aspire to win the highest office in the land and succeed! we already have MUCH to be proud of ...a black supreme court justice, secretary of state, and hispanics leading many cabinet offices and even the Republican party, at one time. Any excuse for a liberal to bash America will be taken instead of seeing that alone in the world, America has lead the fight for real racial equality and equal OPPORTUNITY. what one chooses to do with that OPPORTUNITY is up to them but crying about what government hasn't given you is so liberal! If you have been "let down" it's because you have failed to live to your potential and that is not America's fault; it's your own! Plenty of people of different colors and races have been more than successful. Stop making excuses for yourself and blaming America! As for "home making a comeback" what hogwash! America is the golden ticket! That is just more disgusting liberal rhetoric from someone who doesn't know what it is to triumph over real adversity and to encourage others to do the same! it's always the government's fault, isn't it? My mom remembers playing on a segregated playground and yet you will never hear her complain. That's just the way it was in those days. But my father served proudly during WWII and all one hears in my parent's house is how wonderful America is. The Michele Obama's of this world want everyone to think we are a racist country but for her and her husband. They will make it all o.k. but what they really want to do is beat us to death with how racist we are and to broadcast it to the world. no thanks.
Wow!!! You'd think good job, nice house, cute husband, beautiful daughters, friendship with Oprah would have given her a little hope and pride before now.
Mrs. Obama shares my sentiments. I grew up during the 50's and 60's (in Arkansas, "Clinton Country." during the time which Ambassador Young said that the former President was not a racist because he grew up in Arkansas and was surrounded by black kids -- well I grew up in Arkansas and was surrounded by white kids but it did not prevent them from yelling racial slurs from the yellow schoolbuses that we as Black children were not allowed to ride but instead, walk miles, to school). So, I was around when the dogs & fire hoses were used on civil rights fighters. I applaud Michelle for her honest and true comments. We need her in the forefront to bring about an awareness of America's faults, past and present; to remind older Americans and to inform those who are much younger.
Let's acknowledge that while every person from time to time has a reason to be dissatisfied with our government and people who live in this country, there never has been a reason not to be proud of America. I for one, won't be any more more or less proud of America if Obama is elected. I will however, be worried.
That's the problem with libs - they love America but not the one we have, but not the one we have now - the one what is flawed yet striving to always be better. No, they want their version of America that fits all their ideals. The "perfect liberal utopian" America in their minds. Now that America they can be patriotic to.
The real one, not so much.
Michelle Obama is a very angry woman.
She probably thought it was disgusting to have the President of the United States engaging in sexual impropriety in the White House. She probably thought that it was embarrassing to go through Watergate and the Iran-Contra Affair and years of economic policies that benefit the wealthy without "trickling down" to the poor. I don't know if Michelle Obama and I agree on everything, but I can definitely see her point about feeling proud of the country for the first time.
Is it possible that Michelle is a Republican mole? Has her husband beaten her in recent decades? One can only wonder. With a comment a day from Michelle, Barack's numbers will soon be lower than Richardson's. Who runs these campaigns? By contrast, Dave Thomas was totally professional, never made a blunder.
I think comments like that will come back to haunt her and her husband. You have to love America and be proud of its flexibility at all times - not just when it is working in your favor.
“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.”
Hope is for dopes. Hope is not audacious at all. It is the opposite. Truth is audacious in these times.
Obama is an empty suit fronting for Wall Street. His wife a generic self-centered upper class liberal.
If Obama loses the election will she say hope is dead and threaten to move abroad?
Seeing so many young people getting psyched about politics makes me very hopeful about America. How often do we see this?
The one thing the insiders fear is when average Joe and Jane starts paying close attention to their country. They fear people powered politics. Power to the people!
Can only agree with Turner.
It's nice for us to remember "the good old days," when things were simpler, people were nicer, children were more behaved, jobs were more secure, black people couldn't ride on the same area as the bus as you let alone build a house in your neighborhood, Navajo and other Indian children weren't allowed to speak their native language at Federally run schools, women had fewer rights, gay people were fearful for their life... and so on.
It definitely hasn't been pretty for everyone in America. Recognizing our mistakes and trying to fix them-- without forcing or expecting repentance to or from today's children for the sins of their fathers-- isn't a bad thing in the slightest.
I don't blame Michelle for her statements. And this from a white Mormon dude.
This is one (of many) problems with Democrats. They want to govern (rule?)America but don't seem to like it very much.
Its a shame her husband had to run for the highest office in the land for her to develop some pride in her own country. I guess if he loses it'll go away?
Felt proud or felt *this* proud?
Great. Marxism is now hope. Go figure. I bet Lenin was just a bit sexy to her, too.
So, if her husband loses does that mean she will go back to being ashamed of her country?
Just more anti-American leftwing hot air from the enemy within. Democrats are the greatest threat to this country we've ever seen. Obama and his ugly wife are only pointing out the view of all pathetic Democrats. They hate America and are openly rooting for Al Qaeda. I wouldn't vote for that skunk no matter what.
The color of the players doesn't change human nature - just study history. Hope is a choice.
Agreed--now we desperately need to close and secure our border with Mexico asap.
Can someone say narcissist?
What did she have to feel so ashamed about? She and her husband were realizing the American dream. They had both worked hard and were benefitting from good educations to make more over $100,000 as a hospital administrator. What in the world was so bad in her life that she is only NOW proud of her country.
What the heck does that mean??? She has to my age or older and I am almost 50. I can think of a thousand things I have been proud of my country before this. How about landing a man on the moon, medical avances, highest standard of living in the world, a black female secratary of state, a black joint chief of staff. What country is she refering to?
"Color" or not - it is embarrassing that a potential "first lady" admits to having her entire "adult life" - if you want to call it that - in shame of her country. A life that provided her a law degree, etc., in the most prosperous country in the world. That is shame and embarrassment, all right - on HER.
SHAME, SHAME, AND EMBARRASSMENT.
What an arrogant and appalling comment. "For the first time in her life..." Good grief. The first time she is proud of this country is when her husband is running for president. Anyone that seriously makes that statement should be ashamed of themselves.
Of course, it could also be that she has not widely traveled to see how miserable the rest of the world really can be. I was a snide America disparager (hater is too strong a word) like most recent college graduates until I worked for years in the third world and came to really appreciate what I had taken for granted. New immigrants are always prouder Americans than those of us born and raised here, because they have such greater perspective, regardless of color or gender identity.
So, this is their version of hope and change. In what other country in the world could a balcak girl from the ghetto grow up to have an ivy league education, a JD from Harvard and then land in a cushy "community relations" job making $250,000 a year and living in a 5 million dollar home. Had obama stayed in Indonesia where would he be today. Had Michelle been born in Afganistan she would never have learned to read or write. I can't imagine having a couple who have benefited so much fom this great land of opportunity rise so high just to diss the country that gave them the opportunity to succeed.
Obviously Michelle Obama's comment was a case of speaking before thinking, something that a Harvard educated lawyer should have learned in her first year, if she hadn't already learned it in Princeton. Barack Obama has not been crowned yet but he and Michelle take it as a given that he will.
This is a woman who has been given a free pass in the media until now. Her pride may be newfound but she wears her smug, self satisfied bearing well. If the Obamas successfully win the nomination, we'll see attacks mounted against her that will make what was done to Hillary Clinton pale in comparison. Of course, David Axelrod, who has packaged and branded the Obama candidacy may decide to put her under wraps for the duration.
I think we know what we get w/Hillary & Bill.
Michelle & Barack will have lots of negative surprises.
I was VERY disappointed in Michelle's attack (when in DE) , she passionately said, Hillary can't run her own house, how is she going to run the White House?
Huh, whoah girl, that was REALLY hurtful.... Show alittle more integrity.
I think we will see more of her outbursts. Stay tuned.
What a revealing comment for Michelle Obama to have made - it reveals how Barack Obama's whole campaign is based on his ego and race. She is only "really proud" of America because the American electorate are being seduced by her husband's rhetoric and empty promises of hope and change.
Throughout the world, there are millions of poor people who would give anything to come to America, not because it's a perfect country, but because it's more perfect than the country they were born in. Yes, there are things to put right, but our freedom to debate, disagree and defend our freedoms should be cherished. I don't believe in empty patriotism, but I am offended that a woman who has had the benefit of the best of America, can only now feel pride in our nation. Shame on you Mrs Obama!
America spells HOPE all over the world. American dream is every human beings dream, but America has distinction of making it feasible for whoever dreams to dream it. That alone should make each American or anyone living here to be proud of this country.
Obamas are touting their relationships with Kennedy, what they say about his quote, ...don't ask what your country has done for you, ask what you have done for your country.
She is just short of stating "If you do not vote my husband to the ofice, I'll be have further reasons to be ungrateful"
This story appeared on Drudge yesterday about 3pm, it obviously took Matt Drudge about 2 minutes to notice that somebody had "edited" the word "really" from her remark and he immediately removed it. Cheers to Drudge.
If you simply underline the word “really” proud in her remark it makes all the sense in the world. Who could be "really" proud of the way we’ve behaved in the world for a long, long time now anyway? Let’s move on there’s so much to do and so little time
The truth less spoken is often the truth most felt: and when heard, it hurts all of us Blacks, and Whites, Liberals, and Conservatives.
So just get real, and move on to more substantive issues.
Why is this (and I'm sure there are others) appaling comment NOT being reported by the maistream media? Even I have noticed the startling preference the media is giving to the Obama campaign. ON CNN on Saturday they devoted 21 minutes to Obama and 6 minutes to Hillary Clinton during their "Ballot Bowl" coverage. This morning on the "Today" show, Matt Lower followed Obama on the campaign trail. No equal time for Hillary.
Every victory Hillary has had in the primaries has been minimized and every victory by Obama has been hailed as "decisive" even in a state with less then 500 votes total!
What is going on here? Michelle Obama's comment is, I'm certain, the tip of the iceberg. What about her comment months ago about now being the only time Barak can run for president because (words to this effect) the more time that goes by, the more out of touch they will be with the "common people". They are a self-entitled, arrogant pair.
It is a sad day in America when we take a word, voice inflection, lexicon, gasp, belch, cough, sneeze, almost anything to destroy a person. We claim to be the best country in the world; we are. We claim to be the best democracy in the world; we are. Sometimes I believe we pay too much attention to the slightest wink or glance and become the wonderful pundit, the articulate commentator we could have been, but are not. I remember a man speaking about segregation now and segregation forever. I remember men talking about dreams and others talking about tearing down walls. I remember no new taxes and not having sexual relations. I remember WMD and we got him [Sadaam]. I don't recall any time in our history where Americans decided that stating really proud right now is an indicator of never being proud. We say this to our children--I'm really proud of you; to our spouse--I'm really proud of you; to each other--I'm really proud of you...not once do we think this person has never been proud of us before. Let this rest.
This type of comment represents the smugness with which the Obamas look at their enviable position going into a dynamic duo competition for the "White House", a target no black American has ever achieved. That she would be so demeaning of our country to make even a hint that she may not have been proud of our country in years past makes me wonder about her ability to communicate effectively for others in governments, foreign and domestic, if she, by chance, happened to become the "first lady." I shudder to think of such a situation. I wouldn't want her speaking as the first lady. She's what they call a "loose canon." Add to that her husband, who casually steals clever words from others to pass of as his own (plagiarism in my book, and I'm a professor), never advances and specifics about his "dreams" or "change" or "hope" (dreams for what? Hopes for what? Change for what?) , refuses to debate Hillary Clinton a "second time" (the first 18 times were with a group of 8 nominees, not one-on-one) in Wisconsin), and the hackles on the back of my neck rise with justified suspicion. Listen to what blacks themselves say about their black Massachusetts governor now, about his unfulfilled promises--he's the same person Barack stole the lines from for his speech about "words". What do we know about what he stands for, where he wants to go with this country, and how he plans on doing that? At least, Hillary Clinton offers solutions, not rhetorical band-aids.
Well, The more she talks the more the truth comes out.
People died for her freedom in world war II.
And now she's finally proud of this country.
So for her entire adult life, this disgruntled democrat has'n't been proud of this country? Well, it's MY country too. I protected it for 32 years as a Soldier in the United States Army. As long as there's a breath left in me, morons like Michele Obama will never succeed in transforming this nation into the socialist paradise they envision. After McCain wins the election, here's hoping she and her old man make a beeline for the airport on a one way trip to a country that will make her "proud".
This is a disturbing comment. Why would someone make such a comment about her country.
If this country is such a shameful place, I'd point out that Canada is next door.
People, read the quote:
“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.”
I think the word "really" is a key word in this quote. I am also really proud that our country might elect someone other than a white male to represent us. I think if her quote is put into the context of which I think it was intended, there is no foul here at all.
Everyone is quick to point out the negatives of this country over the last 25 years. This country has never been perfect and will always have some issues to deal with, however it is the GREATEST nation in the world and I have ALWAYS been proud of this country and proud to be an AMERICAN. Through tough times in this country, you battle for what is right and what you believe in, all the while acknowledging that you are able to do so because of the sacrifices made throughout the history of this nation. How about being proud of THAT!! Take a look at the history of this nation over the last 100 years and some of the terrible things that have taken place. I'm 33 years old, and in my WHOLE lifetime I think we have had it pretty good. I have seen and heard of some bad things, but have seen and heard of numerous wonderful things that take place everyday in this country, and that I'm proud of.
Nobody is proud of everything that goes on, but you better be proud of our country as a whole, if you are not that is just SAD!
Im Proud of America JUST now as well because we finally have a candidate that will bring change and prosperity to America. I support Michelle and her husband no matter what.
Hmmm, just another "Hate America First" liberal democrat. Nothing surprising in her statement at all. She just said exactly how she, and her hubby, feel about this great nation. And, sheep will line up in droves to vote the unpatriotic duo into the White House. No one but a true patriot should sit in the Oval Office.
Words matter!
Or do they only count to your advantages?
Hmmm..... let the spins begin
You do not have to have always been really proud of someone or something in order to love it.
And you most certainly do not have to be really proud in order to fix it. If anything, being "patriotic" to the point of self-delusion will only hinder and delay progress and reform.
Some of us will never understand what others went through to get where they are today. Who would not be proud of this country especially this year where people who were not afforded a citizenry few decades ago are running to be the next president? The country and the people of this country have come a long way. Let us just recognize that fact alone. Beside, for someone to suggest that she got a free ride, do not forget she has been a tax payer too for over 20 years. She is not a welfare mom, who just got a job during Clinton's economic miracle!
No, the key word is proud!
Is there truly a difference between proud and really proud--PLEASE!! I'm proud to have a daughter, but I'm really proud to have a son!!! Give me a break! Proud is proud, sorry, but nice try!
That said, the key words that can't be explained are --the first time in my adult lifetime.
With her great education, I think she knew exactly what she was saying. There's a lot of anger and bitterness underneath the smiles for the cameras.
Perhaps seeing black poverty go from 33% to 21% in the Clinton years should have made her really proud. But who knows what makes her tick.
This comment needs to be presented in context. More of the quote with context:
"What we've learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback and let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud. And I feel privileged to be a part of even witnessing this, traveling around states all over this country and being reminded that there is more that unites us than divides us..."
Being "really proud" now doesn't mean she was never "proud" previously. So she mispoke. She could have said the same thing differently and this would not be an issue. Tempest in a teacup anyone?
It's clear now what Barack Obama meant when he said, "the cynics will only get louder and more dissonant in the weeks and months to come."
Sounds to me almost like identical rhetoric that I encountered from an African American woman who resembled her who was spewing Marxism in Kenya a few years back. She opened a tirade against me for being an American living in Kenya. When I told her I was a missionary there to help Africans she insisted that there were ulterior motives. It made me realize that Marxist who tried to take over American universities in times past had resorted to other countries. I don't think this is a time when the United states needs a president with Kenyan heritage and a Muslim first name to take the helm.
I'm proud of Gitmo and waterboarding and extraordinary rendition. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy when I wrap myself up in the flag.
I agree with Ms. Obama that there's been nothing in the USA to be proud of until the bright rising star of hope, Barack Obama, came shining into our miserable, wretched little unenlightened souls. More specifically, what has always dashed the cup of hope from my thirsty lips is the fact that we haven't evolved into a leftwing paradise in which the government takes all our money and makes all choices for our lives. Why haven't we become a Stalinist utopia? Where is my government issue red scarf? Why isn't the government taxing the h-ll out of us?!
I can't wait for that day, and I trust and hope Obama will bring it soon. Bring on the regulations, bring on the universal health care, bring on the reparations, bring on the destruction of traditional marriage! Bring on the forced redistribution of money! Bring on the destruction of the free market! Bring on the hope, Obamas! Save us from ourselves!
Then, and only then, I will be proud of this country, just like Ms. Obama.
I'm glad someone else is finally listening to her if you listen to her husband the liberal he is ,and rumors that say he won't salute our flag now you can understand why she is not proud of our wonderful country. Please do not put them in the White House. We are asking for trouble. Please dont vote because someone sounds good. I hope the young people will think before they vote for Obama. This is our country please put someone in the white house with experience. Please get off the movement its only WORDS!!!!!!!
This one is easy to Dissect:
I present Cindy McCain:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_mccain
Now I present Michelle Obama:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama
Look at both their biographies and tell me what you notice.
Right…..
Mrs. McCain was born with a Silver Spoon in her mouth and never really had to work for a dime in her life. She has now taken over the Chairmanship of her Daddy's company - Hensley & Company (one of the largest Anheuser-Busch distributors in the nation). So Clearly Mrs. McCain has had it pretty good in life. I will say and give her Credit for been a philanthropist extraordinaire. However her Silver-Spoon life story cannot be compared to the life story of struggle and success of Michelle Obama.
Michelle Obama had to work her butt off to get to her current position in life. She had been told over and over again as a child that she wasn't smart enough, that she wasn't elegant, that she couldn't achieve anything, she was told that she had to settle for the expectations set for a black child living in a small 2 bedroom shack on the south side of Chicago; a child living off of her fathers meager city worker wages.
This woman through adversity and hard-work made it through Princeton (where she felt neglected by all her classmates, none of her classmates have come out to say yes we remember Michelle Robinson from Princeton. Find me one?), graduating cum laude, and then she made it through Harvard Law graduating in 1988 at the age of 24 barely an Adult. I would conjecture that Michelle began her adult life after finishing Harvard.
When Michelle says that “for the first time in her ADULT lifetime…….” She is simply saying that for the first time in the last 15-18 years she is proud that her country can see past color and prejudices to aspire towards their hopes and not their fears. For the first time in her life time she feels she is being noticed as not an aberration (vis-à-vis Princeton) but as someone who truly belongs. She and Barack have been accepted all across the country from Iowa to South Carolina; from Maine to Louisiana.
You guys need to wake up and understand what is going on here. Michelle is not unappreciative of what America has provided for her (or rather what she worked hard for), rather she is simply happy that America is growing up and healing itself of one of this country’s historical sins.
Cindy McCain cannot even begin to understand what Michelle meant.
Michelle Obama is guilty of conduct unbecoming of a patriotic American, much less the wife of a potential President. The First Lady along with her husband should be the nation's leading advocate and cheerleader. Someone who's love of country and belief in it is unassailable, complete, absolute and without question. Surely, it can be tempered with the understanding that we are imperfect and need to overcome serious problems, but "proud...for the first time in my adult lifetime?"
If she really meant what she said, she is a disgrace to this country and an embarrassment to her husband.
The word 'really' was not part of what she said. Watch the actual video footage of her making the remarks.
I can not say exactly what Michelle Obama meant by her statement, but I can sure justify it. This country that feels that we have completely moved past the time when we were divided by race and one race was considered second-class citizens is the same country that had headlines everywhere saying "Is America Ready for an African-American President" after Barack Obama announced that he was running for president. Why on earth would that be a question? Apparently the majority of the news media wonders if an African-American is capable of running this country. When you live in a country and are faced with issues similar to that on all levels of your life, the pride tends to slip away. I find it very disturbing that the African-American race has contributed so much to this country for hundreds of years and it is questionable if an African-American can be president.
"So she mispoke. She could have said the same thing differently and this would not be an issue. Tempest in a teacup anyone?"
Stay tuned for more mispeaking and larger tea-cups from this ungrateful Ivy League graduate.
Pauli
The media went so easy for Obama, that is why they (the Obamas)think they can say anything even the things they said that contemns this very proud country, which gave them much more than they deserved.
D. Proctor :
I grew up in very ethnically diverse towns; Cleveland and a town 30 miles to the west called Lorain.
I'm Irish, Scots, German, and Cherokee. I'm as hyphenated as you can get. I grew up in a working class family and retired after 32 years as a United States Soldier. NO ONE gave me a free ticket in this life because I'm not a "minority". Black and Hispanic kids in our neighborhood showed their racist proclivities with slurs against us as well. "Cracker", "Whitey", and other names were used frequently. If you think racism is a one way street, you're naive.
As for Michelle Obama: She and her old man are living the American dream. He's a rich politician running for public office. If she never found a reason to be proud of this country, then she can always hop the first plane smokin’ to a “better” country of her choice. And take Barak with her.
Obama is our Savior. Please everyone, you must realize that Michelle as a African American has been wronged by america. Obama will treaty with our Muslim brothers. Barak and Michelle need to have the opportunity to create change by teaching americans on the errors of their ways!
If Michelle Obama has been so utterly ashamed of her country up until now when people might just vote for her husband she has a deep seeded arrogance and narcissism that boggles the mind. Who do the Obama's think they are.. the second coming? I fear they do.
Wasn't Michelle proud as an adult when she became a vp making 350,000 being a woman and African American? How did Michelle get on her high career path in the first place? Wasn't she proud of America of how she got there? While Reagon wanted to do away with affirmative action, CLINTON supported and reinforced JFK's affirmative action giving women the opportunity to make it in a man's world. Now how can she be not be proud of what Clinton did while president to help her get ahead in a corporation, and succeed in a man's world?
IT IS REALLY SCARY TO FEEL THE SAME THING I FELT WHEN BUSH HAD HIS CAMPAIGN IN 1990. A GUT FEELING THAT SOME DISASTROUS INCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN UNDER BUSH ADMINISTRATION, IF HE WINS THE ELECTION. I AM NOT PROUD TO SAY ( I TOLD YOU SO ) WITH OUR BELOVED COUNTRY AMERICA , IS IN A FIGHT FOR ITS LIFE , TO CONTINUE ITS EXISTANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND. NOW, I AM SAD TO SAY , I HAVE THE SAME GUT FEELLING ABOUT BARACK OBAMA , IN MAY OPINION, IF HE WINS TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT , AND MICHELLE OBAMA THE FIRST LADY, BARACK WILL LOOK LIKE A PUPPET TO THE ADMINISTRATION DUE TO HER ( UNIQUE ATTITUDE AND CHARACTER ) ACCORDING TO HER INTERVIEW WITH KATIE COURIC . THEIR CAMPAIGN WAS BASE ON INSPIRING WORDS AND NOT ON WHAT WILL BE PRODUCE AND WHAT SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED , IF OBAMA GETS THE NOMINATION. I HAVE THIS FEELING THAT, THE MORE OUR COUNTRY WILL BE IN DEEPER HOLE AND TRIGGER THE HANGING TREATS OF ENEMIES OF OUR COUNTRY TO DEMISE AMERICA AND TO TAKE OVER OUR PRECIOUS LAND. I AM SORRY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SEEMS TO EMBRACED OBAMA FOR WHO HE IS, WITHOUT KNOWING HIM COMPLETELY, BELIEVING EVERYTHING HE SAYS, WITHOUT QUESTIONING HIS SPEECHES AND FOLLOW HIM BLINDLY , WITHOUT ASKING , WHERE OBAMA WILL TAKE THE PEOPLE, WHO SEEMS TO BE HYPNOTIST BY HIS INSPIRING WORDS, BUT WITHOUT SUBSTANCE . I HOPE, HIS SUPPORTERS WILL WAKE UP BEFORE ITS TO LATE. THEY MIGHT BE LEAD DOWN THE CLIFF.
I am wondering whether it's better to have a first lady who thinks America can do better, or one that looks like a two-bit whore that McCain rented for the run to the white house?
Michelle Obama is an Ivy League educated woman. Her husband also has an Ivy League education and her children go to private schools.
Can any Obama supporter tell me where else in the world the Obama's could settle that they'd be proud to live?
Her statement about being proud for the first time in her adult life is unbelievable in its narcissism.
Their entire campaign is a facade and slowly we are seeing behind it.
I had to search to find this story. Why is the press silent on it? And, by the way, why is it that half-white/half-black people are referred to as "black?" And the bigger question is when will we stop referring to people by their color? Why bother mentioning it at all?
I hate to see incidents of this kind detract from public attention and interest in the positions of the potential candidates of on hard, really important issues such as the economy, healthcare and Iraq. My advice to Mrs. Obama would be the following:
(1) Openly and honestly tell the public exactly what made you less than
"really proud" of your country in the past. Be very specific.
(2) Since it is a matter of fact, acknowledge the many things which this
country has done in the past to make its citizens justifiably "really
proud to be Americans", including the enormous strides which have
been made through affirmative action. Be very specific.
(3) Tell the public that you mis-spoke. IF IT IS TRUE, tell them that your
words should have been: I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY PROUD OF
MY COUNTRY BUT I AM EVEN MORE PROUD OF MY COUNTRY AND
MY FELLOW CITIZENS BECAUSE OF THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE
CHANGES WHICH CAN MAKE OUR COUNTRY EVEN GREATER..
(4) Apologize to the public, your husband and members of the Democratic
Party for your "...profoundly bad judgement..." in your choice of words
Assure them that everything in (1) (2) and (3) above HONESTLY
REPRESENT WHAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE.
Finally, no longer AD LIB speeches or even work with loosely condensed notes.
Highly experienced staff should have the opportunity to review in advance any text you plan to use. Believe in anything you write but give others, particularly your husband, the opportunity to review the text in advance.
Sadly, your remark unquestionably has been damaging and offensive to millions of Americans. However, IF YOU SINCERELY REGRET YOUR ERROR AND TRULY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF YOUR COUNTRY (ALBEIT REGRETTING IMPERFECTIONS) you can do
much to reduce the deterrent effect of a significant obstacle on that road to the change you seek.
Buzz
Duh, she was talking about POLITICS!
And she's right! There simply weren't many opportunities to be proud of this country's politics in the last 25 years.
The Obama campaign gets more and more arrogant as thieir poll numbers go up. Kind of reminds me of "W". Well it's not over yet, Michelle!! I will vote for a Republican for the first time in my life if Obama gets the Democratic nomination. America, love it or leave it!!
Would someone at Political Intelligence, CNN, MSNBC, the Republican Party please tell Pat Buchanon, Cindy McCain, Hillary Clinton and others of that ilk who obviously fell asleep during English class that the word "really" is an adverb. Michelle Obama's use of "really" before the word proud was to use it as an emphasizer. The use of "really" before the word proud cannot connote the absence of pride, but rather the presence of pride and better yet, a sense of increased pride. Like adjectives, adverbs can have comparative and superlative forms to show degree. Adverbs often function as intensifiers, conveying a greater or lesser emphasis to something. Intensifiers are said to have three different functions: they can emphasize or amplify. Here is an example of an adverb as an emphasizer: "I am really proud of Obama's efforts" or "I really like the manner in which Obama is running his campaign." To suggest anything else specific to what Mrs. Obama intended is intellectually dishonest or just plain stupid. She said what she meant. Remember America- in order to have a healthy democratic nation reading, hearing and interpreting is fundamental. Brenda
If Michelle Obama is not proud of this country, I suggest she go somewhere else and take that overblown hyped-up windbag with her. Change for the sake of change is not always good...remember 2000? Hope is great, but it doesn't put food on my table or a roof over my head. Where was she when America came together after 9/11? Wasn't that something to be proud of?? How about being proud of the country that paid for her education? I don't care how hard she worked. A poor white kid with the same grades and intelligence didn't get to take advantage of higher education because of affirmative action. She should be proud, and she sure as hell should be thankful.
I agree with you, MyLe. They would have been accused of being racists if the press gave them the "Clinton Treatment" So much for equality....
When she made this statement - she sincerely meant it. You shouldn't be proud of your country only when you are getting something out of it. they are arrogant and now it clearly shows. People wake up.people who are naturalized citizens have more pride in this country than the Obama's.
"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.” That is the way the quote was run on Monday, but Tuesday it morphs to "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am proud of my country." Deletion of the word "really" is dishonest! Videos on the web bleep the word "really" and mislead the viewers. Stop this garbage! She is really proud because Barack Obama is her husband and he is the man in the center of the movement. This is not arrogance or narcissism, but legitimate pride.
Mrs. Obama is a well educated and very articulate woman. She knew exactly what she was saying just as she did when she said she would have to think about whether or not she would vote for the "other" democratic candidate if her husband did not win the primary. I find it arrogant and elitist and much like a spoiled child who thinks they should be the center of attention even when they are annoying everyone else in the room. Obama's shining campaign is very tarnished underneath.
I have no doubt that the liberal media is doing it's best to help Hillary become the next Democratic presidential candidate. They seem to spin every story about Obama or his wife into something that makes them seem unfit to be the next president of the United States.
Michele Obama said that it was the first time that she had been "REALLY" proud of our country. CNN itself has been reporting the story leaving out the "REALLY" portion of the statement. It is a completely different statement if that one word is left out!! I understand what she was saying and I am sure that there are MANY other amer icans who also understand what is going on with the liberal media. I am a very proud american and I am proud to be in this country, but I have not been "REALLY" proud of what has been going on in this country for a VERY LONG time.
If Obama is elected to the presidency and manages to fulfill his campaign promises, then I will also be "REALLY" proud of our country once again. It is time for a change. The lifetime politicians who are lining their pockets with the blood, sweat and tears of the people of this country need to understand that the people of the United States are tired of the status quo and will not stand for it any longer.
The media consider Obama their golden boy. How can he talk about not voting for the war in Iraq when he was not a senator and COULDN'T vote at that time. It scares me that this country is willing to put so much trust in a man who is new and has little history either politically or executively.
Don't we have job qualifications for the President of the United States? Amazing & scary!
This video has been altered. The word "really" was removed. this changes the sentence "for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country" from a superlative into "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country" a plain statement of fact. It's a small change with big impact. Please find post the real video - it's on YouTube.http://youtube.com/watch?v=EVLc7B5cLLc
I cannot believe that intelligent, common sense people misconstrued what Obama's wife said! She was speaking of the 'moment' . What is the problem here? Do you actually believe that she would act otherwise and be a detriment to her husband? Have we reached a time in our history where every word, every statement , is under severe scrutiny?Remember Harry Truman? If he expresed himself today as he did then, he would be sitting on his front porch in Missouri instead of sitting in the White House! When i first heard her words, I did not get all bent out of shape. And I served three years proudly as a United States Marine!
Substitute the word "God" for Country and see how that rings in your ear.
Michelle Obama has a degree from Prinston and a law degree from Harvard. She has used my and your s taxpayer's dollars to go to school. She lives in a 5 million dollar house. Her husband is a U.S. senator. She was making $250,000 a month in a nonprofit hospital. She really has no reason to be really proud of the U.S.
The soldiers who died so that she can have her American Dream, do not make her proud? The US constitution does not make her proud?
Perhaps she can move to Kenya with her husband. I am sure that the Kenyans will make them proud.
Michelle Obama has a sense of entitlement regarding all of the great things this country has provided her. Does she think the freedoms and liberties she enjoys just happen? She forgets that people have died in order for her to live the exalted life style this country has gifted her with. Perhaps she should walk up to a veteran and tell her she has never been proud of her country until today...
I am a Democrat and am very proud of my country. Michelle needs to be more realistic (and thankful) about what this country has done for her and others. She is too self-centered to see the truth. A woman like this could never be a kind and gracious First lady.
I AM BLACK AND PROUD, TO BE AN AMERICAN. I WAS PROUD OF MICHELLE OBAMA, UNTIL NOW.
#
If that is not the final straw for the flock of fainting starry eyed obama fans I dunno what is! His rich Harvard educated wife is just now finding something to be proud about being born and bred in the United States of America?
She is married to Christ for God's sake-(being facetious)
Barak Hussein Obama, America's fascist Muslim inspirational speaker- crying hope and change, change and hope.
Change what exactly?
What is it we are hoping for?
That you quit going to your black separatist church?
(I wonder if he laughs at the wide eyed whites fawning over him, when he despises them so?)
That you stand up against third term abortions instead of saying the baby's are not human?
First he refuses to wear a flag pin and place his hand over his heart for the pledge of allegiance and now she for the first time in her life is just now finding something to be proud of in this land of the free.
I am totally against socialism, so I want nothing this empty suit has to offer. I don't have a daddy, and do not want him to be my daddy. I can think for myself- I do not need GOVERNMENT to tell me what to do.
I find them both to be loud mouth self centered pessimistic frauds who have some how managed to hypnotize the masses.
I just thought I would register here as a mock right wing conservative psycho so I could just ask one question. Has anyone here ever said anything in an emotional and perhaps amped state of being that could be considered unrealistic or exagerated? NO? That's okay you don't really need to respond, except that it might make you feel better to feed like pirana and taste the blood.
Any one of you who actually believes that what she said was an absolute truth, needs to do what you will do anyway and that is vote for more of the same, the feeding frenzy of corporate america, pharmaceutical power, war and lack of integrity. Go Wal-Mart, Go Pfizer / Merck, Go McCain, Go Bary Bonds, Go O.J. Go Paris, Go Rush...............Ha yeah and you know where too.
The truth about the Obamas' is slowly coming to light. He's a light-weight, and now we are seeing what she's all about. I feel sorry for many of the people who thought that BHO was going to be a different kind of candidate. Looks like most of us have been suckered.
What a bunch of garbage. First of all, This country did not give Michelle Obama jack. She took it by working her butt off(unless Princeton and Harvard where handing out free undergraduate and law degrees to working class black girls on the south side). Republicans, Whites and Uncle Toms want the whole world to believe that the United States is soo past its race problems it's laughable. Lets see, forget about James Byrd(you know the black man that got drug by a group of white racist thugs). How about the fact that white youth think that it's AOKAY to hang nooses on a tree or anywhere else for that matter.(Let the media tell it, its just kids playing a prank) . We wont even go there about the Katrina debacle. (I have a slight feeling had Beverly Hills flooded like New Orleans, we would've seen more action.
more pep in the Bush
There have been times in my 60+ years that I haven't been so proud of events that occurred in America. And that's the point. It's one thing to not be proud of an event, it's something else to not be proud of your country. On top of that she says she's NEVER been proud.
That's such a shame. Not for her, but for the rest of us, if her husband get elected.
It is easy and expected to isolate and construe a statement that one make to support another agenda. I am not to proud of my country either as it pertains to the negative which easily can overshadow the positive, but I was born here, learned here and worked here and my pride in this country can be gauged by the unwillingness of this country to include me in all of its facets regardless of my skin color or gender and that my friends is the country we live in. Research before you speak on that which you know nothing about. Want to know what she meant by the comment?, ASK HER! I'm sure she would be willing to confront this simple-minded discussion and provide an answer that I'm sure most of you would probably find ripe for further negative discussion. GET A HOBBY!
Note to Brenda, can you go over the proper use of the word "really" again? I am not sure I see the difference between its incorrect usage and correct usage in your original example. The word "proud" is an adjective, can the word "really" be a intesifier adverb, it is not modifying a verb but and adjective? According the the on-line dictionary, the word "really" means "in truth" or "in actuality." Thus, Ms Obama's sentence might be rephrased as "... for the first time in my life, I am actually proud of my country." This is really parsing the language, she could have simply mis-spoken, many intelligent people do, such as our current President. At least we aren't quibiling about what the definition of the word "is" is.
Believe it or not I understand the position of people who criticize Ms. Obama, but let me just say this unless you have walked a mile in Ms. Obama's shoes give it a rest. Because your America right or wrong is your credo, does not make it everyones'. There have been many times when I have not been so proud of my country and a good many of them have happened in this present administration. But if you go back further their is plenty also not to be so proud of with the history of this country. She didn't say she didn't love the country, she said she wasn't always proud of it.