Michelle Obama better liked, so far
In the battle of the potential first ladies, more Americans have favorable feelings about Michelle Obama, who has been a lightning rod for critics of her husband, while they don't know as much about Cindy McCain, who has taken a lower profile on the campaign trail.
Both have a chance over the next day to shape those perceptions. Obama guest hosts "The View" on ABC today, while McCain is scheduled to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday.
Wearing a sleeveless black and white print dress, Obama took the stage on "The View," brought out arm in arm by Barbra Walters. Once seated, she did fist bumps with the five other hosts -- a rebuke to some conservative bloggers who suggested that a fist bump with her husband as they took the stage for a rally after Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination was some kind of secret terrorist gesture.
"That's the new high five," Michelle Obama said.
She was quickly asked about saying during one campaign appearance that she was "really proud" of her country for the first time -- a remark that critics and Republicans tried to construe as somehow anti-patriotic.
"Of course I'm proud of my country. Nowhere but in America could my story be possible," she said, noting that her working-class parents who didn't go to college sent both their kids to Princeton University.
UPDATE: According to an advance excerpt posted online by ABC News today, Cindy McCain on "Good Morning America" says of the remark. "I don't know why she said what she said. Everyone has their own experience. I don't know why she said what she said, all I know is that I have always been proud of my country."
Obama also had kind words for both First Lady Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, her husband's rival for the nomination.
Obama said she sent a personal note to Laura Bush after she defended Michelle Obama earlier this month over that "proud" remark. "I was touched by it," she said.
Michelle Obama said that Clinton had faced sexism during the campaign -- "People aren't used to strong women," she said -- and that she had made it easier for her daughters and other girls to pursue their dreams.
Referring to Clinton's comment in her concession speech that while she hadn't broken the highest, hardest glass ceiling she had put 18 million cracks in it, Obama said, "We need to keep pushing it."
In an ABC News/Washington Post poll released today, 48 percent of Americans see Obama favorably, compared to 39 percent for McCain. But slightly more Americans also view Obama unfavorably -- 29 percent vs. McCain's 25 percent.
Also, while 36 percent haven't yet formed an opinion of McCain, 23 percent are still undecided about Obama.
In another poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center, 54 percent of Republicans surveyed hold a favorable view of Cindy McCain, while 65 percent of Democrats have a positive view of Michelle Obama.
Also, 78 percent said they had heard a least a little bit about Michelle Obama, but 26 percent said the coverage had been mostly negative. In contrast, 54 percent said they knew at least a little about Cindy McCain, and 31 percent said the coverage they have seen has been mostly positive.
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The press has beaten up on cindy so badly that I am surprised that she has any positives. Ms. obama has said some awful things that get no mainstream play. As for the candidates, little John reaps what he sows. Keep sleeping with enemy and the enemy will eat you alive
Michelle Obama has been grotesquely mischaracterized by the media and by right-wing gas bags. She's an incredibly strong and sophisticated woman, not unlike Hillary Clinton but minus all the political baggage. She's not a racist, she never said "whitey," and all the rest of that junk is pretty much completely made up.
Being strong, female, and black, or course some people will be threatened by her. But I think that she will become a powerful force for Barack Obama in the coming months. Being descended from slaves and raised on the South Side, where she still works for positive change today, her life story might even be more inspirational than his.
I just watched Michelle Obama on "The View".
The woman is fabulous. I'm hooked.
We must be a nation of idiots to have any respect for racist pigs like the Obamas.
Michael Michaelsen (#4):
Clearly, you have proven that we ARE a nation of idiots. If you think the Obamas are "racist pigs" clearly you don't know a thing about them. You are an ignorant moron. You are a racist pig.
The more people get to know Cindy McCain the better Michelle Obama will look.
Cindy:
Arrogant heiress to a $100,000,000 fortune built on her father's beer distributorship empire who became the trophy wife of an adulturous politician who divorced the wife who was disfigured and almost killed in an auto accident.
Michelle:
Worked her way into some of the top law schools in the country and has a loving family without a hint of scandal.
Michael Michaelsen, crawl back under the rock from which you slithered YOU are the racist! YOU are what's wrong with this wonderful Country of ours. YOU spread the ugly, vile, racist rumors......are you proud of your ignorance and stupidity?
We must be a nation of idiots to have any respect for racist pigs like the Michaelsons.
I think the Obamas are classy--far classier than their critics (yeah, you Mr. Michaelsen). If they can help America move along the continuum towards being a post-racial society they will deserve a vaunted place in history alongside the likes of ML King, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks and others. It says a lot about Obama and the American electorate (all good) that he is in a position to become the next president.
Re: comment 4::::: This writer is so dumb, he had to have his first name repeated in his last name so he could remember it. Also.....the title for these pages and comments is "Political Intelligence"...I guess that disqualifies Michael squared.
So please...blog master...you're allowed to show a little editorial discretion......I don't think it advances the debate at all to allow a racist, fascist remark like # 4 in this forum.
There is no stronger evidence of unpatriotic intent than the use of rumor, name-calling and inuendo to question the motives of another. It makes a mockery of this democracy where so many lost their lives to defend free speech in the hope that it would lead to equality and liberty for all.
To Michael Michaelsen:
Who is he (Obama) racist towards?
Can't be whites, since his mom is white and the grand parents who raised him are whites; may be towards blacks? oh! wait a minute his father is black or may be... just may be...... it is your own racism that you see in him!
This is not a nation of idiots, we just have few of them......like you.
Just saw Ms. Obama on the View. What a woman! I'm a Republican, but I'm honestly sold on Obama. We need a change.
My guess is that most of the people who have extremely negative views of the Obama's have not listened to them speak or read what they have said. Instead they are picking up bits and pieces from the right wing attack squad and allowing that to be the focus of their opinion. I also suspect that after the election they will be the snipers who look for any excuse to attack the First Family, and will pollute the blogs with their trivial nit picking.
"So far" is right. Michelle Obama is new and people are unsure of her, but Cindy McCain is better because she is familiar, and like another American Hero, James Bond says, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - and war Hero John McCain is an officer and a gentlemen. That is why he will emerge in VICTORY, just as we emerged in VICTORY from Vietnam after John McCain won Vietnam for America so we can fight for freedom. America didn't retreat from Vietnam, and John McCain will Never Surrender in the war on terrror. That is why Americans will say NObama in NOvember!
http://www.womenforjohnmccain.com/
I have been happily surprised to hear some of my Republican-leaning friends (at least I thought that they were republicans) -- say, they are for OBAMA... or that their kids are trying to talk them into OBAMA and they are thinking about it. What can anyone see in McCain if they are typical Americans earning less than $250,000 a year? ... more of the same ruinous policies for our country. Enough is enough.
Christina West,
Your posting couldn't be more ridiculous. I actually laughed out loud when I read it. James Bond is an American hero? John McCain won Vietnam for us? We won Vietnam? And did you seriously say that people should like Cindy McCain better because she's blond?
You must be some kind of anti-McCain subversive, because you sound like a lunatic
What strikes me most about Michelle Obama is that she is intelligent in her own right, but lives her family values. She also finds something positive in everyone--today, she held up Laura Bush as a role model, and also reached for a common bond with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Cindy McCain--I have compassion for the drug problems, as I've a family member in recovery, and don't think she should be hit for this. However, she is just nasty in her repetition and misquoting of Michelle Obama (unlike Laura Bush and Elisabeth Hasselbeck). This, her two-time pirating of cookie recipies, and her statement that whoever guessed a woman from Phoenix might be the next first lady (now there's diversity) at least make her a woman I wouldn't invite to my home.
They both look fantastic to me as a matter of fact I respect women a lot.
We all are America's, Please let us stick to the issues in front. People are losing their homes, jobs, gas is high, problems with our health care.Think about who can better serve us or your families. Please just think about your needs not your partyline---sometime you have to step back and look at the whole picture..
Please keep in mind we have a WAR going on, some of these men and women are ready to return to their love ones.
Can cindy even serve as first lady with honor given this in her past?
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/
I am much more concerned about this (actual criminal activity), much more than how patriotic someone felt in the past vs. now.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/
Unlike the fake videotape of Mrs. Obama supposedly calling white people white (how dare she), here is actual documented proof of Mrs. McCains character.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/
Funny, I thought we were electing a president, not a first lady.
THANK YOU #20, yet others ment true no harm: by expressing themselfs. Some dull, or wise. Depends!
How be it I concur with your wake 'up' calls #20, and #12 (all but the judgemental: ' ... like you.' #12) Still I CONCUR: THANK YOU.
Political mind "games" (political smoke screens) make some foget important issues at times, thanks for the voice of reason #20.
WELL PUT #20, THANKS
#13, Some fear CHANGE, so spread seeds of doubt.; to mislead life no matter the cost. A low political tactic some see as #16 statement shows.
REMEMBERING REAL ISSUES, AS #20 STATED: 'AMERICAN'S.'
seeding yields others model 20th causes