GOP targets Michelle Obama again
Another state Republican party is going after Michelle Obama on patriotism.
With Barack Obama's wife campaigning and helping raise money today for Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, the state GOP put out a video hitting Michelle Obama for her remark in February when she said she was proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. She later clarified her remark, saying she was saying she was particularly proud to see so many people involved in the political process.
In the video, similar to one aired by the Tennessee GOP, several Republican politicians in Washington state talk about what makes them proud about America, then recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Gregoire denounced the video and called on Republican opponent Dino Rossi, whom she narrowly defeated four years ago, to denounce it, too.
"I was proud to welcome Michelle Obama, who clearly loves our country deeply, here to Washington state this morning," Gregoire said in a statement. "These shameless attacks by the state Republican Party have no place in our politics. If John McCain is serious about running a "respectful" campaign on the issues, he and Republican leaders like Dino Rossi will denounce this tasteless attack ad and tell the state Republican Party to pull the plug on it immediately. After eight years of the most divisive, fear-driven politics this country has ever seen, I agree with Senator Obama that it's time to turn the page and bring Americans together."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton added in a statement, “With our economy in shambles, our nation at war and our challenges mounting by the day, it is beyond sad that the Republican Party of Washington would spend its time launching shameful attacks on the wife of a candidate -- attacks our current First Lady Laura Bush has decried. Michelle Obama has lived the American Dream, and it’s love of country that leads Michelle and Barack to make this race. But how does it strengthen our country to pollute our politics with false and mean-spirited attacks? John McCain promised us better. It's up to him to curb these tactics, or take responsibility for them."
Washington GOP officials are telling reporters that they did not clear the video with McCain's campaign.
UPDATE: Republicans, for their part, pointed out that a Democratic strategist raised questions this week about Cindy McCain's finances and its impact on her husband's campaign and his possible presidency, after the Belgian company InBev announced a takeover of Anheuser-Busch that could benefit her beer distributorship in Arizona.
The GOP pointed out that both Obama and McCain have pledged to refrain from attacking their spouses.
"Is Barack Obama going to speak to his operative's attacks against Cindy McCain?" asked Danny Diaz, a Republican National Committee spokesman. He said the Washington GOP's actions were "completely independent of the McCain campaign and RNC, the same cannot be said for Obama's handpicked spokesperson at the DNC."
In an interview published in the new Glamour magazine, Obama said attacks on his wife are "infuriating" and blamed the conservative media. "If they have a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her," Obama told the magazine.
Michelle Obama went on a public relations offensive last month, including an appearance on ABC's "The View" where she explained her "proud" remark.
The Republicans and any decent American should be repulsed by these attacks. Unless they now think Cindy McCain is fair game, as well. And if so, WHERE oh WHERE shall we start!
I think one has to consider the background of who made the remark. If Hillary Clinton had made it, I think there would be no way to defend it. However when you think about the "Black Experience", I don't think what Michelle Obama said was that wrong. The history of lynching, segregation, etc is certainly enough to affect the view point of any Afro-American.
I don't want to put words into her mouth but I can understand her thinking along such lines as "Why should I be proud of desegregation when there never should have been segregation in the first place?" More generally, if anyone feels that they have been wronged, should an apology and/or a repeal of the wrong make them feel proud?
Personally, I wish she hadn't said it but I can certainly understand her point of view
This reporter is clearly racist. I've never seen a less objective paper in my life.
Being that Cindy McCain embezzled money and drugs from a medical charity 10 years ago to support her drug addiction, the GOP is skating on thin ice by going after candidates wives.
I mean, which do you prefer? Drug addict who stole from charity or a woman who is proud of her country.
Oh, and John McCain is quoted as saying in March 2008 that he didn't love his country until he was a POW.
If Michelle Obama does not want to be criticized, or if her wuss of a husband doesn't want anyone to critize her, then tell her to stop campaigning and talking about matters of politics.
Are people supposed to shut up when the candidate's wife expresses an opinion in a planned and public campaign event? You have to be kidding or is the 1st amendment just for black people???
As Harry Truman once said - if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Was Harry a Republican???
PS - when will Globe "reporters" at least pretend to be impartial and keep teir opinions out of their "reporting"?
Many black women I have encountered have this strange sense of entitlement, despite the fact that, for many of the, they are simply the products of equal opportunity. One also has to say that some of these black ladies who made it for this reason are really not that bright when compared to whites or asians. Michelle Obama is simply one of these women.
If you don't want to be critizised then don't say anything!!! She got caught saying something stupid now she has to pay for it..........poor sorry Democrats..........oh you crazy Republicans..............VOTE OUT INCUMBANTS!!!
When Barack Obama decided to run for President ... and when Michele Obama decided to make political comments, they became fair game for the media. Their arrogant attitude at thinking they are above reproach is disturbing, especially since Obama turns everything into a photo op, and had enjoyed twice the coverage of McCain. In addition to Michele's comments about not being proud of America, or that America is a mean country, Michele and Barack chose to subject their young children to the anti-American racist remarks of Jeremiah Wright throughout their entire childhood.
The Republicans and the Bush Administration offer nothing and they have finally achieved their goal of bankrupting the country...they're shamless and they will do anything or lie about anything in an attempt to hang onto power...they're in for a major surprise in November and it's time for people who actually believe in government to run the government...good riddance !
That's not what she said. She said it was the first time she was REALLY proud.
But they don't care. They want to misquote her in order to smear Obama any way they can. They are afraid of him.
The words were the first time I was really proud of my country.
Mrs. Obama is less than 45 years old.
That night, having lived thru Watergate, the sale of my country during the Reagan Clinton bush years, the disgrace of Clinton's abuse of his office & the Bush abuses of our populace this middle aged hardworkingwhite grandmother was really proud of her country for the first time in 40 years.
(I guess it's easier to be proud all the time if you have Mrs. McCain's wealth & privilege. Most of us don't.)
Don't they have better things to do? Focus on the real issues like the ECONOMY, IRAQ, etc. etc.
Michelle ... thanks for telling us that Barack is so stinky, that
his wife and two daughters won't even get into bed with him.
WHO WANTS A STINKY PRESIDENT???
A valid reason for avoiding the nasty campaigning of political parties, although difficult to do when one is interested in the future President of the United States.
There is more digging and nit-picking and more petty remarks made by both the Republican and the Democratic parties. I don't suppose there's any chance for a clean campaign for a change? I cannot even begin to imagine the monies squandered by both parties in digging and reporting whatever possible negative 'news' to the public.
Any chance both parties can keep this campaign fairly clean? I think not.
Is obama serious...he blames everyone else when things go wrong...just because everyone doesn't agree with them ..he finds the need to put the blame on others...he is running for president of this great place...not class president...I have never seen such a whinning person....this is one democrat that can not in conscience vote for this phoney
ARE YOU KIDDING ME
If you politic for your husband you are fair game.
But we shouldn't make too much of her, Michelle "Jane Fonda" Obama is only number 572 on the list of reasons not to vote for Hussein.
Peter Wang:
What I THINK you were trying to say (your point was pretty garbled by your inept writing ability) is that Michelle Obama is a product of Affirmative Action, and therefore she isn't nearly as smart as someone who succeeded on their own merits.
The thing is, that's not what happened at all. Michelle Obama did succeed on her own merits, despite growing up in a time when affirmative action didn't exist and racism was alive and well in our country.
I'm thinking it still is. You are clearly an ignorant bigot.
Mary B.....that's my name too! BUT, either you are a Hiliary devotee, or a Republican. I am an Obama supporter who is a 62 year old white working widow. I don't know who you are listening to, or who you are watching, but it definitely isn't Obama! I followed the primary VERY, VERY closely......it was Hiliary that was doing the "boo-hooing", whining, complaining, and BASHING! Not Obama. He has been more than a gentleman throughout this election season. He was punched, knocked down, but managed to pretty much stay above the fray. So, get over your bitterness.....(because that's what it sounds like to me). Stop trashing Obama, please!!
Time to dissolve the GOP, the party of hate and greed. I, for one, think the GOP is in for a rather unpleasant surprise when they are sent packing in droves all over the country. So, keep up the trashy campaigns, folks!
This is a self inflicted wound by the Obamas just like Bubba was a self inflicted wound on Sen. Clinton's campaign.
Politics is a contact sport - if you don't want to get dinged up don't play.
BO the second comming of JC (Jimmy Carter)....God help us all
I am an elderly proud African-American woman who believes the Obama's are THE MOST arrogant, entitlement-minded, power-hungry political couple this country has ever seen since the Clintons! They are both a shameful addition to the political process!
If the Obama's are "so above it all" then why did they subject their children to so many years of the ranting racist sermons of Rev. Wright? Why? Because they had to attend that church and embrace its teachings in order to climb the political ladder in southside Chicago. They are simply opportunists in the worst way.
Shame Shame Shame on you Obama's!!
If M'chelle wants to remain untouched by political campaigns, then she should stay off the campaign trail.
Stay at home and bake cookies! Or, if you want to risk opening your mouth, becoming partisan player in support of your left-wing husband, then get ready for whatever slap comes along.
Well-deserved, in this case.
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