Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Muzzling Michelle
Back in the early nineties my father allowed that "Bill would be ok if he could only muzzle Hillary." Suffice it to say that while Mrs. TigerHawk probably shared her father-in-law's preference for Bill over the First Lady, she objected to the metaphor, probably for its allusion to the canine.
Metaphors aside, the spouses of presidents and candidates for the office are a legitimate subject for analysis and deconstruction. We have to live with these people in our public lives for no other reason than they married somebody we elected. We have to see them on our television and listen to them bleating over our radio. We also have to suffer under the suspicion that they influence their spouse in unseen ways, and so their opinions and inclinations are not entirely irrelevant to predicting how the actual elected president will behave in office.
Because of this and for other reasons, presidential candidates usually incorporate their spouses into their campaign. So it is with Barack Obama, who deploys his wife Michelle for at least two reasons. First, it allows his campaign to be more than one place at once. Second, she appeals to certain audiences.
Unfortunately, she also says things that offend or irritate many Americans and create political ammunition for her husband's opponents. The Obama campaign will of course suggest that is is unfair to attack Barack through Michelle, but is it? She could have chosen the Laura Bush path, generally steering clear of subjects that either inspire the faithful or offend the center. She and her husband instead adopted the Clinton model, which was for Michelle to speak her mind, hoping that this would benefit Barack's campaign. Whether or not it is fair to attack Barack for Michelle's undergraduate thesis, is it not entirely appropriate to attack him for statements that Michelle makes on the stump, just as if she were any other "surrogate"?
CWCID: Glenn Reynolds.
18 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed Apr 09, 09:54:00 AM:
"Whether or not it is fair to attack Barack for Michelle's undergraduate thesis..."
The answer is easy. The test is whether the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden etc., would attack a Bush judicial nominee for the souse's undergraduate thesis. If they would, then gp after Michelle. If you think they would forebear, than leave her alone.
Far more concerning is that Michelle is clearly the one who has picked up the black racism and anti-American value system of Rev Wright.
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 10:13:00 AM:
It's cool that her crew displaced the Asian for the whitey in her little PR event.
If you ask any black person, they'll tell you that Asians are the most racist people in the world. That's why it was ok that their stores were looted in LA 15 years ago.
After all, racism is the worst crime possible, much worse than looting.
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 10:45:00 AM:
The Democratic nominee will need votes from centrist Democrats like me in the fall. Michelle Obama commits two cardinal sins in the political realm -- one has traditionally befallen the Democrats and one is new. As for the former, she's negative on the country and, in a way, running against it. That type of attitude doesn't usually help and has hurt the Democrats in the past (people like to feel good about their candidate and don't usually feel that way if the message is negative). As for the latter, she's angry despite her accomplishments, and in press reports that (sometimes thinly veiled, sometimes not so thinly veiled) anger makes her come off as mean. And, of course, those symptoms don't make her look like a "presidential" spouse. Put simply, she's not actually helping her husband (because those to whom she appeals will vote for him anyway), she's hurting him. Dyed-in-the-wool Democrats may not like the criticism, but centrist Democrats like me don't appreciate her scolding nature.
By the way, racism in any form is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Barack Obama is a motivating, smart political force and a good candidate, and Michelle Obama is a smart, accomplished woman. It just may be that Michelle Obama is too unskilled as a political spouse to help her husband win.
The Centrist
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 10:58:00 AM:
"By the way, racism in any form is unacceptable and should not be tolerated."
Unless it's by a black Democrat, of course. Rev. Wright, for instance.
By 
Christopher Chambers, at
Wed Apr 09, 11:07:00 AM:
She's only "hurting" him with tightass right wing tools like you who won't vote for him anyway. She's a black women in America. She's going to have life experiences and opinions you clowns find alien and subversive at worst, quaint at best. But they are out there, right under your noses. They even attend your elite colleges and universities (I don't mean the pre-empted future $40 million slaves there recruited to play ball) and they chuckle with you in the lunch room at work. But do you truly give a crap what makes them tick beyond the banter or the Queen Latifah movie you see on TV? She doesn't scold you all ENOUGH. And by the way, she scolds black folks aplenty. Personal responsibility, education/achievement, rejection of anti-intellectualism/anti-rationalism (wow, and Mrs. Bush is a librarian). Alas, you wouldn't know that because you don't care.
And Anonymous's "Black racism and anti-American values?" Huh? Whuh? Cracker, please! I saw more scary stuff when "Borat" visited the Red State homes and churches in the movie. Let's talk about THAT stuff for a change, shall we? Ha!
That's why Obama was wrong in positing a "national conversation on race." That was soft PR talk so as not to offend whites, and appeal to the 7th grade reading level of most of the polity.
The notion is hooey. YOU douchebags need to get real about American history, the nature of race and class and wealth in this country, take off the blinders and/or rose colored glasses. WE need to stop whining and floating off in any number of nihilistic and/or self-indulgent/destructive destractions and take care of our own problems (the ones we can control). Then we all meet in the middle once we've gotten our respective sh*t together and help each other with the truly messy stuff.
But no. No one can tell you all anything. I guess like a quiet, knows her/his place political spouse, we should shut up and let you run things. Just as I like it when my wife doesn't bother me when I'm driving...
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 11:26:00 AM:
Well, Chris sure nailed that one! It is all whitey's fault and as soon as we all accept that and pay off the black race pimps we will be able to begin the healing or "meet in the middle" as the anti-cracker calls it.
Why don't we start the healing by demanding as much diversity in the employment of college basketball players as we do with college faculty?
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 11:57:00 AM:
As an Asian American, I feel we need to get real about race in America.
My ancestors were treated terribly, practically slaves during the westward railroad expansion. We had anti-immigrant legislation aimed at us. We were thrown into camps during WWII.
Now look at our plight! We form only 40-70% of any public university in California! If that's not evidence of racism in America, I don't know what is.
Keep up the fight, Brother Chambers. The best way to success in this country is always to blame whitey, especially by trolling their blogs and calling them cracka-ass-crackas, dickheads, and douchebags. Hell, it worked for us.
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 12:09:00 PM:
Mr. Chambers: perceptions of spouses and family members are, right or wrong, a reality. They will shape voters' opinions of candidates. Most leaders do value their spouses' opinions highly (and Bill Clinton, for what it's worth, could hurt Hillary as well as help her).
Glad to see your openness about personal responsibilty, both "sides" (although that's a regrettable term) getting their acts and facts together and then coming together meaningfully. That would be a positive step.
Please remember, though, that people will have very legitimate reasons about voting for someone other than Barack Obama. To do so does not make them racists, the same way that people opposing Hillary are not by definition sexists and those opposing McCain aren't necessarily discriminating against age. I also think that the critical center, as it were, is much more open-minded on issues than you think.
The Centrist
By Gordon Smith, at
Wed Apr 09, 12:41:00 PM:
http://marriage.about.com/od/politics/p/johnmccain.htm
Lots of fun facts about John McCain's wives here at the entirely nonpartisan marriage.about.com
By Gordon Smith, at
Wed Apr 09, 12:41:00 PM:
http://marriage.about.com/od/politics/p/johnmccain.htm
Lots of fun facts about John McCain's wives here at the entirely nonpartisan marriage.about.com
By , at
Wed Apr 09, 02:14:00 PM:
Say what you'll say about Michelle, but I think she could kick Putin's ass! Reason enough to vote for the Obamas in my book.
By Nahanni, at
Wed Apr 09, 03:04:00 PM:
Chris is exactly what Thomas Sowell was referring to today. But, I guess he is not "black" enough for ol' Chris
Nothing is more fraudulent than calls for a "dialogue on race." Those who issue such calls are usually quick to cry "racism" at any frank criticism. They are almost invariably seeking a monologue on race, to which others are supposed to listen.
The same people who have gone ballistic when some prominent figure is found to belong to some all-male social club are full of excuses for why Barack Obama remained a member of a racist and anti-American church for 20 years.
Among the many wise things said by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was that you are entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts. Yet an incredible number of people make up whatever "facts" are needed to support whatever they choose to believe.
By Georg Felis, at
Wed Apr 09, 05:56:00 PM:
Hillary and Bill have been the masters of “Take Both Sides and Pass The Hat” politics for many years, where one of them has a certain position, and the other one collects money to “Change” the others opinion. Example: The South America trade deal recently where Hillary has been an outspoken critic, while Bill has been making multi-million dollar speeches in favor of it. (although I do not see her firing her Husband the way she did over her advisor)
I am not sure what is worse, the way they hit up suckers for cash, or the way the suckers keep coughing up the money.
It will be a long time before Obama and Michelle can perfect the art of selective extortion as well as the Clintons. Thankfully.
By , at
Thu Apr 10, 04:42:00 PM:
Let me start by saying this...
For the Asian American, please do not equate your experience with the experiences of African Americans. they are different on many levels and for many reasons.
Secondly, I love how you guys throw out 'anti-american'. There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. "The greatest form of patriotism is dissent" while nationalism is what you guys practice. You guys sound like crazy throwback mini-McCarthys. What's next...hmmm...a black list? A lynching party (like your friend Bill o'Reilly suggested), is it going to be like a witch hunt, exile, concentration camps? Those are all the things that unhealthy nationalism, arrogance, irrational fear etc... have caused. What happened to freedom of speech? Please stop carrying on and foaming from the mouth with your heated and ridiculous accusations.
In addition, I would like to tell you that people have different experiences in this country. May I kindly ask you to step off your high horse and try and see where someone is coming from. You guys just love distortion.
Now, throwing out cherry picked quotes from black conservatives or opportunists as some means of "authencity" to what you are saying is not working. Since you enjoy doing that then here is a white person that can set you straight...Tim Wise. Go read his stuff.
I love how people distort what people are saying for their own political agenda. I love how people draw up conclusions an have discussions based on things they know nothing about.
Lastly, If black "radicalism" (as you guys like to call it) was so dangerous then this country would have had issues years ago. Years ago...it is not a threat on any level.
Here is the word of the day for you...
CONTEXT.
Here are some assignments...
Learn about something or someone before you pass judgement.
Learn about what discrimnation and racism actually mean? There is a difference between racism/discrimination and the reaction to racism/discrimnation.
Learn the difference between patriotism and nationalism.
Thank You.
By , at
Thu Apr 10, 04:46:00 PM:
In addition, there are no black radicals anywhere in this election, not Senator Obama and not Mrs. Obama. So wipe the drool off of your lips and worry about more important issues like the economy, national security, the War in Iraq, the fact that the U.S. dollar is losing value, gas prices, jobs, our stance and reputation in the world etc...etc...
By , at
Thu Apr 10, 06:45:00 PM:
Hey, BrownSuga,
You're right, us Asian Americans have no idea what you guys are up against.
We have a culture that values hard work and holds contempt for those who blame others for their own faults.
I suppose I could have a chat with some of my West Indian friends, who are not African American but are just as black (or brown) as you are, Suga. Their ancestors were slaves as well. They didn't have any problem navigating the path to success in America.
It's not a race thing - it's a culture thing. It's not racist to say that many elements of African American culture are bad and need to change in order for success to be had in this country.
Sack up and deal with it.
By , at
Fri Apr 11, 01:54:00 PM:
I love you for this one anonymous,
I am West Indian. My mother is from Jamaica and my father is from Trinidad and Tobago. I love how you jump to conclusions and use West Indians as pawns for your agenda. I love how you assumed that I have ancestry in this country. I love it. You guys do this all the time. Now let me continue the converstaion...
1. West Indians were enslaved but no oppressed. My family members were able to open businesses and accumulate wealth over generations. They did not face the dehumanizations that blacks in this country have faced. They now too have been faced with discrimination... so much discrimination...it is a shame.
My mother became a social worker so that she can help with the problems that she saw this in this country. She has approached them with compassion and has managed to change lives. She since has retired and has opened various florists in the greater NY area. Many of my family members say the same things about black Americans. It completely unfair because they judge them. They really dont understand it. My parents felt the same way until they became informed. My mother did not know about half of what went on in this country. They have a certain mindset also. They come from places where they did not have to deal with the feelings of inferiority, depression, humiliation, hate etc... Those feelings when not resolved in anyone, anbody would cause destructive outcomes. Nobody ever told them that they were not good enough or could not do something. My mother and father are happy each and every day that they were not born in this country. My entire family is.
2. In addition, your arrogant and ignorant assumptions about African Americans are inaccurate and unfair. I attend Columbia University with many, many African americans who are bright and intelligent and I deal with them on a regular basis. There are many black middle classed and upper classed neighborhoods in this country esp. in parts of Atlanta and Prince George's county in Maryland....they are all over. All of my friends who are black are middle and upper classed.
Now there are a lot who are concentrated in inner city urban areas that deal with many social ills however these ills have existed for decades since the 30s and 40s (even before) when blacks began to migrate from the rural south to cities. It isn't new. It has just been ignored. Now it has spirled into a problem that is unimaginable. Also just because a person lives in these neighborhoods does not mean that they are not hard working because many are. I volunteer at a community center in NYC and I know men and women who work 2 and 3 jobs just to make ends meet. The cost of living in New York is ridiculous. The landlords keep raising the rent on them because they are trying to move poor and working class blacks out of Harlem. Poverty is a vicious cycle.All of these people want their children to have good lives. They however are not always able to provide it. Do not pass your judgement on people you know nothing about.
I love how you also talk about culture. Yes, you are right. America, in general, has a culture of racism. I have a white friend from Finland and she is appalled by much of the people here.
Also, Are you saying that blacks in this country are inferior? Hmmm...they have been selling that for years and years. They have used that to justify black subjugation for centuries.
Small minded and simple minded people who naturally have negative views of blacks (this includes some blacks too) boil down to that conclusion. When they want to confirm it they point to societal issues. What caused these societal issues...hmmm? For me to actually explain it to you would take too long and I think much of what I may have to say will go over your head.
You speak about education in particular in you comment. I would like to start by telling you if you did not pick it up, that I attend Columbia University in NYC. All of my friends growing up (who are black attend) NYC, Cornell, Vanderbilt, Dartmouth etc... However they all came from privileged backgrounds and were nurtured in an enviornment of people with education themselves and compassion. This country has a long history of promoting black anti-intellectualism as means to manintain a social order. The greatest way to opress a people is to opress their minds. There is nothing more threatening to those who want to maintain power than a Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, a W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the members of my family, a Rhonda Smith (thats me) amongst so many others. This promotion of anti-intellectualism (through various methods) have taken life and identity amongst those who have not had an identity. For other this has been associated with blacks so they just assume that they don't want to learn or are unable to learn. They then do not bother. That is the issue. When I try to empower young African American youth, I try and reverse this notion. These destructive images that have been promoted to them of themselves.
Nobody is blaming others. It sickens me when people say that because when I discuss these issues, I am merely stating truth.
Sack that up and deal with it!!
P.S. Sorry for the long comment but with such ignorance...it is neccessary.
P.S.S I am not bothering to proofread so try and make sense out of it and keep it in context.
By RhondaCoca, at
Sun Apr 13, 06:21:00 PM:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/04/12/roommate_0413.html
I found this article about a woman in Georgia who onced roomed with Michelle Obama at Princeton. Its an eye opener and would probably give some of you depth and understanding to the issues at play. Shallowness and arrogance help no one.
By the way, BrownSugaQT86, thank you. I think you put most of these ppl in their rightful place.
