MICHELLE OBAMA CLARIFIES "PROUD" REMARK

[RBInMaine]

OK, she has clarified it (although IN CONTEXT even the admittedly poorly worded original comment was pretty clear as to what she was trying to express). So there. YES, she loves her country and always has. YES, she is a patriot. And YES, for the first time in memory she is feeling a UNIQUE sense of national pride in our politics because of what she sees happening in the country.
(SEE BELOW)


Michelle Obama Clarifies `Proud' Remark
AP
Posted: 2008-02-20 17:46:00
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The wife of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama sought Wednesday to clarify her comment that for the first time she's really proud of her country.

On Monday, Michelle Obama told an audience in Milwaukee that "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change." Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential contender John McCain, later sought to capitalize on the remark, saying "I have, and always will be, proud of my country."

Asked by WJAR-TV if she would like to clarify her comment, Obama replied that she has been struck by the number of people going to rallies and watching debates, as well as record voter turnouts.

"What I was clearly talking about was that I'm proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process," she said.

"For the first time in my lifetime, I'm seeing people rolling up their sleeves in a way that I haven't seen and really trying to figure this out - and that's the source of pride that I was talking about," she added.

When asked if she had always been proud of her country, she replied "absolutely" and said she and her husband would not be where they are now if not for the opportunities of America.

Obama himself gave a similar explanation during an interview Tuesday with WOAI radio in San Antonio, Texas. Expressing frustration that his wife's remarks had been taken out of context and turned into political fodder, the Illinois senator said, "What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America, because she's pretty cynical about the political process, and with good reason, and she's not alone. But she has seen large numbers of people get involved in the process, and she's encouraged."

Michelle Obama was campaigning in Rhode Island two weeks before the state's March 4 primary. She planned a rally later with her brother, Craig Robinson, the coach of the Brown University men's basketball team.


Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
02/20/08 17:41 EST

[Crazy Dave]

1. It's a shame that she had to clarify it

Most intelligent people with any common sense know what she meant or didn't.

[goldcanyonaz]

2. Uh huh... She has said some stupid things, if this was the first it would be different.

"Ain't no blacks in Iowa"

"Black American will wake up"

In regards to supporting Hillary Clinton:

"I'd have to think about that," she said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I'd have to think about — policies, her approach, her tone."

Yep, nothing to see there...

[GarbagemanLB]

3. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those statements. nt

[jefferson_dem]

4. Hannity?

That you?

[goldcanyonaz]

6. Rush, you know full well that I'm Ann, and not Hannity.

:rofl:

[rodeodance]

7. nope--it was MO herself.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Well...BO does have the MO...

If that's any consolation.

[rodeodance]

16. yes he does.

[tyne]

5. It's simple to

take phrases out of context and call them stupid. Anybody can do that.

[grantcart]

28. also when you are making statements all day long you will

eventually slip up. It was a mistake but it was good because she will learn from it.

[RBInMaine]

9. So how do you respond to Hillary's debate LIE ??

Hillary had told a newspaper that Gov. Spitzer's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegals "makes sense." Pretty clear don't you think? Then she said she opposed the plan in the debate and claimed she did not say she supported it. She tried to weasel and twist her way out of what was a clear statement. In short, SHE LIED in the debate instead of just stating that upon reflection she has changed her position. And if we wanted to do so, we can go back through TONS of poorly worded Hillary statements and many other such shenanigans.

[elixir]

18. I agree, Goldcanyonaz, this is not the first offense.

This is the kind of stuff that can really hurt a campaign. A few weeks ago someone posted a thread asking why people didn't like Michelle Obama or something to that effect. Several responses noted that she's angry, looks angry or appears to have, as Tweety says, a chip on her shoulder.

I don't know enough about Michelle Obama's history but it sounds like she's a very well educated woman w/a substantial profession and 5+ years of political spouse experience. Odd that she would still present this type of image, nothing really wrong, just not as smooth as a seasoned campaigner might present. I think if it were any other candidates wife, it would come off as very strange.

[rodeodance]

8. Her saying what she meant comment carried on abc last eveing (i have seen

comments here saying i was carried on other networks).

The press is scrutinizing her now a bit more--which is a good thing

[Beausoir]

13. Yes. The glare of the spotlight is on.

[Irishonly]

11. She said nothing wrong

When I first heard the tape I didn't know what all the fuss was about. It may not have been the most PC thing to say but there was no bashing intended. I am saying this as a boomer who gets angry at the suggestions we are not relevant and all of the other potshots taken here on DU. There is no time to bash each other because we have a president to elect.:rant: I had hoped the media would not make a big deal out of it but she's a democrat so the writing was on the wall.

We have a bumbling fool in the WH now. Why the press didn't make a big deal out of his words when he told and audience in Japan we had been allies for over a century is beyond me. Why they don't make a big deal of his crimes is beyond me. But let a woman speak about pride that history is being made and pride for her husband making history with every step he takes, the MSM goes nuts.

[RememberWellstone]

23. She won't say it again?

I bet. Evidently there was something wrong with what she said..and it was'nt taken out of context. Hillary said she has always been proud to be an American..Obama and Ms.? Not so sure. Will they be proud if they get elected? Or sink back to non-proud if it gets a little tough?

[Irishonly]

24. You Heard Differently Than I Did

I did not see it as a slam. I have taken offense at many statements from Obama's campaign and especially from his supporters. I especially took offense at Obama's Wellstone comment. Michelle's comment was not something I took offense with.

[librechik]

12. Clearly,FauxNutz edited the remark on tape before airing, to change the meaning

as Thom Hartmann demonstrated on his show yesterday. They took out a word: "really." That was the first time in her adult lifetime that she was REALLY proud...See how that changes it? Apparenty the Obamas weren't even aware of Fox's little dirty trick, or they would have answered differently, no doubt. They should talk to Thom. He's got it all on tape.

[rodeodance]

17. The media/press has started to scrutinize her (not just fox)---pretty soon hard to keep up.

[MethuenProgressive]

21. You say she apologized for a stupid remark she didn't make?

Your spin is she's backtracking from the editted version?
Like "really" in or out of it makes it not just as stupid?

[UALRBSofL]

14. MO doesn't backtrack very well

But as the first lady she will have plenty of opportunity to do so as we see Obama and his camp at work in the next 4 years.

[Darth_Kitten]

15. Apparently she wouldn't like being called First Lady.........

from what I've read.

is she already picking out the White House China?

[elixir]

19. What did you read and where?

[MethuenProgressive]

20. So the DUbamas who defended version #1, accept they were wrong now that she backtracked?

[oasis]

22. GOP ad:"Michelle was for America before she was against America".

Count on it.

[Beregond2]

25. Michelle

Blah, blah, blah. Personally, I much prefer public figures who speak their minds without considering what every syllable might be taken to mean by idiots. If that means occasionally saying something politically risky, so what? The alternative is a political automaton like Hillary, who can't even fake sincerity effectively.

God, for the good old days of people like Truman, who thought nothing of saying things like: "I'd like to kick him in the nuts!" Triangulate that.

[oasis]

26. (1)Barack refuses to wear an American flag lapel pin (2)the pic of him

"at ease" while others salute the flag. Michelle's gaffe is strike three for the Obamas.

You and I aren't bothered by this kind of trivia, but it doesn't go over well in "flyover country".

[grantcart]

29. I would love it if they ran an ad on Michelle that would give us an opportunity to

run a counter ad that would show that Cindy McCain

1) carried on an affair with McCain when he was still married to the woman who stood by him when he was a POW and
2) That she is a drug addict
3)She stole drugs from her own charity to supply her own habit.
4) She was involved in the keating 5 scandal


Gee Oasis I really don't think many people on the other side are thinking much about attacking Michelle Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_mccain

This is the woman who is giving advice the our Michelle on American values

Hensley met John McCain in 1979 at a military reception in Hawaii.<9> He was the U.S. Navy liaison officer to the United States Senate, eighteen years her senior,<1> and in a somewhat troubled marriage to his first wife, Carol.<15> McCain and Hensley quickly began a relationship;<1> he divorced Carol in April 1980, and he and Cindy were married on May 17, 1980 in Phoenix. Her father's business and political contacts helped gain her husband a foothold into Arizona politics;<15> she campaigned with her husband door-to-door during his successful first bid for U.S. Congress in 1982,<7> with her wealth from an expired trust from her parents providing significant loans to the campaign.<9><16><17>

In 1989, Cindy McCain became addicted to opioid painkillers such as Percocet and Vicodin.<22> She later attributed her addiction to pain following two spinal surgeries for ruptured discs<23><24> as well as emotional stress during her husband's entanglement in the Keating Five scandal of that time,<22> which also involved her role as a bookkeeper who had difficulty finding receipts of Keating-related expenses.<14> The addiction progressed to the point where she resorted to stealing drugs from her own AVMT.<23> During 1992, Tom Gosinski, the director of government and international affairs for AVMT, discovered her drug theft.<25> Subsequently in 1992, McCain's parents staged an intervention to force her to get help;<14> she told her husband about her problem, attended a drug treatment facility, began outpatient sessions, and ended her three years of active addiction;<22> a hysterectomy in 1993 resolved her back pain.<22><24> In January 1993, McCain terminated Gosinski's employment on grounds of budgetary reasons.<25> In spring 1993, Gosinski tipped off the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate McCain's drug theft.<25> Her activities violated federal statutes, so a federal investigation was conducted. McCain's defense team, led by Washington lawyer John Dowd,<25> secured an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office that limited her punishment to financial restitution and enrollment in a diversion program, <4><25> without anything being made public.

Meanwhile, in early 1994 Gosinski filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against McCain, which he told her he would settle for $250,000.<25> In April 1994, Dowd requested that Maricopa County officials investigate Gosinski for extortion.<25> At this point, the Phoenix New Times was preparing a negatively-cast story about the whole affair and was about to publish it.<25><22> Cindy McCain pre-empted this<22> by publicly revealing her past addiction, stating she hoped it would give fellow drug addicts courage in their struggles: "Although my conduct did not result in compromising any missions of AVMT, my actions were wrong, and I regret them."<4> A flurry of press attention followed, including charges by Gosinski that she had asked him to lie concerning her drug use when the McCains were applying to adopt their baby from Bangladesh<22> and statements by past AVMT employees that Gosinski had once threatened to blackmail her. A few weeks after her announcement, the Variety Club of Arizona canceled its Humanitarian of the Year award dinner in her honor citing poor ticket sales.<4> In the end, both Gosinski's lawsuit and the extortion investigation against him were dropped.<22> AVMT concluded its activities in 1995.<11>

[BenDavid]

27. excuse me, but one speech folks can maybe overlook but

when she said the same thing in 2 speeches then I believe she really meant what she said. Maybe she is a bigot and a racist that truly does not like white people.....maybe she has ingested too much of the words from the right reverend wright and his anti white sermons....

oh and did you obama folks know the right reverend that obama says is his mentor was not allowed to attend or speak or ofer a prayer in feb. 07 when obama announced....why?

[bridgit]

30. That's fine, maybe it was fine all along; But Michelle should have take Hillary's lead...

when Hillary was 1st Lady, and understood with a quickness; that her words would be scrutinized very closely, very closely indeed.

It just comes with the territory: Michelle Obama in spotlight's glare