Video report
- For their own good
 Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
- More video reports
|
News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Shooting from the lip
A Times Editorial
Published February 22, 2008
Michelle Obama made an extraordinary statement this week for the wife of the leading Democratic presidential candidate. Speaking at a Wisconsin rally on Tuesday, the day her husband was about to win his 10th straight primary victory over Hillary Clinton, she said: "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change." That would be a jarring statement from anyone who has paid any attention to what this country and its citizens have accomplished, endured and overcome in recent decades. It is not just the conservative bloggers who are denouncing her remarks. Even some Democrats winced, and Michelle Obama can be sure her words will come back to haunt her husband this fall if he is the Democratic nominee. Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, insists that her comment was taken out of context. "What she meant is that she's really proud at this moment, because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who've never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grass-roots movement," Burton told USA Today. That may be what she meant, but that is not what she said and that is not what people heard. As her husband can tell her, words do matter, and Michelle Obama, who was educated at Princeton and Harvard Law, needs to choose hers more carefully.
[Last modified February 21, 2008, 22:20:56]
Share your thoughts on this story
Comments on this article
|
by Misha
|
02/24/08 08:23 AM
|
|
People who are predisposed to find offense in what Michele Obama said are offended. It is not hard to find fault if that's what you're looking for. There are always people who are holier-than-the-rest of us.
|
|
by Mike
|
02/24/08 08:07 AM
|
|
Words matter. Is she not prideful of her country when she stands for the National Anthem an is reminded of the high ideas & principles our country was founded upon. Hate to vote for a Republican, but I sure won't vote for a blame-America elitist.
|
|
by America
|
02/24/08 03:37 AM
|
|
The feeling is mutual, Michelle.
|
|
by Jim
|
02/24/08 01:36 AM
|
|
Why is it always, and only, liberals who are not proud of the country? Because liberals don't like America. They like what they want America to be. It's disgusting.
|
|
by april
|
02/24/08 12:44 AM
|
|
What did we accomplish in the 80s or 90s? How about tearing down the Berlin Wall and freeing millions of people held as captives behind the Iron Curtain? It was principally Ronald Reagan who made that happen: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
|
|
by sam
|
02/23/08 11:57 PM
|
|
She is proud of her country because they are voting for her husband, what if they stop voting for him will she then feel shame for her country. Liberals act as though America's only good when it does something they prove of, not First Lady material
|
|
by Helen
|
02/23/08 11:25 PM
|
|
The Obamas have been emboldened to reveal more of their true radicalism in the mistaken belief that they have become untouchable. His indictment of Christian hypocrites & mocking those who believe in angels more than evolution is also quite foolish
|
|
by Scott
|
02/23/08 09:46 PM
|
|
So I guess Mrs. Obama wasn't proud of America helping Katrina victims, how we responded to 9/11, how we helped Tsunami victims or any other acts of America's compassion and leadership? Mrs. Obama, America is a great nation. Too bad you can't see it
|
|
by Tom
|
02/23/08 09:01 PM
|
|
Mrs.Obama meant EXACTLY what she said. No spin needed here to see how shallow this couple really is. Alot of you may have blinders on,but the people of FL don't & we have chosen our candidate based ABILITY to deliver RESULTS, not on race/sex nor talk
|
|
by Sherri
|
02/23/08 08:53 PM
|
|
Michelle Obama's comments are offensive, especially to members of the military who risk their lives to defend our country's freedoms. Whenever there is a disaster anywhere in the world, the United States is always the 1st country to offer assistance.
|
|
by Bill
|
02/23/08 08:18 PM
|
|
I'm not disappointed in Michelle Obama.
But, then, I never expected much from her in the first place.
|
|
by Ricardo
|
02/23/08 07:15 PM
|
|
Michelle Obamas is a 47 year old highly educated woman with degress from Princeton and Harvard. She is an accomplished speaker. She is no novice to the public arena.
She obviously harbors resentment towards her native country.
All else is spin
|
|
by lillian
|
02/23/08 06:24 PM
|
|
i guess she was not proud when she and her husband were able to attend harvard and most likely acquire student's loans? etc etc blah blah
|
|
by Vonita
|
02/23/08 05:20 PM
|
|
Why are you surprized? Michelle Obama has the moving van packed for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and doesn't beleive she or her husband has to appologize fr anything thanks to the Media who have annointed them the next First Couple.
Go Hillary!!!
|
|
by Kwasi
|
02/23/08 04:30 PM
|
|
REWRITE: Her comment reflects an understandable train-of-thought that can develop through a hyper-focus on the struggle of the black poor. Their long term social and economic oppression present an emotional quandary for successful African Americans.
|
|
by Debra
|
02/23/08 04:00 PM
|
|
I think we can cut her some slack on this. I knew what she meant even though I may have articulated it differently. Regardless, I think she will make a superb first lady!
|
|
by John Warren Gotsch
|
02/23/08 03:59 PM
|
|
As a former resident of Pass-a-Grille and retired academician, may i suggest you totally took Mrs Obama's words out of context. If you are a true believer in GW Bush's inanities, deceitfulness and abject dishonesties; thn woe on you!
|
|
by Paula
|
02/23/08 03:46 PM
|
|
I know what she meant and I don't like it. She was as clear as a bell. Don't try to spin it. She is darned lucky to live in this country. Her comment had nothing to do with voter turn-out. Sadly, this is a potential First Lady.
|
|
by steve
|
02/23/08 03:23 PM
|
|
ms obama is a pampered, affirmative action product. disgusting...
|
|
by John
|
02/23/08 02:55 PM
|
|
Liz, to the extent that the President's spouse is important, I think I feel more comfortable with Michelle than Bill C. at this point. Her "oops" moment was unfortunate; his racial gaffes have been alarmingly divisive to this country.
|
|
by Robert
|
02/23/08 02:23 PM
|
|
I hate to enlighten you, but Michelle Obama's comment would have been standard talk around our dinner table. Did you ever hear of Vietnam?
|
|
by Fred
|
02/23/08 02:18 PM
|
|
They are little more than a black reincarnation of the Clinton duo: power hungry schemers whose private thoughts slip out on occasion to expose what they really think of America & her people. She's a perfect Hillary imitation: shrew behind the conman
|
|
by William
|
02/23/08 02:14 PM
|
|
Easy to take things out of context and take a cheap shot. If you had bothered to listen or read any of Mrs. Obama's previous speeches you would know that. This is just repeating the same attack without doing the research.
|
|
by Joan
|
02/23/08 02:12 PM
|
|
No need to split hairs; Michelle was unambiguous in saying she's never been proud of her country until it elevated her and her husband politically. Disgusting.
|
|
by Tony
|
02/23/08 02:04 PM
|
|
I guess you can make all the excuses you want but the fact remains that both Obama and his wife are leftists who do not like this country and will do everything possible to destroy it as we now know it. Remember this if he gets elected.
|
|
by Mavis
|
02/23/08 02:01 PM
|
|
Even with all the advantages she has enjoyed, she can't get beyond the "victimization" mindset of some blacks.
|
|
by Oakley
|
02/23/08 01:13 PM
|
|
Oops! Talk about a slip of the tongue. These liberals need to be more guarded!!
|
|
by Kwasi
|
02/23/08 01:07 PM
|
|
Her comment reflects a popular train of thought within the black intelligentsia that can develop through a hyper-focus on the struggle of the black oppressedō014whose existence presents an emotional quandary for successful African Americans.
|
|
by John
|
02/23/08 01:04 PM
|
|
Frightening what a potential "First Lady" thinks about this country. The radical racist in her is apparent, regardless of how they mask it - it slips out. Her dissertation at Princeton proves that out. The Left has their king/queen - God help us!
|
|
by Steve
|
02/23/08 01:03 PM
|
|
She also said of her first meeting with Obama "He was biracial. I was like, okay, what's that about?" Sounds slightly racist doesn't it?
|
|
by Bill
|
02/23/08 12:29 PM
|
|
When it comes to politic , the truth is the last think some people want to heard!!! Michelle did nat lie , and nobody died so please give Barack and Michelle a Break ):
|
|
by Joe
|
02/23/08 12:10 PM
|
|
How about the...
End of the Soviet Empire (which terrorised, oprressed, and killed millions for over 50 years).
2) The liberation of Kuwait
3) The bravery of those after 9/11
Should I continue??
|
|
by mike
|
02/23/08 11:57 AM
|
|
Typically liberal drival. Obama totally overlooks the fact that as a middle class kid, she was given an opportunity by the freedoms of this counrty, to go to prestigious schools,and improve her life . Those freedoms alone should have made her proud
|
|
by Teri
|
02/23/08 11:38 AM
|
|
I knew she meant it politically re: the voter turnout. I personally have not been proud of the things GWB has done & said...I don't think I'm alone in that. But she meant "politically" and people know that. Come on.
|
|
by Frieda
|
02/23/08 11:35 AM
|
|
The more I listen to both of them, the less I like the American they are trying so hard to portray. I am an immigrant and American by CHOICE and I do not recognize Obama's America. I love this country and America is truly the last hope for mankind
|
|
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.
|
News
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
