Michelle Obama is finally proud of her country?
Posted by Moonage on 19 Feb 2008 | Tagged as: 2008 Presidential Race
The wife of Barack had this to say today:
Naturally, Hot Air and a lot of others are jumping all over this. Cindy McCain, wife of John, admitted she has pretty much always been proud of her country. That probably will ring a little better with most voters. But, it certainly won’t get the heat Michelle’s comment is.
And, that comment deserves heat for several reasons. First of all, it belies that perceived ultra-liberal philosophy that they are not patriotic in the least bit. They say they are, but they blame everything on the US first whether the US had anything to do with it or not. Michelle can not cite one thing in the last 25 years to be proud of. Not one apparently. That’s the ultra-liberal everyone perceives and knows well. Whether it’s accurate or not is irrelevent. Politics is ALL about perception. This will just steel that perception not only with the vast right wing conspirators, but those floating around in the middle as well.
Secondly, that’s not really the type of person I want representing the US abroad as a serious head of state. I want a Cindy McCain who is quite proud of her country and more than willing to say it publicly.
Thirdly, what Michelle cites as something to be proud of flies squarely in the face of the prevailing criticism of Obama:
I’ve seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it’s made me proud.”
What is that basic common issue? “Change” is not an issue. “Change” doesn’t put food on the table. “Change” doesn’t stop martyr wannabes. “Change” doesn’t make your car go farther or use less fuel. “Change” doesn’t set examples for kids. “Change” doesn’t mean squat. Obama has not run his race on issues, he’s run his race on appealing to people who want “change”. She may have seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, but if they have paid any attention to Obama’s speeches, they still are.
Lastly, she is pandering to something that I have griped about repeatedly here, the cult of personality moreso than the cult of knowledge. She is proud now even though she never was before. She has no clue what she is proud of. She just is. However, I think she is proud for a specific reason but knows she can’t say what that reason is. That reason would be purely racial and that’s the very last thing this country needs. As soon as this primary or general election devolves into a racial issue, it will set back what has been gained fifty years. And, if Michelle Obama can’t do a better job explaining what she is proud of, she leaves open the very real possiblity that she is proud for the first time of her life in her country simply because a black man can do so well in politics. I would prefer a person in her position EXPECT that a black man can do as well in politics as anyone.
Politics, especially on a national level, is all about perception. The perception that person creates greatly affects the perception people have. Michelle’s in the national spotlight now whether she likes it or not. Whether she likes it or not, we are looking at the entire picture Obama brings to the table. Whether she likse it or not, this is no time to be adlibbing or expressing her own personal opinions. If she’s never been proud of my country, why should she be the most important spouse of my country?
Sheez, that was just a stupid, stupid, comment by Michelle. Someone needs to hire her a speech writer. And, I think Barack needs to hire a damage control team.
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