Audio: Barry O clarifies what Michelle meant to say… Updated
posted at 10:36 am on February 20, 2008 by Bryan
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Sen. Barack Obama tried clarifying Michelle Obama’s “this is the first time I’m really proud of my country” remark last night during a radio interview in Texas. Barry’s take is marginally better. But not much, once you take a closer look. Audio here.
Barack Obama, interviewed on WOAI radio in San Antonio, Texas, expressed frustration that his wife’s comments became political fodder.
“Statements like this are made and people try to take it out of context and make a great big deal out of it, and that isn’t at all what she meant,” Obama said.
“What she meant was, this is the first time that she’s been proud of the politics of America,” he said. “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.”
Hm. I remember the political unity we had after 9-11, however fleeting it turned out to be once the left regained its blame-America-first footing, as a moment that made me proud of our politics. The peaceful transitions of power from one party to the next in 1992 and again in 2000 were reasons for pride in our politics. Politics is often a dirty business, but our American politics are among the most stable and clean in the entire world. Our system has lasted longer than many empires and is now one of the oldest yet most resilient and envied in the world. Our politics have created, protected or restored democracy in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Italy, Germany, Poland, all across Europe and now into the heart of the Middle East. Our political system predates Napoleon and if we safeguard it responsibly, will outlast every tyrant who comes against it.
But hey, maybe the Obamas just don’t know much about history. They’re awfully pessimistic for one of the most successful political couples in the country.
Update: Captain Ed isn’t buying it.
Obama’s spin doesn’t wash. Michelle Obama didn’t say For the first time in my adult life, I’m really proud to be in American politics, which would have been questionable enough. She told the audience that she had never taken great pride in her country — until it seemed poised for “change”, and especially seemed poised to elect her husband as President.
That’s simply not a parsable message. Not only does she reject the Democratic administration between 1993-2001, but she rejects some amazing American accomplishments over the last quarter century — and even beyond that.
Yup.
Update: Good questions from commenter MayBee.
Was she not proud of politics in America when her husband was asked to speak at the Democratic nominating convention? Was she not proud of American politics when her husband was elected to be senator?
She’s a very tough sell.
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Government handouts are less appealing when you are paying for them instead of receiving them.
But let’s get to the meat of your comment:
YOU VOTED FOR DUKAKIS!?!?!?!?!
:)
And I was born into abject poverty and I have worked my arse off since I was 12 years old. As a result, even though I was born in San Francisco, by 13 years old, I was a solid Republican and have never looked back.
The American dream is not to destroy the rich, it is to become one of them. That opportunity exists for everyone, but many liberals would rather just get a handout.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Oh - and the fact that the Democrat nominee is probably a 4-3 favorite to win in November is nothing very exciting; its a function of historical patterns.
The last century of American history suggests that the Democrat should win. That’s not a credit to Obama or Hillary (or a slam on McCain), its just historical precedent. The pendulum swings and swings back and every 8-12 years people get excited about the word “change” - even though anybody over the age of 30 should know better, since they’ve heard it all before.
If McCain can win back the base - or if Obama can sufficiently annoy conservatives - McCain’s chances are better than they should be. And a great deal can happen in a year. But if nothing changes, the Dem will be favored.
Until the pendulum swings again, as it always does.
The good news is that a Barack presidency might, in the long run, be of remarkable benefit to conservatism. Jimmy Carter was perhaps the greatest blessing conservatives were ever given; Obama might be equally helpful. Or even more so.
I see no doom or gloom here. (Well, as long as you ignore the fact that a President Obama will almost certainly get Americans killed).
But there are only two likely outcomes: either McCain wins (and because of low expectations, he’ll end up pleasing conservatives more than they think) or Obama is elected and becomes a massive national disappointment within two years. Again, it’s almost a no-lose situation. Everyone is so down on McCain he can’t help but be better than expected; everyone thinks Obama is the Messiah - so he can’t possibly meet those expectations.
As long as we manage to survive a nuclear Iran and a probable 9/11 style attack in the next four years, everything will be fine.
But you might want to stay away from tall buildings for a while.
Professor Blather on February 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
She said it TWICE.
SoulGlo on February 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I was in the Bubble. What can I say? Forgive me, for I knew not what I did.
My young brother-in-law is 18 years old and just voted for the first time. He voted - of course - for Obama in the Cali primary.
I wasn’t mad at him. I just laughed and told him my Dukakis story, and promised we’d both be laughing about his Obama vote in 20 years.
He disagreed. But I’ll be right in the end. He won’t be in the bubble for long.
Professor Blather on February 20, 2008 at 12:27 PM
“See, what had happened was…”
someguy on February 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Yes, you made it clear, like most libs, that you don’t care if people love America or not. And you are probably deluded enough to think that’s a virtue.
Yes, of course you are. How silly of me. Anyone can register as a Republican, but clearly you do not embrace the principles of the party.
All organizations as large as the republican party have “stalking horses”. Simply being registered does not mean you support the party, it’s principles or it’s candidates.
If you have been fooled by Obama, you probably should reregister. A real Republican should be too smart to fall for that snake oil salesman.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Please, the woman has had to struggle against this horribly racist society all her life. Not only did she have to attend two of the most elite universities in the U.S., she also had to accept a series of high-paying jobs, some of which seem to have required little or no actual work. She then had to watch her husband win a seat in the U.S. Senate (one of the cushiest jobs in the country), despite having few real qualifications for the job. More recently she has had to join her first-term Senator husband on the campaign trail for U.S. President, speaking to fawning crowds of white Americans while surrounded 24/7 by taxpayer-paid U.S. Secret Service agents.
Don’t you understand that Michelle Obama has had to leave the comfort of her multi-million dollar home in order to go out on the campaign trail and collect those tens of millions of dollars in donations that racist Americans have been throwing at Barack? This woman’s life has been nothing but struggle and sacrifice. Why she and Barack actually had to repay their student loans (gasp!). Oh the heartache! The Obamas have sacrificed so much in their quest for power and wealth in this country.
It’s no wonder the woman is so bitter.
AZCoyote on February 20, 2008 at 12:34 PM
You mean, unlike when Rush Limbaugh utters three words in response to a caller’s statement, and you join a crew of Dem Senators in signing a letter condemning his comments as anti-military, etc.
I’m sure there’s a huge difference, and we’re all just too inexperienced to understand. Right?
Senator, you are a joke.
Knuckledragger on February 20, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Good grief, I hope you’re right. I’ve had to stop discussing politics COMPLETELY at work. Everyone’s so proud to be on the “Enlightenment Bandwagon,” as I like to call it. Remarkably (sarcasm), they have no reason of merit behind their support of the messiah, they can only produce the same tired rhetoric…”Bush is bad, Obama’s like Kennedy, etc.”
hollygolightly on February 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I just don’t buy it. What she said was plain. It was written in her speech, not off the cuff. She said it twice. I think she said what she meant to say and everything else is just lipstick on a pig.
The more they spin the more they seem like the establishment politicians who can debate the word is.
America1st on February 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Politically correct groupthink doesn’t always follow someone into the voting booth.
We have been programmed by the left wing media to talk a certain way and to think a certain way and many people give into that in a group setting.
We are all alone in the voting booth, no groupthink needed, we can vote how we feel.
And I do have faith in the majority of my fellow Americans.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 12:44 PM
now that Kennedy lost that election, the Democratic Chicago political machine and tens of thousands of deceased, yet registered voters helped deliver Illinois to Kennedy.
Kennedy was only popular because he died young. I respect his backbone in the Cuban missile crisis, but the Cuban people have suffered for almost half a century and America has had to live with an Ultra Socialist dictatorship on our border because he toally screwed up the bay of pigs.
We should have rolled over Cuba like a steamroller.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 12:48 PM
My previous comment was supposed to start:
“Did you know that Kennedy…”
Oops.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 12:49 PM
News Flash!
Liberals (socialists) want to weaken if not destroy this nation.
RobCon on February 20, 2008 at 12:53 PM
She’s only proud when it suits her fancy.
It speaks volumes why Obama doesn’t wear a flag lapel pin.
I’ve seen plenty of empty suits. Here’s an empty skirt
Kini on February 20, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Fooled by Obama? Again you are only assuming. I started out supporting Huckabee, my parents were big Rudy supporters as most people posting here over time know. I posted about ti many times. I ended up supporting Fred. I have never voted for a Democrat in my life Mr. Know-it-all.
As most people know here I do not support the Far Right Fringe as I do not support the Far Left Fringe. They are both hurtful to America.
And I certainly do not suport blow hards spewing hot air about themselves and what they think is right or wrong or their miliatry record. LOL. Like it’s all verifyible on a blog.
That’s the snake oil I will never buy.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I do love your website sporting the colors of the rainbow flag…nice touch.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 1:12 PM
To the detriment of the country, the world, and to freedom and independence, they will then absolutely deserve it!!!
I wish I were that optimistic now, but may you be right!
You and the Professor always improve the HA parlor with your presence.
Entelechy on February 20, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Give her a fur coat, and she thinks she owns the world.
Kini on February 20, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Exactly, it’s a democracy, people vote and we all live with the results. I do not have so much faith in my fellow Americans because they seem to be swayed by Obama for no good reason other than tin-jesus idol worship at play.
That’s scary.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I just got my February 25 issue of “Newsweek”. Most of the issue is about her. They tried to be nice in the issue, but she comes across hard as nails. Even her own brother called her a demanding person. In the general election, that will be hard to hide.
jeannie on February 20, 2008 at 1:29 PM
You forgot Big Joe Kennedy’s mob connections. My parents talk about it often, they both campaigned for both Eisenhower and then Nixon within that campaign.
My mother said what went on was absolutely criminal.
This exactly what I was talking about. Again they assume they know what he said or didn’t mean to say, it’s the PC Police at their most rabid.
Nah, nah, na na nah…it’s so ridiculous.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Well, Dick Morris said Shillary came off the same way way back when.
When the public idolizes her husband it may not matter.
I am just saying that no one seems to be able to quote any accomplishments of this man when asked by Sean Hannity or Chris Matthews, but the wave just keeps swelling.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Militant Black Woman is going hurt Obama in the general election.
p0s3r on February 20, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Is that a slur? Am I supposed to feel insulted?
I a glad you like my website. I am updating and will have a new style soon.
I never made te connection btween my color coding and a rainbow flag. Freudian slip on your part, perhaps?
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 20, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Obama is a fraud and so is his wife.
I bet she went to bed without dinner and had a stern talking to after her comments.
Grafted on February 20, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Hey, do we know whether she was speaking from a ‘prompter, or off the cuff? Any reporting of the event indicating one or the other?
I’d be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt once.
DrSteve on February 20, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I predicted that Obama would do the explaining about her remarks and not her. If she had to face the American people and apologize something worse would probably pop out of her militant mouth. The woman is a real piece of work and she’s a bit scary too. Watch her eyes when she speaks.
UnEasyRider on February 20, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Freudian slip?? A slur?? Hmmm, I think you are jumping the gun. I live in Manhattan the gay flag is displayed proudly in many places, in front of businesses and restaurants in the Village and Chelsea, on bumper stickers and in many gay owned businesses through out the city.
If you are gay no sweat with me, I have many gay friends and I don’t believe being homosexual is a flaw. Live and let live, he who cast the first judgemental stone can kiss off.
As for me, I love men - the bigger and brawnier the better, and you are out of luck, I am engaged.
AprilOrit on February 20, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Question: were Obama to be elected President — and I don’t think he will be, next year or next decade — how shocked would you be when he gets sworn into office on a Bible?
And would you and your nutball fellow travelers then finally let go of the Muslim conspiracy theory, or would you just crank it up to a new level?
You didn’t finish your Kool-Aid, drink up.
Jaibones on February 20, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I am not gay, but I am certain a woman like you could drive a man to try it.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 21, 2008 at 12:02 AM
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