Video: The Obamas on Today
posted at 9:45 am on May 1, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Meredith Viera gets the big scoop on the Today show, doing the first post-repudiation interview with Barack and Michelle Obama, as they have to regroup after a series of stumbles over the last two months. Obama to some degree took responsibility for his own woes, although Michelle wanted to “move forward” instead. However, Obama let loose a glimpse of his aggrieved status when talking about how hard it is for a man with his name to run for President:
Veteran watchers of American politics will see parallels between this appearance and the post-Gennifer Flowers 60 Minutes interview of Bill and Hillary Clinton, although the scandals are much different. In 1992, the issue was Bill’s personal character, and the supportive Hillary performance helped reassure voters that Flowers wasn’t indicative of Bill’s overall character. Look how well that turned out.
For Obama, the issue is his political character, and that’s not going to get assuaged by a suddenly-gentle Michelle Obama. Obama did about as well as he could do in this instance; it’s certainly not a bad interview for him. His recognition of his role in the stumbles will come across well, as opposed to the tack he could have taken in blaming the media, and so on. However, his explanation of his remarks in San Francisco comes about two weeks too late and still doesn’t address the really offensive nature of their Thomas Frankian quality.
Also, Obama comes across as very passive, detached, and almost uninterested, as he has during the debates and other interviews he has given of late. He looks and sounds like he’s running out of gas, and he’s a long way from the finish line.
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What’s with Michelle?
Looks like she wants to punch somebody.
MarkTheGreat on May 1, 2008 at 9:51 AM
This has to be frustrating for Michelle. She had such big plans for America. Michelle,..whip that pony to the finish line. Nag him till he drops.
a capella on May 1, 2008 at 9:52 AM
How about O’chelle instead of Michelle? Or MO? The Boss needs some respect.
Limerick on May 1, 2008 at 9:57 AM
This is just more B.S.from a typical politician.
Obama wanted Otis Moss III to fill in for Wright after he dumped him for being too rough. Otis Moss III is a conspiracy theorist, B.L.T. believer too. Until Barry and Michelle disown Marxism and black separatism in it’s totality, nothing they say or do will ring true.
The fact is that if his name was Barack Hussein Obama, yet he had gone to a traditional church that didn’t view middleclassness, and whiteness, and America’s entire history as a sin, none of this would be haunting him.
Buy Danish on May 1, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Will somebody PLEASE tell me what changes Obama has effected????
millions in earmarks, wife gets promotion after earmark to her hospital, children raised in hateful church. How is that change?
ctmom on May 1, 2008 at 9:58 AM
out. You forgot to include the word “out.”
TwinkietheKid on May 1, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I bet she has verbally berated Barack behind closed doors. The Demoncrat nomination is his to lose right now, and he’s showing definite signs of losing it…
Red Pill on May 1, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Watch your back with Michelle, Barry.
Her lower jaw is looking like a nutcracker.
profitsbeard on May 1, 2008 at 10:00 AM
okay, I’m gonna pull a McCain and comment without watching the clip (I’m eating breakfast, after all). He’s actually complaining about his “name”? (Which one?/sarc) Why doesn’t he touch on the fact that he’s practically the presumptive nominee with that name? How does he reconcile that factoid?
dish on May 1, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Jeeze! Red Lasso blows.
ronsfi on May 1, 2008 at 10:03 AM
She has a tiny mouth, I don’t think she can help it, she just seems to always look pissed. I thought it was a pretty good interview. Definitely softball but what do you expect from Meridith Viera.
Geronimo on May 1, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I think you need the latest flash player to watch redlasso
William Amos on May 1, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Exactly. A rose by any other name … .
And, although I plan to vote for Mac, just because he has an “R” behind his name doesn’t give him a free pass.
davidk on May 1, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Touchy moment there when he tried cutting her off as she was complimenting him. Tells a lot about that well-practiced but largely empty smile of his.
MadisonConservative on May 1, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Michelle is drugged to stay on message
“distraction” “voters don’t want..” “move forward” “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”
max1 on May 1, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I am struck by the difference between Hillary and Obama in two difficult-but-necessary interviews in the last two days.
Hillary on O’Reilly: Sharp, quick, combative, confident. Smiling. Actually seemed to be enjoying herself at times.
Obama on Today: Meek, chastened, defensive, uncomfortable. Whipped, if you will. Overall miserable.
I know which one seems more presidential in the face of adversity to me. I wonder if the Democrats are noticing the same thing.
Gilda on May 1, 2008 at 10:08 AM
This is going to get confusing around here if we have another boss named Michelle.
dont taze me bro on May 1, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Michelle doesnt disagree with Wright she just feels that the Media is asking too many good questions and distracting people from the Rhetoric the campaign wants to put out.
William Amos on May 1, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Aunt Esther used to use her big old handbag.
benrand on May 1, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I always wondered about that too. Then again, I think she’s a good looking woman, so I have no problem with her looks. Her words, on the other hand, make Hillary sound cuddly.
MadisonConservative on May 1, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Heh I can picture Michelle obama slamming her purse into someone and saying “You old Heathen !”
William Amos on May 1, 2008 at 10:12 AM
This is only more evidence of the “weak” and “passive” meme that is starting to take hold about Obama and has spread even to his supporters like Bob Herbert and Mickey Kaus. When Hillary endorsers are promoting her “testicular fortitude,” (implying that her opponent doesn’t have such a quality even if he has the physical equipment), you know you are in trouble. I’m telling you, this will be his downfall in the general, if not before. Like his policies or not, McCain is the toughest guy we’ve nominated since Ike and even that is arguable. The contrast between the “gucci wearing,” “latte sipping” hard left liberal from Hyde Park will be unmistakable and the Jacksonians will once again save this Nation from the brink.
Dudley Smith on May 1, 2008 at 10:12 AM
“Voters are tired of this”
I’m not. I enjoy politicians getting slammed, Democrat or Republican. To bad their egos are so large most criticism never sinks in.
lowandslow on May 1, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Obama looks absolutely normal in this interview.
freevillage on May 1, 2008 at 10:12 AM
More Race Card blah blah. By all means let’s move on from these embarrassing racist/marxist associations and get beyond these conversations to the real issues of mean, white, racist, terrorist, redneck America and how we can transform it into a socialist utopia.
ronsfi on May 1, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Obama has been a sideshow to Hillary since day 1, but at least he made her fight for it. He, IMO, has never been ready for prime time.
I have been a contrarian on this one, but unless the supers save him shortly, and they may, he will be toast. I think if they move, they will move before May 6.
Here is an interesting question: Have too many super delegates already made their bed with BO to allow Hillary a chance for revenge? Do they think BO will be more magnanimous toward supers on the other side of the fence in the end, or Hillary?
I would think, supers on the BO side of the fence, know for sure their political lives are over and the knives will be out if she gets an opportunity for revenge.
Starlink on May 1, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Sorry Michelle, didn’t you learn this in the ivy leagues that us simpleton’s have a hard time moving onto another subject?
Much to the distress of her jawbone, we’re not finished with Barack yet. Oh, and nice dodge on the question about Wright being damaging to Barack. I told my daughters last night if this silently goes away and Wright doesn’t come out swinging again against Barack, then this was all planned. Your silence was verification of that.
moonsbreath on May 1, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Anyone else notice how they both begin answers in condescending ways. I don’t see how anyone could have been caught up in this charisma.
geckomon on May 1, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Indeed it does not. I blame him for high gas prices right now since he was the deciding vote against drilling in ANWR. It’s not too late to repent, Johnny Mac!
Buy Danish on May 1, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I think Obama is in shell shock. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. It was supposed to be smooth sailing with everyone following Obama to the presidency because he was all about change and was so very, very intelligent. No questions needed. Obama knew what was best for everyone.
It hasn’t worked out that way and Obama is an unhappy camper. Who knew there would be some that didn’t agree with him. Who knew his arrogant, racist minister would not fall in line. Bummer
katieanne on May 1, 2008 at 10:17 AM
He has to personalize it,…make it only about Wright rather than BLT. As we are seeing, many black voters suscribe to BLT, and it appears not to just be confined to black churches, although they appear to be the stronghold. It’s also in our political system. I wonder how lily white Iowa feels about their white guilt choice now. If nothing else, this electoral cycle has opened a lot of eyes about a festering abcess most of us weren’t aware existed.
a capella on May 1, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Same old entitlement mentality, just a different arena.
jukin on May 1, 2008 at 10:18 AM
What the hell is she talking about? Geez, could these people be more full of themselves?
JamesB on May 1, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Michelle Obama talks about changes he has made in these months. What changes has he made, what is she referring to?
These months I’ve seen race issues come to a boil, what has she seen?
Conservatives R Us on May 1, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Michelle never answered the question about Reverend Wright’s slam at Barry. Not a word of anger, absolutely no opinion expressed at all. In fact, Barry jumped in to save her when she was asked the Big Question. I don’t think there is any doubt she loves the Rev just as much as she adores her Messiah husband.
She almost slipped up one time, almost laying her adoration on both of them. Check it out at 1:02 in the video …….
“… and what made me so proud of both of ……. Barack”
fogw on May 1, 2008 at 10:27 AM
That’s correct, and the media is letting him get away with it by not drilling him on the basic tenets of TUCofC, or on what Otis Moss III believes.
Buy Danish on May 1, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Her it comes, “OBAMA as the victim”. With friends like WRIGHT, and a boat anchor like MICHELLE around his neck, stick a fork in ol’ B. HUSSEIN he is DOOOOONNNNNEEEE!!!!
pueblo1032 on May 1, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Just to be clear, when I say “tenets”, I don’t mean the tenets of Christianity or of any religious beliefs. I refer to the afro-centric Marxism which is a political ideology and has nothing to do with religion.
Buy Danish on May 1, 2008 at 10:31 AM
O/T, but has anyone seen Rev. Wright in the last few days or is he having tea with Jimmy Hoffa?
Syd B. on May 1, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Seriously, does Michelle not remind you of a vampire?
amkun on May 1, 2008 at 10:33 AM
She has the new curtains picked out already. If they don’t get the nomination, I don’t see them being much help to Hillary in the General.
Asher on May 1, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Obama has learned a lot from
Rev.Wright, mainly, nothing is his fault!Wright, of course is just a distraction that we have to move past and go forward.
abinitioadinfinitum on May 1, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Does anyone else think the “black dude named Barack Obama is a leap for folks” meme is oh, I dunno, racist?
amkun on May 1, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Typical lefties. Distract, distract, distract. In this case they want the voters to ignore who they are and focus on his empty message of Hope & Change. Sorry folks, who you are MATTERS! In fact it is the most important thing.
Anybody can spew flowery messages but nobody has a magic wand to do whatever they want in the White House. A President has to deal with enormous problems and distractions. A President can’t kick the can down the street (like Clinton did) or the country suffers big time. The American people need to know what kind of backbone, character, and judgment a person has to be able to project whether that person has the qualities to be President. BHO, so far you clearly show you don’t have what it takes. You are nothing but bumper sticker slogans and that doesn’t cut it no matter how charismatic you appear.
This guy is a JOKE! (And a nightmare.)
libhater on May 1, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Obama really doesn’t seem to have his head in the game. He made a critical error in sticking by the crackpot loony Wright and now has to try to repair the damage done but he seems all out of puff.
They both come across as incredibly arrogant and complacent. Which is a neat trick given that they are running against Lady Hillary.
Ares on May 1, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I’d like to see another Clinton-Obama debate…
… but this time make it Bill vs. Michelle!
Now that’s entertainment!
Red Pill on May 1, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Eh you know what, they’re nice people. I dont want to bash them too much. I may not vote for him but if he makes it I’ll try and support him as much as I can. Until he screws up ;)
Dash on May 1, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Michelle Obama is an extemely unattractive human being.
Her attitude makes her look bad.
EJDolbow on May 1, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Obama–the left’s Fred!?
p40tiger on May 1, 2008 at 10:50 AM
BLT weaves just enough traditional Christianity into the main fabric of Marxism and black militancy, that it can masquerade as a religion. The ratios can be diluted or concentrated based on PR needs. But, here’s the thing, why do churches have to be black or white? That is a voluntary segregation, just as is the Black congressional Caucus. The natural path is for mischief to occur. Segregated congregations are easy pickings for the intolerant leader, but they also are there because they want to be led down that path,..otherwise they would leave. I doubt Bill Cosby’s message would be welcomed in the church of Moss and Wright.
a capella on May 1, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Until he screws up?
Dude.
fogw on May 1, 2008 at 10:52 AM
pseudonominus on May 1, 2008 at 10:54 AM
On their Q&A yesterday I noticed Obama looked like a beaten man, as if he just wanted to call it a day. His wife looked catatonic. I guess hiding her in the closet the past two months has had an effect on her.
JammieWearingFool on May 1, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Michelle Obama is a scary black woman. Lots of black women are very intimidating. There are tons of beautiful black women, but they have a different style when it comes to confrontation. Michelle Obama is definitely someone you don’t want to cross in any situation if she is outside of the public eye, I guarantee it. She’s the type who would bite your head off at even the appearance of a slight.
ThackerAgency on May 1, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Who are these two clowns trying to fool? Both of them are elitist black supremacists who would like nothing better than to put whitey where he belongs.
csdeven on May 1, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I saw Cindy McCain on the Tonight Show last night. There was nothing newsworthy in her appearance on the show, except that she was excellent. She is the Anti-Michelle.
I predict she’ll be a huge asset to the campaign.
juliesa on May 1, 2008 at 11:12 AM
So, Michelle wanted to engage in the politics of division and hatred towards white people as long as now one is watching. Now that there are exposed for what they are, she wants to get “past” the talk of division.
Obama/Osama says voting for a black man with his name is a leap for people. BS!! It’s a leap to vote for ultra liberal black supremest who thinks Farrakhan is a righteous dude.
csdeven on May 1, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Obama referred to the Wright issue as “little snippets of his sermons”
Michelle is one scarey sistah. She always looks so angry and BITTER !
stenwin77 on May 1, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Yeah, Senator … it’s such a leap for us white folk to accept an African-American named Barack Obama running for President that we just don’t know how to act … that’s the problem, see ….
What a condescending douche.
Blacksheep on May 1, 2008 at 11:14 AM
This whitey is tired of supporting these two mediocre bastards.
TexasJew on May 1, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I’m SO glad that Mitt Romney didn’t waste time talking about “how hard it is for someone of my religion to run for President”. Despite polls constantly showing other wise Mitt never played that card - thank goodness. And he always gave the American voter credit for being open minded and voting on the issues- he may have given the American voter too much credit, but at least he was a class act who wasn’t making excuses.
joncoltonis on May 1, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Who are these two clowns trying to fool…the gullible Dhimmi voters…these 2 are very much EBS-Elitist Black Supremacist…very much tuned into the NOI/Marxist/BLT axis of hatred. If we are not careful, these Hate America fools will coheve with the La Raza/Islamic Jihadi’a and then we will have blood in the streets!
el Vaquero on May 1, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Obama is the one who decided to stop calling himself “Barry” — the name by which he was known to his family and friends growing up — and start calling himself Barack. He wanted to embrace his black African identity and reject his white American heritage. (In his bio, Obama writes about how his hero Malcolm X wanted to rid himself of all traces of his white blood, and how that story from Malcolm resonated so much with Barry/Barack). Ironically, it was that same desire that led Obama to join Wright’s “church” and embrace his toxic Black Liberation Theology.
It’s not America’s racism that causing this country to reject you, Barack, it’s your own racism.
AZCoyote on May 1, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I don’t consider people who want to bring our country “to its knees” as “nice people”.
Barack, Michelle, Ayers, Dohrn, and Wright are all not “nice people”.
Red Pill on May 1, 2008 at 11:33 AM
“Bitter”? Yup. It’s just one more example of a Democrat accusing Republicans of what they themselves are guilty of.
Red Pill on May 1, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Didn’t Princess Di call Camilla Parker-B a rottweiler? The resemblance is uncanny - the delicious comparison to the nutcracker is spot on too. Anger, pure anger, pure racist hatred for anyone standing in their way.
Hillary’s interview with O’Reilly last night had me laughing-with her-confronting Bill. Didn’t let him steamroll over her like some guests do. Had her stats and issues down and he got tongue tied.
24K lady on May 1, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Black churches came into being because blacks were not welcome in white churches. That is not how most churches today operate, however it is the fault of white churches that there are black churches. I am in my 40s and I can still remember, at 6 years old, inviting my friend to church with me and she being the only black person in the entire church (and we were a Unitarian church) as I was the only white person when she took me to her church. The black church is going to fade out when people like me, who remember but were not part of creating, segregated churches are dead.
talking_mouse on May 1, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Why do you think the marches last year were held on May 1st? That’s the celebration of the Communist May Day parade.
Amnesty for millions of low-paid workers is part of their game plan.
That’s just one reason why McCain can’t be our nominee.
Red Pill on May 1, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Black supremacists like Osama segregate themselves from white America. The days of whitey keeping blacks out of their churches has been long gone for the most part. There are some, but they are such a small minority they aren’t worth considering.
Naw, the minorities segregate themselves, not the other way around.
csdeven on May 1, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Well, at least O’Bama can count on the Irish vote.
NNtrancer on May 1, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Could one of our intrepid reporterettes ask Barry some real questions, maybe about the names of foreign leaders, potpourri or maybe how to pronounce Massachusetts?
benrand on May 1, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Distraction = Harvard lawyer talk for, “Boy, did I ever lose that debate.”
I didn’t know I was tired of hearing about Wright. MO must be really smart to know me so much better than me.
snaggletoothie on May 1, 2008 at 12:28 PM
csdeven nailed it 3 times. Welcome back, buddy. Stay for a while.
…and she continued “…is that he addresses the issues which divide us…”
Heh, he didn’t. He only ‘threw his reverand of 20 years under the bus when said rev. told the truth, that Barack was saying what he did for political expediencey.
They aren’t fooling anyone, but the press, which is in their pants. Michelle’s “can’t se move on” is hilariously funny.
Both look and sound what they are: found out, exposed, empty, depleted, naked.
Who would have thunk it? Hillary looks/sounds sane, comparatively.
Entelechy on May 1, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Mike Tyson/Robin Givens
Her look says….
Barrack you better say it the way I taught you.
TroubledMonkey on May 1, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Good point. Somehow I don’t envision the same kind of thing coming from Bobby Jindal. His actual name is Piyush and his Democratic opponents tried to use it against him but it didn’t work.
Bobby, Piyush, whatever. Of 100% Indian heritage, he’s an American to the core and everything he’s ever done makes that clear.
In the eeeeeevil Republican party can a racial minority be whatever he is and not have to go shopping for a “better” identity. Funny that.
Gilda on May 1, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Too late for Michelle to play the secondary supportive spouse role.
It does not suit her temperment. At all!
Sir Napsalot on May 1, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Michelle looks like Zira to me…is that wrong?
pseudonominus on May 1, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Since Obama was “The Messiah”, I always thought of Michelle Obama as the “anti-Michelle”.
Canadian Infidel on May 1, 2008 at 1:40 PM
I agree.
http://movie-poster.ws/movies/cartoons/dalmatians/101-dalmatians.jpg
Hunt035 on May 1, 2008 at 1:56 PM
And that was classy of you to say that.
cjs1943 on May 1, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Great observation. Is it time to start questioning whether Obama has enough fire in the belly to be president?
Dudley Smith on May 1, 2008 at 2:49 PM
“Elitist” is an attitude, not a background, Mr Obama.
Slippery — like eel.
[boy, RedLasso sure loads slowly. taking me half an hour to watch this thing…]
Claire on May 1, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Is there a current lamp or ashtray inventory available from chez Obama? I’m willing to bet those household items are becoming depleted as I type this.
dbdiva on May 1, 2008 at 3:30 PM
What else could Obama be but meek and passive married to that evil nasty looking harpy? The woman is scary. I like someone’s idea that the next debate should be the lovely Michelle against the every popular, always randy Bill. They’d both be taken away in handcuffs.
UnEasyRider on May 1, 2008 at 3:32 PM
She looks pissed.
roux on May 1, 2008 at 4:30 PM
It is hard for me to imagine what she offers to be worth $350,000 a year. I’m trying not to pile on but she has never struck me as big league material. Poor speaker, negative public personality, perpetual chip on shoulder, no logical sequence in her arguments, demonstrates no understanding of national finance, lives on general platitudes rather than facts. She creates a sense of prickly hostility to any in disagreement and appears to be driven entirely by emotion. She creates a very bad image overall. She would be a disaster as a First Lady.
a capella on May 1, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Its such a bloody shame that the “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” has their schedule so tied up,Michelle
Obama could sure use the help right about now!Ha ha.
canopfor on May 1, 2008 at 5:49 PM
I see that you are a big fan of porn. Put BC w/MO and find out how long it takes him to seduce her. You can even have the Arkansas troopers there to film the action!
PrettyD_Vicious on May 1, 2008 at 5:59 PM