Michelle Obama clarifies 'proud' remark

Clarify? More like change what she said entirely. We understand that the fall of communism, spread of democracy and anything really significant that happened during Michelle Obama's lifetime wouldn't inspire pride in her. That's typical of most America haters.

Michelle Obama should thank America for all the opportunities it has given her and her husband.

She should be proud to live in a country where women have equal rights and can vote, where she went to the top schools and has a high paying executive job.

Was her husband responsible for all of this? Or was it the previous leaders of America that made all this happen?

Of course that's what she was saying.

The whole Obama Movement is about leaving the cult of cynicism and re-engaging with our responsibilities as citizens: paying attention and getting involved in politics, issues and government. It's supposed to be government BY the people, right? That's the point?

I'm proud of what I see happening, and I'm proud of Michelle. What American wouldn't be?

She has nothing to explain. We get it Republicans. You're the only people in the country who are patriotic, and democrats are traitors one step removed from Jihadis. Check. It worked for you in '04, but we'll see how it plays in '08 in the wake of W's patriotic mess. :)

The rightwing luntic fringe realizes that they can't win this election on the issues because they (McCain) don't have any that don't already mirror the disasterous Bush/Cheney crime family administrations.

This garbage is going to backfire on them this time around just like it has for Hillary because people are sick of the Wingnuts politics of destruction.

If the Republic Party want's to continue this non-sense that's fine, McCains past is a treasure trove for the Dems.

Like this:

"McCain has a reputation as a politician who has difficulty staying faithful to any position he might have or any of the women in his life, according to Republican sources. He acknowledges that his adultery broke up his first marriage. His second wife Cindy, the daughter of a wealthy Budweiser beer distributor, was addicted to prescription narcotics and even stole hard drugs from a medical charity that she ran. McCain acknowledges that she didn't want him to run, and only agreed once he promised that she doesn't have to go to New Hampshire or Iowa".

-more McCain fun facts:
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm

Yes, Michelle Obama is evil. I want a first lady I can be proud of, like Cindy McCain. Homewrecker, pill popper, thief. She makes me so proud! I want to be just like her, not like that nasty Obama woman, who's had a job and everything.

Michelle Obama should apologize for what she said. She has said many inappropriate comments during this campaign, she's one of the first of her husband's campaign to interject race into the campaign, she said "blacks better wake up". Michelle Obama should also learn to show respect for former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Her husband should as well. The Obamas lack experience and the knowledge needed to be President and First Lady of the United States.

"...What we've learned over this year is that 'hope' is making a comeback. It is making a comeback and, let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country and not just because Barack has done well but because I think people are hungry for change and I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues and it's made me proud. And I feel privileged to be a part of even witnessing this... traveling around states all over this countrty and being reminded that there is more that unites us than divides us... that the struggles of a farmer in Iowa are no different than what's happening on the Southside of Chicago... that people are feeling the same pain and wanting the same things for their families."

- Michelle Obama

At first I had troubles with Michelle's remarks. But when I finally got around to hearing the complete remarks, I realized that the media was making more of it than is warranted.

The problem really is that the Christi Parsons of the media circus are treating the internet and blog space as if it's paper and there is only so much available space.

QUOTE THE WHOLE PASSAGE! Let people know what was really said and don't just drop selective passages!

Besides Cindy McCain (whom I heard speak for the first time) and a few others, not many of us have experienced a national campaign and know what it's like to run into so many people with so many of the same problems who aren't interested in politicians who want to divide us but, rather, are hungry for politicians that want to unite us.

It is clear by the entire passage that Michelle was just trying to relate that experience to us.

And rather than be frustrated as she had been in the past from the outside looking in, Michelle is now proud of what she sees of our country.

There's nothing wrong with that. A bit naive, perhaps, but she's not the candidate and this is her first national campaign.

Frankly, 'hope' for me died in the '60's after RFK's assasination. After Vietnam, Watergate, Irangate, Willie Horton, Whitewater, impeachment, etc., I haven't really been proud of the way our country has gone about its political business. I'm not even sure this isn't just a mirage.

In fact, I'm pretty sure this current infusion of 'hope' will come crashing down and we'll be back at focusing on what divides us than what unites us.

There are many times I am proud of America myself. Ashamed also. We should not be afraid of either.

Be it Rome, France, Spain, England, USA, any entity that wields power, real big power, mistakes are made and successes are recorded.

Grow up America.

Michelle Obama: I have ALWAYS been proud to be an American. Even if I didn't agree with the president or some of the US's policies. I was brought up to be thankful for opportunities afforded me because I live here. Your statement inferred that you had no pride until you became an adult. The fact that it slipped out like that gives one pause.

If Mr. Michelle does make it into the presdency, his loose-cannon wife is going to make people wish Bill Clinton was the first-spouse.

I will cut her some slack on this one (unlike Fox news hate mongers) because there certainly have been times in my adult life (especially during the current administration) when I have not been proud of my country. But more often than not I am proud of what we do and what we stand for and grateful for what we have.
And if her context truly was presidential politics (which makes sense) then I totally agree with her in that over the last few election cycles I found myself voting more against someone I didn't want ...sort of a lesser of two evils vote.
In this election I will be voting for someone who I actually want to be President of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama.

I guess every person in USA is proud to be an American every day and there has not been one incident that has made you think that oh I live in this country. REMEMBER KATRINA? Where you proud to be an American then with the whole world watching. I understand exactly what Michelle was saying.

I too am proud.

I'm proud of what I'm seeing happening in politics this year, for the first time.

I am proud.

It is sad that we have a canidate today that is allowed to reach a point so close to being the President and he has shown nothing but the ability to speak. He is a great speach giver. I have issues with things that he and his wife say that are passed over by most of the media and those that hate President Bush. When one listens to the whole story, it is often the dems and the left that put out the largest amount of hate and misinformation. How is the most liberal Senator going to bring things together. It will not happen. One can only think of the hate that will come if he is President and does not get his way. I have yet to hear someone tell us what all he has accomplished that has made him such a strong Presidential canadite.

Worse than obama's wife ignorant comments is the fact that people defends her. That she is giving a second chance, yet that's the same chance they would not give others.. That’s call self-serving righteousness. The people that are running a whole campaign to the presidency, are the ones that speak garbage and against what they are after.

I want a first lady that is always proud of her country. Ungrateful woman.

Brian -

You are 100% right - she has nothing to explain: the words speak for themselves.
Who knows, maybe Jeff and tar are Dems?

Regardless, politics are a zero sum game: Obama and his vapid promises will come at a high price. Look past the veneer and you'll find something hollow (or keep drinking the Kool-aid, you/ we will need it if it ever happens, God forbid)

I heard the whole speech, and she was clearly talking about the political process. I can imagine that within the past 20 years she has not been thrilled with the lukewarm involvement of voters. I'm 39, and I have voted in every presidential election in my adulthood. My mother is 59, and she has never voted in a single one. Michelle O'Bama is gratified to see everyday people getting energized again and getting to the polls.

The problem here is that Obama may be inspiring hope, but neither hor nor his wife is qualified to deliver change. He wants to implement liberal (socialistic) programs that have failed in every other country on Earth. I just don't understand why everyone wants change - regardless of whether it reall yimproves this great country!

(btw, I am proud of our country - it may be a flawed system, but it's still the best by far)

Her comment was narcissistic. It was approved by her and read twice. You cannot nuance this. Her place - get real - her place as she admits, was being sent to a prestigious college ahead of more qualified candidates (based on grades/sat scores) with tax payer money. Why this is offensive is real - because it disrespects all the efforts of everyone, black and white, to give her the opportunities she received. Those people who made those sacrifices were called Americans. She should be proud of what they did for all of us.

Like any African-American doesn't have a right to say at some point that they are finally proud of their country? I think so.

Every once in a while the truth slips out and you can deny or obfuscate, but she said what she said.

Being patriotic is having pride in your country- not necessarily its current leadership, but what the country stands for. The left has been stating America is racist, imperialistic, warmongering, uncaring to the poor, and greedy for years. Apparently Michelle Obama believes it, let it slip out that she doesn't like America, and now doesn't have the guts to be honest about her true beliefs.

Yes, Brian, I agree completely.

The right has it wrong, way wrong.

Hopefully enough patriotic, freedom loving, flag waving, constitution literate Americans (liberal/moderate/conservative/whatever) come together & finally say enough of the rhetoric from the repulsive republicants.

Of course she has nothing to explain. She was caught up in the moment, and the flow of her words overcame her intentions. She'd be an idiot for intending it the way it came out, and she's obviously not an idiot. Now, goody-two-shoes Cindy McCain, on the other hand . . .

I am a PROUD AMERICAN - born and raised in AMERICA!!
I am not African-American, I am not Asian-American, I am not German-American - I am 100% home grown and have always been PROUD to be an AMERICAN!!
As for the comment - she meant every word of it.
There is nothing to CHANGE in the comment.
My family fought for this countries freedom. I support our men and woman every day - I'm PROUD!!

Was she proud of Barak when he endorsed Mayor Daley instead of either of the African American reform candidates for Mayor of Chicago in 2007?

Michelle does not need to explain herself. Reasonable persons get her point that she was so proud to see "our" country getting more involved in the electoral process. I have made this same comment to friends and co-workers over the past several months. As a almost 50'something I cannot recall ever seeing the total elecorate so excited about a national election. And the turnout at the polls across our country reflects this.
Republicans...stop with the hate. We are all so bored with it.

This was a fairly innocent remark, and I'm not sure why anybody even noticed that it was said at all. How many gazillions of times have people said something to the same effect when Americans as a people do something highly admirable? I've said the same comment about a million times or so, as a figure of speech. Of course, I never meant it literally, I was just trying to add emphasis to the enormous pride I felt during those critical moments. For example, I remember being very impressed when I passed a Red Cross donation center the day of 9/11 and saw a line of donors that stretched all the way around the block. I felt so proud to see so many Americans responding to crisis through charity that I said, "I've never been this proud of my country in my life", but of course, i had been, such as when I heard recordings of speeches my Kennedy and Martin Luther King, or when I served in the first Gulf War and was greeted warmly by my countrymen upon my return home. There weren't really enough words to describe the pride I felt at many of these crucial moments, so I used the only words I had; assigning a literal translation to this phrase would have seemed pretty stupid. I mean, would you have chided me as harshly as your chiding Mrs Obama when I came home from Iraq, because I claimed that I had never been so proud to be an American, even though there were many other times before when I also felt great pride in my country? Of course, it's different to you. She's just a Democrat, whereas I am an Iraq War veteran. If you sling mud at her, it plays well on Fox TV. Try slinging it at me, and you'd just look like an ass.

A group of Democratic politicos have been set up by lobbysts as a new independent 527 organization called the American Leadership Project (ALP) with the express purpose of helping Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, beat Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in Ohio, and possibly Texas and Pennsylvania as well.Hillary owes lobbysts a great deal of favours to repay;Obama scares them!!!

Michelle Obama is a PROUD AMERICAN - born and raised in AMERICA, just like you. Barack Obama is a PROUD AMERICAN - born and raised in AMERICA, just like you. They're both 100% home grown, just like you. As for the comment - what she MEANT to say is 'I've never been more proud of my country than I am right now.'

Unedited video of Michelle Obama’s speech in
Wisconsin

Note how the audience applauded after she said
"proud my country"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x95334

They knew she was talking about the record breaking enthusiastic response of voters this year.

Wisconsin voted for Obama
58% to 41%

Rupert Owns Fox.
Fox edited out the word "Really" then Hannity and O'reilly said she was never proud of America, and played the race card.

Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton, Conservative Media Mogul To ...Even by odd bedfellows standards, this was a jaw dropper. The conservative media mogul will host a fundraiser for the liberal New York senator, ...
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main1600694.shtml - 74k -

Try slightly rewording the phrase and it is entirely different. I love people who take a single sentance and try to analyze it as if it stands alone. We could do that with the bible and be here all day arguing over discrepancies.

What if, instead, she said "For once in my adult life, I am proud of the way my country is voicing its self."? If you had heard the entire speech instead of listening to what Fox news is splashing across the screen, you'd understand.

She is probably prouder of Africa than of America, and let's face it, equality has been a long time coming to many AFrican-Americans. Taking a point from the 10-pint Vision of the Obamas' Trinity United Church of Christ:

#4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.

What does that mean? Does it mean that if her husband becomes President we will be supporting the broken govenments in Africa at the cost of our own American people; that we will commit our soldiers to fight African wars? What exactly does that point mean?

Obama's church also states, "We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent,....."

Aren't we trying to avoid another faith-based presidency?

Please, someone ask him about his commitment to the separation of "church and state, " and his commitment (?) to Africa.

I should remind people that the Neo-cons, the majority of Jewish ancestry, could not separate their commitment to Israel's Zionism from their commitment to the U.S.. As a result Norman Podhoretz, Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, David Wurmser, Rumsfeld got us into the mess that is Iraq.

My, my, my, how the angry children of the Left yowl like spoiled children when anyone dares criticize a statement made by the wife of Senator Obama...

Criticize one statement by Michelle Obama and you're branded the "rightwing luntic fringe" and you unleash a hate-filled barrage of ad hominem attacks on Senator and Cindy McCain.

Look, kids, Mrs. Obama is a fine and decent person. But doubtless in a moment of familial pride, she said something that came out the wrong way---something that implied that America has heretofore never given her, at least in her adult life, a reason to be really proud of the Stars and Stripes.

Whatever.

It was an extraordinarily arrogant and stupid thing to say, especially for a smart woman like Mrs. Obama. What, like the spectacular victory of Governor Clinton in 1992 (dubbed the Year of the Woman because of the huge advances made by female candidates, like Carol Mosely Braun, that year) was not something that would give a liberal Democratic woman something to be proud of?

And too, imagine how you'd be pouncing on Cindy McCain if she said something similar about her husband's candidacy.

So please, angry kids, think before you rant. And remember to breathe.

More Republican trickery.

Take a quote out of context, and then bitch, bitch, bitch!

That's helped our country out *so much* in the past 8 years.

Of course, pride is one of the seven deadly sins, along with greed.

Lets face it folks, she blew it. She should have known better than to deliver a prepared speech with a message like that. The message as I read it is that she has NOT been proud of her country until her husband decided to run for office. Now that he is gaining in popularity, suddenly she's proud of her country. Personally, I am offended. I love my country no matter who is the president. Whether it's a Bush, a Clinton or even a Carter, I still have been proud of my country and work to make it a better place. Mrs Obama might give that some consideration and love her country even if a rival gets elected.

Please. Of course she's proud of this country. That's not what she was saying.

She was saying that for the first time in her adult life she is *really* proud (i.e. extraordinarily proud, proud more than normal) of the country because of the way people are getting passionately involved in politics for the first time in a long, long time. Is this really such a dificult sentiment to understand?

MANY Americans have been ashamed of the policies and actions of their country of late, so is it so surprising that Michelle would say that our efforts to change the direction of this nation make her proud?

True pride an patriotism is more than mindless nationalism. That Michelle puts actual thought into her national pride is absolutely no reason to lash out at her. Please attempt to put more thought into it as well before you attack her for such trivial questions of wording.

She shouldn’t be proud of a country enriched by slave blood and tear a country which robed Native American land and claim manifest destiny crap! Why would any one be proud except whites who are the beneficiary of the unjust system? Are you proud of American rape of Iraq without provocation and killed a million Iraqis? You got to be fascist totalitarian freak to be proud of this country!

I agree with Michelle. I was not proud when we went to war with Afghanistan and now Iraq. I was not proud of Abu Graib. I was not proud at the way Americans suffered through the Katrina disaster. I have never been proud of any of the Bushes. I also was not proud when Bill Clinton decided to have improper relations with Monica in the white house. I am proud of the excitement and the crowds at the polling places in my town - Obama has created hope that we actually can be proud again!

With all due respect, Dave, if Mrs. Obama had said what you seem to think she said, it would be fine.

But she didn't say she had "never been so proud". She said "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country".

Quite a difference, and problemmatic in and of itself. But couple it with last fall's dustup over Senator Obama declining to wear the U.S. flag on his lapel, and any objective observer can see how her comment might cause more concern than it otherwise might have.

It might be appropriate for Mrs. Obama and all of you to re-read "Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale.

"For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country”

I think one has to be African-American to truly feel Mrs. Obama's comment.

I can think of no other group who came to America in slavery. Every other group came with hope. They didn't really get the right to vote until the 1960's. That's less than fifty years ago.

Put yourself in the place of an African-American, then tell me her comments were out of place. We are experiencing the healing of America's worst injustice, slavery. It's not just because an African-American may become president, but rather because
any African-American can finally become president.

That's an very good reason to be proud to be an American.

I am a trial attorney. I know the danger of taking words out of context, --something the media likes to do. Thank you for posting the entire paragraph and part of Michelle's speech that carried the subject quote. When you read the whole thing, you tend to agree with the point she was trying to make. Remember, only a preponderance of undestanding (51/49) is needed to support her true intent and carry the day. Get over it and move on to more substantive issues, please!

I really wish politicians (and their wives) would just own up when they blunder like this. Every time they try to cover up what they say, they end up sounding even worse. This was a prepared speech, so it is hardly like she was speaking off the cuff. Obama did the same thing when he plagarized Patrick. He later lied to the American people and said he and Patrick had discussed him quoting Patrick. While Patrick did defend him, he never specifically told Obama to quote him.

I am an Obama supporter, but the big change he preaches seems to be more of the same to me...

EVERYONE HERE READING THIS:

Will anyone supporting Obama who believes in his message of hope and change please post what he means by this??? Please be specific:

1. WHAT CHANGES IS HE PROPOSING?

2. WHY SHOULD THESE CHANGES INSPIRE HOPE IN ME OR ANYONE ELSE?

PS: While you're at it, please name one (1) accomplishment he has had during his Senate term. Just one example will do - two wins the whole contest and I may even start to change my opinion of him...

You mean what White America has given them!
White privilege makes me sick!

Hmmm...shades of Teresa Heinz Kerry's "contributions" during that ill-fated Presidential bid. Is this Michelle's first public faux pas, or just the most blatant? Does she communicate differently with predominately black audiences than in other settings?

If it's "yes" to all the above, than here are two diverging explanations:

a) As a member of the rich ruling elites herself, she feels the need to validate her husband's relevance to the unwashed masses.

b) She really does see herself as an outsider. (What black man or woman doesn't have a stack of slights stored in memory banks, that date back to childhood?)

Neither theory makes her particularly attractive or sympathetic, since no one likes a bitter cynic, so she best keep a lid on it.

"The message as I read it is that she has NOT been proud of her country until her husband decided to run for office. Now that he is gaining in popularity, suddenly she's proud of her country."

Posted by: BobR | February 20, 2008 7:45 PM

BobR,

Clearly you either did not "read" Michelle Obama's quote or you were left behind at some point in school.

Here's the complete quote again for those of you who wish to READ the entire quote, part of which reads "and NOT JUST BECAUSE BARACK HAS DONE WELL." She clearly makes a point of discrediting BobR's point even before he makes it.

But I don't necessarily blame the BobRs of the world. I blame the lazy members of the media who don't want to take the time to fully inform the public. (How can you be proud of that?)

Thank goodness for the internet.

“…What we’ve learned over this year is that ‘hope’ is making a comeback… it is making a comeback and, let me tell you something, for the first time in my adult lifetime I’m really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well but (also) because I think people are hungry for change and I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I’ve seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues and it’s made me proud. And I feel privileged to be a part of even witnessing this, traveling around states all over this country. And being reminded there is more that unites us than divides us, that the struggles of a farmer in Iowa are no different than what’s happening on the Southside of Chicago, that people are feeling the same pain and wanting the same things for their families.”

Come on. The President's approval ratings are in the tank. His predecessor was impeached. Before that we had Poppa Bush and 8 years of a failed Reagan era that drove us into phenomenal debt. We know what Mrs. Obama was talking about--we are tired of cynicism, corruption, and greed. I, too, have not been proud to be an American for a long time. I am still a patriot and love this country, as does Mrs. Obama. Let's all salute the flag and move on to more important issues.

I am so tired of hearing all these weak and uninformed criticisms of Barack and Michelle. For all the doubters please refer to this article from 1995: http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/951208/. He is exactly the kind of president we need.
He and his wife's intelligence, honesty and experience are refreshing and I am a proud supporter of them both.

She has nothing to explain. We get it Republicans. You're the only people in the country who are patriotic, and democrats are traitors one step removed from Jihadis. Check.

And I said there are no intelligent libs. I was wrong. There is now one.

BFD!!!

Know what?? I am a white male, 61 years old, and I am really proud of my country for the first time in a very long time, but then, I am over 20 years older than Michelle.

We all know what she means. Quit trying to spin it.

She outclasses Hillary and anyone the Right can produce.

Sounds like sour grapes.

GO MICHELLE!!

Nice bias by Christi Parsons. This remark caused a "tiny flap"? If it was so tiny and insignificant, why are there so many posts on this blog as well as tne numerous other posts on other blogs in this paper alone. How about trying reporting the facts rather than offering opinions on them.

Proof that FOX purposefully tried to spin the Michelle Obama speech in a negative way. Check out the two links below where the first link is the original video of the speech and then compare it to the one below which is what FOX used and the Associated Press. Watch her lips and listen to the video. The word "really" has clearly been edited out by someone on purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffGpYcTu5GI

Video that has been edited where the word "really" was edited out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyZGaeUZkAM

This constitutes fraud on the part of the networks and should be investigated.

The Obama's clearly have a case for a lawsuit against FOX.

To Tim M and the rest on the Left: During the Bush presidency, MORE has been done for Africa than under ANY U.S. president. That is according to the African people themselves and even liberal African activists like Bob Geldoff and Bono.
Under Bush, billions given to help those affected by the tsunami, and that does not include the cost to the country of the work done by the U.S. military in those regions.
Under Bush, people in two countries have been freed from tyrannical power: Afghanistan and Iraq.
Under Bush, those who make the least amount of money now pay less in federal income taxes than they have in decades.
But no matter what the facts are, the Loons on the Left will never understand.

I would like to see someone in Ms. Obama's position to say, "Please can you people get a life. Do you really think I have hated every day of my life? You know that is not what I meant." Same as John McCain did not mean to say that he believes troops have to die in Iraq for 100 years. But that is how it is portrayed.

We have two candidates with very different positions. We should discuss those issues and not try and write off a candidate because of one line.

I feel Michelle is a woman with class and Mrs. Mc Cain who I also felt, seemed like a lovely lady, until she handled herself the way she did, I think she should have reacted like Laura Bush or Jackie O and attempted to have enough class to just say "no comment" for we all know how things can be taken out of context and blown out of proportion. Michelle is a decent and proud human being, just look at the family.

Is Michelle running for president? No, OK then the Wingnuts, Clintonians and the Media ought to shut the hell up. Really, in the end what difference what she thinks or says? Whay can't we focus on the candidates - the Constitution says nothing about the First Lady, she has no constitutional role, so. . . Big Damn Deal.

What Mrs.Barack really meant to say was that her husband is a COMMUNIST, hiding behind the cloak of a left wing SOCIALIST. They hate AMERICA as it is and the CHANGE they talk about doesn't include OUR CONSTITUTION! Stand up and fight people before it's too late.

Wait a minute here. What if Hillary said it. The media gives it little news because she's black.

Michelle should apologize. She is the one that started the racial remarks when she stated, "Black America needs to wake up". Is this a double standard?

Barack Hussein Obama, talk to your insider David Axelrod (Daley guy) and give Michelle some pep talk.

Their will be no change with Hussein Obama administration, Chicago politics will control the White House.

Let's start with Chicago Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) who will be eyeing a spot in the U.S. Supreme Court for his wife Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke of Illinois. Watch.

So maybe she misspoke in her enthusiasm. It's not as if there are not a lot of reasons to be ashamed of about the USA as well. Everyone always wants to hide behind the good things that the USA does like they justify all the bad things. Anytime some one addresses the bad things they are called unpatriotic. That’s not unpatriotic that's how change happens. 'Denial is a river in Egypt'

I can think of so many things that she should be proud of that her country has achieved. Lets see turning a blind eye to apartheid is a good one. Standing by and watching genocide be committed in Rwanda under Clinton’s presidency is another good one. Years of government supported privatization and exploitation of healthcare is one of my favorites. Romney actually said healthcare was a privilege not a right. That’s funny considering the USA is the wealthiest country. Tax cuts for the rich. Tax laws that tax personal income almost twice as much as they tax corporate income. Government funded guerrilla warfare in 3rd world countries in an attempt to control industry. Passed legislation that has made the USA environmentally irresponsible. Virtually no investment in alternative fuels so oil companies can continue to stay rich. We have declared war on Iraq under false pretenses. If weapons of mass destruction were why we invaded why have we stayed in the war so long and attempted to reconstruct the country's infrastructure to one that provides economic gain for us. Years of government supported Christian fundamentalism not so unlike Islamic fundamentalism. Insanely ridiculous discussions over the life of embryos and their use as stem cells. Discriminating against homosexual couples and depriving them of civil liberties. Over 40 years of mistreating veterans. Failing social service systems. Horrible public school systems. Outsourcing of American jobs. The ever-increasing divide separating the rich from the poor and ending the middle class. Corrupt police and politicians. The Rodney King verdict caused one of the worse riots in our countries history. The police were caught using excessive force and camera and the corrupt system still made excuses for them. Uh, lets not forget 200 years of mistreating minorities. Lastly, the United States is not to be credited with stopping communism. Communism collapses because it can never work efficiently as a system.

Bomb Bomb Bomb,Bomb Bomb Iran.

Sometimes people say REALLY stupid things!!!!

Why is it that only the obamas get to "clarify" their oops's?

I've been ashamed for 8 years - which seems like an eternity. America has great ideals, but they only mean something when we live by them - especially when it would be easier not to. Circumventing our ideals is the choice of unispired and unpatriotic leadership. I'll be proud when we say 'no more' in November

((((((BREAKING NEWS)))))))

John McCain has just been implicated of having an affair with a lobbyist and doing special favors for her interests in the Senate!!!!!!

I never did believe the "straight-talker" when he called himself a "reformer" right after he was implicated in the Keating scandel.

I'm going to wait to comment further on this BREAKING NEWS until there is more research done on it than there has been so far but from what I understand the second shoe is going to fall on this one in the next couple of weeks.

If this is true, you can start calling McCain, "McToast", because he not only won't win the general election he may be stripped of the Republican nomination.

(((((BREAKING NEWS)))))))

Full story here:
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/20/did-john-mccain-have-an-affair-with-a-lobbyist-and-use-his-power/

But no matter what the facts are, the Loons on the Left will never understand.

Posted by: John D | February 20, 2008 8:31 PM

I'm a John d dito head!

Of course we should forgive her....the same way the Lib's forgave Trent Lott and George Allen!!!

Since we're talking about wives...what will huneyboy McCains' wife say about the story of 2000 love with a female lobbyist?

I'll tell you what she's proud of...she's proud to see so many people flocking to her husband and falling for his socialist agenda.

Everyone cheers and applauds Barack because he's going to bring "change"! I don't know about you, but some changes aren't good and the government taking over healthcare and other aspects of our lives is something I do not and will not support.

Hey, Barack. There's an opening available in Cuba now. I think you'd fit in as president a little better down there.

john d.

what's so great about being an iraqi or afghani citizen in 2008? if you have positive information, i would be happier for knowing it. really.

while you're providing the much needed good news, perhaps you can tell me about the progression of democracy and "freedom" in uzbekistan, and similar "former" totalitarian regimes in central asia? also, how the bush administration has improved the democracy/freedom of the people in those nations.

This is what happens when black people get that uppity feeling and think just because their black they won't get challanged on the things they say.
If she's not proud to be an American let her move to Iran and see how she likes it there.

Paulo

Anti-America, just like her husband.

NObama in '08!

Of course we all should forgive her for making such an honest mistake...it's the Christian thing to do! But wait a minute...Liberals constantly attack Christianity and seem to support the tactics of radical Islam...I wonder what would happen to her if she made this "mistake" in a Muslim country?

I just adore how Hillary and McCain have started to latch onto this "all he does is talk and give speeches" thing. It's called "vision." And yes I want someone to articulate a vision during a campaign on where they want to take this country. Just like I expect a CEO to articulate a vision of where they're taking a company I've invested in.

A good number of us are apparently tired of having money sucked out of our pockets by the visionless leadership in Washington made up of these do-nothing, stand for nothing class of senators and congressman who are in the 55-80 year range.

For 10+ years they've done nothing but dig in their heels like the spoiled little bratty school children they are and accomplish absolutely nothing other than vamping it up for Fox and CNN and all the rest of the bloated gasbags that pass as todat's third-rate wannabe rock star news readers.

Hillary's attempt at a speech makes me want to vomit. She would be well advised to stop speaking because her condesending, treat everyone like stupid children, tone is so gratting and off-putting. From what I can tell neither she or McCain can figure out what they stand for. Maybe they could pay Romney to give them a lesson in corporate double-speak.

McCain and Hillary are interchangeable, flip flopping poll hoppers and apparently their spouses have something in common too. Seems to me that the establishment in both parties are fast realizing there is a large disenfranchised population out there--and a lot of them are white (for all the race card players) who have had enough of this failed beatnick/baby boom leadership. Maybe all those drugs really weren't such a good thing in the 60s.

It's time for this country to have a vision. Sorry Hillary. The genie's out of the bottle. Obama is the same age, 46, as Bill was in 1992. Didn't seem to be a problem for him to step out of Arkansas, of all places, and onto the world stage after giving the opening address at the 88 dem convention - how's that for deja vu? Well almost, Bill's speech wasn't really that well recieved from what I recall--something about being too long and rambling.

It took youth to pull us out of the damage caused by Bush I and it's going to take youth to undue the damage from Bush II.

Carolyn, not proud when we invaded Afghanistan? So, apparently you are Ok with the Taliban? With Osama bin Laden? Al Qaeda? You're Ok with 3,000 Americans killed? Terrorism?
I suppose, Carolyn, you are one of those who equate Islamic terrorists to our Founding Fathers?
But, thanks, Carolyn, for coming out and speaking the truth on the Left: that in fact those on the Left are against America and FOR those who wish to do us harm! I've known that fact for years.

DUMP - MICHELLE OBAMA!!!
DUMP - MICHELLE OBAMA!!!

BOTH MICHELLE AND BARACK "HUSSIEN" OBAMA SHOULD GO TO AFRICA AND LIVE.....BETTER THAN AMERICA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

V0TE - HILLARY CLINTON
PRESIDENT!!!
America's True Presidential Leader - President!!

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ATTENTION:
ALL PEOPLE OF RELIGION - PRAY THAT HILLARY CLINTON HAS A HUGE WIN IN TEXAS AND OHIO.

America needs
Hillary Clinton - President!

Michelle and Barack Obama have tried to divide the democratic party by playing the race card. They knew that criticism towards them would amount to cries of racism. Ted Kennedy and Howard Dean are involved knowing that the PC police would help.The base of the democratic party which includes hispanics,women, people over 50, etc., have seen this game played before. Here is a take on the bamboozling that the Obama campaign has done in this campaign season. The Greatest Hits of Obama's campaign, not a single original thought to come from him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuB_W8o_UsU

This two-facey pile of garbage slams America, then reinterprets the statement as some stupid "For the Children" speech, with God Bless Diversity thrown in to keep the Racists from hatin'. She showed her true color. Teflon Black, just like Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson. The Obama's and the "Civil Rights Racists have ONE united agenda. CHANGE. Yep, that's right. They want to grant Reparations to blacks, in the veiled form of "Required Diversity, and Affirmative Action (privileges)for everything to better interest rates at "Special participating Banking Institutions", and bogus unmerited grade inflation at predominately Black Schools and Colleges, where grade inflation is already a standard practice. Like Howard University. We will be seeing more unqualified Business managers, promoted by color from business's which are frightened with the threat of a Federal Investigation, for not promoting "Diversity". We will see schools threatened by witholding Federal Funding, for not considering "Culture and color" as a basis for graduating students, with less emphasis on MERIT. We will see more handout programs for Blacks. More Government sponsored "Free" Business Loans for blacks to start their own business's. We will see Prison Sentances reduced for crimes that Blacks dominate, like selling drugs, and armed robbery. We will see less accountability in Black Culture for crime, poverty, and Second and Third Generation Welfare siphoning single-parent Gang-member children. The Obama's will spend billions, not on the War with Iraq, but in charity to African nations, to strengthen their base. More Handouts to Blacks in America, to strengthen their base,. More Affirmative Action "Reverse Discrimination", to strengthen their base. Tax paying whites will foot the bill to be passed over in the work place by someone who was promoted with bogus credentials of capability, and anyone who contests this Racism, will be labeled a Racist themselves. That is how the tables will be turned on compassionate whites who were so lax, and so foolish to believe that anything GIVEN to Blacks, was ever appreciated. All of this agenda, became apparent in Mrs Obama's slip of her true feelings. Believe it or not, there ARE ingrates in this world who DON'T appreciate your foolish handouts. They want everything YOU have, without having to earn it.

This site only appears to post comments that are approvingly Liberal....hence the "screening" process, before Conservative views are deleted BEFORE posting. Maybe Obama's cousin is the Screener?

I don't understand why she or anyone else needs to explain what she meant; she meant that for the first time in her adult life (the last 27 years or so) she is proud of her country. The excuse she is using about "hope" can't be real-she was here in 1992 wasn't she. Hope is what got Clinton in and defeated a one-term president.

This woman is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. She went to Harvard, which we will never hear the end of, so she knows what she's doing and saying.

Her church attendance, along with her husband's, could get them confused about being proud, as its motto is loyalty to Africa. Please go there and run for office in Kenya...go save them! The pastor of their church has been muzzled by the Obamas due to his extreme beliefs.

This speech is only the Shape of Things to Come!!

I had "hope" that after 8 years of Republican rule and not a lot to be proud of in terms of major public policies --- an unwarranted war, tax cuts for the most wealthy, the rejection of science and the injection of religion as a substitute for intelligent thought, the conscious dividing of our United States between blue and red factions, thank you Carl Rove --- I had hope this country was ready to "change" all that and elect a strong, smart, dedicated public servant a proven human rights activist, a successful advocate for our most precious resource and our future, our children. I had hope this country had moved beyond gender bias and would elect a woman to its highest office. What appears to represent, for Michelle Obama, the key to her restored pride in this country? A large, rather mindless mass of previously uninvolved citizens who have now decided that "change" and "hope" are embodied in
a man with little experience in negotiating the hard issues of our time, but who gives good speeches. I'm sorry, but this does not make me very proud, or confident in our ability as a Nation to really make the changes we need to make to get our Country back its footing in true Democratic values of justice and peace for all. That takes hard work, not flashy speeches, but I fear we are not ready to make the sacrifices and do the hard work; we seem, rather, to want the pretty words, the pretty picture. And, my hope is fading fast.

LOL what a joke! I listened to her speech FOUR times before I even figured out what these pathetic contards were crying about. I might add that it was enjoyable EVERY time I listened to it, and this supposed "big deal" isn't going to help these contards get that bushasskissing old fart and his ugly drug addict wife elected dog catcher.

Steve P,
Sen. Obama has introduced a huge number of bills in the Senate, and many of them have become law. Someone had a post about this on one of the newspaper blogs. You probably could look up his record on the Senate web site. I remember one bill that he co-sponsored was the Government Spending Transparency Act (or something like that); the result was a web site where you can look and see how all your tax dollars are being spent.

All these negative comments about a statement that was clearly about how proud Michelle Obama is of America is a prime example of what her statement was about. Those of us who are literate and are ready for a good "clean" and fair election were looking for the true meaning in a very positive statement about being an American that Michelle Obama made.

And then...there has always been the status quo that doesn’t really care about truly living up to our promise as a nation and fulfilling the ideals of what it means to be an American. Those are the hate mongers that scream and whine and take statements out of context. Thus taking the focus out of what is really important. Who is going to do the better job of running this country? Who is willing to make changes and work on combating poverty and closing the widening gaps and disparities between the haves and the have-nots in America, thus enriching the lives of us all? Barack Obama.

Michelle, I too have never been prouder of those of us who have the courage, no, the AUDACITY to hope for not a better, but for the BEST America.

It's time to take the gloves off, I'm sick and tired of this non-sense crap from the Republicans.

This how George W Bush won two elections, making people look the other way and not pay attention to his despicable public and private life record.

I really don't care if McCain's trophy wife is proud of her country. She is just another GOP Stepford Wife as vacant as the previous ones. Whoopie for anorexic-looking Cindy McCain in her red $5000 Yves St. Laurent power suit, with her triple string of cultured pearls, her bleached blond hair and her shiny new face-lift telling us she's proud of America. Prouder of America than--- hmmmm, let's say Michelle Obama.

John McCain follows the usual "family values" profile of Republican social climbers. He divorced first wife Carol in April 1980 and married Cindy one month later. Infidelity? Hell no!... they were just "friends."

Cindy who is 18 years younger than Gramps McCain and she paid for McCain's first campaign for Congress in 1982 with loans from her well endowed trust fund. Her father's business and political contacts helped gain her husband a foothold into Arizona politics.

Cindy's biggest claim to fame is in 1989 she developed an addiction to perocet and vicodin, two powerful morphine based pain killers. In 1993 she was caught stealing percocet from supply of the American Voluntary Medical Team, a charity she founded to provide health care and medications to war victims in underdeveloped nations. The DEA was investigated her and with the intervention of her well connected parents and McCain himself, Cindy got off the hook with the usual 90 day trip to the posh rehab. The American Voluntary Medical Team folded shortly after it ceased to be a supply point for Cindy's opiate habit.

The DEA agreed to keep Cindy's little misadventure in Lala Land from the public, but then Cindy went and terminated the guy who reported her to the DEA and the details of Cindy's sordid past as a suburban trophy wife junkie all came out when the fired guy filed a wrongful termination suit against Cindy.

A few weeks after Cindy came clean about her addiction the Variety Club cancelled her Humanitarian of the Year Award. Boo hoo!... Another respectable Republican mother of the Harper Valley PTA goes down. This is just a little Peyton Place of Republican family values and Cindy's a Harper Valley hypocrite.

John McCain kept Cindy under wraps during his bid for the presidency but now that she's out there telling us she's way prouder of America than Michelle Obama, So I'm doing America a service by telling the truth, and nothing but the whole truth about Cindy.

Michelle Obama is proud of America too, but she's not Republican, garden club, percocet munching ex-cheerleader like Cindy. And she doesn't steal drugs from charitable organizations.

Michelle never had a trust fund like Cindy and she grew up under humble circumstances on Chicago's South Side. Her father was a pump operator and she managed to overcome her disadvantages as a working class black woman and attend Princeton then she graduated from Harvard Law School and met Barak at a law office where they worked together, shortly after Barack receive his law degree from Harvard. Michelle has paid enough dues to be far more credible than dozen stoned out Republican trophy wives when she tells you she is proud of America. America should be proud of Michelle Obama.

The whole thing is a bunch of nonsense. Most people have the common sense to understand what this political posturing and xenophobic flag waving from the McCain camp is all about. Call me harsh, but I'm tired of Republicans wrapping themselves in the flag and smearing perfectly decent Americans. It's time to take off the gloves.

Military failies especially do not appreciate the self centered attitude and hypocrisy of this couple.
Was Michelle proud that a slum landlord has been a close friend of her family Is she proud that it took help from Rezko and his wife a good real estate deal? Like she slammed Hilary,"if you can't take care of your own household, how do you expect to take care of the householf?
Is she proud her wanna be prez hubby takes money from the nuclear industry? As a sociology major she does not appear to have any understanding of Americas sociological reality. What a bitter mean hypocritical family.So this is the change they are ofering.

Mr. Obama’s wife must be pretty good if people have to attack her on this innocent comment that a lot of Americans probably agree with.

This country has had a confidence problem since Ronald Regan left office. The 1st President Bush was luke warm and President Clinton’s presidency was marred by a complete polarization of the American people. I had never seen so many people have such a hatred for a public figure. That unchristian attitude made me ashamed to be an American. Then we had the current president who ran on a conservative moral platform and got sidelined by an unpopular war and let the rest of the country fall apart. He was very luck to survive and have a 2nd term after the Democrats chose poorly in 2004.

It has now been at least 12 years since we have had a campaign that has candidates that people can vote for instead of choosing the lesser of evils. Even though I do not necessarily agree with all of Mr. Obama’s opinion, it is refreshing to hear a candidate that compliments his opponents and talks about their good points and acknowledges that he is trying to represent all of us (not just the Democrats). If he can help bring civility and a non partisan attitude back to the political process, it will defiantly be worth any errors he might make along the way.

Bob, I whole heartedly agree with your position, but honestly, just today on FOXNew's O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly openly threatened to launch a "Lynching Party" on Michelle Obama on National TV. Now since we are sensible people…. is this the type of behavior that should be condoned, regardless whether one is a Republican or Democrat or Independent. Granted no country is perfect but this is truly despicable.

She made a race related "proud " remark and got caught...
pure and simple..

if Obama gets in office..
she will become an embarrassment as a first lady !

Glad to know Michelle that you are NOW proud! Don't be proud of your country until everything is just how YOU want it!

Wake up America! This CHANGE everyone is so fired up about, will be the downfall of this country. Obama will open our borders continuing the destruction of our healthcare system, our education system, our social security, all while raising our taxes to pay for programs and projects that don't work in this country because many people don't want to work. Give me a break--the speeches sound nice but his CHANGE will self destruct this country. Say goodbye to being the United States of America and say hello to a combined America (comprised Canada, US, and everthing south of our border.) McCain isn't any better either!

Wow, Michelle Obama for the very first time is proud of America, that is really disgusting to say the least. So all her life she has hated America until now, and this is who some are voting for for our First Lady? sick.

The comment she made was candid and much ado about nothing. Besides it was made in reference to the political process...not Amer