Please keep this woman in front of a microphone, Obama campaign. The USA is just downright mean,” and magnet schools are horrible, even though she attended one, herself.

The "politics of hope," indeed.

Thanks for posting this and letting everyone see what the Obamas really stand for, Frank.

From her comment on MSNBC that blacks will "wake up and get it" and vote for Obama simply because he is black to her "Ain't no black people in Iowa!" remark, Michelle Obama has shown herself to be a race-obsessed, arrogant, loud-mouthed hack.

I can't imagine four years of her rants about the "white oppressor" and her other divisive nonsense. She is a truly ugly individual.

The Obamas are poster children for opportunity in America, yet Michelle complains constantly and demands "Give me more, more, more!"

The selfishness and sense of entitlement of the Obamas is astounding and disgraceful.

Michelle Obama should thank America for providing her with a quality education, which helped her get a great job and mansion to live in, with her husband and 2 kids.

She's living the American dream...that should make her proud.

I have seen Michelle Obama speak and her speech is nothing close to being a downer. OF COURSE you guys take several passages out of a THIRTY MINUTE speech, analyze it to death and draw a conclusion based on a very small amount of what she said. The TRUTH is, you guys aren't interested in what she is really saying or clarifying her true message...you're interested in distoring her words and making her seem she is an ingrate who hates America. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Wow somene who has everyting is still unhapopy with her life. Give me more more more. SHUT UP because you sound like a hate filled anti white idiot. Her ugly face just now is excaerbated by her ugly attitude and rhetoric.

Can you imagine her and Oprah doing shows in the White House? I'm cringing.

Yes, the speech is a downer, but you can't say it isn't the truth. Everyone wants politicians to tell them what they want to hear (and they do), but I personally am thankful for those who see the reality of things and step up to do something to change it.

Michelle is no 'little woman'. Don't look for fluttering, adoring eyes and lace doilies.

I'm stunned that she's not talking about waiting for Barack's trust fund -- they both make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. And to dismiss the propsperity of the Clinton years is ludicrous and I so hope that comes back to bite her. It's Bush's policies that have led to our current situation. Don't blame Bill Clinton for that -- blame him for other things, but not for that.

I sure wish she would be held accountable -- JUST ONCE -- for some of this stuff.

She's living the American dream...that should make her proud.

Posted by: pnr | March 7, 2008 11:34 AM

You think anonymous posters on the Swamp and other political forums calling her husband a Muslim terrorist is her dream? Why would this give her pride or what proud tingly feelings do you think she gets wehn people are asking, "Is America ready for a black President?" Get some perspective and learn to have empathy.

Michelle Obama is a strong and smart woman who brings incredible strength and grace to the political arena. she brings her own depth of experience and perspective to the campaign trail - which many find refreshing and relatable. I don't understand why we're all so quick to judge and put down one another. I applaud her for having the courage to share her views honestly, and to encourage her husband's vision for this country. we need this family and we need them now.

Yeah, the "waiting for Barack's trust fund" comment was the absolute worst. Despite the fact that she sits on corporate boards and gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for no work at all, she still feels that the nation owes her more. Pathetic.

Materialistically, Mrs. Obama is living better than me, yet she still has a chip on her shoulder. America has been very good to her. I am always leery of people with chips on their shoulders--they can be dangerous to others. Looks like Mrs. BHO could use a retreat to look inward. At what point will her cup be full? Will it ever? That's up to her, not America, or any other nation.

Well, well, well, looky what we have here: politics as usual?! What a lovely sidenote from Michelle Obama. So much for soaring heights of hope! With Obama and his camp it looks like: Say one thing, do another. Lead by example? You are only as good as your advisors. Ever hear of "top down" management? Obviously the Obama team is talking out of both sides of their mouths and if we listen closely, the deafening sound of hypocrisy is obvious. Transparent government? Only what I want you to see. Give me a break! Obama you have some explaining to do on a number of issues, not the least of which is why you can't control your own staff. The "we have run out of time", or "I was busy" or "that was a boneheaded move" doesn't cut it! Not with the press and not with the American people. If you are going to run for President on the platform of “change you can believe in” or "new politics", then you’d better do it. Actions do speak louder than words.

Go Hillary! A proven, tested, vetted leader ready to go to work for us on day one!

If HRC can be politically penalized for Bill's comments and actions, then all political spouses should be held to the same accountability. However, in this day and age of change-it's-all-about-me politics, no one dares criticizes Michelle Obama for fear of being labeled racist. It's okay for M Obama to have a chip on her shoulder, but it's not okay for HRC to talk about the fact that pundits discuss her clothing rather than her political platform. . .

Wow! Why is a woman who has so much seeing herself as a victim? This reminds me of some of my friends who drive luxury cars, wear designer clothes, yet see themselves as victims and entitled. What's M. Obama so angry about? Audiences need uplifting dialogue not a pity party. Liz

Magnet schools are horrible? They are surely better than the money pits her husband proposes to through money at. . Michelle Obama’s comments about finally being proud of her country hint at the entitlement mentality that hides the shame of policies that promote dependency rather than individualism. The Obamas favor the same old stick it to the man politics. Nothing new here.

From these bleak generalities, Obama moves into specific complaints. Used to be, she will say, that you could count on a decent education in the neighborhood. But now there are all these charter schools and magnet schools that you have to “finagle” to get into.

All true. Hey Jeff, if I were you I'd lighten up on the Obama's lest you make the same mistake Hillary is making. By slamming the Obamas every chance you get it only makes Obama supporters like me less likely to vote for McCain should Hillary successfully steal the democratic nomination.

You'll have plenty of time to talk trash come the general election. If Obama wins I'll likely vote for him. But if Clinton wins I may vote for McCain. Keep talking sh%t Jeff. Your only hurting your guys chances for picking up votes. Not a wise thing to do.

A large part of the reason people like me like McCain is because we see him as an honorable guy who knows when and where to take his shots at the opposition. W admire him for that. The same can not be said for Hillary or for you. I don't think John would approve of your rants but I could be wrong. If Hillary wins the nomination you can bet I'll be getting to know Mr McCain better. Just like I have Mr Obama and his lovely wife and the Clintons.
Money doesn't talk Jeff it screams. Something to think about!!! Jeff restrain your self.

she sits on corporate boards and gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for no work at all, she still feels that the nation owes her more. Pathetic.

Posted by: Jeff | March 7, 2008 12:01 PM

Another textbook example of your disturbing pattern of condescending and partronizing remarks towards women. Michelle Obama fortune was self made unlike John McCain who had to marry into it!

How dare someone talk about what's wrong with America and try to fix it: the ecnonomy, enegery prices, the war... Yep everything is just fine and dandy!

"Michelle Obama, has every right, of course, to speak her mind ..."

This from free-speech champion Frank James, who not a week ago opined that nobody has the right to speak their mind--when it comes to saying Barack H. Obama's middle name.

Well, well, well, looky what we have here: politics as usual?! What a lovely sidenote from Hillary Clinton. So much for soaring heights of hope! With Clinton and her camp it looks like: Say one thing, do another. Lead by example? Ken Starr are you listening? You are only as good as your advisors. Ever hear of "top down" management? Obviously the Clinton team is slandering their opponent, and if we listen closely, the deafening sound of corruption is obvious. Transparent government? Hillary won't even turn over her tax returns without a fight. Only what I want you to see. Give me a break! Hillary you have some explaining to do on a number of issues, not the least of which is why you can't control your own roll. Why because "I Hillary Clinton approve of this slander." The press and the American people are getting a look at what sleezy Clinton politics are all about. If you are going to run for President on the platform of "lets trash Obama then you’d better do it. And she has. Actions do speak louder than words. Look to the skies, not for hope but for Hillary flying along on her broom.

Hillary, a grizzled, testy, megalomaniacal leader ready to trash what little is left of Americas good standing on day one!

Posted by: muggy florida | March 7, 2008 12:17 PM

Yep all true. Hillary is a wretched, pathetic mudslinger. A sad old bunch of wrotten ideas and unbridled ego. Repugnance incarnate.

Bullcrap. Michelle Obama has not said anything in any different tone that the candidates themselves! Look at how negative Hillary Clinton has been. Look at how Hillary has talked DOWN about Obama's hope, about Obama's speeches, about Obama's health care plan. And the media wants to pull out Michelle Obama's tongue because she too is using it to campaign for her husband. She is telling the American people what truly has been happening, just like the other campaigners. If you want Republican build up Bush talk then you should just listen to the Republicans. While they were all campaigning there was constant fight and bickering with them, constant saying how bad the democrats were. Leave Michelle Obama alone. Go check out Cindy, McCain's wife who has a history of drug abuse and other stuff pertaining to drugs according to the records.

People speak, but nobody listens.

It doesn't much matter what candidate A says, candidate B's supporters will force themselves to hear only the worst conceivable interpretation of it that they can imagine, so that they can use their deliberate misinterpretation as ammunition to slime their opponent.

In this case, Mrs. Obama talks about how and why life is tough for many Americans, but Clinton supporters don't want to listen to what she is saying, they only want ammunition -- so they twist that around and claim that Mrs. Obama is feeling sorry for herself. Any 5 year old who honestly listened to the speech could tell you that wasn't at all what she meant, but it doesn't matter -- it's all just more fuel for the noise machines.

This may be why America is having such a tough time governing itself rationally anymore -- everybody is too busy throwing mud to think rationally about the important things. I'm sorry to see that it's not just a Republican phenomenon, but has infected both parties.

We get the government we deserve, and if this is the way we're going to behave, we don't deserve much.

There's no pattern, Julia, just the fantasy that exists in your head. I criticize anyone that says something stupid. Almost every poster on this thread has said the same thing about her comments.

I'm not taking any shot at the Obamas here. If you think her comments aren't hypocritical, especially the ones about the magnet schools she attended, then you're blind.

For balance's sake, I don't think Hillary's any better of a candidate and Bill's comments earlier in the race were unfortunate, too.

The sad truth is that Michelle Obama is a racist, but she - and Baracks followers - will deny it. Listen to her words and how they are used. She stands before the black church crowds and talks about being repressed and down trodden all those years. Yet here she is, a professional, married to a professional politican, bringing in the big money (over a million if I remember their tax form they released). How many others out there, white , black, or purple have that? Many more are struggling now than since the Great Depression. Yet she pushes these insane issues. She claims they are for unity, yet she pushes division. She disgraces true visionaries like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, who believed that we could all live together as Americans by her rhetoric pushing the idea of the blacks like her being the Americans. And to think, she has more pull over Barack than Hillary ever had over Bill. Who will really be running the White House?

The vile comments made about Michelle Obama shows the ignorance of Americans. Please realize if you are not "Black”, there is no POSSIBLE way you would understand what Michelle Obama is saying. It just goes to show the uneducated assumption that is constantly and often made by "White" Americans. FYI: Michelle does not need to thank this country for anything; she had to pay for her education just like anyone else. Furthermore, more Blacks than just Michelle Obama hold this view of America. Wake up and get serious White America, the American flag, freedom and justice goes one way. The constitution was written BY WHITE AMERICANS FOR WHITE AMERICA, not Blacks who where SLAVES when it was written. So please, stop showing how IGNORANT White America is to the facts of TRUE history, pick up a book and read for yourselves and stop attacking Michelle Obama with the likes of attacks most educated Black Americans receive from White America, simply because they are BLACK. I am sure some of you all posting these nasty comments DO NOT LOOK LIKE BEAUTY QUEENS. NEWSFLASH: ALL BLACK BEAUTIES DO NOT LOOK LIKE HALLE BERRY AND BEYONCE. . . Some are blessed enough not to carry the ugly SCAR of RAPE from slavery and are RAVING BLACK BEAUTIES LIKE MICHELLE OBAMA. STOP IT WHITE AMERICA, HAVEN'T YOU OPPRESSED US [Black people] ENOUGH. P.S. Bill Clinton is no Bradd Pitt and Vinny I'm certain you aren't either!

Go Hillary! A proven, tested, vetted leader ready to go to work for us on day one!

Posted by: sunny florida | March 7, 2008 12:17 PM

Whoa Hillary? A proven what? Tested where? What has she done other than travel the world drinking tea and eating cookies with foreign dignitaries? That is her experience you know. You do know that she never had National Security clearance don't you Sunny Florida???

No I didn't think you did.

Nice cheerleader routine though. Pathetic.

Whites do not have the exclusive right to be racists. Anyone can be a racist. Non-African Americans (not just whites) have been side stepping this issue for years. "If Whites accuse African Americans of being racist, that, in their view, is a racist remark."

Welcome to our world, Michelle. For years, Whites have been held accountable for their "racist" remarks and attitudes. It's been over 100 years since slavery has been abolished. Society as a whole has bent over backwards to provide African Americans with opportunities. It has taken decades, but African Americans as a whole have joined Whites and other non-whites as middle class Americans.

When can we (whites) stop apologizing for the sins of our forefathers? How much do we owe African Americans?

Now the pendulum is swinging back to the center (where it belongs).

It's about time all Americans were held accountable for their "racist" remarks.

Things have been going down-hill since Nixon?
Her earlier statement "As a black man Barack could get shot going to the gas station" told bullet-proof me all I needed about her.

To paraphrase Thomas Sowell, in his recent book “Basic Economics”:

“Economic resources are “scarce” because what everybody wants adds up to more than there is. This may seem like a simplistic thing, but it’s implications are often grossly misunderstood, even by highly educated people.

Middle-class Americans’ desires exceed what they can comfortably afford, even though what they already have would be considered unbelievable prosperity by people in most countries around the world – or even by earlier generations of Americans. Yet it’s always being reported that we are “just getting by” or “budget-constrained”. But it is not something as man-made as a budget which constrains them: Reality constrains them. There has never been enough to satisfy everyone completely. That is the real constraint.”

Michelle Obama is either dillusional or full of hate. The woman lives in a million dollar mansion (which may end up being the downfall of Obama, depending on who actually paid for it), makes half a million, works as an executive for a private hospital that charges uninsured people 3 times more than what they charge insured people and is best friends with the richest woman in the world. And she has the audacity to stick her nose in other peoples' business to command them not to go into corporate jobs and to work as community organizers and teachers instead. If corporate is so evil, why was she a corporate lawyer and now a corporate executive?!! Hmmm, for the mansion and fancy clothes no doubt. Her quasi-socialist speeches make me sick. She is such a hypocritical, greedy and condescending person. And all her racial innuendo is only harming the country. People don't need to be "guilted" into voting: even if Obama "succeeds" by playing off of liberal white guilt (and black guilt too for that matter, since black superdelegates have been threatened for not supporting him), it is only going to lead to a backlash.

Veejay: You say that if a person is not black, they cannot possibly understand Michelle Obama. Just a hypothetical: what if you are Chinese? Or a half-Jewish, half-Puerto Rican? Are we really going to regress into this kind of racialized thinking? I suppose you don't think that blacks can be racist either? And why is Barack "black" anyway? Because his biological father was half Arab, half-Kenyan? His mother is white and he was raised by whites. Does this make him evil in your world?

Can you really imagine her as first lady! PLEASE! Why will she not speak out about ties to Auchi Rezko and Alsamarrae.
All three had connections to Barack and all three didn't want to invade Iraq. Do you think that is why The Messiah gave his speech! Think about it. To curry favor with the like of billionaire Auchi.

Michelle Obama wants to see great opportunities for everyone. I have heard her speak. Senator Obama is definitely committed to the same cause for all people. Your article continues to promote FEAR because you are the one who is negative, filled with hate, and downright mean because a person of a diverse background is running for President of the United States for all people. You are the one, writer of this article, who is filling everyone with fear and you are purposely distorting the speech to misinform people. What are you afraid of? You keep twisting the words of Michelle Obama or omitting passages from her speech to make her appear that she is not pro-American. Are you trying to make Senator Obama not to have a fair chance to help the people of this country or do you want to continue the rants of the likes of Bill Clinton because you fear him or is obsessed with only a certain few people in this country succeeding in life? There is plenty of negative information in the backgrounds of the Clintons. But thankj God Senator Obama does not want to go that direction with them. So why do you continue to purposely distort the truth about the Obamas?

HYPOCRITES

salivating, but unable to succeed; cowards.

You people can't handle the truth.

I am just amazed buy some of the comments. If I had to assume here, I could say almost without hesitation that most of (I would say 90%) of the negative comments on her words here, come from White people, who still cannot seem to understand the extent of the damage that centuries of unjust, and despicable White rule have left on people of color in this country. And that for me is sad, because contrary to what I would like to believe, it shows that we haven't gone very far on the path to racial equality and justice in this country... and that is really sad.

You criticize Michelle Obama for offering her own diagnostic of the situation in America, and the only thing you can find to rebut her argument, is to say that she should be grateful that she succeded? I mean is that seriously your argument?

So if YOU had 10 brothers and sisters, but you happen to be the one to succeed - through hard work, high intellect, constant struggle, and against all odds - you will not be looking to better the situation of the rest? Just because you succeeded, you would automatically stop to criticize a system that you had to fight twice as hard as everybody else to just get your foot in? I don't think so. And neither should Michelle Obama.

Bill Gates is a very wealthy man, who succeeded within the capitalist system, but that does not mean he is not able to see - and publicly point out - the inherent flaws of the very system that made him the (now 3rd) wealthiest person on earth. That's called honesty, candor, and sometimes tough love. If you can't handle the truth, don't blame it on Michelle Obama.

Try to live in my shoes in America just for one day, being racially profiled by the police, pulled over for driving-while-black, being constantly followed at Dillards dept. stores, being denied entry to certain jobs when you are interviewed face-to-face, even after being granted the job over the phone, or being denied jobs because your address is in a heavily Black or Latino populated area, having eggs thrown at you by the KKK, being bullied and beateb by skinheads, being "tracked" into certain fields of study just based on your "cultural specificity", being generally encouraged to underachieve, living in the ghetto because the parents cannot find a better paying job, and all this in MY OWN country, that country that you want me to be so proud of... live in my shoes for a day, and then tell me that you are still, unequivocally, 100$ proud of your country.

Chris Rock said it best. Black people love America, but with a grain of salt. See for Black people America is like that old uncle who paid your way through College, but then molested you. You do not know how hard it is to be Black in this country. It is definitely easier when you have money and fame, but is never easy. Yes the Obamas have more money now that many White people. But they are part of a few exceptions. And it is legitimate for them to point out that this state of facts is the result of a system which despite good intentions, is failing the American people as a whole, regardless of race. Minorities in America are just hit harder. For once, in the Obamas, we have a couple that is willing to challenge the system, for all our sakes. In order to do that, hey need to wake America up to a set of uncomfortable yet true facts. That is a good thing in my book. If you don't like to be told the truth, don't vote for Obama.

Esther, The comment Michelle Obama made is NOT racist. I can truly say I am not proud of what this country stands for and I am NOT racist. America is stolen property, it was stolen from the Native Americans and transformed into what is is today on the free labor of the slave. The Chinese, Jews and Puerto Ricans, etc. did not bear and/or raise "massa's" babies. Until one has walked in a man's shoes one will never understand his journey. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If Cindy McCain or any other white person would have made this remark would it have been a BIG DEAL or is this just an example of the PETTINESS the Obamas have continued to endure. YES, there are some racist Blacks, however Michelle Obama is NOT one of them. A racist Black woman would never marry a half white man.

If you don't like to be told the truth, don't vote for Obama.

Posted by: Charles | March 9, 2008 1:21 AM

Bravo Charles!!!
You so eloquently speak the truth!!! WELL SAID.

If it weren't for Michelle (Omarosa) Obama, I might consider voting for her husband. But I'm one Democrat who's moving to McCain.

Almost none of these comments prove a thing about Michelle Obama. What they prove is that of all major newspapers, the Chicago Tribune must have the dumbest. It's not Michelle Obama who is a suspicious, bitter, greedy, hateful person--it's you all. Most of you, anyway. You're seething at the sight of her, and your comments are proof. Sad.

We are playing into the hands of the Republicans left and right and setting integration backs years and years. Obama knew Hillary was strong when he decided to run and should have been smart enough not to go against her which alone makes me not want him for president. This whole black vs white has really surfaced seeing how few people Hillary really thought were her friends and they made "color" their choice. Michelle reflects that at every turn as America has been good to her in her million dollar home. It has all but killed the Democratic party thanks to Obama running now.

People: Even this article doesn't say Michelle Obama said magnet schools are horrible. She says it's hard to get a decent education *without* finagling to get into a good school -- magnet schools included. One would think that having gone to one would give her the authority to speak about whether it's difficult to get in.

And for all those who penalize Barack Obama for his wife's apparent "victim" stance, I hope you're being consistent -- Hillary Clinton notoriously plays the victim card, and given the choice between the two, I'd rather have Michelle Obama's more distant First Lady whining than Clinton's high-profile whining from the Oval Office itself.

You kool-aid drinkers amaze me…A campaign supposedly based on optimism and a rejection of the politics of personal destruction…

We are sloths?…We are a mean complacent nation?…Hillary Clinton is a monster!? You people are pathetic… BO is an unvetted novice. The Republican party will slaughter him in the general if he's our nominee - please educate yourselves about his "friendly" relationship (Obama's words) with William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn - vocal and unrepentant domestic terrorists in the Weather Underground, or his membership in a racist church led by Jeremiah Wright Jr - If you thought Willie Horton was bad for us - or thought John Kerry was "Swiftboated" you ain't seen nothing yet. NObama! and remember - Actions speak louder than words.

Charles,
What "system flaws" helped Bill Gates achieve his wealth?

"and despicable White rule have left on people of color in this country."

Then why are millions of Mexicans who are brown and don't even speak the language literally risking their lives to get into this country and experience some of that "unjust" things going on?

How come they and other "brown" folks can come to this country and run circles around inner city poor blacks by opening their own business and suceeding? How come people who come directly from Africa and are as black as you can do better than inner city ghetto blacks?

I don't think you need to blame "white rule" of the last 300 years. You need to blame the "white liberals" who convinced you to live and feed off the govt. plantation for the last 50 years. You've gone backwards because of it and the sooner you realize it, the better off you will be.

Sorry, truth hurts. Proof is in the pudding.