This sentence, from Michelle Obama, strikes me as a sad, sorry thing to say.
For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country…
What made her proud is her husband’s campaign. That’s the first thing she’s seen that makes her proud of her country.
I’m sure that she’s about my age, which means that she has seen the world change radically and greatly for the better. She’s seen the end of the Soviet Union and freedom extended to millions of Russians and and Europeans. She’s watched her fellow Americans respond to dozens of natural disasters around the world with generosity unmatched by any country at any time. She’s seen America led by the first black two Secretaries of State, back to back and the first two female Secretaries of State, both in about a decade. She’s seen America stand resolute against most of Europe and stop the genocide in the former Yugoslavia. She’s watched us free tens of millions of Muslims from two of he most oppressive regimes in history. And that’s just a list of things that have happened in my lifetime right off the top of my head.
If she has never known pride in her nation before today, she’s either supremely ignorant of history or just selfish and cynical. In neither case should she be the First Lady.
I honestly feel sorry for her because she’s apparently lived in shame of her fellow Americans for her whole adult life. That’s a sorry way to live.
(via Kathryn Jean Lopez)
UPDATE: Patterico’s site notes the quote in full. It’s not better than it is in isolation. It just makes her look even more short-sighted.
“What we have 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 am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I have seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues. It has made me proud.”
So this is the first time that Ms. Obama has noticed people hungry for change? She must not have been paying attention to the last twenty years of Presidential campaigns. I can recall two where “change” was a major issue for the victor. I suppose it’s only good change if it’s Obamessiah Change.
I am really proud that Michelle Obama is really proud that Barack Obama is really proud of being proud.
Say it loud!
How about being proud of the way the heroes of Flight 93 fought back against the islamofascists on 9/11. Doesn’t that make you even a little proud, Michelle? You want to talk about hope? If you can’t see hope in what those people did on that airplane, then you are one sorry SOB.
You’re proud to see people unified around some basic common issues and those issues are hope and change? It’s not good enough to be unified behind fighting islamofascists or securing our borders; nope, it’s hope and change that make her proud. To use a phrase from my high school days, GAG ME WITH A SPOON!
You know what, Michelle, I think we are the same age. You may have your fancy degrees from ivy league schools, but I’ve got something you don’t, and that’s common sense and realism. Come down from your ivory tower and get real, would you.
Why does it seem sometimes like these people grew up on a completely different planet than the rest of us?
I’ve been reading this and other blogs, and it sounds like the unpatriotic witch hunts that happened earlier this century. Those would have been started by GW Bush — anyone who was against the war was unpatriotic. I know at least a few talk show hosts that lost their jobs because of their stance. And now here we are 5 years later and most would agree that the war was a mistake. All but John McCain and Hillary Clinton.
We know what Mrs. Obama’s intent was. For me, I’ve always been proud of my son, but the day he graduates I will REALLY be proud of my son. She’s been proud of her country but these days when it appears that we’ve gotten past racial divides she is REALLY proud of her country.
You know the media focuses on such petty stuff. Is this more important than Clinton not releasing her tax documents or intentions for earmarks?!? Is this more important than the fact that McCain says no new taxes, voted against Bush’s tax reductions twice and now has decided he won’t repeal those tax reductions? is this more important than being at war for 100 years, or singing BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN?!?!?!
If Hillary had said it I’d be saying the same thing. I don’t care about such trivialities, show me your tax returns!!!
Come on people, wake up. Mrs. Obama has already said that she is the personification of the American Dream – poor girl goes to Princeton and Harvard. That statement implies pride in her country.
I bet the same people who are “outraged” are the same people who said that folks who spoke out against the war are unpatriotic. Let’s stick to the issues.
Please tell me how would this statement make your life better or worse if Sen. Obama were elected? Seems to me that if in fact she meant what some of the bloggers are saying then she would work really hard to make this a country that everyone could be proud of. And that would make everyone’s life better.
HVinson – Always good to bring the old “witch hunt” meme into it.
My point is simple. If she’s not found a reason to be proud of the country now, and the only thing that’s brought her out of her miasma of woe is her husband’s campaign, she’s ignorant or pathetic. Pick one.
Nice spin there vinson. Christ, I’m actually dizzy.
Jewells, I find it interesting that you didn’t actually refute any of the points that HVinson made.
Michelle basically used an expression that wasn’t meant to be taken literally (I imagine members of the Bush family have done the exact same thing). The fact that people are jumping all over her for it speaks more about them than it does about Michelle Obama.
So what opther parts of her speeches aren’t meant to be taken literally? Perhaps she’ll favor us with a cheat sheet to let us know what is hot air and fluffy rhetoric and which is meaningful words.
I look forward to learning which part of her speeches aren’t to be taken seriously and which are. Maybe she should just hold up a sign that says “take this seriously” when she wants us to pay attention.
“Come on people, wake up. Mrs. Obama has already said that she is the personification of the American Dream – poor girl goes to Princeton and Harvard. That statement implies pride in her country.”
Okay- then she’s a flip flopper. How’s that? Either she’s proud of a country that gave her so many opportunities or she’s not and if she is indeed NOT, then she’s a freaking ingrate.
Good grief, if you can’t see the pandering going on here, you are either blind or ignorant. I’m sick and tired of people running down this country, ESPECIALLY the ones who actually live here. IS this country perfect? Heck no, but to stand up there and say for the first time in her adult life she is really proud of her country? Huh, sorry. She comes off as an ungrateful, ignorant fool.
Okay, back in ancient times, we used to have a word for people like this…”chameleon”. Aside from the words that were spoken, didn’t anyone else notice that we were seeing a whole new persona? Gray sweatshirt, minimal makeup & jewelry, dropping her “g”s all over the place, and practically saying “y’all”, this distinguished, educated lady obviously was playing to the crowd with what she believed they wanted to see & hear. Can you say “pandering” boys & girls?
I also noticed that nanci, and did you also catch that snort/sniffle thing she did? Very ladylike. Good grief.
So the gist of the anti-Obama campaign is that his wife isn’t very bright? It should be pretty smooth sailing for Barak if the right can’t come up with an argument against him and needs to rely on attacks against his wife. I think Bill Clinton proved pretty clearly that a man can win when everyone is concentrating their ire on his wife. But I guess this all the Republicans have right now.