Quote of the day - Sister Toldjah

“Nothing America has done in Michelle Obama’s adult life, which at 44 goes back 26 years to 1982, has made her proud of her country? Nothing? Not winning the Cold War? Not our regular and orderly transitions of power based on the rule of law? Not the fact that we feed and defend the world, not that we lead in science and technology research, not that we elected the first black president in 1992â€¦nothing? Not the fact that she and her husband were able to go to Ivy League schools before embarking on extremely lucrative careers? Not the fact that we help out in disasters wherever they strike in the world? Nothing has made Michelle Obama proud of her country in her entire adult life?

How sad. I certainly don’t want such a vain pessimist as First Lady.”
—- Bryan at Hot Air, in response to the following quote from Michelle Obama, said today in Milwaukee, WI:

“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. 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.”

John Podhoretz adds a lengthier commentary here. Hmmm. Wonder if Michelle Obama would find that his “soul” needs “fixing,” too?

Related reading: Michael Weiss believes we may be seeing the end of what he calls the “Obama honeymoon.”

benning says:

February 18, 2008 at 9:07 pm

Sadly, Michelle Obama has a very ugly soul. She needs change. Being First Lady won’t help her.

Steve Skubinna says:

February 19, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Somebody should ask her which nations she would be proud of. That would give us a clue what direction she wants us to go.

Undoubtedly it’d be one providing salvation for our souls.

Leaning Straight Up says:

February 20, 2008 at 3:36 am

Michelle Obama: Was it pride, hyperbole or just political rhetoric? Plus, Bob Geldof and Bono seems to disagree

There is a certain amount of caution I approach stories like this with.

I understand quite well that politicians (or their wives) make speeches and utilize many literary devices, one of which is Hyperbole. Hyperbole is essentially intentiona…

Lorica says:

February 20, 2008 at 10:13 am

Michelle Obama’s comments under fire

Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, is taking heat for saying Monday at a Milwaukee rally that “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.”

Among the critics: Cindy McCain, wife of GOP candidate John McCain. “I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier. I’m very proud of my country,” she said Tuesday in Brookfield, Wis.

“She sure seems to have a non-trivial chip on her shoulder,” Mickey Kaus wrote at the liberal online magazine Slate.

Among conservatives, National Review’s Jim Geraghty called the remark “strikingly ungracious.” John Podhoretz at Commentary said it reflects a view that America is “only occasionally good.”

Obama defended his wife on Texas radio. “What she meant was, this is the first time that she’s been proud of the politics of America,” he said. “She has seen large numbers of people get involved in the process, and she’s encouraged.”

I guess Barry has decided to clarify his wife’s comments. I was waiting for the tried but “true” line we usually get about a joke gone wrong. – Lorica

Severian says:

February 20, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Gee, you’d have thought she’d have been proud back in 92, after all, wasn’t Bubba the “first black president?”