However, it is noteworthy that he has now beaten Hillary Clinton in ten consecutive primaries. And that this puts him in the best possible position to really challenge her, and perhaps even knock her out of the race, in the “big state” primaries of Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on March 4.
On the other hand, Obama’s wife, Michelle, made a lot of news. Unfortunately, none of it was good. And it all stems from a seemingly innocent statement she made yesterday (and has made on many other occasions during this campaign) about finally being proud to be an American.
At any rate, here’s what she said, which has so delighted Obama’s critics that even John McCain’s Barbie-doll wife Cindy (pictured below) felt emboldened to take a political shot at Michelle today:
For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country … 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.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware that no matter how many times his campaign spinmeisters try to clarify it, his critics will have a field day tarring Michelle as an unhinged, ungrateful, and unpatriotic woman (i.e., one unsuitable to become the first lady of the United States).
Not to mention that what she said echoes, ironically, the polarizing rhetoric of black victimology. Indeed, this language unwittingly associates Obama with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in ways that Bill and Hillary only dreamed of doing.
That said, no one believes Michelle is unhinged, ungrateful, or unpatriotic. Nor that she might become as big a problem for Barack as Bill has become for Hillary. In fact, I believe she is still a tremendous asset to his campaign and will be the most dynamic, intelligent and, yes, patriotic first lady in the history of the United States.
In the meantime, however, it’s imperative that she and Barack appreciate how much potential there is for Republicans to create politically damaging, if not damning, mischief with this statement. Because no matter what she intended, without prompt and proper clarification, they will use her words (and commensurate caricatures of her) against him, and quite effectively too….
Therefore, I urge Michelle, not Barack, to clarify her remarks; if not tonight at his victory rally, then on all of the early morning shows tomorrow. And I hope her political handlers do not persuade her that it’s unnecessary.
After all, that would be every bit as impudent as Bush’s advisers persuading him that it’s unpresidential to apologize for any of his mistakes.
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* OBAMA ’08: To learn more about this extraordinary presidential candidate, and to contribute to his audacious campaign, please click here.
*Published originally Tuesday at 8:54 pm
Michelle Obama
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