PrintFebruary 19, 2008
Michelle Obama Ashamed to Be an American - until today
I'm not exactly sure how much traction this story is going to get. It's all over the internet and cable news nets which could mean Mrs. Obama's statement that:
"[F]or 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...”...is a 24 hour phenomenon or this is a needle that can puncture Obama's balloon and bring him back down from his lofty perch as Messiah and Agent of Change.
After all, there are plenty of Democrats who agree with that statement. Most Democrats were not proud of the fact that we won the cold war or liberated Kuwait or even that two ambitious African Americans like she and her husband were able to attend ivy league schools, get jobs that gave them each a 6 figure income, and allowed them to pursue their life's ambitions.
The fact that Democrats haven't been in power when these things were going on has a lot to do with it. But beyond that, liberals wear their shame of America like a badge of honor. It is an identifying mark - a passport into the club of smart, hip, savvy leftists whose whining denials that they hate this country are usually disproved in some spectacular way - as in Mrs. Obama's statement above.
So it is not likely that Michelle Obama's revelatory statement on her lacking pride in America will hurt Obama in the polls. Besides, the candidate himself didn't utter the words although it will be fascinating to see how he avoids cutting his own wife off at the knees while maintaining his positive, upbeat, "liberals love America too" campaign.
For make no mistake. If the press gets any access to the candidate today (and press access is just starting to become an issue - with the press) he will be asked about his wfie's statement. If he fails to adequately address the issue, it will stay with the campaign for a while - a distraction, not a feeding frenzy that would destroy his candidacy.
Hat Tip: Ed Lasky
