Michelle Obama on Clinton's RFK comment:

[Coexist]

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/5/29/114557/872

“Send us good vibes. Pray for us. Think positive thoughts. But most of all, be vigilant. Be vigilant about stopping this kind of talk. It’s not funny. You don’t have to like Barack to dislike that kind of talk. Be vigilant about stopping that kind of talk.”

[YOY]

1. She is classy.

I do like her.

[Coexist]

35. here is some more from the blog post, since it addresess it in depth:

The woman continued: "What can you tell us..." and then her voice caught and broke as a sob rose up from her chest. She paused for a moment. "I'm afraid of what might happen. What can you tell us, after last week's comments--" another sob-- "after last week's comments, to make us feel more at ease?" She cried unabashedly after finally getting out her words.

The room that had been electrified with positive energy throughout the evening suddenly became still and quiet, all eyes focused on Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama's eyes, though, were focused on that concerned supporter. She paused, allowing the clearly distraught supporter to pull herself together. Maybe it was 30 seconds before Obama spoke, stretched out into imaginary minutes. Finally, she said firmly, "I'm ok. Really. I am ok. And if I'm ok, you should be ok.

"You know, we talked about this as a family."

She held the microphone with one hand, the other curved inward over her heart as she talked. Her tenor and body language was clear. Michelle Obama was talking as a mother. She was introspective and intimate, looking the questioner in the eyes as if they are the only two in the room.

"We talked about this as a family."

The room remained still and quiet. Imagine having that talk with your children. Then, she paused, gathering herself, pulling herself up, seeming to grow even taller, Michelle, the campaigning wife returns. She says,

"I've talked about this before. Barack is probably safer now than he was before. Kids are dying in the street in our community. They get shot walking to class, sitting in school, taking the bus home. They are dying in the street.... Send us good vibes. Pray for us. Think positive thoughts. But most of all, be vigilant. Be vigilant about stopping this kind of talk.
It's not funny. You don't have to like Barack to dislike that kind of talk. Be vigilant about stopping that kind of talk."

Then she reminded the crowd what we are fighting for, and why it is important to forge ahead without fear. "Fear is the reason this country is where it is today. Fear is a useless emotion. Don't ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn't. Don't ever make decisions based on fear."

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dailykoff]

79. here's the link

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/michelle-obama-in-phoenix_b_103924.html

[Why Syzygy]

111. Their stuff just breaks me up!

I swear I cannot listen to one of their speeches without crying like a baby. :cry:
It is so where we want to go.

[DemExpat]

50. Despicable milking of false accusations IMO

Her husband says that he is convinced that Hillary did not refer to Obama in mentioning RFK's assassination, as Hillary explained that she was referring to the timeline as reason to stay in the race.

Michelle herself mentioned in a televised interview with her husband Obama's danger of being shot at any gas station, so there goes the accusation of "putting the idea out there for some nut to carry out"

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

DemEx

[CakeGrrl]

53. Hillary has mentioned RFK 3 or 4 times during this campaign

When there are plenty of other examples to cite if she wanted to argue for extending the race into the summer.

She lied when she said she only mentioned it in South Dakota because her mind was on Ted's illness. She had brought it up before, and dropped the "assassination" word once already.

There's no logical, sane reason to do that. She's not to be trusted. I think she gave voice to her subconscious wish to be in the wings 'just in case'.

"Anything can happen", parroted her campaign staff.

[Shae]

58. Puke your guts out.

I think you have no heart or soul.

[CaptJasHook]

59. The horse has been dead for a while but here's a bat....

[genna]

77. I hope you personally feel some of the disdain and disregard you are placing out

in the universe.

30 seconds I am feeling a certain emotion
x( x( x( x( x( x(
x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x(

x( x( x( x( x( x(
x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x( x(

Now, I say peace to you...
the soul stirring kind.
:hippie:

I hope the Republicans give you the kind of atmosphere you need.

[LibraLiz1973]

114. Ugh. I can't believe she is pushing this story along.

Wait, actually... I can believe it.

[StevieM]

121. Actually, Obama created and drove this absurd story (eom)

[TBF]

129. Well gee if her husband says it then it must be true. Give me a break.

Who does he think she's running against - the Easter Bunny? Her opponent for the nomination is an African American, and she is referencing RFK. She is not doing that just to comment on "timeline". She is putting that year in everyone's mind. She wants them to think about the assassinations of RFK and MLK. She wants them to think about how the same thing might happen to Barack. It is not much of a leap in logic to get there.

[dailykoff]

73. I know exactly how that lady feels.

I felt the same way when I heard about another RFK crack a couple of months ago.

[eagertolearn]

95. Michelle and Obama are two very classy people!

Thanks for showing the rest of this conversation. I think we all need to listen to what Michelle is saying. We shouldn't live by fear and this includes all of us Obama supporters who believe because of past experiences that this election will be stolen by someone. We know that Obama will be an amazing president...someone we all need right now because of his honesty and intelligence. I know this is hard but we can't fall into the trap of responding back to Hillary Clinton's supporters because of this fear. The best thing to do is not respond and let them vent. It will all be over soon and Obama will be the nominee. (This is in response to many of the remarks I read above and below). One time I sent out someone's blog from DU to everyone I knew about how the Clinton's have used the race issue and how we are loosing ground in this area and someone who was working for the Obama campaign over seeing us volunteers said he'd rather keep it positive. He was so right. That's whats amazing about his whole campaign his employees work for him because they really believe in his message and emulate it. The best thing we can do is get outside and start talking to other people about him. Telling people why we believe in him is very contagious.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

109. Ok, Seeing The Full Context, That's Just Creepy.

The amount of melodrama in it and the tears, introspection, blah blah blah, is just creepy. The woman who asked the question seems unstable. The way Michelle answered it makes me wonder if she's completely stable.

Look, hate me for sayin it all ya want. Call me whatever names ya want. Just bein honest and that's all I can do. Reading the whole thing just made me feel weirdddddddd afterwards. Creepy.

My god was that whole thing all sorts of levels more dramatic than the real life statements from Hillary called for. Both of them in that example above appear to be completely ungrounded. Just, kinda, creepy.

[LibraLiz1973]

115. OMC, I am always relieved when people realize just how NUTSO this is

It's so dramatic & over the top.

[Divine Discontent]

123. but c'mon OMC, you have no idea the amount & the details of death threats against him

they have every right to ask for positive feelings about Obama... I'd expect anyone to say the same thing if their significant was under protection from the secret service, from people who'd want to kill him if given the chance, so I respect what she said... there's nothing odd about it, I just don't think we should be listening to the candidate's spouse though as much as people do. heaven knows I quit listening to Bill months ago, and I've never listened to Cindy say more than a sentence before flipping it...

[Name removed]

130. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bette Noir]

125. Brave lady.

She'll make a good First Lady-- for eight years, I hope.

[DangerousRhythm]

80. VERY classy and strong.

She'll make me very proud as First Lady. :)

[boobooday]

2. Michelle, we will do all of that

:hug:

[Coexist]

3. yes, we will!

[Lucky 13]

4. They are so gracious...

... I would have been spitting fire if I were her.

[LeFleur1]

5. What Kind of Talk Would That Be?

Facts?

Yeah, don't cite facts. Can't have that.

[godai]

6. You're so missing the point.

No, don't talk about Presidential candidates being assassinated in June. Don't go there. There's no need to mention assassination. It's shameful for a Presidential candidate to say what she said.

[nichomachus]

7. Please wake me when the Clinton campaign returns to "facts" -- I'm still thinking

about her being under sniper fire in Bosnia

[Lucky 13]

8. WTF are you talking about?

Michelle came out and said to please be vigilant to stop rhetoric about assassination.

She is truly much more gracious than I because I would have blown my top and said something like:
"How fucking DARE you even insinuate that my husband potentially being assassinated is a REASON you are staying in this race, you ghoulish monstrous thug."

For her to have stated something so calmly, not attacking Hillary at all, but simply asking for us to use reason and vigilance, I find to be QUITE GRACIOUS.


What facts are you looking for? I'd be happy to cite them...

[genna]

84. She's a better woman than I am

I think BHO calmed her down because I'm pretty sure I can picture what her face looked like last Friday:

:mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad::mad: :mad: :mad:

She has had a week to pull herself together. I haven't pulled myself together in a week. I am still just as intolerant of those thoughts and that sentiment as I was last Friday. In fact, now I firmly believe she meant exactly what she said.

I would say she is a better person than I am currently. I can't say HRC's name without hearing her say: "Shame on you, Barack Obama." at the same time I hear her saying you know this race is being shut down early with RFK...

Buh.


I'm sending my most fervent peaceful prayers to the Obama family.
:hippie:

[roseBudd]

9. Except her facts were wrong and disengenuous. RFK campaigned for 2 mos. Bill was the nominee

his competition had no chance after March. CA primary was in June & just a formality.

[LeFleur1]

11. I Know...

...to the supporters of Obama voting is not important, but to most of the people in the country it is important. It's how we keep our Democracy. I realize the Obama supporters want to anoint him without going through the process of the primary, but most people who live in a Democracy do not.

AND what kind of crazy mentality would think that Hillary was talking about assination?
What a twisted bunch. She said that it isn't unusual to campaign into June during the primaries, that Bill did it, and Robert Kennedy was assinated in June while campaigning. (So he was still in the primary race at that time.)
Anyone one who reads more into her comments than that need some mental help.

I thought Michelle was better than to try to twist Hillary's comments into something sinister. Guess not.

[mod mom]

20. Where was Sen or Former President Clinton crying out for AF AM voter in FL in 2000 or OH in '04?

Don't you find it a bit strange that she speaks out when she thinks her votes are not fairly treated but she remained silent when Sen Kerry should have been elected president in '04?

Don't you find it strange that she has no problem allowing the Rush Limbaughs of the world attempt to sway the outcome of the Democratic primary by accepting Republican cross over votes that will vanish come November?

I hope every vote is counted fairly, but I do have problems with candidates who are self serving when it comes to how votes are counted.

Karma is a bitch. Hillary's politics of division will haunt her future role in this country.

[girl_interrupted]

154. mod mom Maybe if Kerry hadn't folded like a picnic chair, they could have

Maybe if Kerry hadn't folded like a picnic chair, they could have. Kerry conceeded so quickly, it made my head spin. Gore stood & fought, Edwards wanted to fight,it was Kerry who gave up the next day. You want to blame someone? Take it up with him.

[tishaLA]

21. Show me where Michelle Obama twists the words?

She asks for good thoughts. That's it.

She was responding to a questioner in AZ who expressed fear for Sen Obama's safety.

[Why Syzygy]

41. Hillary was talking about assassination?

She SAID it. You can't very convincingly claim that she didn't say something that is right there on the tape.

And you certainly don't have to invoke "assassination" in order to justify continuing to run in a nomination you have lost.
You don't need any reason at all. Obviously.
Clinton is an evil bitch. Get over it.

[Hansel]

85. Obama supporters think voting is important. As are the rules.

Without rules, you have anarchy and dictatorships and despots and President Bush. It is precisely because we do care that we do not believe that rules were made to be broken and ignored to the benefit of one candidate and group of supporters over another. That is not democracy. That is chaos.

You are fooling yourself if you believe that Hillary is the champion of the voters. She is the champion of her being elected president over all else. If she was the champion of the voters, she would not for 1 second suggest that those in MI supporting Obama should be denied their share of delegates.

And Michelle's concerns about assassination are very real. Obama has had threats simply because he is black. Sometimes it's just not all about Hillary. For Michelle it is about her husband and her children and her own safety. If Hillary is so sensitive that she can't understand the very real threat they face, then she has no business running for president. And if Hillary doesn't want to be called on bringing up assassinations and catastrophic events as reasons why she doesn't drop out of the race, then she can stop doing it.

Michelle didn't twist anything. She is talking to a supporter about some very real fears. And that is certainly an appropriate thing for her to do.

[genna]

92. mmm...

Troubling...

Avoid the substance.
Attack the messenger.
Question the other person's integrity.


Mmm...
Feels familiar...
Where have I heard that type of reasoning before...


Well I agree about all this being sinister.

[digidigido]

94. How do you spell troll

[iamahaingttta]

150. You are one of the Upside-Down People

Everything in what you post here is upside-down to reality.
Every word you say here is wrong.
You seriously have no idea what you are talking about.
I would parse each line in your post, but it is simply not worth it.

Really... your brain is on backwards.
Please, even though it may sound snarky, try to take this as constructive feedback.
Or not...

[MonkeyFunk]

12. Yet Clinton didn't secure the nomination

until June, no matter how much you guys try to spin it.

[Prophet 451]

112. Well, if you want to get technical about it...

...he didn't secure the nomination until the convention. Fact remains, the race was long over by California.

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. the fact IS:

"Rasmussen Reports believes the race is over and that Barack Obama will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. We will stop tracking the Democratic race in the near future to focus exclusively on the Obama-McCain match-up."

link:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

"The Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator shows Democrats leading in states with 200 Electoral Votes while the GOP has the advantage in states with 189. When “leaners” are included, the Democrats enjoy a 260-240 Electoral College lead (see summary of recent state-by-state results). Rasmussen Markets data gives Democrats a 62.0% chance of winning the White House in November (results are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants)."

----------------------------

And here are the predictions from the financial markets:



Intrade Prediction Markets: http://www.intrade.com / (The Rasmussen Market figures are pretty much in the same ball park: http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/ )

Intrade Prediction Market gives a 61.5% to 63.4% chance that the Democrats will win the White House in November

Intrade Prediction Market gives a 57.5% to 57.6%chance that Barak Obama will be elected President in November

Intrade Prediction Market gives a 5.8% to 5.9% chance that Hillary Clinton will be elected President in November

Intrade Prediction Market gives a 37.6% to 37.7% chance that John McCain will be elected President in November

Intrade Prediction Market gives a 37.0% to 38.7% chance the Republicans will win the White House in November

Rasmussen Markets and Intrade Prediction Markets both predict that there is now a 81.9% to 82% chance that Sen. Clinton will drop out of the race in June.

Rasmussen Markets and Intrade Prediction Markets both predict that there is now a 91% to 93.8% chance that Sen. Clinton will drop out of the race before the end of July.

"Rasmussen Reports believes the race is over and that Barack Obama will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. We will stop tracking the Democratic race in the near future to focus exclusively on the Obama-McCain match-up."

[JoFerret]

141. It's a clever trick

I am glad someone noticed that.
Worthy of a DU poster with a straw person to condemn.

[PoliticalAmazon]

33. Can you imagine if it would have been Obama making that comment about Hillary?...

Oh my freaking gawd, the Hillary supporters' heads would have exploded.

[Hansel]

93. And Hillary would be yelling "Shame on you Barack Obama!!!" eom

[Heather MC]

74. I hate Hillary.....

For making Michelle and Obama have to discuss the possibility of their father being Killed. Hillary is the scum of the earth. I pray she loses everything she ever accumulated in her life because of her lies.

To bring this kind of pain to someone's children with zero remorse is unforgivable.

Please keep the Obama's lifed up in constant prayer.

[GCP]

76. Michelle Obama brought this up HERSELF in February 2007

So please spare me the indignation

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/02/11/video-obamas-wife-plays-race-card-on-60-minutes/

[Heather MC]

88. Hillbilly use this as her reason for staying in the race

I could careless about your "indignation"

Michelle was asked if it was something that worried her about her husband not the same thing
Hillbilly mentioned this 4 times
you may want to buy into her bullshit, but understand not everyone is that gullible.

[Name removed]

126. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Heather MC]

135. Thank you!

I am still smart enough to know Hillbilly is trash and can't be trusted.
She ran a shitty campaign
she can't count
she agreed FL and MI wouldn't be worth anything until she needed them
she loses with or without them
She tells lies and counts on her "uneducated low information voters" to believe her every word.
Ran a campaign that proves she has neither the skills nor intelligence to run this country.
And sadly will make sure she and Mark Penn get their money back, long before the small vendors that are waiting to be paid. More than likely they are part of the "hard working white americans" she wants to vote for her.
And her gas tax holiday proposal was scam to pander for votes from those "Low information voters" who didn't know their was no way she could get that dumb idea passed within 3 weeks.


But Ok I'm dumb, because I don't fall for her bullshit.
I can't be dumb remember only "eggheads and african americans support Obama

So, what does that make you?

[GoldieAZ49]

89. So true

you see how Barack smiles when she says he could be shot for being black?

These two are cons.

[mythyc]

96. Really? care to show where she brings up assassination there, or talking to her kids about it

Spare us your maudlin bullshit self--- another black hole of a fabricated Hillbot accusation that leads to nowhere even resembling the truth. Instead of this we get more of the bottomless pit of pathetic desperation discounting anything sincere or legitimate from the Obamas. I read the whole damn interview twice and nowhere does Michelle ever "bring *it* up". Not even the slightest damn *hint* of the idea of assassination comes up. The closest thing you get to the general territory is fear, and Michelle's own words on this are:

BRZEZINSKI: The polls are showing your husband is trailing Hillary 46% to 37% in the African-American community. What is going on here?

OBAMA: First of all, I think that's not going to hold. I'm completely confident. Black America will wake up and get it, but what we're dealing with in the Black community is just the natural fear of possibility (emphasis added). You know, when I look at my life, you know, the stuff that we're seeing in these polls has played out my whole life. Always been told by somebody that I'm not ready, you know, I can't do something. My scores weren't high enough. There's always that doubt in the back of the minds of people of color. People who have been oppressed and haven't been given real opportunities that you never really, that you believe somehow, someone is better than you. You know, deep down inside you doubt whether you can do it because that's all you've been told is, no, wait. That's all you hear. And you hear it from people who love you, not because they don't care about you, but they're afraid. They're afraid that something might happen.

you're equating, no, equivocating the "fear of possibility", i.e. in this context the fear of failure, oppression, maltreatment, or harm due to institutional racism and/or discrimination, with the fear of assassination--and claiming this as a direct quote that she brings up and interjects no less? to diminish the seriousness and slight the concern of her address in the OP? get real.

then later in that article, lest you hedge further and cite it as if you have a clue, we get this ever so supplementary segue (i quote the whole thing to make the point that though this BLOG addresses the issue of assassination, Michelle NEVER does):

Are we really going to say that Michelle Obama is lying? That she's imagining about the fear in our community? Or have I not read the articles that I've read about Obama and the Black Community. I don't have to read any articles about Obama and the Black community - I live Obama and the Black community. Most days my radio is tuned into the Black Talk Radio station where I live. I hear the views of those active who want to discuss the issues, and I've heard it all when it comes to Barack Obama.

I have my own family and our discussions about Obama. The generational split is pretty evident: I, my sisters, my cousins, 50 and younger, we were on board with Obama from the beginning. We've actually had to discuss, to debate, to convince our older relatives about Obama.

Black folk, by nature, are a conservative lot. Our survival in this country has depended upon it.

If you accuse Michelle Obama of imagining what she said, dare I remind you of a NYTimes article not one month ago.

Money quotes:

"I’ve got enough black in me to want somebody black to be our president," she said in her tiny beauty shop, an extension of her home, after a visit from an Obama organizer. "I would love that, but I want to be real, too."

Part of being real, said Ms. Vereen, whom everyone calls Miss Clara, is worrying that a black president would not be safe.

"I fear that they just would kill him, that he wouldn’t even have a chance," she said as she styled a customer’s hair with a curling iron. One way to protect him, she suggested, would be not to vote for him.

....................................................

Another striking theme that emerged in the interviews was how often these women described an almost maternal concern for Mr. Obama’s safety, which they take seriously by noting that he was given Secret Service protection in May, earlier than any presidential candidate ever except Mrs. Clinton, who already had protection as a former first lady. The assertion this year by Mr. Obama’s wife, Michelle, that as a black man he could be shot "going to the gas station" has done little to quell their fear.

This was a topic in Carrie’s Magic Touch. One customer, Maria Hewett, 63, a retired factory worker, told the others she would probably vote for Mr. Obama despite her fear that he could be a target.

"Things happened with presidents in the past, and they weren’t African-Americans," Ms. Hewett said, sitting in one of two big barber chairs, her hair in curlers. "President Kennedy was a good person, and somebody took him down," she said, prompting a chorus of "that’s true, that’s true."

Still, she added, "Hillary’s husband has a lot of wisdom and knowledge, and that will help her." This elicited another round of "that’s right, that’s true."

"Whoever it is," she concluded, "we just ask the Lord to bless them and take care of them."

Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a Democratic state representative from Orangeburg, S.C., who has not endorsed anyone in the primary, said she had heard black women say they were afraid for Mr. Obama. "This really troubled me," Ms. Cobb-Hunter said. "Maybe it’s a Southern thing. They want to protect him from the bad people, and in order to protect him, they won’t support him. They want to see him around, making a difference."
...........................................................................

Tonya Thomas, 46, and Tina Thompson, 45, both involved in early childhood education, discussed their internal struggle over whom to support as they talked with a reporter after the breast cancer walk. Ms. Thomas said she liked Mrs. Clinton but was not "totally sure."

"Men have been running the country for a while, and I’d like to see a woman in office," she said. "Personally, I don’t feel the country is ready for an African-American," she said, adding matter-of-factly, "He would be killed."

what's missing from of all that hmmmmmm? MICHELLE OBAMA, THAT'S WHAT. Read over the whole thing, not one of these quotes comes from Michelle. Now go back and read Michelle's interview answer again. she's "bringing it up"? REALLY? The blog addresses real concerns within the black community, using Michelle's interview as a touchstone to the topic of fear in general, but nowhere, not once does Michelle ever say what you're attributing to her.

and who cares if she did, or had elsewhere anyway? You're going to take issue with that? There's an ocean and an Everest of difference between a concerned wife and mother talking about something and an obviously desperate opposing candidate insinuating this is why she stays in the race, how she wins.

.

so eff your fabricated spiteful pathetic b.s. This is biggest fallacy and hit job of a reply and attempt to distort the truth I have ever seen on DU (not really, but it's right the hell up there with the other of your ilk). on both accounts (distorting the truth and recusing Michelle, you should be ashamed of yourself.

disturbing

x(

[AtomicKitten]

132. This will all seem like a bad dream next week when Clinton runs out of places to move the goalposts.

However, the stink of the Clinton campaign will reek into the next decade. Her failed presidential campaign is a disgraceful mess, probably setting back the prospect of a female president further than imaginable.

Her invocation of racism and assassination in this campaign will go down in the history books as the very worst of Democratic Party lore.

She is being fitted for her pink tu-tu, soon to join her counterpart in the minds of Democrats:

[saltpoint]

157. I'm late to this discussion but wanted to read it over and say that

there are two things I hear in Michelle Obama's comments.

The first is that all of us are victims or beneficiaries or the advice of others, and we probably respond in a variety of ways to what is said to us all along from early schooling into adulthood. By the time we graduate from high school we've had any number of adult role models to influence the sort of grown-up we think is best. Some models we may want to reject outright; others we may want to significantly replicate for ourselves.

There's a lot of sheer luck involved in who says what to whom, and how agile we are in listening and following good advice versus bad advice. Before race, gender, or political ideology become points of dispute, we are already bombarded with the expectations of others. The luckiest thing is to be the young beneficiary of adults who believe in the broadest aspirations. Not everybody is so lucky. A society that can engineer luck o f that sort, it seems to me, is a better society to grow up in.

I wonder if that isn't an important hinge in why most of us are Democrats.

The second is also personal -- that of women with public profiles, and it is deeply apparent that the wives of politicians do not have an easy road. I think of Pat Nixon, or Kitty Dukakis. Martha Mitchell. And on and on. Some are notably elegant in public roles but that gift is more rare and can't really be imposed on people by others. Michelle Obama's life has changed dramatically in the past several months and is likely to stay changed and changing in the next 4-to-8 years. I'd argue for a residual consideration of the difficulty in balancing private personal imperatives with public political ones, and would speak up in her behalf accordingly.

[ihavenobias]

120. Uh

It's all about context and motivation, don't you think?

No, I guess you don't apparently, which is ridiculous.

PS---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7hZltsIlWU&feature=user

[Heathen57]

139. And in the Racist society that we live in,

don't you think that she just might think about that for a moment? Especially since her husband was thinking about running for President and that almost every AA leader that didn't stay in their place has been killed?

I think if my spouse were in Barack's position, I would worry as well.

[PaulaFarrell]

144. That was in direct response to a question

KROFT: This is a tough question to ask, but a number of years ago, Colin Powell was thinking about running for president, and his wife, Alma, really did not want him to run.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Mm-hmm.

KROFT: She was worried about some crazy person with a gun.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Mm-hmm.

KROFT: Is that something that you think about?

MICHELLE OBAMA: I don't lose sleep over it, because the realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know. So, you know, you can't -- you know, you can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. We just weren't raised that way.



So what should she have done in response to a direct question? Ignore it? Refuse to answer?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[H2O Man]

13. She's great.

I really admire Michelle Obama, and think she will be a great First Lady. She has a lot to offer this country.

Nominated.

[polichick]

14. I wish the campaign had asked her how to respond instead of...

...officially giving HRC the benefit of the doubt AGAIN!

[BeyondGeography]

15. Superb diary on this speech fom kos: "Fear is a useless emotion."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/29/33133/3956/139/524643

[papapi]

17. I do believe some peeps days here are numbered.

[meow mix]

18. K&R

[MethuenProgressive]

19. Why is she contradicting her husband?

Obama Takes Clinton's Word on RFK Gaffe -
Political Machine Obama Takes Clinton's Word on RFK Gaffe. By David Knowles ...
Too bad the damage was already done when Obama said her comment was uncalled for days before. ...
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/05/25/obama-takes-clintons-word-on-rfk-gaffe

For something they supposedly "talked about as a family," they sure
do need to work on keeping their stories straight.

[rodeodance]

22. Obama jumped the gun. It was deliberate.

[MethuenProgressive]

23. Don't say 'gun' - that's rassit.

But seriously, that how the Obama Camp does things.

[Prophet 451]

118. Don't say "camp", that's sexist

Yes, that was sarcasm. The HRC campaign has been far freer with the "ism" accusations that Obama's.

[jgraz]

24. Because Hillary is talking about someone killing her husband

And, apparently, so are you. Congratulations on finding the next level down.

[MethuenProgressive]

25. BO said she wasn't. MO said she was. Why is she contradicting her husband?

The Obamas should try sticking to one story. You know, just to shake things up a bit.

[Coexist]

26. you are sad.

[MethuenProgressive]

28. Axlerod said it's over. BO said she didn't mean it. MO milks it for sympathy.

Somebody other there needs to make up their minds.

[cyndensco]

54. "MO milks it for sympathy"????

Michelle was asked a question. She answered the question. She would not have been asked that question - at least in the way it was asked - if your candidate had not mentioned it last week in relation to the "June presidential primary time line."

Michelle has talked about possible harm coming to her husband in his bid to become president. She said almost the same thing last summer on 60 Minutes - her husband could be shot on his way to the gas station.

She was not looking for sympathy. She was answering a question. But you know that.

[ExPatLeftist]

90. You named three people there

and yet you find it incredible that there might be three different opinions?

[jonestonesusa]

113. Take progressive out of your name, Methuen"Progressive"

if you have to stoop so low as to milk this issue yourself for cheap points against Obama. There's nothing progressive about your intentional minimizing of assassination, racism, and hate crimes, for lack of anything of substance to say in favor of your candidate.

Or, continue your Constitutional right to engage in cheap sarcasm instead of real discussion. I bet that's your choice, isn't it?

[Heathen57]

138. I may be kind of new here, but

I can smell out BS, and you are giving that stink off pretty well.

Michelle was answering a question from the audience. Whether Clinton meant it or not, (I figure she was voicing a hope) it would cause the family to think about it. Especially considering some of her minions are those "hard working WHITE people" who would not think a second to assassinate a Black man, especially since it would restore their queen to her rightful position.

Michelle Obama is a classy woman who puts Hillary in the dirt.

[rodeodance]

30. no, he is not. They did not get their stories staight. That is the problem with

making up stories. Sometimes someone forgets her/his lines.

[JuniperLea]

63. Exactly!

I was really starting to like her. Now, not so much.

[Patchuli]

134. You sure as hell don't forget

that you weren't really shot at in Bosnia. I don't know how you folks can keep supporting this loser. Get over it.

[Faygo Kid]

27. There is no excuse for the reference. Except Hillary's thirst for power.

This one's on her.

Some of us remember all too well. And she certainly does.

[MethuenProgressive]

31. Axlerod, Obama, and the editor who interviewed her disagree with you.

The Obama Camp created the story and sold it to willing buyers.

[Faygo Kid]

36. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

You can't see the nerve that was touched. OK, fine. Wallow in your hatred. The rest of us are going to elect a president.

[MethuenProgressive]

38. "You can't see the nerve that was touched." On that, you're wrong.

But I see how that line, 20 paragraphs down in a smalltown newspaper story, was spun and hyped to hit that nerve. She never said she was staying in because BO might get shot. The Obama Camp lied, and claimed she did. They are the ones who caused the pain. Hillary has said that's not what she meant. Barack has said he accepts that's not what she meant. The editor who interviewed her has said it's clear that's not what she meant. Anyone watching the whole tape knows that's not what she meant.

If you think that's what she meant, you are a victim of the lowest kind of propaganda.

[Why Syzygy]

44. We aren't victims. We are just used to being in polite, respectful company.

Something that Clinton and her Neanderthals know nothing about.

[Diane R]

56. We so need a collection of all the kid and Obama photos...this one is especially adorable.

[jgraz]

52. You had just better hope every fucking nut in the country also disagrees

Cuz if anything should happen to Obama, Hillary will be the one with blood on her hands. It will mix well with the blood of all the dead soldiers and innocent Iraqis.

[MethuenProgressive]

57. "if anything should happen to Obama, Hillary will be the one with blood on her hands"

Axlerod, Obama, and the editor who interviewed her disagree with you.

[jgraz]

99. Obama and Axelrod just show more class in public than your disgusting queen

I have no doubt they know exactly what she meant and exactly who she was talking to.

[jgraz]

51. If only they were as consistent as those rock-solid Clintons

:eyes:

[Zachstar]

122. So the wife has to be in perfect lockstep with her husband?

You really need help in my view!

[LaurenG]

60. I think you're being sexist!

And that takes a F'ing lot of nerve coming from the Clinton camp!

She can say what ever she wants with or without his permission! Jeez! $*##*&@ x(

[Hola]

67. They're individuals

Michelle and Obama, they're different people, like many couples.

They talked about the possibility of Baracks assassination as a family, not Clinton's comments. Like I'm pretty sure every presidential candidate has discussed the possibility with their families too.

[me b zola]

29. K&R

[ampad]

32. Michelle is such a classy woman

K/R

[PoliticalAmazon]

34. ITA. I am looking forward to having her as First Lady. n/t

[SeaLyons]

37. Maybe Michelle needs to be vigilant about stopping

the racist remarks from her own church. Maybe she needs to tell the churh to send good vibes. Her church is definitely NOT funny.

[FrenchieCat]

42. Geraldine Ferraro goes to Michelle's church?

well I be darned!

[Why Syzygy]

45. Are you serious?

[madrchsod]

61. racist remarks? what, pray tell, are they?

[muryan]

82. Funny

Black empowerment is not racism. Saying "I'm good" is not tantamount to "You're bad."

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iconicgnom]

43. Too many of your posts spin racism.

You're too obvious by far.

[Why Syzygy]

46. You had this election won until ...

people started voting. Do you classify all human beings by skin color? Obviously you do.
How distasteful.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

49. Here's the actual CONTEXT, genius:

From the February 11, 2007, edition of CBS' 60 Minutes:

KROFT: This is a tough question to ask, but a number of years ago, Colin Powell was thinking about running for president, and his wife, Alma, really did not want him to run.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Mm-hmm.

KROFT: She was worried about some crazy person with a gun.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Mm-hmm.

KROFT: Is that something that you think about?

MICHELLE OBAMA: I don't lose sleep over it, because the realities are that, you know, as a black man, you know, Barack can get shot going to the gas station, you know. So, you know, you can't -- you know, you can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. We just weren't raised that way.

[LibraLiz1973]

116. In ONE sentence she says "you know" five times

I guess we see which one of them is the better orator.

[Prophet 451]

128. Compared to President Malaprop? n/t

[Cha]

47. Finally a Classy First Lady..

I'll send them all my good vibes!

[Swamp Rat]

48. k&r

[lebkuchen]

55. e-mails on govt. computers got stopped in their tracks

the anonymous ones that were sent by Cousin Cletus by way of Uncle Festus direct from Auntie Em, that said Obama was Muslim and unpatriotic.

Somebody got wind of it and had Stars & Stripes print a warning to anyone using government equipment to send unauthorized and non-government related (not to mention false) information over the Outlook, per the Hatch Act.

[JuniperLea]

62. I just lost some respect for her...

Why would she contradict what her husband already said about this issue? I would think she would stand behind what her husband says... it would behoove him if she did. I don't like that kind of game playing.

[mudesi]

64. Because she is her own person?

I guess sexism is only sexism when a Hillary supporter says it is...

[GoldieAZ49]

75. Their whole campaign has been game playing

from the moment Obama uninvited Wright from his public announcement of his campaign it has been nothing but a very ugly game, hoodwinking the democrats of America.

What an ugly joke it has become, and we the people are the brunt of the joke.

[LibraLiz1973]

117. Your only the brunt of the joke if you are buying this bullsh*t.

If you see through it, things are still ok.

[Heathen57]

140. The question that she was asked was

if she worried about Barack being assassinated since it had recently been brought up. I don't think she mentioned Hillary's hopeful Freudian slip at all.

Barack may have forgiven Hillary, but I would put nothing past her right now. That is based on her lack of following any rules and the way she has run her campaign.






Edited to remove an extra letter. Fumble fingers.

[Rose Siding]

65. Love her.

[dailykoff]

66. Pure class.

Glad she has no illusions because they are battling the worst scum on earth.

[aaronbees]

68. Good for her

She'll make a super, classy First Lady.

[McCamy Taylor]

69. Sounds like she loves her husband and is worried about him. I feel sorry for her

having to think about bad things happening to him and having the press hang around like a bunch of macabre ghouls and having a bunch of Democrats peer into her personal life to exploit her private emotions for political purposes. I can not even figure out what some of you think you are gaining since all you are doing is creating one great big divided Democratic Party. Oh, and keeping a topic that she would probably rather not think about on the front page of GDP every single day. I am sure that must just make her giddy with joy assuming she ever logs in here. Maybe you should drive some nails into her palms, see if that can increase her happiness even more.

[dailykoff]

70. Let's see, who's been humping ASSASSINATION for three months

wherever she can find a slob to listen? Oh yeah, your candidate.

[Elspeth]

71. Be vigilant? Against RFK references?

Come on.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GoldieAZ49]

91. they got them here

no doubt about it

[GoldieAZ49]

72. ah the self centered Michelle speaks again

as if all of history revolves around them. She can't get Wright to pray for them? heh.

[Texasgal]

78. How is that self-centered?

It's selfish to not condone remarks being made about assassinations?

Huh?

It's selfish to speak out regarding her husband?

Does Bill do that to Hillary? Is he a selfish person as well?

[IsItJustMe]

81. Piss off .

[muryan]

83. Nope

Shes a super secret muslim

[Dystopian]

86. K&R....I love Michelle..

She will be a beautiful first lady...

I can't stop thinking about how the former first lady voted not to ban cluster bombs.



peace~

[defendandprotect]

97. Imagine how it feels to actually be the target of such comments .. . !!!!-???

I think someone best stated it this way . . .

"HRC is sitting around waiting for someone to get shot--!!"

Given a choice, HRC is always on the LOW road ---

[defendandprotect]

98. Imagine how it feels to actually be the target of such comments --- !!??

Or have someone you love be the target of such comments --- !!!

I think someone best stated it this way . . .

"HRC is sitting around waiting for someone to get shot--!!"

Given a choice, HRC is always on the LOW road ---

[JoFerret]

100. Frankly, my dear

etc.

[genna]

102. Right back at cha

:hippie:

[JoFerret]

103. Understood.

Like all such people....she will wear very thin. Very quickly.
Anyone who is salivating at some grander prospect should grow up.

[Perry Logan]

101. Classy? As in: "I could just CLAW HIS EYES OUT!"

That's psychotic imagery, my friends--used on a fellow Democrat. How much longer can you guys keep living in your delusional Bizarro World?

[FrenchieCat]

104. I can't wait for you to vote for John McCain. Really......

it will make me happy!

[GoldieAZ49]

145. It makes many many people happy

mostly republicans.

politics does make strange bedfellows

[frog92969]

108. Give 'em hell Perry

The clock is ticking

[gaspee]

127. I guess that

counts for classy in Obama world.

[earth mom]

105. She is FULL OF SHIT. The Obama campaign needs to stop playing the race card.

:puke:

Even RFK Jr. knew Hillary's true intention.

[rodeodance]

110. and the victim card!

[earth mom]

124. Yep, and that too.

And I'm one of those who hates the personal responsibility crap the rethugs spew.

But you can't go around and blame people across the board for every problem in your life. It doesn't work that way.

[XtraProudDem]

148. Wow!

My ignore list is ON FIRE today!

[earth mom]

156. Woo Hoo so is mine!

:hi:

[NashVegas]

106. This Quote Was Lifted Out of Context

It was less about Hillary Clinton's comment and more about the distraught, fearful woman who was over-reacting.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

107. Sorry, But That's Just A Really Dumb Statement.

It really is. Worship it all ya want, but it really is kinda dumb.

[StevieM]

119. Wow...I have no respect for her after that. Clinton did nothing wrong. Obama is the one who

brought that story to the press and spun it a certain way.

She pours her heart out and asks for righteousness and decency in order to smear Hillary by validating the accusation. She is affirming that Clinton supposedly raised the specter of her husband's assasination.

To me, that makes Michelle someone who I cannot think of as a good person. I can understand the mass hysteria going on at the low-levels amongst the Obama-followers--I cannot condone it at the top

This is the kind of talk that is costing Obama so many Democrats.

Steve

[TBF]

131. Interesting perspective. I view it as the type of person I'd like to see as first lady.

It would be so great to have a real person living in the White House. Someone who thinks and has real emotions just like the rest of us.

If being honest about security and safety concerns is costing Obama voters, then I believe it is the fault of those voters for buying into Hillary's game-playing. She can word play all she wants but it's not like it's not noticed, and it's not like we don't see through it, and it's not like it's oh so very clever. I know she thinks she is, but she's not. At this point she's just pathetic.

[Hola]

137. Facts

Obama and his campaign did not break the story, or even spin it. Obama even said too much was made of it.

[rodeodance]

142. YES, that is EXACTLY what MO did!!

[nvme]

146. Respectfully,

This is a legitimate point. I cringed everytime hillary went on about "Bitter guns and god". The historical reference was in extremely bad taste at best. Had Hillary only uttered that cadence once, it could be written off as a gaffe. This is the second time hillary directly referenced RFK(time mag march 6); On 2 other occassions she referenced it indirectly. So, if hillary mentions something on multiple occassions, then it stands to reason that multiple reactions from Obama can be offered. Obama did give hillary the benefit of the doubt; He gave her another pass on this issue. those of us who support his bid are not so generous. Everytime I hear it, I feel like responding hurtfully. Obama isn't the one who is pushing this. He left it a week ago. We who support the"as far as I know not a muslim,non-church changing, who gave a speech at the DNC" guy. We will not sit idly by while "The organized as shit fight in a monkey cage"Clinton campaign and supporters bash us with something your camp said.

[dailykoff]

133. How appropriate that the living dead candidate

has a bunch of ghouls for supporters.

[democrank]

136. Michelle is correct.

We do need to "be vigilant about stopping that kind of talk" especially when it is used three times by a Democratic candidate for president. A few days ago, a very wise person on this board said that three times is no accident, it`s a "tactic."

[FlaGranny]

143. Some of the posters

in this thread are either insensitive louts or trolls - I'm betting trolls because NO real "human being" could brush off the "assassination" word, when it has taken our best from us in the past. Every "human being" who lived through those assassinations has thought about it in reference to BOTH our remaining candidates, but especially Obama as he is the one most likely to be targeted by bigots and the insane. Those who belittle the fear are either just stupid, or worse, evil-minded trolls. Who knows?

All I know is that I'm happy you posted this, because most of the remaining posters I wanted to put on my ignore list came out to post absurdities, and I got to put them all on my ignore list from this one thread. For that I am thankful. I'm tired of listening to idiots?, trolls?, or whatever they may be.

For the first time in the 7 years I've been coming to this site I actually have a growing list of ignoreds. It's helpful to the blood pressure.

[rucky]

147. Why does she hate America?

KIDDING... jeez. kidding.

[Willo]

149. Some truly disgusting lowlifes on this thread

Eternally ignored as I can do without ever hearing from them again, on any matter.

[barack the house]

151. The wisest thing for Micehlle to do is reamin calm we keep our wits about us when we are relaxed....

I think she will be just fine in the edn.

[OzarkDem]

152. Wouldn't it be great if Michelle cared about issues?

Has she ever spoken out about health care reform or education or jobs or getting out of Iraq?

[girl_interrupted]

153. FLDem5 your "title" is incorrect &'08 is 40th anniversary of RFK

Went to your link, this is what it reads: "Michelle Obama on that RFK type of talk" Not on "Clinton's Remarks" Michelle mentions "funny"... who was laughing about "assassination" ? It was FOX Contributor Liz Trotter, referring to "Osoma and Obama" "Well, both if we could" Michelle didn't mention anyone by name.

Robert Kennedy was assassinated June 5 1968, that's exactly 40 years ago, next month. Will the subject come up & will people be reminded and remember? Will people talk about it? I think it's unavoidable. I think when you talk about Bobby or Jack, it's impossible not to think of how they died. Bobby while running for the presidency, Jack while in office. Though slim, anyone black, white, male, female, Democrat or Republican, running for the presidency risks the possibility of assassination. And that remains while they are in office. Remember Reagan? Gerald Ford? This is not a possibilty faced by Obama alone. And assassination is not limitted to the presidency.

However, the woman asking the question of Michelle was downright creepy, almost fatalistic. All that emotion, she sounded like it was a "given" not a "possibility". What a god awful question to ask of any candidates wife. Of all the problems facing Americans today, the economy, the war, etc, she choses that? I agree with OMC, she didn't seemed to be "wrapped too tight" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/michelle-obama-in-phoenix_b_103924.html

While I think Hillary's remarks were poorly worded, I don't think they were meant to be malicious. With the 40 year anniversary approaching, I can see why it was on her mind. And if Robert Kennedy's son doesn't take offense and understands what Hillary said, that's good enough for me. She did apologize if it was misunderstood.
But C& L had a very interesting article on it : The Politico’s John Harris admits: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/25/the-politico-admits-much-over-rfk-comment

As leaders of a new publication, Politico’s senior editors and I are relentlessly focused on audience traffic. The way to build traffic on the Web is to get links from other websites. The way to get links is to be first with news - sometimes big news, sometimes small - that drives that day’s conversation.

We are unapologetic in our premium on high velocity. In this focus on links and traffic we are not different from nearly all news sites these days, not just new publications but established ones like The New York Times.

There are probably a dozen websites with a heavy political emphasis whose links are sought by all for the traffic those links drive.

Then Harris gives his blow by blow account of how the story broke for him: “Media hype: How small stories become big news.”

The truth about what Clinton said - and any fair-minded appraisal of what she meant - was entirely beside the point.

Her comment was news by any standard. But it was only big news when wrested from context and set aflame by a news media more concerned with being interesting and provocative than with being relevant or serious. Thus, the story made the front page of The New York Times, was the lead story of The Washington Post and got prominent treatment on the evening news on ABC, CBS and NBC.

What gives?…read on

[David Zephyr]

155. Kicking this up.

I'm glad that Michelle finally spoke up. She said it and she said it with class.