This post and the commentary within is the perfect example of why those that would be best to lead simply do not. I don't seek perfection within the candidates that I will vote for; I seek humanity and a platform that matches my core principles.

If that is how she genuinely feels, she should be allowed to say that. Many among of us have had our days of not feeling proud to be American over the past eight years. Regardless of whether her statement was simply a gaffe, or whether it was what she honestly feels, she still has the right to say it, no matter her sex or race, or who her husband is.

Our local news station had footage of her saying that and it didn't dawn on me that anything was "wrong" with her statement. Until the next day when all the headlines screamed anti-patriotism. It made me mad. Even more so when Mrs. McCain tried to use Michelle's statement to boost her husband's campaign, by stating, "I've always been proud of my country." It was such a crummy thing to say.

"Hope is making a comeback and, let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life I am really proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change….. And let me tell you something. I need to believe that we live in that kind of nation, where hope and possibility and unity is still what drives us.”

After a heartfelt comment such as this, those who would turn her words into something less than patriotic, show they're true selves. Afraid and despesperate. I myself am an American who is hopeful. It's the first election of my adult life that I am moved by political speeches(given by Obama) and excited about the idea of something new in the arena of politics. And I am hopeful that others will recognize this moment of change and have hope too.

Another interesting thing to note is that not only is her meaning better expressed in context which the media always leaves out, but the television clips circulating and what is quoted leaves out the word "really."

For the first time I am proud vs. for the first time I am really proud... Subtle but different.

And the O'Reilly thing - since he is never taken to task for his comments, unlike the "pimp" remark about Chelsea, he will unlikely be required to apologize let alone face suspension or any other accountability for saying that he might just need to lynch a black woman.

PopConsumer
Beyond Help

...for me what I think Michelle Obama might be talking about. That things might be about to REALLY change for Mr. O'Reilly and any other mainstream media fossil who future air time could be at serious risk.

When O'Reilly used this term, he was signalling to other racists that it doesn't matter to him what role Mrs. Obama plays for the nation or what office her husband holds, to him they will always be black people who are at risk for racial violence, torture and murder. From the image of a black professional woman articulating pride in her county, he jumped straight to the lynching metaphor? Get this man off the air, for starters.

Now, flash forward a year. If the Obamas are in the White House, how many networks are going to be able to continue to put fossils like O'Reilly on the air with comments like this? Nada. Then things would, to quote a certain woman on the campaign trail, REALLY REALLY change. And for the better.

In case I haven't been clear, I think Fox News should take O'Reilly off the air a la Imus. I'm with you Maria, I don't think it will happen. But I do think anyone who appears on the show from this point on without taking him on about it should be ashamed of themselves.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Anyone and his/her spouse running for a political office should know they are fair game for word twisting by the opposition as well as the media. The media and others in the running are looking for something to make a big deal out of. Just reading Michelle's comments does make one think she has not been very happy with our country for the twenty years or whatever that she has been an adult, but personally I have never heard that bit about blacks being unpatriotic. Gotta watch your words when you're in the public eye - she has a right to say whatever, but others have a right to be offended, too.

As for taking Michelle down for being a strong, intelligent black woman, Hilary sure got hit for being a strong, intelligent white woman when Bill was pres. She's still facing that. I'm saying this particular blow-out is not REALLY a race issue.

Linda
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
http://moonbridgeblog.blogspot.com

because I feel the exact same. I can't think of a time where I have been proud-the way I feel now.

Why can't we have that difference, even if she meant it at the extreme?

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

in any way, and it made no sense. It just sounded - and made her look, at least to me - silly.

O'Reilly's statements are another thing altogether - irresponsible, menacing, ridiculous, and yes, racist. Not to mention misogynistic, but nothing new under the sun there, and yes, ultimately quite silly and not-sense-making. He doesn't have to "track down" someone who hasn't been entirely proud over the past eight years. Here I am, not-hot stuff. Come and get me.

Laurie

I understand exactly what Michelle meant. There are times, certainly in the past 8 years where my citizenship was/is questioned. There are times when I am a fully U.S. citizen and there are times when events in this country cast me in limbo. Like the past eight years.

The questions is and has always been, are we truly a part of the United States of America or an endurance test to see if we can survive? Heck we are called disloyal if we were our hair in a natural, if we choose to go bald, if we perform to the best of our abilities or our worse. It can make you crazy. The Red/Blue separation in the states is a good illustration of what I feel like sometimes about this country. There are times when I am separated from the whole. Like now.

And didn't that fool get the memo on the word "lynching"? Why should I feel comfortable when the remark needs to be investigated and if they don't come up with the right answer there is gonna be a Neck Tie Party?

Agggh! Gotta go to work and hope that someone will step up on the media platform and say something "healing".

Gena - Out On The Stoop

Gena,

You are so right. And it is so UNSPOKEN! This is the kind of thing that isn't discussed in the feminist circles, or in our Churches or political bases. It just is and we move about the world with our masks and invisbility cloaks--(read Harry Potter)

O'Reilly knew exactly what he was saying. He is no novice at this. He wanted to invite fear and loathing amongst folks who find him popular and worthwhile. Mrs. McCain is doing what is expected of her...tow the party line and look pretty.

The healing comes in when we are not fooled by the smoke and mirrors and the twisting of language. The healing comes in when we reject desperation and know that the course we are on in America is not the course we want to stay on for the sake of America. Change is difficult and scary. Harriet Tubman once said she could have gotten more slaves to freedom, if she had more time to convince them they were slaves. And yes she took some to freedom under gun point.

We must stay dilligent and realize that this is going to get thicker.

Thanks Laind for always raising the questions and speaking truth to power!

Love,
Babz
www.lovebabz.blogspot.com Personal
www.lovebabz08.wordpress.com Political

It's neve a race issue when Black women are called out. The problem with race in amaerica is that no one seems to hear US when we speak or raise the subject. Jim Crow laws were just 50 years ago. That means my Mother knew what it felt like to be separate and unequal. It means she remembers what it was like to go to "Black Only" restrooms, water fountains, get food at restuarant at the back door. So when I hear White woman say Micheel Obama must be unhappy in America, then they must be talking about every Black Woman in America that arrived here since the middle passage. What the fuck. This isn't about fair game, this about racism in America. Are you kidding me. The goal of this little exercise in political wife-speak was to make her pay for being smart, young, gifted and Black. Maybe I am too close to this, being that I was elected to office twice, and I am Black and I am liberal Democrat, and I know a great deal about history in America. I could care less about defending this. I will stand up for Michelle Obama everyday of the week, because I know what she is talking about and I know what she meant. And all those White Women who are flip flopping and playing the "I am partirotic and can't understand Where Michelle Obama is coming from" game ought to go somehwere sit down and read anything by Ida Mae Wells or Hell, Eleanor Roosevelt or anything about race in America. But to sit in ignorance that is un-partriotic.

Love,
Babz
www.lovebabz08.wordpress.com Political
www.lovebabz.blogspot.com Personal

Lovebabz, you are spot on.

What I find the most troubling about this situation is the hypocricy. It's tragic how O'Reilly will not only keep his job and has continued to keep it despite several racial remarks he has made over the years, yet Michelle Obama is dragged and basically threatened with lynching because it was alluded to that she was not 'proud of her country' until recently. I do not beleive that is what she meant ( and she confirmed that) but if she did, I wouldn't blame her. If you had paid any attention to the racism that is directed towards African-Americans, you would be a bit cynical at how your husband would fare as a presidential candidate, especially when you know there are other countries that apprently, racism is not such a glaring problem as it is in your country. Also, with the war and various other issues that makes America a disliked nation in the eyes of others, I think some people have the right to be cynical. Her words shook up the convenient denial and avoidance that many have in relation to the issues of race and class and how the government has spent more money bombing other countries than paying attention to domestic issues.

Yes, mudslinging is a part of the political process - look at what is happening to John McCain right now. His wife simply took advantage of the situation but the image of an attractive rich white woman trying to rub Michelle's nose in it was ridiculous. Of course, she is patritoic. She probably has no reason to think otherwise, but how many people are in positions of privledge like her? Whiteness is a privledge in North American society and I think that she is probably smart enough to know that, which is why I could see the holes within that statement.

But in relation to Leeaustin and her straw-man argument, there is a huge difference between people having an issue with a strong white woman and a strong black woman, and if you do not realize this, you need to read some history books. Quite frankly, that notion is laughable if it wasn't so tragic that someone tried to make that comparison as a way to dismiss the lynching remark. Think outside the box and think about the experiences of people who do not look at you, and then think about your comment.

For Bill O'Reilly to use the word "lynch" in relation to a black person is not and never will be a mistake. He is a very savvy media personality and always conscious of what he's saying and the audience he's pandering to.

Regarding Michelle Obama, I agree with Maria that the omission of the word "really" in her statement does change the context somewhat of what she said and should have been reported more accurately.

Two points though, this is just the beginning. If Obama becomes the nominee, the gloves are going to come off and Michelle Obama, and in fact, all black people better be ready for it.

To Commenter Leaustin:

The truth is, black people have had an image among some Americans as being less than patriotic. Those Americans will point to the sixties and the Black Panthers and the black people who promoted communism during some of the fifties, sixties and seventies.

What those same Americans will ignore is the many black people who fought and died in World World II and Korea and Vietnam. Or the many contributions that black people have made in this country throughout history in countless other ways, in spite of being treated as horrifically as we often have been.

While growing up, when anyone ever talked about how I shouldn't be patriotic because of all the bad things this country has done or continues to do, my response has always been, this is still the greatest country in the world. This is my country. I refuse to cede it to those who might think they are more patriotic than I am because I might criticize some of the things this country does.

My people helped build this country. Their blood is in this soil more so than many other people's ancestors who came hundreds of years later. And though I know a lot of things need to be fixed, I unapologetically claim this country.

It's mine. I own it.

That's one reason I avoid the term African American. I'm not offended if someone calls me that, but I'm 100% American and proud of it. And I won't have anyone, black or white, deciding for how I feel about this country.

Just because Hillary Clinton has been treated in an often unfair, sexist and truly brutal way, in no way diminishes the kind of stuff Michelle Obama has had to deal with and will have to deal with if her husband becomes the nominee. What was done to Hillary Clinton will look like a garden party in comparison. Even if Michelle Obama is careful about what she says and how she says it.

The only way we all might get through this with some greater understanding of each other is to work harder to put ourselves in the other person's shoes as often as possible.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/YouTube

Megan's Minute
Video Runway

You are far more eloquent than I!

I don't believe that >>Michelle said that her husband's White House campaign had made her "really proud" of her country for the first time. that wasn't what she said at all . That may be your interpretation of what she said. But in all actuality her husbands campaign wasn't mentioned in the original comment. Personally I don't care what she said, I am not a flag waving hypocritical republican that capitalizes on anything as against your country. But in truth she did say "for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country"..............that is the line they capitalized on. For myself I have stuck my foot in my mouth many a time; and if Michelle Obama stuck her foot in her mouth...it isn't the end of the world. This is one of those republican I go to church and pick up and hold babies during the campaign moments that they love so well, who if they go to church they are crooks the rest of the time. I wouldn't take it racially, but just a political opportunity to turn their Independent voters that could vote democratically against the candidate by way of what the wife said about the country. It is just political b.s. .....if Cindy McCain or Bill Clinton would have made the remark...it would have been treated the same

As far as Bill O'Reilly is concerned he is a mouthpiece for the Bush whitehouse....who are hatemongers, they start trouble racially, as well as gay/lesbian hatemongering....you'd have to be a complete moron to believe anything out of that lying mouth of Bill O'Reilly and yes I believe the lynch comment was mean't to have racial overtones. He did it on purpose but he is a real pig and bully anyway!

"I'm saying this particular blow-out is not REALLY a race issue."

Then why the use of the term "lynch"? Further, why "lynching *party*"--especially if you've ever seen the photos of White men, women, and children in a party atmosphere, smiling and posing with the mutilated corpses, enjoying picnic lunches...

Consider other, more ready at hand terms he could have used; "witch hunt" comes immediately to mind. So why "lynching party"?

And note that he never said something like "let's *not* have a lynching party." He only said he did not want to have one UNLESS further evidence could be found that Mrs. Obama was militant, unpatriotic, whatever.

If others making similar attacks against Mrs. Obama's words really should be given the benefit of the doubt and are merely practicing politics as usual, then shouldn't it be up to them to distinguish their critique from O'Reilly's?

Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Leaustin, you are certainly entitled to your opinion as am I and every other commenter on this post. This post was originally filed under the Race, Ethnicity & Culture section where we discuss race, ethnicity & culture. I try and focus on current events being discussed in the blogosphere by other bloggers who focus on the above topics. Many of those topics are not the most ‘positive,’ as people use their blogs to highlight topics that among other things, inform others and hopefully spark awareness and change. If this offends you, then, uh…..sorry.

It’s is well, interesting that you see the ‘brown’ in everything, and you are not a ‘regular white person.’ Perhaps one day I will aspire to be just like you, as you implied that I and / or other commenters seem to believe that we see everything in black and white, that this is simply just another case of Blacks playing the victim. Until the day I am suddenly transported to Saturn or Uranus, I will continue doing what I do because I am based in reality. Being ‘colorblind’ is a novel idea, but not realistic.

Obviously there is a disconnect between realizing that some people’s experiences differ from your experiences, but that does not mean (and I take great offensive to this but am certainly not surprised) that it means that concerns from Black folks and people that support anti-racist behavior (and yes, sometimes outrage), are somehow trite and insignificant because you personally have not experienced them.

This is not meant to be a personal attack…really, but your post does raise some interesting issues that actually support the reason for this section at Blogher. I can only speak for myself but it is the attitude in your post that I am trying to change, the mindset that because issues of race and racism are raised, that the person who is raising them somehow racist against all white people, the implication that blacks and other people who face discrimination on an everyday basis should just shut up and basically ‘concede’ to the fact that in this case, people like Bill O’Reilly can evoke a term that serves as a symbol of extreme hatred and violence primarily against African-Americans directed towards an African-American public figure.

Are we not allowed to voice our opinion? I am not a citizen of the US but if I was I would think that if I was, I would have the right to not only voice my opinion and work towards eliminating behavior from public figures – TV reporters 'journalists' whose jobs mean that they somehow represent at least a portion of society - that is offensive to not only myself, but to others who believe in anti-racism and a just society for all.

The straw-man arguments that you used to defend your position are weak and unfortunately commonplace as a way to diffuse critical conversations about racism. They need to be backed up with concrete examples as to how this post implies that all whites are branded as racists. Then again, if that’s what you want to believe, so be it. But as I am obviously not as socially evolved as you, I think you are greatly mistaken. For far too long Blacks have been told that we should somehow ‘ignore’ and ‘dismiss’ these incidents as they are deemed as not important by those who have never suffered the levels of discrimination that affect how they are perceived and treated in all aspects of their lives – careers, educational opportunities, housing and their personal and everyday interactions. The ‘well-meaning’ person who makes these suggestions inadvertently implies that such situations that we face are either somehow our fault and do not realize the voracity of said comments – not just personally but how we, and people that look like us are perceived by the greater society. And these perception do affect how people are treated in all the above areas listed above.

This post is getting too long, but I just wanted to respond.

Sorry, Alainad, I'm not argueing about Bill. He deserves vitriol. I am arguing with newspaper headlines. And I'm sorry you thought I meant to stifle your opinion--I thought this was a discussion of open minds open to people of all colors and ideas without fear of being attacked. By the way, it was a black girl who said upon first sight said she accepted me because I was "not a regular white person." I thought it funny at the time, but now I think that's sad. Don't we need to strive to be colorblind and not ridicule people who try to see the world that way? That does take an open mind.

Linda
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
http://moonbridgeblog.blogspot.com

We will never have a colourblind society.

No you were not being attacked. As you say, this is a forum for open ideas but again, when you casually dismiss the experiences that people unlike yourself face, I think there is room for criticsm - or perhaps a 'healthy disagreement' and a forum to clarify things.

Yes, the 'black girls' remark was incredibly sad.

I don't see anything wrong with Michelle's statement. I feel the same way! I am not ashamed to be an American. But I am ashamed of this countries history as it deals with the issue of race.

That is the problem with politics today. We want honest candidates, we want to hold them and their families to a higher standard; but they can't speak candidly or openly about how they feel. That is a double-standard.

America needs people who are willing to say what they mean and mean what they say. For too long, we have been lied to by these grinning, baby kissing politicians. It IS time for change.