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Obama: GOP "Should Lay Off My Wife"
Barack Obama responded in strong terms to attacks against Michelle Obama made by the Tennessee Republican Party, saying in an interview shown today on Good Morning America that "these folks should lay off my wife."
"The GOP, should I be the nominee, I think can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record," Obama said. If they think that they're gonna try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful, because that I find unacceptable."
Late Update: Here's the video:
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Funny that they'd even want to make the threat considering the Shady History of one Cindy McCain.
May 19, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama's statement that "they should be careful" was a shot across the Cindy McCain bow.
I'd say let them attack Michelle, though. A bunch of old white men jeering at a young black woman is not exactly a crowd pleaser to any crowd not adorned in pointy white hoods.
May 19, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, that was my thought. In a contest between Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain, Michelle would win in a romp.
May 19, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm of mixed feelings about this. On one hand the politics are smart and I understand where he's coming from.
On the other hand, I've always felt that when an adult participates in the political process by campaigning, as Michelle has (and Mary Cheney, Chelsea Clinton, etc), to a certain degree they are fair game.
May 19, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but a husband has every right to defend his wife from bullies. Those attacks are pretty sleazy and it is not bad to be seen as defending her honor.
It also gives him a chance to look like he won't take shit from anybody. That's not a bad thing.
May 19, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, Bruce. I'm sure it pisses him off and he has a right to call them on it. Plus, had he said nothing, pretty soon people would have been attacking him for being a lousy husband. He did the right thing.
Now onto Cindy McSame's tax returns!
May 19, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen. In an election season in which we've seen Bill Clinton sink to new depths in order to defend his wife, I can't even believe we're having this conversation. Of course he should stand up for Michelle.
May 19, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's basically counterpunching here without getting into the specifics of their attacks--which would give them oxygen they don't need.
May 19, 2008 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
May 19, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
When would you get into a policy debate with a candidate's spouse, though? I can't think of a situation where it's not driven by gaffes or smears.
May 19, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm of mixed feelings about this.
Yeah, on the one hand I feel that he's right - she's not running for anything and being First Lady doesn't require being vetted, really, since she doesn't have set function.
But you have a point - if people campaign for the candidate then the public has a right to know who they are.
But attacks that are unfair and irrelevant should be off limits.
May 19, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good for him. The Tennessee GOP is total scum, and Michelle is 100% not an issue in this election, she has nothing to do with the issues facing this country, or the abilities of the person running for president.
May 19, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Omit needless words."
- from The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
I think the word "Tennessee" is unnecessary here.
-
Obama/Olbermann '08!
May 19, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word!
tee hee!
May 19, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did anyone notice the TN GOP actually bleeped out the word "really" in Michelle's speech? Watch what she says and notice the sound goes out just as she says "really".
May 19, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans are playing with the unknown here. This backfire on them huge. Obama is not a candidate to joke around with. This is the second response I heard from the Obama campaign warning the GOP. Messing with his Barack's wife is like messing with his emotions. The GOP best watch out.
This is all good signs that Obama is not afraid to confront the GOP's tatics.
Remember back in 2004 John Kerry was weak when it came to defending Teresa Heinz against the GOP.
May 19, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
add to that the gender sensibilities that the primary awoke, the backslash of an attack on BHO's family could be devastating
May 19, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
If they keep bashing her, she'll be popular enough to run for prez in 2024.
May 19, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes yes and yes.
If they keep going after Michelle, wonder who's going to hit the McWar campaign with Cindy's CV?
May 19, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
"You wouldn't like me when I'm angry..."
May 19, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, it has more to do with him being able to say 'don't fuck with my wife' than anything they actually say about her. People like when family members defend each other. Its something you should do and the fact that it plays well politically will never be lost on a politician. With the possible exception of Dukakis, who really blew it when asked how he'd react if his wife had been raped.
May 19, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barackarate!
May 19, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
OR WHAT??????
May 19, 2008 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
They have tapes on her......bad tapes on her....this is just getting started and he knows it.
May 19, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Give it up, dope.
May 19, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure I buy it. Talk of these tapes is so ubiquitous on the Interweb that it should've trickled up to the MSM by now. If the GOP insists on pushing this the election could come down to which candidate has the most offensive spouse. I'm sure McCain's not too excited about this game.
May 19, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
They most certainly would have been all over YouTube, etc. by now.
We all saw this coming, right? After the way they went after Hillary in the 92 elections (and there ever after), we didn't really expect them to take a different approach with Michelle, did we?
May 19, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
There are no tapes on her, shut the fuck up clown.
May 19, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I got tapes of me and your momma.
And what I say is just as true as what you say.
May 19, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I heard there are tapes of you circulating the net.
May 19, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I'm absolutely terrified!!!
That's it, people, we're DOOOoooooooooooooooooomed!!!!!!!
May 19, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP is making a big mistake for two reasons. First, whatever the upside of attacking Michelle as an angry black woman, seeming sleazy and unchivalrous provoke a serious backlash. I personally think the families of candidates should be off-limits. Second, by coming to the defense of his wife, Obama will be able to show the fire some think he lacks. This guy is no Dukakis. Mess with his wife, and you'll get the horns.
May 19, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good for Obama.
When the Republican party slandered McCain's daughter calling her a love child John McCain didn't stand up for her then. Even now he panders to the very same ones who called her that. So much for family values.
Just more of the McSame:
http://www.changeyoudeserve.wordpress.com
May 19, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just imagine the world as it would have been if William Jefferson Clinton had stated this point.
People who chose the public arena are exposed to the forces of public opinion. People who do not chose the exposure should be able to avoid the limelight.
'Pickles' Bush has a colorful past that includes using a jilting beau as a speed bump. McCain's wife is a recovering addict whose family made their fortune feeding others addictions with copius quantities of beer.
Hypocritical bullshit needs to be cut down . . . promptly.
May 19, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's great strategy.
This will goad Limbaugh and the rest to really unload on Michelle this week... right at a time when Hillary's feminist supporters are looking for reasons to come aboard Obama's ship and, most importantly, NOT support Grandpa Simpson.
In short, it serves as a reminder to those who still see McCain as a moderate that he and his supporters are racist, misogynistic shit.
May 19, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
"At another stop, in Atlantic, Michelle said she travels with her husband in part 'to model what it means to have family values,' adding 'if you can't run your own house, you can't run the White House.'"
See http://www.suntimes.com/news/hunter/518408,CST-NWS-hunter21.article
Yeah, Michelle's a whole lot of classy.
If you dish it out, you'd better be prepared to take it.
May 19, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did someone say she couldn't take it?
I wonder how Cindy The Amateur Pharmacist will handle similar scrutiny. And she did jump into the race earlier with her "I'm proud of America" line, so she's fair game, too.
Careful what you wish for...
May 19, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pathetic whiners. Again.
The left and Hussein go after Bill, Cindy, everyone and anyone they want, slinging their slurs and mud and baseless charges left and right, lying outright about their opponents, but now
NEW RULE:
Obanana thinks he gets to impose the speech rules he wants on everyone else.
Sorry but his number one ho made herself an issue long ago when she entered his campaigns. Everything she has ever done or said is relevant.
Especially since she is finally proud of America...
But all this does raise an interesting question:
What's Hussein afraid of? Sorta suggests there is something to those rumors doesn't it?
You bought a pig in a poke.
Deal with it.
May 19, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sucks to lose, doesn't it, fool. You must be smoking some of Cindy's stash.
May 19, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
You remind me of that old Beck song,
"I'm a loser baby".
May 19, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
"pig in a poke"
Ironic metaphor from someone with a prison based avatar.
I hope your cellmate is gentle tonight.
May 19, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is just following the common wisdom that taking crap from the Rethuglicans only conveys weakness to the voters.
I can remember when Rethug talking heads crucified Dukakis for not reacting more strongly in a debate to a hypothetical example of "someone" (read "Black man") raping his wife.
Protecting one's family is a strong American imperative. Rethugs love to portray a Dem candidate as weak, un-American wusses who can't be trusted to protect the nation if they won't protect their wife.
Also, Americans hate to see the candidate's wife dragged through the mud.
So, the Rethugs can either wisely back off or, more likely, continue full-speed ahead and experience eight years (or more) of Dem administrations.
May 19, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Which of McCain's wives should we go after?
The one who waited patiently at home only to be dumped for the next young piece of ass to come along, or the drugged-out, gazillionaire's daughter who won't refuses to release her tax records o America can see who she really is?
May 19, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
As if the guy who admitted he did a little blow is going to attack someone's addiction problem.
May 19, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since you recognize no difference between male high school students and women over 50, I'm gonna ask you not to post a picture of your prom date.
May 19, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, not just drug problems... tax records, mafia ties, shady business and political alliances, prenuptual agreements, free jets for John's campaign, etc, etc.
And didn't Old Horndog start putting the lumber to her while he was still married to that poor, long suffering first wife?
Oh my.
There seems to be a lot Americans don't know about Cindy McStepford.
May 19, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle Obama is free and does lambast the United States and Obama says you can't criticize her. It tells you the double standard Obama applies to himself and his wife. His subtext is you're a racist if you won't vote for him while blacks who won't vote for Hillary are proud of their race-kindred Obama.
May 19, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cite examples of her lambasting the the United States.
And don't give me the "I haven't been proud" nonsense, because she explained that she misspoke and amended her comments.
May 19, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh, heh. JHTB faithfully parrots Rush's talking points about "freedom of speech" when a Dem punches back.
Polly wanna cracker, dittohead?
May 19, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Neither of the Obamas "lambast the United States." Both have paid tribute to American ideals that made their success possible. They also recognize the reality that America has frequently fallen short of its promise. They hope to correct that.
Contrast that to the entitlement that George W. Bush obviously feels after a lifetime of privilege, power and wealth.
May 19, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
As Bill Maher once said:
"Wow. Even the mob doesn't go after your family."
May 19, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Troll critic, what do you think of JTHB?
Obanana? What stunning ingenuity!
A performance for the ages!
May 19, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Michelle for First Lady.
May 19, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is great stuff! I was of the mind that Bush was secretly in the tank for Obama when he made those politically unsound attacks in Israel, now I think the Tennessee GOP is as well.
There is a lot of hand wringing about how Obama could bridge the gender divide, now the GOP has given it to him on a silver platter. You can never go wrong when defending your wife against baseless attacks. This is a twofer: marginalizes the GOP and paints Obama as a stalwart husband.
Thank you GOP from the great state of Tennessee! Keep up the good work!
May 19, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a native Tennessean and resident of Nashville, I was embarrassed, but not surprised, by these tactics.
May 19, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto.
The TN GOP are steeped in slime.
This attack seemed to be timed to correspond with a fundraising trip Michelle made to Nashville last Thursday. I was unable to attend, but a close friend went and she said Michelle was phenomenal. To quote her: "Gorgeous, intelligent, articulate, self-deprecating, real, funny – in short – EVERYTHING anyone could possibly hope for in a First Lady."
May 19, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing I wish for is that the Jonestown brigade lives up to the standards that it sets for everyone else.
May 19, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why does Michelle have to wait till 2024? (Oh, you mean 8 years of Obama's veep.)
She had a perfect right to say what she said. Anybody with a brain has had moments when they were ashamed of some American policy, especially in foreign policy, because for so many years they've treated it as if it doesn't matter. NOW we have problems in that area we may not be able to solve in the best of cases, and clap-louder patriotism is not appropriate. At what point does Bushco-type stupidity equal treason, anyway?
Side note - you guys may touch my sleeve for luck because MOI gets to go meet the future first lady at a volunteers rally tonight! Now, I gotta shave and buy a necktie!
May 19, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican Party has had 40 years of complete freedom to attack (without any retribution whatsoever) anyone running on the Democratic tickets for President, Vice President, their relatives, friends and associates. It is no surprise at all to see that they are telegraphing attacks on Michelle Obama. Their desire to attack Obama's wife has been quite clear for some time. They are scum, of course, but the question is what to do about it or more precisely what will Obama and his campaign do about it?
Again, this will be a test of his mettle. Obama has never had a strong contest with the GOP in his career. He is not used to the slime machine, nor is he used to having his family slimed. This may or may not be a good thing. The key is whether or not he rips them a new one if they attempt to smear his wife. If he fails to come back ferociously as a lion, the bully boys of the GOP will know that they have the green light for an endless series of lies, baseless attacks, racist bullshit, etc...
I pray Obama does not heed the advice of the DC insiders and other "professionals" who so deftly lost the last two Presidential elections because they didn't realize they had to fight back until it was too late. My fingers are crossed.
May 19, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama really wants to make a statement defending his wife, he should find the cretin responsible and punch him in the nose.
May 19, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's very good to see Obama defending his wife like this, both in terms of his willingness to be tough against the GOP and just viscerally because it's good to see a man stand up for his family. Not that I think Michelle needs the protection necessarily. She's very strong. But people should be fiercely protective of their families. One of the things I've always admired about the Clintons was their fierce protectiveness of Chelsea.
What specific thing is he responding to? I wasn't paying much attention to news and blogs over the weekend, and I think I've missed it.
May 19, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I seem to remember Harry Truman threatening to punch a guy in the nose for attacking his daughter. It played well later, but not so well at the time. So let's not recommend the "manly" approach!
Listen, Michelle and the rest of us have plenty of reasons not to be happy with our country's performance since she came of age. Reagan was elected in 1980. Since then we've had subversion of the consitution, secret deals with Iran and Iraq and other dictators, woeful performances in South America (see naomi Klein) and Africa, and many other things to be not so proud of. And for the last 8 years the decline has accelerated under W. She is 100% right, and the blame can be laid directly at the feet of the Republicans.
Obama wants to avoid this argument because quite rightly he does not want to make Michelle the issue. But that doesn't mean that we can't make the argument for him.
It gets tricky because we had 8 years of Clinton in there, but I would argue that his best intentions were hamstrung by the Republican ascendancy in 1994 and by the Starr "investigations." So the point remains, we are not proud of our country during our adult lifetimes (I am about her age) because the Republicans have driven the car into the ditch since 1980.
May 19, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't like the choice of words or bluntness. She's is a fair game, especially because Michelle herself is a strong and vehement critic of an array of things.
Ofcourse, unfair, cheap GOP attacks need to be offensively denounced, but she cannot fully get a free pass.
Interestingly though, you come away with a different and a more agreeable feeling when you watch the video rather than just read the text.
May 19, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's great to see a man who will stand up for the honor of his family members.
McCain wouldn't even defend his poor daughter from BushCo, and even hugged the man who slurred her.
May 19, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was living in AZ, when Cindy McCain, while working for a Charity benefitting the poor, stole quantities of Vicodin for her own (misuse). Needless to say if I had done this, or if you had done this, we would both still be in Jail, because it's a Felony to have done so. As I recall, there was more outrage in AZ about the fact that the incident received no arrest or conviction than the shock of the theft itself--by a woman of her standing and wealth, not to mention the egregious harm of depriving the poor of needed medication.
Comes now, Cindy McCain before a bevy of talk shows being "open", ad nauseum with viewers about her "drug problem" and how nobly she has dealt with it. I get this feeling from what I heard today on the news that she and McBush are harboring some illusion that they can attack Michelle Obama with impunity. This race for President is the worst and lowest of any in recent history, and Cindy and McBush are the lowest of the lot. Barack can and will deal with them.
May 19, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is FAIR game!!
She made herself fair game by talking about how she was never proud of this country until HER husband got a shot at the presidency! How arrogant is that!!
May 19, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
a mind, twisting in the wind, is a terrible thing to waste--let us pray.
May 19, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink