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About This Page: This is a discussion on Politics within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Michelle Obama likely target of conservative attacks - CNN.com
Not the best article on this topic I've seen, but the point is: HUGE MISTAKE TO ATTACK MICHELLE OBAMA.
Not the best article on this topic I've seen, but the point is: HUGE MISTAKE TO ATTACK MICHELLE OBAMA.
__________________
"For if once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." Thomas DeQuincey, 1700's
While I agree, there are some interesting points raised in this article. First:
"There is less information about him to temper her comments against, so what she says represents something a lot more important than perhaps other candidates in the past who have had a longer track record,"
This is a very good point. Considering that he's got a very short track record, and hasn't accomplished much of anything, you have to look at other things to ascertain an opinion of his character. One of these things is the character of the people with whom he associates. Therefore, people like Jeremiah Wright, Michelle Obama and Bill Ayers are in fact worthy of discussion relating to Obama's beliefs.
"New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote that the backlash against Michelle Obama, who is black, was a "good preview of how Republicans will attack Michelle, suggesting that she does not share American values, mining a subtext of race.""
This quote offers insight into what will happen when confronting Obama on any issue. Note that the questioning of Michelle Obama's values is immediately twisted into a racial issue. This reaction can be expected of any attacks against Obama, regardless of how relevant and non-racial they may be. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
There simply is nothing to attack Michelle Obama on and, indeed, the attacks attempted so far do have a "subtext" of race or are explicitly racial and intended to exploit anxiety that somehow this brown skinned guy and his wife "don't share your 'values' " (audience=whites who don't have much or any direct and personal contact with middle class African Americans and so are not clear about how goofy this claim is).
I don't think all attacks on Obama himself have been or will be denounced as 'racial'. Certainly, when Obama was 'accused' of being an "elitist" that was seen as being an attack on his education, and his present social class. To the degree that those attacks came from the mouths of Hillary Clinton and McCain--and were absurd given their own wealth, educations, opinions and personal histories--one has to be truthful and say that both of them were also hoping people would pick up on the idea that this supposed 'elitism' of Obama's was just another way, in addition to his racial/cultural identity, that he is different'.
"New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote that the backlash against Michelle Obama, who is black, was a "good preview of how Republicans will attack Michelle, suggesting that she does not share American values, mining a subtext of race.""
This quote offers insight into what will happen when confronting Obama on any issue. Note that the questioning of Michelle Obama's values is immediately twisted into a racial issue. This reaction can be expected of any attacks against Obama, regardless of how relevant and non-racial they may be. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Explain that then. Fox News calls Michelle Obama a "baby mama." Did nobody at Fox realize that baby mama is a slang term for an unwed mother? Or are they just going to continue to use vernacular that "sounds black" when writing headlines about the Obamas?
__________________ "If I could lead you into the Promised Land, I would not do it, because someone else would come along and lead you out."
If she acts like a potential first-lady should act (i.e. simply saying that she supports and believes in her husband 100%), then there should be nothing to attack her about. But if she goes out and starts talking like Hillary Clinton did when she was first lady, then in my opinion, she's fair game.
The thing about liberal candidates is that they'll feel a need to pander to the "strong liberated woman" vote (even though they don't need to pander that direction), so they'll probably trot her out there and have her giving speeches where she discusses specifics. After that, she's campaigning (similar to the way Bill was out stumping for Hillary and saying all kinds of stupid crap) rather than simply supporting her husband while he's on the campaign trail.
__________________ VOTE Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-lim-bin-bim-bin-bim Bus Stop F'tang F'tang Olé Biscuitbarrel IN 2008!!
This is a very good point. Considering that he's got a very short track record, and hasn't accomplished much of anything, you have to look at other things to ascertain an opinion of his character. One of these things is the character of the people with whom he associates. Therefore, people like Jeremiah Wright, Michelle Obama and Bill Ayers are in fact worthy of discussion relating to Obama's beliefs.
Concur.
__________________ VOTE Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-lim-bin-bim-bin-bim Bus Stop F'tang F'tang Olé Biscuitbarrel IN 2008!!
If she acts like a potential first-lady should act (i.e. simply saying that she supports and believes in her husband 100%), then there should be nothing to attack her about. But if she goes out and starts talking like Hillary Clinton did when she was first lady, then in my opinion, she's fair game.
The thing about liberal candidates is that they'll feel a need to pander to the "strong liberated woman" vote (even though they don't need to pander that direction), so they'll probably trot her out there and have her giving speeches where she discusses specifics. After that, she's campaigning (similar to the way Bill was out stumping for Hillary and saying all kinds of stupid crap) rather than simply supporting her husband while he's on the campaign trail.
If she acts like a potential first-lady should act (i.e. simply saying that she supports and believes in her husband 100%), then there should be nothing to attack her about. But if she goes out and starts talking like Hillary Clinton did when she was first lady, then in my opinion, she's fair game.
The thing about liberal candidates is that they'll feel a need to pander to the "strong liberated woman" vote (even though they don't need to pander that direction), so they'll probably trot her out there and have her giving speeches where she discusses specifics. After that, she's campaigning (similar to the way Bill was out stumping for Hillary and saying all kinds of stupid crap) rather than simply supporting her husband while he's on the campaign trail.
Quoting this post for posterity as an example of sexism.
Quoting this post for posterity as an example of sexism.
What FBJ said was not sexist. He was correct about how women, especially First Ladies fit into today's politics. Notice that Laura Bush was not attacked like Hillary, nor was Barbara Bush. Remember Nancy Reagan was attacked when she put herself out in the spotlight on the drug issue.
Last edited by KingsJohn/Obediah; June 12th, 2008 at 11:50 AM.
If you're gonna talk the candidate's talking points, you're fair game.
Sorry FBJ, but she's not being attacked for discussing Obama's talking points, she's being falsely attacked and ridiculed by e-mail slander campaigns, Rush Limbaugh and Fox propogandists because she's supposedly an uppity, unpatriotic, racially bigoted black women. Their goal is to stir up racial tension in the presidential campaign.
She's not being debated with, she's being lied about.
It's a mistake to do this because the lies will be seen for lies and reported as lies and this will only end up hurting McCain's chances against Obama because the swift boating attacks will only appeal to the already converted. This will be seen by many women as yet another attack on women in politics. What better way to make sure that more and more women move to support Obama? Those on the fence will find it unfair and underhanded and that will likely lose McCain some votes he would otherwise get. McCain needs to step in and condemn these things specifically or he'll be damaged in a big way.
What FBJ said was not sexist. He was correct about how women, especially First Ladies fit into today's politics. Notice that Laura Bush was not attacked like Hillary, nor was Barbara Bush. Remember Nancy Reagan was attacked when she put herself out in the spotlight on the drug issue.
Quoting this as an example of KingsJohn perpetuating and supporting the status quo of antiquated Judeo/Christian marriage ideals in politics.
There simply is nothing to attack Michelle Obama on and, indeed, the attacks attempted so far do have a "subtext" of race or are explicitly racial and intended to exploit anxiety that somehow this brown skinned guy and his wife "don't share your 'values' " (audience=whites who don't have much or any direct and personal contact with middle class African Americans and so are not clear about how goofy this claim is).
Nonsense. Why introduce race? Could it not also be said that the assumption that she doesn't share America's values is made because she's from Chicago, or because she's a lawyer? While any one could be a part of the reason for her feelings, they are equally irrelevant to the statement of the fact that she doesn't share America's values.
Because of the fact that she made that connection, the statement on the part of Maureen Dowd implies that she feels that the black community doesn't share the values of the average American. Now, we all know this isn't the case, but having eliminated that option, you have to see that this is clearly an attempt to make the Obama's the victims. I can only see this working for so long.
Last edited by salami; June 12th, 2008 at 01:20 PM.
Attacking Michelle Obama Will Be A HUGE Mistake 
salami
