Really, Michelle?
Ok, maybe this is nitpicky, but come on, when Bill Clinton says something people construe as the least bit off, he gets raked over the coals and Hillary suffers for it. Turn about’s fair play, right? So here goes my take on Mrs. Obama’s Faux Pas.
“This is the first time in my adult life that I’ve really been proud of my country…” Really, Michelle? Not when we all pulled together to help those adversely affected by 9/11, or Hurricane Katrina? How about when we all join hands or take a walk to help fight AIDS and breast cancer? Nothing, huh? What do you feel when you hear the National Anthem, or see our flag flying at the head of a parade? That doesn’t stir up feelings of pride for you? Only the fact that people are voting for your husband, giving him a good chance to make it to the White House does it for you, huh? Whatever.
I hate to seem so petty, but it’s really not a petty thing to me. I love my country, and I am so proud to be an American I can’t even find the words to express it. Sure, the last seven years have given me a whole lot of “Eeeerrgggh!” moments, when I simply couldn’t believe we were doing whatever stupid, arrogant, and yes, even evil thing we were doing at Bush’s behest, but all the while my love of my country stood firm, and my pride in being a citizen of the most wonderful country in the world did, too. I would hate to think the only way I could feel that pride is if I felt I was probably going to be living in the White House soon, thanks to my husband’s way with words. It boggles my mind.
I’ve heard some talking heads trying to explain it away, but there really is no way to do that. She plainly said this is the only time she’s REALLY felt proud to be an American. Maybe it’s a matter of not understanding what the word means, I don’t know, but let’s look into it, just for the heck of it, shall we?
“I love broccoli, but I really love chocolate sundaes.” Can you see the difference here? Really is an adverb, if my grade school English isn’t failing me. It modifies the verb “love”, making it even more powerful than it usually is. “I really love him.” “Is she really that smart?” “What do you really think.” See? It adds to whatever you’re trying to express, making it more important, more powerful, or more enjoyable than it normally would be. So when Michelle Obama says she REALLY feels pride in America for the first time, she is telling us it’s more than she’s ever felt before. And I simply can’t get over the fact that it’s her husband’s success at bringing in the votes that’s doing that for her. It seems to me to be a very shallow idea, or a very racist one.
Yes, I said it, racist. To me, what she’s saying is she is so much more proud of America because even whites are voting for her black husband. Honestly, what else can she be saying? And that being the case, why aren’t the pundits yelling about HER racist comment like they did about Bill and Hillary when they said things that were no worse than what she’s saying? It seems to me it’s just another example of how they are pushing the Obama candidacy and doing everything they can to derail Hillary. Does anyone else agree with me? Am I taking this far too seriously? Am I making more of it than I should be? I don’t think so, but if you have a good argument as to why it’s so, let me know.
