Michelle Obama Takes Heat for Saying She’s ‘Proud of My Country’ for the First Time
Michelle Obama is taking heat for saying in Wisconsin Monday she's proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. (AP Photo)
Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, is under fire for leaving the impression that she hasn’t been proud of her country until now, when Democrats are beginning to rally around her husband’s campaign.
Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, “People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and … for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.”
Greeted with rousing applause after making the comment in Milwaukee, Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis.
“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country … not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change,” she said. “I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.”
Obama was born in 1964, meaning her adult life began in 1982. Critics quickly seized on the newfound national pride.
“I am proud of my country,” John McCain’s wife, Cindy, said at a campaign stop in Brookfield, Wis., Tuesday. “I don’t know if you heard those words earlier … but I am very proud of my country.”
During a follow up press conference, the Arizona senator was asked if they were responding to Michelle Obama and he deferred to his wife.
McCain responded: “I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country.”
Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the candidate’s wife wasn’t trying to knock her country, only underscore the meaning behind her husband’s campaign.
“The point is that of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn’t be possible in any other nation on Earth,” she said. “What she meant is that she’s really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who’ve never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”
But conservative outlets aren’t so ready to let her off the hook.
“Can it really be there has not been a moment during that time when she felt proud of her country?” reads an article in Commentary magazine. “Forget matters like the victory in the Cold War; how about only things that have made liberals proud — all the accomplishments of inclusion? How about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991? Or Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s elevation to the Supreme Court?”
The article then says Michelle Obama’s comments suggest “the pseudo-messianic nature of the Obama candidacy is very much a part of the way the Obamas themselves are feeling.”
Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said the comment “was sort of revealing.”
“She was an adult when we won the Cold War without firing a shot. She was an adult for the last 25 years of economic progress, social progress,” he told FOX News. “I think the Democrats have to be careful … they’re running against the status quo … You have to be careful not to let that slide into a kind of indictment of America. Because I don’t think the American people think on the whole that the last 25 years of American history is a narrative of despair and nothing to be proud of.”
Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said Obama “shouldn’t have said it the way she said it” but she gets the benefit of his doubt. He added that she most likely was just referring to the grassroots movement that’s swelled to support her husband, but she needs to be more careful.
“The Obama’s have to recognize they are now front-runners, and everything they say, it’s now open hunting season for people,” he said.
Click here to read the posting on the Commentary Web site.
FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou and Bonney Kapp contributed to this report.
Please get the quotes correct we they are published on your web site. The word “really” has been stratigically omitted from Michelle Obama’s statement. The majority of Americans are not pleased with the current administration. This is point has been made blatantly obvious by the declining approval rating of the Bush administration. Fair and unbiased reporting, although I understand that is not the hallmark of Fox News, would be the truly American thing to do. Give it a shot you might like it!
I cannot believe people do not pay attention to what Democratic and/or Republican candidates say and do or not do. Michelle Obama did state “for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country.” She did not state really proud. Also, most people probably do not know that her husband, who wants to be our (Americans) president, will not wear a US Flag Pin on his lapel!! Now I do not know about you, but I do not want a president who has never served in the military and fought for our country and our freedoms. I also do not want a president who’s wife stated in public she as an adult for the first time is proud of her country.
Maybe you all should do some research on whom ever you want to vote for. You might have a different opinion when all facts are known.
Michelle Obama is not the kind of woman who says things she doesn’t mean. She is a racist. Plain and simple. I’ve seen the clip. Doesn’t make a difference. It was VERY CLEAR. CRYSTAL!
He won’t get in fortunately! There are too many knowledgeable and informed people who will expose his politics and leftist, socialist ways. Thank goodness we have too many moderates in this country of ours.
I just think Bill O’Riely is just trying to stir up controversy because he can’t stand to see a black man doing so well, i think he’s a closet racist, he pretend he’s fair and balance but he’s not, you just have to read between his lines. I dont think what Michelle meant it in a bad way, she’s just happy to see how many white people are rallying behind her husband. What Fifty Cent said about him is probaly wright.
Mrs. Obama did not say that. She has been terribly misquoted. I saw the entire speech on C Span. Even the above article quotes her accurately as saying “really proud.” This means she already was proud, but now she is really proud. It is the degree of pride to which she is speaking. That is a totally different statement from the one that you folks are perpetuating: “For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country.” Please correct this or stop running it. i suggest you check with an expert in English who can explain to your writers and producers how words are used in degrees. I would hate to think that you are purposefully misleading your viewers.
Mrs. Obama’s mother is 70 years old. She was born during a time in America when young black men served in segregated American armed forces. The voting rights Act and the Civil Rights Act were only passed in 1965. Of course race relations have progessively improved. I am 54 years old and I’m proud to say I was one of a handful who I integrated the school system in south Georgia. Our country has come along way.
I agree with Mrs. Obama. I, too, am really proud of America.
obama is racist…..and a terrorist
Her statement strikes me as someone who is excited about the climate of change. I dont believe that her color or present level of prestige have anything to do with it. Their political adversaries, and as evident by some these postings, racist are turning this comment into something it was never meant to be. All of the supposed veterans leaving comments and talking about the wars their fore-fathers served in should appreciate more the freedom of speech. At 26 yrs old I have been to war multiple times in harms way and I can say that for the first time I am proud of my country’s people. The people have finally stopped their whining and are taking an active part in the political process. I dont blame Bush for missing my family and deployments to Iraq. I blame the people who voted him in and the people who did nothing to change his policy. If you truly loved your country you would welcome someone who is honest and doesnt spend all their time ensuring no one gets offended by her words. The truth hurts sometimes, but its still truth. Look past color and petty issues. As American people, WE shape our futures.
The worst thing I’ve ever read about George W. Bush was not written by Molly Ivins, who knew him well. Based upon his performance as Governor of Texas, Molly forewarned the country as to what “Scrub’s” legacy would be, as she alerted all of us to expect the unethical character of the campaigns that Karl Roved him into office. When Ivins wrote: “George Bush was born on third base… woke up and thought he’d hit a triple…” she informed us that Bush’s sense of entitlement was the reason he was not humbled by his limited education and remarkable absence of international experience or awareness. That, in itself, was a basis for the predictable disaster of his prideful presidency. But, as I began, what Molly Ivins wrote was not the worst or the most prophetic description of the character of George Bush. That depiction of the character of a man utterly unfit to be the President of the United States was left to us by Ronald Reagan. This is a direct quote from the recently published REAGAN DIARIES; the entry is dated May 17, 1986. ‘A moment I’ve been dreading. George brought his ne’re-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one who lives in Florida . The one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless. This so-called kid is already almost 40 and has never had a real job. Maybe I’ll call (Michael) Kinsley over at The New Republic and see if they’ll hire him as a contributing editor or something. That looks like easy work.’ Other than kicking whiskey and cocaine; finding Jesus; failing in the oil business that was handed to him via his father’s connections as a form of patronage; succeeding at ripping off taxpayers in Texas to build unearned equity into a baseball team then leaving town with the profits finally becoming a politically ruthless by functionally mediocre governor of Texas that was W’s resume. Should anyone be surprised this preparation led to a failed presidency?
Oh get over it! The problem with so many people is that we are just tooo sensative. Why do we ask for the truth when what we really want is for everything to be sugar-coated. If Michelle Obama feels like she is proud of her country now for the first time and she is honest enough to say that, then I commend her. If more Americans were honest with themselves and others and brave enough to say it, I think Michelle Obama and many others would have been more proud of this country a long time ago! I mean really, stop making a mountain out of a mole hill. I mean I know headlines need to made about something, so make them about things that really matter. Like for instance, how do we improve this country so that our next generation of all colors will never have to utter the thought of not being proud of their country, and know that we have taken this country from awful to awesome because finally people started to get the courage to be honest and say how they feel, and then do something about it!
Meredith Mason
Atlanta,GA
she should be ashamed of herself. It’s revealing comment of her self-interest.
Everything is about me and my husband. I’m so proud because my husband is doing so well.
She is so full of herself.