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.
I understand what Michelle Obama meant by her statement and I am sure most of us have felt the same way one time or another but won’t admit it. And yes, some of us will say that we’re proud to be an American just to fit in and get attention. Be for real and stop the cover-ups. That’s why I am for CHANGE! We need REAL people not the FAKE AND SHAKERS!!!!
We have united before this campaign and that was after 9/11. Was she not proud of our country or soldiers to do something about terroist tack on our own soil. She is self centered and hope all obamalites come to their senses. Her mouth is getting her in trouble. She is worst than Bill Clinton.
Only if I had a brain….
Holly CNN is the worst !!! believe me. Fox is doing their job! Don’t blame Fox!
It is sad to see a fine , successful black woman say she is proud of her country for the first time. I ‘m a 32 year old liberal and employ people of different races. African americans in general are not really proud of being americans. I don’t blame them for what their parent and grand parents went through. Michelle Obama spoke her mind. I don’t see any thing wrong with that. I don’t think she will be a good first lady. If she is, it will be a bad example for youngsters.
Mrs. Obama made what could be called a “freudian slip” of a political nature. What is she proud of; a group of people voting for her husband who, in my opinion, is leading us toward a path of socialism? The Obama’s have more to expose of themselves to us and I sincerely hope it is not too late for the country when they do. They talk of racism but is it possible that they are the ones who are racist?
I agree with Holly! Shame on Fox News. You pulled this from the full statement and twisted it to create political headlines. I did not have to hear about this on CNN this morning. I also did not have to read blogs with as much name calling and uneducated comments on the CNN page. Thank you for reminding me why I stayed away from politics for so long.
Hey Michele, go tell that to all the families of the armed forces who have lost family members. Please America don’t let this phony couple in the White House. There is nothing real in either one of them. They just want the power.
AMERICA IS NOT PERFECT, BUT I HAVEN’T SEEN A REDUCTION IN FOREIGNERS, ILLEGAL AND LEGAL, TRYING TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY. MS. OBAMA AND HER HUSBAND COULD NOT HAVE ATTAINED THE EDUCATION AND LIFESTYLE THEY ENJOY IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. WE DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT IF YOUR ARE A TRUE AMERICAN YOU WILL BE PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY ALL THE TIME!!!!NO OTHER COUNTRY COMES CLOSE. IF YOU DO NOT LOVE THIS COUNTRY, TRY LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. AMERICA WILL THEN LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER AND WILL BE APPRECIATED!!!!!!
Haters can never be happy in their life any thing you say is what they gonna term to anything but if God is with you nobody can be against you MICHELLE you are the best CHANGE is what we want and if any one is sick let them visit the doctor GO OBAMA GO………..
As a Cuban American I am appall at the Coments of A Harvard train lawyer like Mrs.Obama. This is not a ignorant welfare collecting person, but a menber of the elite social class, and to come out with such corrosive and devisive statements wile she and her husband are suppose to represent change and unity? We Cuban’s also had a candidate of change and unity, his name is Fidel Castro and his retorick will be quite and eye oppener if it was translated to the english language. Only one word comes to miend SCARY!!!!!!