Facebook Stumble Upon del.icio.us Digg Email

March 4: Barack and Michelle Obama wave to the crowd in San Antonio, Texas, following Super Tuesday II voting. (AP Photo)

Michelle Obama came under new criticism Thursday as opponents seized upon remarks the would-be first lady made in a speech in January, when she told a group of students that they need to take advantage of diversity on campus so they can stop feeling “justified in your own ignorance … That’s America.”

Obama’s speech at the University of South Carolina hit the radar only this week, after it was circulated and widely viewed on YouTube.

In the speech, she said: “We don’t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones. You know it right here on this campus. You know, people sitting at different tables — you all living in different dorms. I was there.

“You’re not talking to each other, taking advantage that you’re in this diverse community. Because sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance. That’s America. So the challenge for us is, are we ready for change?”

Conservative critics said Thursday that Obama’s latest take on America is another demonstration of her disregard for the country her husband wants to lead.

“A statement like that suggests a distorted view of America and what it’s about,” said National Review editor Rich Lowry.

“There’s no doubt she’s right about this segregation on college campuses, but to characterize America in that way is not right. What she’s describing on college campuses is true, but what she’s implying is not. It’s an unfortunate phenomenon that isn’t really America or what we want America to be like.”

“Michelle Obama is a very smart woman, wife and attorney. And I believe that Michelle Obama knew exactly what she was saying. Her remarks speak for themselves. They’re very clear. I don’t think they can be misconstrued,” said political consultant Andrea Tantaros. “It’s unfortunate because it comes at a time when Obama is looking to get back on campaign issues. So now he’s in a very difficult place. It’s going to be tough to get back on message.”

But Democratic strategist Kirsten Powers said “people are reading too much” into the remarks.

“I think that people over-analyze things that she says. People are reading too much into it. She’s not suggesting that only Americans do this. And she’s right about the fact that people tend to behave that way,” she said.

An Obama campaign spokesman said Michelle Obama’s remarks during the speech were misinterpreted. She was referring to a common phenomenon on college campuses and was asking students to step out of that mindset. It was the idea of “comfort zones” that she thought was so “America.”

Obama, a Princeton and Harvard Law graduate, says she went through the same thing when she was a student. She told the audience that if they can help elect her husband to the presidency, then it will bring hope to young people around the world and bring change globally that she has “never seen in my lifetime.”

She added that the only difference between the grandparents who raised her husband and her own parents is their race. Otherwise, they shared the same values and taught their offspring to be honest, truthful and respectful of others.

But Lowry said part of the reason Obama’s comments keep attracting attention is because “Democrats interpret many things through the prism of race.”

Republican strategist Todd Boulanger agreed.

“Race is not taboo on the campaign trail, but these comments — from both the Obama and Clinton campaigns — are just stirring the pot and it’s not healthy for our country,” he said.

Boulanger said discussing race is a “loser issue” because middle-class Americans of all races are looking at issues like home foreclosures and feeding their families.

“As far as race is concerned, I don’t think you’re going to see Republicans talk about it. They want to talk about the economy and the War on Terror,” Boulanger said.

U.S. News & World Report senior writer Michael Barone said Michelle Obama’s message of going out and meeting someone with a different background or characteristics “sounds like pretty good advice.”

“I don’t find that very objectionable,” he said, adding that earlier remarks about her being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life are much more questionable.

“Most of us have had occasion to feel really proud of our country on more than one occasion and we don’t need a spouse to run, have a good campaign for president of the United States in order to feel that.”

Barone, a FOX News contributor, said race and stereotyping are still challenges in America, but the days of appealing to voters on ethnic and racial lines “are long gone.”

“At the same time, there’s a tendency to support people with whom you have some common affinity or identifying characteristic, and you know, that’s not always a negative thing.”

Boulanger said that if talk about racial issues continues to dominate discussion, it could hurt the Obama campaign.

“If the issue of race keeps getting brought up in the context that it has, he probably cannot transcend it. Right now, I don’t think it’s something people really want to talk about. I think there has been some damage done to him, no question, and his image has certainly been tarnished. And if he keeps talking about it and responding to it, it’s not going to be good for him,” he said. “I do think, though, that even though there’s been some damage, he can come back and correct it if he’s the nominee.”

“To Obama’s credit, when he started his campaign, he was able to transcend race and he didn’t make race an issue,” Tantaros said. “But, unfortunately, others around him have made race an issue. And now it’s hit so close to home. I think it’s going to be a very delicate dance for him to get off the subject.”

Powers said the Obamas are facing hyper-sensitive scrutiny “because they’re used to having politicians be so careful in what they say. The Obamas have shown that they don’t pander to everybody, and I find that refreshing. They talk to America like they are adults.”

Click here to see the excerpted Michelle Obama remark at University of South Carolina.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm and is filed under Barack Obama, Top Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.