Misogynist smear from Michelle Obama...

[Luminous Animal]

Oh yes the politics of hope and change (snark)


In which Michelle Obama enthusiastically promotes the sexist stereotype that wives are responsible for their husbands's assholeness.


"One of the things... the important aspects of this race... is role modeling what good families should look like. In my view, is that if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN1qZMBE9Gc&eurl=http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/4/135338/3992

Indeed, Michelle. What's next? If Hillary wasn't such a cold hearted castrating bitch, Bill wouldn't have had to stray?


One of favorite movies is "The Philadelphia Story" but there is a scene in it that I can barely stand to watch. The father is a philanderer. A fact which the daughter (a strong minded, independent woman) cannot abide and a fact which creates a breach in their relationship. Regarding his infidelity, she confronts him, and his justification is that if she had been a better daughter... more devoted and loving... that perhaps he would have had a home life to look forward to, and less of a reason to stray from her mother, his wife.

Over the years, I've shared and recommended a lot of movies to my daughter (now 18 years old) but I've never told her about "The Philadelphia Story" because I wanted to make sure that she was the best feminist that she could ever be without the influence of such sexist crap that women are the caretakers of men's morality.

[JI7]

1. she was talking about HER HUSBAND

Obama

[Luminous Animal]

2. So, in her view

a man or woman who can't run their own house can't run the White House?

If I were to accept your premise that she was talking about Obama, then you are going to tell me that Michelle is counseling women that a man needs to "run his house" in order to run the the White House? Either way, the message is sexist.

[JI7]

5. she was referring her husband and their daughters

and how he makes sure to schedule things so he can still be there for them. she was talking about herself also.

it had nothing to do with what you are talking about.

[Raejeanowl]

26. I Watched It And I Get It

She is saying that they, the Obamas, are role modeling what a "good family" should look like in order to be qualified to run the White House; the criticism of her husband's main opponent, Clinton, and HER family (i.e., that they are not a good family, not good role models, and not fit to run the White House) is implicit.

But the "can't run your own house" in the vernacular, I understand to mean can't keep your spouse or children under control. That was not an innocent, unloaded statement. That was a personal attack below the belt.

[susankh4]

28. That's right.

And all we need to do is look at the fine young woman the Clintons raised, compared to... say the two the Bush's raised.... and we can see they know what they are doing.

It remains to be see how Michelle and Barack's daughters turn out.

[BlackVelvet04]

72. These personal attacks....

thinly veiled are becoming the Obama's trademark.

[Hoof Hearted]

74. Very thinly veiled attack, crafted by someone trained in the art. Way to advance feminism MO.

What comes around.........

[LulaMay]

49. It was an obvious jab at HRC, very unfair and cruel. A woman knows when she's being insulted.

[w13rd0]

3. Seriously? That's a sinister statement to you?

You don't think she could mean making sure the finances are in order, the kids are healthy and well-cared for, the leaky in the roof is fixed? You immediately go to Bill being a philanderer and Hillary being cold hearted? Really?

I don't know, but that you take such umbrage says a lot about your cynicism.

[Luminous Animal]

12. Indeed,

she must be referring to all those OTHER folks who are running for president (White House) who don't have their finances in order, their kids healthy and well-cared for, and haven't fixed their leaky roof.

My umbrage is based on the fact that Obama has one challenger that Michelle blatantly states Hillary's family is NOT what a good family should look like AND that she can't keep her house in order. And she's not talking about the roof.

[John Q. Citizen]

18. I think you are loca. Quit attacking women. Quit projecting. Thank you.

[Luminous Animal]

33. Not sinister... but dogwhistle sexism. (n/t)

[Tatiana]

4. Malcolm X expressed a similar sentiment regarding a "dirty closet" and a "clean house."

I actually think the argument does have some merit.

[susankh4]

Yes it does....

Which is why the Clintons are such a shinong example.

In spite of all the pressure they endured while in the white house... their marriage is intact, and by all accounts loving. Their daughter ain't no boozing party girl. (Unlike the ones in the white House now.)

Hillary is my role model.

And, maybe Michelle will be too... someday... when I see how her kids turn out!

[Independent-Voter]

59. You must be a terribly weak woman then if HRC is your kind of role model

Really. Bills fucks around on HRC for years, and HRC is some type of role model for not leaving his sorry ass? It isn't like HRC doesn't have $ and a fall-back career.

If my father or I ever pulled the same kind of shit that Bill pulls, our respective wives would have leave us, period. HRC is no role model in this regard.

I can't believe that some of you are lobbying for 4 more years of this Clintonian Soap Opera.

[Darth_Kitten]

69. Geez, and you know what makes a strong woman, eh?

n/t

[sandnsea]

6. Is that 13,471 in the last year?

At least you can't say Michelle doesn't get beat up as badly as the right wingers beat up Hillary. You guys make sure she gets put through the wringer.

[orleans]

7. . (over-reaction on my part) this is the clip from august 07. never mind

[w13rd0]

8. On this board, over the last seven years...

...there's been much hand wringing over the GOPs almost weekly fake outrage over this or that. That I see this kind of crap from Clinton supporters is so illuminating.

[orleans]

14. (never mind--i see that it's that old clip)

i keep telling myself it's dangerous to wander in here in the middle of the night. sometimes i just don't listen.

[Buve]

9. National Media WHERE ARE YOU

This comment is SO way out of line, and yet you will never hear it on the national media. But if Bill responds to a heckler its national "lead the show" news.


Obama and Obamamaina has gotten such a pass from the national media I am petrified what is going to happen when the republicans start beating on us dems.

[Obamanaut]

10. Bill didn't "have to stray." He chose to. n/t

[susankh4]

30. And the RWM didn't have to make an issue of it.

They chose to.

Just as Michelle Obama is doing now.

Is she being paid by Fox news or something?

[Jamastiene]

56. She is not the only one making an issue of it now either.

Many many Obama supporters are taking talking points directly from the same RWM from '98. It's sad, really.

[ariesgem]

11. Not this shit AGAIN.

She was referring to HER family.

Full transcript of the quote:

“One of the most important things that we need to know about the next president of the United States is, is he somebody that shares our values? Is he somebody that respects family? Is a good and decent person? So our view was that, if you can’t run your own house, you certainly can’t run the White House. So, so we’ve adjusted our schedules to make sure that our girls are first, so while he’s traveling around, I do day trips. That means I get up in the morning, I get the girls ready, I get them off, I go and do trips, I’m home before bedtime. So the girls know that I was gone somewhere, but they don’t care. They just know that I was at home to tuck them in at night, and it keeps them grounded, and, and children, the children in our country have to know that they come first. And our girls do and that’s why we’re doing this. We’re in this race for not just our children, but all of our children.”

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12619.html


Get your facts right.

[Tatiana]

13. What the hell do facts have to do with this? n/t

[ariesgem]

16. The OP seems quite content with making an ass out of his/her self.

I guess the OP has never heard of 'video editing/cropping' in his/her little tabloid world.

Who needs facts? Why use Google?

Ignorance is bliss.

[Luminous Animal]

35. Indeed.

The transcript posted by the campaign is different than my unedited/cropped youtube clip. But I won't stop you from ignorantly blissfully pretending otherwise.

[Tatiana]

38. ...

“There was no reference beyond her point that we have had an administration that talks a lot about family values but doesn’t follow through.”

[Luminous Animal]

17. Nice try. Funny though...

the transcript you posted does not match the video. How about you explain the discrepancy.

[Tatiana]

20. She's said the same thing essentially in various appearances.

I'm not buying the faux outrage.

Michelle was not knocking single moms or any other "imperfect" families and you know it.

It's very easy to take 20-30 seconds of a 45 minute speech and twist it to suit your sad agenda.

Why don't you find something substantive to smear Michelle with?

[Luminous Animal]

23. What the hell do facts have to do with this?

Interesting that above you outright agree with the false post above... that the speech is in my video clip is identical to the transcript posted by the campaign when it clearly is not.

[Tatiana]

24. What part of she has said this same thing several times do you not understand?

Or are you being deliberately obtuse, instead choosing to hold your bitter outrage close to you like a security blanket?

I've seen Michelle make similar comments twice IN PERSON.

She tailors the theme to fit her audience, which in this case was a Chicago south side hall full of predominantly African-American professional women WHO AGREED WITH HER (did you notice the applause?).

You deliberately pick a 30 second clip which shows NONE of the context in which the statement was given.

Her basic point: everything starts at home. If your own house isn't in order, how can you try to run an even bigger house (like the White House)? It's a valid argument and in a similar vein, many are saying that if Hillary cannot organize and manage her own campaign, how the heck is she going to organize and manage the White House.

It's a FAIR criticism and has nothing to do with misogyny whatsoever.

Pathetic.

[Luminous Animal]

29. So you agree with me...

that Michelle is accusing Hillary of not having her own house in order. What, specifically, is Hillary's housekeeping failure?

[Tatiana]

32. She did not say Hillary didn't have her own house in order.

Michelle just said it was an important factor.

She left it up to the audience to make up their minds.

[LulaMay]

50. No, she couldn't do that. That is what implication is for. It's underhanded.

[Satyagrahi]

41. What? Your spurious interpretation does not match the explanation given by Michelle herself?

Go figure!

[ThatPoetGuy]

25. In context, that seems a lot less offensive.

My blood had begun to boil, thinking that the comment had been directed not only to Bill and Hillary, but to John and Elizabeth Edwards, who have been beautifully devoted through her terminal illness. But in context, it doesn't appear to be a swipe at all. Thanks for fleshing out the details.

[Raejeanowl]

27. The Clip In The OP Is a Different Rendition n/t

[NMMatt]

15. She was just stating a fact

The Clinton's are a model of a dysfunctional family. Their dysfunction did a lot to undermine Bill Clinton's presidency. She didn't mention gender roles at all in her statement, so you are blurring the obvious - the Clintons are one fucked up family, by somehow trying to make it about gender.

[ShortnFiery]

19. The Clintons will either get a 3rd term or they don't mind destroying our party. False outrage -

this is B.S. FALSE OUTRAGE - there's nothing too low for some. :thumbsdown:

[NMMatt]

22. Stay tuned -nt

[Skittles]

31. OK, that is just plain ugly

I don't see them that way at ALL

[NMMatt]

36. But it is true...

Bill Clinton is an obvious sex addict and his wife appears to enable him. It's sad, but true. His presidency had the potential to be so much more if it weren't for this major dysfunctional dynamic that distracted from the issues and gave the right wing so much ammunition.

I'm sorry but it is something to consider. This, to me, is a big reason Al Gore was not elected in 2000. Saying it is "ugly" or somehow out of bounds doesn't make it a non-issue.

[Skittles]

37. Al Gore WAS elected in 2000

please do not forget that

[NMMatt]

39. Right

But had he been able to run on Clinton's economic record he would have won convincingly... Clinton is only a factor in it being close enough for the Republicans to steal. I really prefer us not bring all that baggage into the general election and back into the White House. Not when we have a much better option.

People bring up possible right wing ammunition concerning Obama. To me, their is obviously much more and much worse crap that will be brought up concerning the Clintons.

[Skittles]

40. he made a huge mistake by dumping Clinton and taking on Lieberman

those were very, very bad choices

[NMMatt]

42. But he wouldn't have even thought of dumping Clinton

If it hadn't been for the dysfunctional family thing. In hindsight, he may have been better off not running away from Clinton regardless, but it is and always will be an issue with the Clintons. I'm not so sure that keeping Clinton would have been a net positive - since by doing so he did undermine Bush's "clean up the White House" theme (of the fucking irony!)... however, Lieberman was a very bad choice.

Regardless, Obama v. Clinton - you have to be crazy to think Clinton is the less scandalous option to neutralize the right wing attack manchine. It amazes me that some people want to argue as if it were the case, i.e. vetted.

[Skittles]

43. the right wing will attack either one with all guns blazing

the only difference will be that with one we will have heard it all before. I doubt there will be much difference, and I'm not a fan of either one

[Window]

21. So that's how this blatant lie got started.

It's quite plain what Michelle is saying.

You're just a shit-starter.

Please, give it a break. Grow the hell up.

Oh, and guess what -- both candidates shit, piss and puke -- just like you and me!!!


:thumbsdown:

[Yossariant]

34. LOL! Barack's Baby Momma speaks about good families.

MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: My baby's daddy Barack Obama. Yeah!
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/02/se.06.html

:rofl:

[goldcanyonaz]

67. Oy! She says some stupid shit. "We're not doing this again" and "Black people are gonna wake up"

And, my personal favorite which is in my signature line, just change Obama to Hillary and his to her and you got Michelle's hypocrisy.

[GoldieAZ49]

44. I agree with Michelle

"if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House."

She can run her own house.

You added the insult to the Clintons, not Michelle. YOU OWN THAT ONE.

Why are you still so bitter about the Clintons? Because of Bill's philandering or that Hillary accepts it?

[Apollo11]

45. I wish Michelle would stop using this line of attack

The ONLY reason Michelle would say this in the context of the Presidential election campaign is if she is trying to suggest that her husband CAN run his own house but maybe one or more of the other candidates CANNOT run his or her own house.

So ask yourself - who could Michelle be talking about? :eyes:

Was she trying to suggest that John McCain can't run his own house? :eyes:

Was she trying to suggest that John Edwards can't run his own house? :eyes:

COME ON PEOPLE! THERE IS ONLY ONE THING THAT MICHELLE OBAMA COULD POSSIBLY BE TRYING TO SAY.

She was trying to say that Hillary Clinton cannot "run her own house".

That somehow Hillary is partly responsible for her husband fooling around.

It is a very low comment and I hate to see Michelle using this line of attack.

Edited to add:

As far as I know, Michelle Obama stopped using this line a few months ago.

Which goes to prove that she realized it was a wrong thing to say.

[Berry Cool]

46. It's another "oh please" moment.

If I say I like the new outfit I bought, that I think it really looks good on me and I'm happy with how it looks...is that an insult to how someone else is dressed or what they bought? Same difference.

Sometimes when candidates or their families say something, it really IS just about them...not a negative comparison to someone else.

[LulaMay]

52. It ticked me off so much, that I wish the same on her.

[paperbag_ princess]

47. it cuts both ways

I agree that Michelle made this statement as a passive agressive attack against Hillary. It was obvious in her tone of voice and the context of the whole conversation. I am a Hillary supporter and was impressed by Michelle ....except for this unfair statement.

It is also true that our culture mysogynistically hold the morality of men in the hands of a "good" wife....this is taught in most churches in the US.

On the flip side....I have heard feminists supporting Obama make the argument that because Hillary chose to remain married to Bill after his infidelity that makes her a poor role model. I think that this is blatantly unfair also.

Infidelity is rampant in our society and whether you continue to work at a life long marriage and partership is a private and personal decision. Each situation is different and it is no one's business to judge.

[Maribelle]

48. I surely would not mind having the staff that runs the White House run my house.

The reality is the opposite of what Mrs. Obama pretends - - few women that do an absolutely fine job of running their own household would not be overwhelmed with running the White House. Hard working tax payers pay big bucks for the White House staff and personal assistants so that the First Lady does not need any experience in this area, in case Mrs. Obama hadn't noticed.

[zulchzulu]

51. Hillaryworlders calling a woman a "misogynist" is a new low

:rofl:

Obviously, her statement hit a little too close for some. So the hell what.

[LulaMay]

53. Women can be misogynists from the indoctrination. I'll tell you 'so the hell what'..

it's repugnant for a woman to demean another woman about her marriage. It's also cruel, and self important, exuding a tone of superiority. That is truly LOW form.

It hurts women because it says to us all that we are responsible if our man strays or family has troubles, no responsibility is placed on the man with such a callous reply.

It isn't sisterly, it isn't new, or a 'change' from any way women have been treated, whether by men or other women.

[Jamastiene]

54. So, in essence, the Obamas are putting on airs and faking it to get into

the White House...

"One of the things... the important aspects of this race... is role modeling what good families should look like. In my view, is that if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House."

Personally, I think they are putting up a front to "look right" for the White House. Never mind any substance. It's not there. What a shallow tactic to use. I can see how four years of that would be. More of the same.

[mtnsnake]

55. You nailed it. You can always tell just by all the Obama supporters who quickly try to snuff you out

as evidenced all throughout your thread.

Thanks for posting this. You were spot on, despite the lame attempts by so many above who wished you didn't reveal this...for obvious reasons.

:thumbsup:

[rucky]

57. That statement could just have easily applied to a male candidate.

eom

[LulaMay]

61. ahahahahahahahahaha....uhhhhh, NO. It's a clear reference to women taking care of the home

[rucky]

64. Sorry, my mind doesn't go there.

Guess it's just me being a stay/work at-home dad.

[rug]

58. And again the Reublicans continue to milk that stained blue dress.

[MethuenProgressive]

60. DU's Obama supporters don't care. Barack gives wicked good speeches, so let's nominate him.

Michelle would fit right in here with the DU HillHate mob.

[LulaMay]

62. Yeah, let's! I can feel myself being helplessly, strangely drawn to him with each word...

I think I want to sell flowers at the airport for him.

[Triana]

63. women have always been held responsible for mens' behavior...

...they make good doormats - something for some men to wipe their moral feet on to clean them of the dirt - then the man thinks himself clean and the woman is dirtied with HIS soil. Society of course, goes along. How convenient!

But even so, I don't know if I think what M.O. said is sexist, as much as I think it was just self-righteous and a little stupid.

[Voice for Peace]

65. strongly disagree with your reading of her statement

I've seen other references to the importance of family from both of them. The Clintons, despite Bill's ways, are a good family by many people's standards. They stuck through some hard times and they came through together and they raised an amazing daughter. I don't believe either Obama or Michelle would denigrate that in such a way as you imply.

More likely, my interpretation: for fathers and working mothers -- and especially (I think) for young black men -- the example of parents being committed to working together and keeping the children as a priority is what they're talking about. The race element in this case I believe is not insignificant. But regardless of race, this whole country needs inspiration. Parents need inspiration and encouragement, especially young parents who may never themselves have been parented.

Do not look for the negatives, you will always find them. Your whole horizon will be filled with them, and that's no way to live.

[mojowork_n]

66. This whole discussion overlooks one contextual frame.

The OP raises a valid point about general male jerkiness (leaving Bill out of it, referencing a character in the Tom Hanks movie), and the bad rap that a lot of women (daughters, too!) get for male misbehavior.

But the problem is, every time Hillary has to step outside the role of presidential candidate, and reference her own personal experience as (an admittedly, somewhat dysfunctional First Family Member), she diminishes herself.

That's not really Michelle Obama's fault, that Hillary has to (at different times) wear both those hats. Michelle's job is to make the sort of speeches she's making. She's actually coming to my town, later this morning, and I'm planning on going to hear her speak.

(I promise, if it seems to me like she's taking unfair, sexist shots at her husband's rival, I will report back to this thread. On the other hand, I'm not expecting her to have to even approach that kind of thing. It's built in to the campaign, that whole larger-than-life Clinton thing that makes Bill, running around waving his finger in people's faces, in front of TV cameras, come off so jarringly. ...It's the ex-President, and people won't let him take off that hat, to just talk about his wife, as a person.)

[mojowork_n]

73. I heard Michelle's speech today, in Milw., at the Pabst Theater.

I came, I saw and heard, and she won me over.

I'm voting for Barack Obama in the primary election tomorrow.

I was 96.5% sure I was going to, when I walked in to the theater before the speech, but now I've actually signed on and filled out the volunteer slips, to do what I can to help the Obama's get elected in November.

Oddly enough, two guys from a Japanese TV crew stuck a microphone in my face, in the lobby, as everything was over. They filmed me for three or four minutes, so I may only have 11 or 12 minutes of fame left. (In my whole life!) I'll probably never see the video, but it was a sacrifice worth making.

[miceelf]

68. Wow, that's new

She said this in August of 07. It was widely covered at the time.

What have you done for me lately?

[sfam]

70. Yet another "fake" outrage thread...when will we be sick of these?

Right now I hope?

[cooolandrew]

71. That is right women are not obliged for anything in life, but the wisdom of women is the balance of.

... nature in life. Without the wisdom of women men are quick to go to war , say the wrong thing and be more uncooth in general. So not using that wisdom creates the society feminists dislike.