America will have no one to blame but itself if it doesn't seize the opportunity to elect Barack Obama. That was the essence of a comment Michelle Obama made to Mika Brzezinski in the course of an interview the MSNBCer conducted with the candidate's wife in Iowa over the weekend.
The comments aired on today's "Morning Joe" during the 6:30 AM ET half-hour.
View video here.
BRZEZINSKI: Given the debate over whether he's been too passive when it comes to Hillary Clinton, he's gotten a lot of unsolicited advice on this. What has Michelle's advice been?
OBAMA: We definitely talked about it. We talked about this before we entered the race, because our view is that we're not doing this to win. And you can't win at all costs. Sometimes that's what politics has become. That's what the press is sort of saying: if you want to win you got to kill her, you've got to rip her apart. Well, if that's the only way you can win, which we don't believe is the case, if that's all politics is. If we've digressed as a society to a point where that's the only way we can work out issues and people, no wonder we're such a divided country. And if Barack wants to be a different kind of leader, then his approach to victory has to be different.
So I don't want Barack to be anybody other than who he is. Because if America doesn't accept that, then I want America to own that. I want them to look themselves in the face and say "you had a choice. You had a choice to choose somebody who was decent, who was going to be a uniter. Somebody who's going to be honest, who is going to tell you the truth. All these things you say you want, and then you get it, and you trip. You freak out. And you question it, and you worry, and is it true?"
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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"That's what the press is
November 13, 2007 - 11:23 ET by Chris Norman"That's what the press is sort of saying: if you want to win you got to kill her, you've got to rip her apart."
No they don't. They say, "You save that for Republicans and we'll help you any way we can...".
i guess obama's wife ...
November 13, 2007 - 11:30 ET by pmohbuckis the 2008 version of teresa heinz kerry AKA "the annoying democrat presidential candidate's wife who can't keep her trap shut" ...
Nah!
November 13, 2007 - 15:26 ET by heldmywThat's Elizabeth Edwards.
You know. John Edwards' husband?
"You had a choice. ...
November 13, 2007 - 11:58 ET by MikeB"You had a choice. ... Somebody who's going to be honest, who is going to tell you the truth." That is true, Michelle, and we're glad Barak is telling the truth about his views. Unfortunately for you and your hubby, his views do not coincide with the majority of American voters. So, he will lose. We choose not to accept his views and positions, and that is our right. So far, most of us choose not to accept marxism-socialism.
Politics is not neccessarily supposed to be about uniting. In our system of politics, it is about comparing and contrasting ideas, then choosing which ideas we want our political servants (that's right, Michelle, politicians are supposed to be servants of the people, not their masters) to implement.
If Barak is not elected to the office he seeks, it is not America's fault he isn't elected, rather it is his fault for not espousing the beliefs and policies the majority of the voters want.
Is that woman really that stupid?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
No, you're just not getting
November 13, 2007 - 12:20 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltNo, you're just not getting it!
If America does not elect her husband, it's because America is just not willing to accept, not smart enough to elect an honest black man to the office of POTUS.
Wrong, Michelle, it's because we're not ready for THAT black man in particular, not a person who happens to be black. Big difference.
...and the same goes
November 13, 2007 - 15:29 ET by heldmyw...For Hillary's 'womanhood'.
Show me a Golda Meir, or a Margaret Thatcher. Great leaders who happened to be women.
A Paris Hilton-class President just won't fly. Sorry Clintoons. No sale.
Really
November 13, 2007 - 14:19 ET by Mike From CanmoreIt's America's fault?! No s#!t Sherlock. Democracy is in the hands of the people not some twist with the opinion winds candidate. It's one of the beautiful things of a democracy.
*Argue for your limitations and sure enough you will achieve them.
HAHAHA!!! I knew this was
November 13, 2007 - 14:33 ET by mostlymoderateHAHAHA!!! I knew this was coming. In fact, I can almost bet on "riots and looting" in the streets when Obama doesn't get it. OH, and it isn't the black communities fault; it is the MEDIA that will hype the anger up IN the black community.
I'm Offended
November 13, 2007 - 14:39 ET by Wildcatter1980Michelle Obama has offended me by intimating that it would be mine and my fellow citizen's fault if her husband is not elected president.
I would not vote for him because I do not know where he stands on the key issues of our time. Of the few positions he has staked out, he has, so far, only gone on Meet The Press. He has yet to visit any of the other hard news and analysis venues like Face The Nation, Hannity & Colmes, and The O'Reilly Factor to name just a few. Until he does so I have no reason to take him seriously, let alone consider voting for him for president.
Just my $0.02
Exactly! Has nothing to do
November 13, 2007 - 14:56 ET by mostlymoderateExactly! Has nothing to do with being black. The problem with Obama is his stance on the issues, the fact that he has no record of accomplishing anything, the fact that he has nothing going for him.
Blacks can't be racist
November 13, 2007 - 17:02 ET by mattmBut they can accuse others of racism if they don't get what they want. Too bad Michelle, you'll have to stand in line; we're supposed to elect a woman first, then a black.
After all, women were oppressed far longer than blacks were. Although, a ticket of Hillary/Obama would solve the whole problem...unless those racist whiteys steal another election...
(Please pardon my use of the word "they." It was not intended to be prejudicial; it's just that I can't think of another third person plural pronoun.)
Them Thar
November 13, 2007 - 17:07 ET by MightyMouth...only in Texass of course :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
I have listened to Michelle
November 13, 2007 - 17:08 ET by bigtimerI have listened to Michelle quite a bit now, especially on C-Span making some speeches and then taking questions and talking to people as she roams the area she happens to be campaigning at...
She talks in circles, she makes no sense most times, she should just shut the heck up in my opinion, but we know that isn't going to happen anymore than Elizabeth or Hillary....
I say keep on opening mouths and inserting feet...it helps our side...you know the good guys.
Sorry, Michelle Obama, but in post-9/11 America,
November 13, 2007 - 20:36 ET by Dave RThere is no way somebody named Barack Hussein Obama will be elected POTUS.
No way, no chance.
'Nuff said.
Evening Dave... Neither
November 13, 2007 - 20:39 ET by bigtimerEvening Dave...
Neither will Hillary...
I just had to throw that in for the evening....hehehee
Yes ma'am, bt.
November 13, 2007 - 20:44 ET by Dave RI feel so rotten, I have no choice but to behave tonight.
That fever thing hath returned. I feel like s**t warmed over, after having been run over. :-(
Dave.
You have the creeping crud
November 13, 2007 - 20:57 ET by bigtimerYou have the creeping crud too Dave?
I'm in same condition here...
bt, the "creeping crud" hath crept up around me, and refuses to
November 13, 2007 - 21:19 ET by Dave Rrelax its grip. Every three days, it teases me into believing it is about to let go. Then, just when I think I am about to be released, it tightens its grip yet again.
Doc insisted the flu shot contained a "dead" virus. The only thing "dead" in this story might very well be me. No shiite, here.
Miserable wretch, I am.
Which is perhaps why my posts seem more disjointed than usual. LOL.
Dave.
Dave... I know what you
November 13, 2007 - 21:29 ET by bigtimerDave...
I know what you mean about our posts...
I am in same condition, finally got some antibiotics today...
Hopefully I will be back to somewhat normal soon...
LOL...
Take care...
bt, I just paid my Visa bill.
November 13, 2007 - 21:46 ET by Dave RNow I'm really ill. LOL.
'night, bt.