Michelle Obama - yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

Of course I would support him. Why is it when people ask these questions, they remind everyone else that it isn't 1950. JFK had very young children, and Jimmy Carter's daughter was 10 when he became president. Granted Amy Carter was 15 years younger than her next closest sibling, but she was still very young.

Yes, the role of fatherhood has changed, but what does that have to do with the Presidency. There are many fathers who work 80 hours a week, and I am sure they are rarely asked if it is because of their antiquated beliefs. The reality of is that parents have to work, some work less demanding jobs, and others have jobs that take up most of their time, and they see their children as often as possible, and have good quality time with them.

When I was really young, and before my father switched career paths, he worked 10-12 hour days, seven days a week. On Sundays after church, he would bring one or two of us (there were five) to work with him. We got to sit at his desk and draw pictures, while he looked over last minute things. He ran a large division of a very large company, and he had to everything right, as the reputation of the company was on the line. When we were finished at the office, we would go and have an ice cream before heading home. These are very fond memories for me, because we would have time to talk, and really get to know one another. During one of these Sundays I wrote him a note saying that I loved him, and he kept it in his wallet for 20 some odd years, until it fell apart. I would rather have that than spending all the time in the world with him, and have him yell, scream, micromanage, or any of the other negative things my friends always complained about.

[Anonymous]

I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huge YAY!! For me, this has nothing to do with race. She strikes me as very smart, passionate, driven and confident . . . and also fiercely loyal and loving to her husband and children. I think she would be a phenomenal role model for my DD, and I personally love the idea of having a first lady who understands the tensions and complexities that working women face.

On the race front, I think it would be fabulous to have an African American first family -- great modeling for the entire country, regardless of color.

And finally, how fun would it be to have children in the White House again?

I agree that it would be fun to have children in the white house. If Obama wins, I would line up to get tickets to the easter egg roll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

Being "deeply patriotic" can also mean denying the truth. I don't want someone in denial or blinded by patriotism to make decisions that result in a lot of damage to the people/countries/environment outside the US. It's time we be more collaborative (multilateral) rather than so unilateral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

Being "deeply patriotic" can also mean denying the truth. I don't want someone in denial or blinded by patriotism to make decisions that result in a lot of damage to the people/countries/environment outside the US. It's time we be more collaborative (multilateral) rather than so unilateral.

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

Being "deeply patriotic" can also mean denying the truth. I don't want someone in denial or blinded by patriotism to make decisions that result in a lot of damage to the people/countries/environment outside the US. It's time we be more collaborative (multilateral) rather than so unilateral.

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

So do you think Michelle Obama loves her country? My sense from her is not, and to me that's a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

Being "deeply patriotic" can also mean denying the truth. I don't want someone in denial or blinded by patriotism to make decisions that result in a lot of damage to the people/countries/environment outside the US. It's time we be more collaborative (multilateral) rather than so unilateral.

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

These things take time, and they need to be the thought of all people, and unfortunately a large number of people don't see things the way you do. This does not mean that I am not proud to be and American, because I am damn proud to be one.

Americans have made such progress in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that long ago that it was illegal for my husband and I go get married, and today inter-racial marriage is common, and legal. Given time I am sure the same will hold true for same sex marriages.
Look how things have changed in the last sixty years. I don't see separate drinking fountains anymore, nor segregation on public transportation, we share dorm rooms and neighborhoods.

Women are working, and working the same jobs as men. It is no longer uncommon to have a female doctor, lawyer, truck driver, fireman, policeman, or in any other position that used to be male dominated. Women have the choice to stay home, or to work. When my grandmothers were born, at the turn of the century, women couldn't vote. Both of my grandmothers were working mothers, in a time when it wasn't common. One grandmother worked because she wasn't the housewife type, and the other worked to secure a living for a disabled child she wasn't sure would be able to work (she wasn't), and didn't think a man would marry her, and care for her, as dependent as she was. When my Aunt married, my grandmother used all the money she had saved and paid off the house, she also kept on working, because she liked to.

Progress is slow, but steady. Luckily we live in a country where it has come quicker, than in other places. America isn't perfect because it is filled with people who are also not perfect. We are lucky to live here, and should be proud to do so.

As for the things you don't like, and don't feel proud of, do something about it. Don't sit here complaining about what isn't being done, be proactive, join demonstrations, hand out literature, because no one is going to hear you if you don't speak up.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

So do you think Michelle Obama loves her country? My sense from her is not, and to me that's a problem.

I don't really understand why people are trying to pigeon hole Michelle so much with labels such as "angry" or "unpatriotic" or even asking if she loves her country. Are these really constant emotions that never change? Aren't all of us angry at times, or angry over certain things? How many among us are angry about gas prices? I constantly see Republicans who appear to be angry about tax rates. That does not mean the personalities of these people should be boiled down to simply being "angry".

As others have said above, this country has faults. Who loves their country more: those who recognize the faults and want the country to improve and be the best that it can be, or; those who believe that acknowledging any fault is unpatriotic and we should all "love it or leave it"?

I don't think anyone doubts for a minute that Michelle Obama wants this country to be the best that it can be. Sure, she can cite things that she considers short-comings. But, I bet just about every one of us could. Even the most "patriotic" of Americans can find something (and, often, they find more faults than most). However, just to point out something that should be obvious, people who don't love their country don't work to make it better. So, your question seems very misguided to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

These things take time, and they need to be the thought of all people, and unfortunately a large number of people don't see things the way you do. This does not mean that I am not proud to be and American, because I am damn proud to be one.



Americans have made such progress in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that long ago that it was illegal for my husband and I go get married, and today inter-racial marriage is common, and legal. Given time I am sure the same will hold true for same sex marriages.
Look how things have changed in the last sixty years. I don't see separate drinking fountains anymore, nor segregation on public transportation, we share dorm rooms and neighborhoods.

Women are working, and working the same jobs as men. It is no longer uncommon to have a female doctor, lawyer, truck driver, fireman, policeman, or in any other position that used to be male dominated. Women have the choice to stay home, or to work. When my grandmothers were born, at the turn of the century, women couldn't vote. Both of my grandmothers were working mothers, in a time when it wasn't common. One grandmother worked because she wasn't the housewife type, and the other worked to secure a living for a disabled child she wasn't sure would be able to work (she wasn't), and didn't think a man would marry her, and care for her, as dependent as she was. When my Aunt married, my grandmother used all the money she had saved and paid off the house, she also kept on working, because she liked to.

Progress is slow, but steady. Luckily we live in a country where it has come quicker, than in other places. America isn't perfect because it is filled with people who are also not perfect. We are lucky to live here, and should be proud to do so.

As for the things you don't like, and don't feel proud of, do something about it. Don't sit here complaining about what isn't being done, be proactive, join demonstrations, hand out literature, because no one is going to hear you if you don't speak up.

You make good points here but what you've done is singled out important changes that took place because average people banded together to fight against government-backed discrimination. I'm proud of what Americans like these have achieved but I'm not proud of our government. We must continue to fight to make it better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find her comment about BO's campaign making her proud of her country for the first time a problem. I don't think it's too much to expect the first family to be deeply patriotic. Personally, I'm pretty ambivalent about the US but hey, I ain't running...

Being "deeply patriotic" can also mean denying the truth. I don't want someone in denial or blinded by patriotism to make decisions that result in a lot of damage to the people/countries/environment outside the US. It's time we be more collaborative (multilateral) rather than so unilateral.

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

Amen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well said PP, I am very excited that Obama will be democratic nominee, but I am still not proud of the US, love it, yes, happy to be here, yes, but as long as there there are prisoners on Gitmo I will not be proud, as long as same -sex couples and ethnic minorities are treated like second class citizens, I will not be proud, as long as tucker carlson and his ilk thinks its ok to sell sexism, I will not proud - should I continue.

These things take time, and they need to be the thought of all people, and unfortunately a large number of people don't see things the way you do. This does not mean that I am not proud to be and American, because I am damn proud to be one.



Americans have made such progress in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that long ago that it was illegal for my husband and I go get married, and today inter-racial marriage is common, and legal. Given time I am sure the same will hold true for same sex marriages.
Look how things have changed in the last sixty years. I don't see separate drinking fountains anymore, nor segregation on public transportation, we share dorm rooms and neighborhoods.

Women are working, and working the same jobs as men. It is no longer uncommon to have a female doctor, lawyer, truck driver, fireman, policeman, or in any other position that used to be male dominated. Women have the choice to stay home, or to work. When my grandmothers were born, at the turn of the century, women couldn't vote. Both of my grandmothers were working mothers, in a time when it wasn't common. One grandmother worked because she wasn't the housewife type, and the other worked to secure a living for a disabled child she wasn't sure would be able to work (she wasn't), and didn't think a man would marry her, and care for her, as dependent as she was. When my Aunt married, my grandmother used all the money she had saved and paid off the house, she also kept on working, because she liked to.

Progress is slow, but steady. Luckily we live in a country where it has come quicker, than in other places. America isn't perfect because it is filled with people who are also not perfect. We are lucky to live here, and should be proud to do so.

As for the things you don't like, and don't feel proud of, do something about it. Don't sit here complaining about what isn't being done, be proactive, join demonstrations, hand out literature, because no one is going to hear you if you don't speak up.

You make good points here but what you've done is singled out important changes that took place because average people banded together to fight against government-backed discrimination. I'm proud of what Americans like these have achieved but I'm not proud of our government. We must continue to fight to make it better.

Do you really think that the government is going to do anything, that involves major change, quickly? No freaking way, it is up to us to make sure these things happen. It is this process that makes me proud to be an American. The average person can make a difference, and influence legislature.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So do you think Michelle Obama loves her country? My sense from her is not, and to me that's a problem.

I don't really understand why people are trying to pigeon hole Michelle so much with labels such as "angry" or "unpatriotic" or even asking if she loves her country. Are these really constant emotions that never change? Aren't all of us angry at times, or angry over certain things? How many among us are angry about gas prices? I constantly see Republicans who appear to be angry about tax rates. That does not mean the personalities of these people should be boiled down to simply being "angry".

As others have said above, this country has faults. Who loves their country more: those who recognize the faults and want the country to improve and be the best that it can be, or; those who believe that acknowledging any fault is unpatriotic and we should all "love it or leave it"?

I don't think anyone doubts for a minute that Michelle Obama wants this country to be the best that it can be. Sure, she can cite things that she considers short-comings. But, I bet just about every one of us could. Even the most "patriotic" of Americans can find something (and, often, they find more faults than most). However, just to point out something that should be obvious, people who don't love their country don't work to make it better. So, your question seems very misguided to me.

I actually don't think that's obvious. Some people work to make their country better because they hate it the way it is (even if they feel it's better than the alternatives). To say she had NEVER been proud of her country before does not imply a lot of love. That's very different than coming up with a laundry list of things you don't like.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I actually don't think that's obvious. Some people work to make their country better because they hate it the way it is (even if they feel it's better than the alternatives). To say she had NEVER been proud of her country before does not imply a lot of love. That's very different than coming up with a laundry list of things you don't like.

That's not what she said. "Never" is your word, not hers. But, personally, I'm more concerned about John McCain's promise to "veto every beer".

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I actually don't think that's obvious. Some people work to make their country better because they hate it the way it is (even if they feel it's better than the alternatives). To say she had NEVER been proud of her country before does not imply a lot of love. That's very different than coming up with a laundry list of things you don't like.

That's not what she said. "Never" is your word, not hers. But, personally, I'm more concerned about John McCain's promise to "veto every beer".

Hee hee.
And ok Mr. Literal, but "first time", well, you know...

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I actually don't think that's obvious. Some people work to make their country better because they hate it the way it is (even if they feel it's better than the alternatives). To say she had NEVER been proud of her country before does not imply a lot of love. That's very different than coming up with a laundry list of things you don't like.

That's not what she said. "Never" is your word, not hers. But, personally, I'm more concerned about John McCain's promise to "veto every beer".

/quote]

LOL

Understandable though, since he was trying to say "I will veto every bill with ear marks"