That this is an important issue and I'm an Obama supporter. I noticed that he took a day or two to respond to the Michelle debacle, and she took two days to respond herself. Fast but not nearly as fast as that sneaky Cindy McCain. And John McCain himself who was at a news conference hours from the time that NYT story about him broke, and sending out mailers for more contributions from supporters the same day (?) because of the liberal hate campaign against him.

Boy he must be thanking his stars for that boost in fundraising appeal given from the NYTimes.

Obama's going to get slammed...but two days is still better than Kerry waiting weeks over the Swiftboats. But he needs to improve his reaction time, probably against Clinton tonight as well. I'm hoping he can stand strong despite the plagiarism flap which will definitely reappear.

but I will give you an answer: it would not help Clinton to accuse Michelle Obama of being unpatriotic (as the Republicans are doing...)

I haven't wanted to admit this to a lot of people but I grew up in a strictly Republican home. The reason that the Republicans are running with Michelle's statement is that it fits into their ugly two dimensional caricature of Democrats as being "unpatriotic" (because its patriotic of course to send young men and women to their deaths in your vanity wars--but that's definitely NOT in the Republican narrative)....

If you look at the tape, they've actually changed what she said to this is the first time I feel proud....instead of this is the first time I feel REALLY proud....but lying is okay for the Patriotic Republican noise machine (you've probably heard of the lying Swiftboat veterans for Truth...but that is definitely NOT in the Republican narrative..that they were lying I mean).

So the main reason that this would not work for Hillary is that all liberals by nature of being liberals are supposedly unpatriotic. Liberals find this charge against them as a collective whole--to be annoying at worst, irritating at best. But no one who really defines him or herself as a liberal or a Democrat is going to take a charge like that coming from someone like Bill O'Reilly seriously.

So no. I don't think it wouldn't work on any level. If the Republicans use this in a general campaign (which they will if its Obama as the nominee) I hope it makes them look as petty and bad as they are...no one who is already supporting Obama is probably going to be vulnerable to the old "unpatriotic" charge against her....maybe I'm just dreaming....But I also think that Cindy McCain looked kind of petty making her remarks about it. Maybe others disagree.

I had too many bad years in church to not have a little bit of discomfort. But as for detail, he

does get policy detail down just fine in his bills though, so I see it more as a simple oratory device (and he does like church better than we do) than a kind of trickery.

But about the "generic" argument, it seems like you're grasping at twigs too. "Just words" is pretty generic. "Words matter." Generic. And then a recitation of the first couple of lines of some of the most famous speeches in history. Generic too! Where's the "new" idea in any of that? I don't really see it.

I have some sympathy with the plagiarism argument, but I don't think see where Obama's situation was pages and pages and pages. I have only heard one sentence "Just words" and then another phrase that I've forgotten. How is this more specific and less generic than other tossed off phrases?

The think the more serious and potentially damaging accusation is that his campaign is *only* words and he'll need to keep fighting against this one.

and the Republicans I grew up with would have held this "I know I am unpatriotic about 95% of the time" against you so I'm sure that they are itching for Michelle's throat.

The truth is I don't care anymore about what Republicans have to say about patriotism. Wasn't it Bill O'Reilley who told a young man whose father had died during 9-11 that he was a traitor to his country and his dead father would be ashamed of him? That man, Bill O'Reilley has no morals and no conscience. I think the young man had taken out an ad that read "Not in Our Name" regarding the invasion of Iraq.

You live in Texas. The primary is still a contest there. The rest of us are just spectators now. I admire your passionate defense of Clinton. Ignore these insulting trolls. The anonymii are not Obama supporters. I'm not even convinced they are fellow earthlings at times. I like Michelle Obama, partially for her rawness. Ironically I suspect that if Barack wins the nomination she will become much more guarded over time. People will treat her the same way that they treated (and treat) Hillary. I hope the real Obama supporters out there realize this.