Letters to the Editor
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questions.......
"But Michelle is given zero slack because she's a woman and black. And let us never forget, in the bigger picture, black anger -- or even just plain old dissatisfaction -- always raises the specter of slavery and the unfinished business of social justice. "
Hillary wasn't given any slack either. She's been called a bitch way before she was a senator. This is not racism hun this is called sexism. Any tough, outspoken woman gets this sort of treatment.
"IN a recent New York Times profile, in distinguishing Michelle's background from that of her husband, described her as being "a descendant of slaves" -- as if that's a unique fact rather than a collective one that applies to the vast majority of the millions of black Americans whose families have been here for hundreds of years. That slavery is even remarked on at all says much about how blacks are still viewed by their fellow Americans, even sympathetic ones, as the ultimate outsiders."
That's because its true. People are distinguishing the son of an African immigrant from the descendant of slaves whose family have been in America for hundreds of years. There is nothing wrong with that.
For example, there are Chinese Americans who have lives in the U.S. since the late 1800s. If I say, ok this Chinese-Americans guy is a descendant of some Chinese people who helped build America's railroads, to differentiate him from a Chinese American guy whose parents moved to America in the 1980's, what is wrong with that?
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"Funny, I don't remember anyone questioning how former presidential candidate and millionaire John Edwards could relate to poor whites."
Then you obviously weren't paying attention. $400 haircut anyone?
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Great Article
A great piece by Erin Aubry Kaplan that captures Michelle Obama very accurately. Kudos for a terrific essay.
(I could have done without the sensationalized, let's pick on the Obamas title however, but I'm assuming that was a Salon editorial decision, and not the author's).
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I love Michelle Obama
I hope she follows Hillary's lead in the future, and runs for President herself.
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For an alternative take on Ms. Obama
See Steve Sailer: http://www.vdare.com/sailer/080225_michelle_obama.htm
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so I'm guessing that the election will be about
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Peeve
" All of this confuses white people mightily, far more than Barack's biracial status."
I am white. I am not confused. I have no problem with Michelle Obama. I do know that the Right will drag her through the mud and I plan to do what I can to dispell the myths amongst my friends.
I hate it when people assume that I harbor some kind of racism because I am white. I grew up in a racially integrated community and went to racially integrated public schools and I grateful for it. I never once heard the "N" word used in my home. When we lived in the south my parents voluntered to teach black folks how to read. My mother's closest confidant was black - they remained in touch until the death of the friend. I am tired of being painted with the broad brush of white racism.
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SIGH...
Re: "Hillary wasn't given any slack either."
I agree. Hillary has been called every name in the book. Every word she says is twisted and taken out of context, and when that doesn't work they call her vile names and when that doesn't work they accuse her of heinous acts like murder. And this has been going on my whole adult life.
Michelle Obama has had two vile comments aimed at her, both by FOX. The criticism about her "proud of my country" comment was fair game. Michelle Obama has not had a more difficult time than Hillary or Teresa Heinz Kerry.
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WHO'S AFRAID OF MICHELLE OBAMA?
Probably the uninsured and terminal patients who had to come up with with that $300,000 salary a HOSPITAL gave away to her in patronage fluff as a vice president for community and external affairs the day her husband got sent to Washington where he could vote on legislation favorable to her employers.
Where is that hypocritical wuss Michael Moore on this one?
Just think of how innocent all this would appear to be if it the name had been Hillary Clinton instead.
-gala1
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Fantastic essay ...
... and unbelievable first few letters. What in the name of all that is holy does any of this have to do with Hillary?
Ms. Kaplan captured perfectly what is going on with the country's discomfort over Michelle Obama. You see it on message boards frequented and emails sent by people who don't read Salon, and Ms. Kaplan nailed it. She's seen as uppity, too opinionated, an affirmative action opportunist, a bad mother - all for being a successful: 1) black, 2) woman. It's possible to face more than one -ism, you know.
"Baby mama" was as sexist as it was racist. But you didn't hear Hillary's Horde making much noise about it. For some reason, black sexism is a little more palatable to most people. At least it isn't pure racism, right? It's more institutionalized racism.
Michelle Obama causes us to confront our racism in a way her husband doesn't. His half-whiteness and absence of slave blood makes him a nice ambassador to racial healing, while her Southside roots are a little more in-your-face. People don't like in-your-face confrontation, especially when it comes to stuff they don't like to admit about themselves ... so they recoil against it and convince themselves they don't like her for reasons other than because she's black. It's because she's uppity, and too opinionated, and an opportunist, and a bad mother. Get it?