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After Attacks, Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction
New York Times ^
| 18 June 2008
| By MICHAEL POWELL and JODI KANTOR
Posted on 06/18/2008 5:12:36 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Now her husbands presidential campaign is giving her image a subtle makeover, with a new speech in the works to emphasize her humble roots and a tough new chief of staff. On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama will do a guest turn on The View, the daytime talk show on ABC, with an eye toward softening her reputation.
Her problems seemed hard to imagine last fall and winter. Mrs. Obama, a Harvard-trained lawyer, appeared so at ease with the tactile business of campaigning and drew praise for humanizing, often with humor, a husband who could seem elusive.
Then came some rhetorical stumbles. In Madison, Wis., in February, she told voters that hope was sweeping America, adding, For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. Cable news programs replayed those 15 words in an endless loop of outrage.
Barack Obama often blurs identity lines; much of his candidacy has seemed almost post-racial. Mrs. Obamas identity is less mutable. She is a descendant of slaves and a product of Chicagos historically black South Side. She burns hot where he banks cool, and that too can make her an inviting proxy for attack.
Fox News called her Obamas baby mama, a derogatory term for an unwed mother. Christopher Hitchens, a Slate columnist, claimed with scant evidence that her college thesis proved she was once influenced by black separatism. National Review presented her as a scowling Mrs. Grievance.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; doover; makeover; michelle; michelleobama; obama
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I thought Obamas baby mama was a Michelle Obama quote from her speech noting his Senate victory. If this is so, this article is lacking in fairness.
To: shrinkermd
Her problems seemed hard to imagine last fall and winter. Mrs. Obama, a Harvard-trained lawyer, appeared so at ease with the tactile business of campaigning and drew praise for humanizing, often with humor, a husband who could seem elusive. But then she started talking....
2
posted on
06/18/2008 5:14:26 AM PDT
by
Rummyfan
(Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
To: shrinkermd
Christopher Hitchens, a Slate columnist, claimed with scant evidence that her college thesis proved she was once influenced by black separatism. No bias there.
Evidence? We'll just denigrate and minimize it - that way we can ignore it!
3
posted on
06/18/2008 5:15:43 AM PDT
by
Principled
(Vaporize the "Divide and Conquer" taxes - Have everyone pay the same marginal rate!. NRST!)
To: shrinkermd
much of his candidacy has seemed almost post-racial That's all his candidacy is about.
4
posted on
06/18/2008 5:16:00 AM PDT
by
Brett66
(Where government advances, and it advances relentlessly , freedom is imperiled -Janice Rogers Brown)
To: shrinkermd
All she has to do is be likable, Mrs. McCaskill said. BZZZZZZTTT! Thanks for playing, Michelle.
5
posted on
06/18/2008 5:16:09 AM PDT
by
ClearCase_guy
(Et si omnes ego non)
To: shrinkermd
6
posted on
06/18/2008 5:16:44 AM PDT
by
dennisw
(We have an idiocracy not a democracy)
To: dennisw
Attacks?? HA HA HA...paging Mr. Beckel?
To: shrinkermd
Barack Obama often blurs identity lines; much of his candidacy has seemed almost post-racial. Mrs. Obamas identity is less mutable. She is a descendant of slaves and a product of Chicagos historically black South Side. She burns hot where he banks cool, and that too can make her an inviting proxy for attack.TRANSLATION:
She is freaking idiot who will drive away white votes
Plus Obama has no slave ancestors but she does and has lots of racial resentment baggage
8
posted on
06/18/2008 5:19:58 AM PDT
by
dennisw
(We have an idiocracy not a democracy)
To: shrinkermd
By MICHAEL POWELL and JODI KANTOR It took two people to write this tripe, and still the newspapers can't figure out why they have to lay off so many employees.
9
posted on
06/18/2008 5:20:46 AM PDT
by
Crawdad
(If you're in a fair fight, your tactics suck.)
To: dennisw
10
posted on
06/18/2008 5:21:10 AM PDT
by
Sacajaweau
(I'm planting corn...Have to feed my car...)
To: shrinkermd
Fox News called her Obamas baby mama,... Not the truth but that's irrelevant nowadays.
11
posted on
06/18/2008 5:22:46 AM PDT
by
McGruff
(This is not the [your name here] I knew.)
To: Rummyfan
hardihar, perfect comment.
12
posted on
06/18/2008 5:24:15 AM PDT
by
bboop
(Stealth Tutor)
To: shrinkermd
You only get one chance at a first impression.
That's ok, Michelle, we know who and what you are.
13
posted on
06/18/2008 5:25:40 AM PDT
by
Pistolshot
(When you let what you are define who you are, you create divisiveness.)
To: shrinkermd
This is the EXACT SAME ARTICLE under a different headline printed in International Herald Tribune
here
14
posted on
06/18/2008 5:27:33 AM PDT
by
Mr. K
(Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help)
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
To: shrinkermd
If she requires a “Maker-over”, that must mean her Authenic self is not desireable!
To: TexasCajun
Guess the “Jackie Kennedy” look didn’t exactly take.
To: shrinkermd
If she is changing for the better then they weren’t “attacks”. They were constructive criticisms.
18
posted on
06/18/2008 5:37:15 AM PDT
by
DManA
To: shrinkermd
When was she attacked?
Get a thicker skin, Obamarosa. You wanted to play.
To: shrinkermd
20
posted on
06/18/2008 5:59:08 AM PDT
by
Miss Didi
("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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