Michelle is so sweet!
Posted on 05/22/2008 4:35:00 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CNN correspondent Carol Costello compared Cindy McCain to a "Stepford Wife" due to her "low key" role in her husband’s campaign so far, in a segment on Wednesday’s "The Situation Room." Costello, detailing Mrs. McCain’s recent photo spread in Vogue magazine, stated the feature "projects an image quite unlike the Cindy McCain we see on the trail," and a talking head described this "Cindy McCain we see" as "low key... taking the traditional role of standing by her husband's side at events." Costello then quipped, "A role critics say makes Mrs. McCain look like -- well, Glenn Close in the movie ‘The Stepford Wives.’" [audio available here]
On the other hand, Costello described Michelle Obama’s Vogue spread more glowingly: "...Michelle Obama chose a traditional black dress with pearl earrings for her Vogue spread. As The Washington Post described it, it was if Michelle Obama was saying 'I am not some scary other.... I am Camelot with a tan.'"
Twice in her report, Costello emphasized that most people "don't really know much about Cindy McCain," except that she’s "really, really rich." After making this point the second time, Costello continued by bringing up the issue of Mrs. McCain’s tax returns. "What voters do know about her -- well, she's enormously wealthy, and she says she won't release her tax returns ever -- which says to voters, you're not one of us -- hence Vogue and the jeans."
Costello followed this portrayal of Cindy McCain by comparing it to Michelle Obama’s Vogue spread. "Interestingly, while Cindy McCain chose jeans for her Vogue spread, her likely competitor, Michelle Obama, chose a traditional black dress with pearl earrings for her Vogue spread. As The Washington Post described it, it was if Michelle Obama was saying 'I am not some scary other.... I am Camelot with a tan.'" The Washington Post quotation came from a May 18 piece by Robin Givhan which described the two Vogue features. In her article, Givhan also used the "Stepford wife" term.
Let’s get this straight: Mrs. McCain’s refusal to release her tax returns makes her some kind of elitist, but Michelle Obama, the millionaire, wearing a "traditional black dress with pearl earrings" is an attempt to connect with average voters? As if we needed another indication that CNN leans towards the Obamas.
The full transcript of Carol Costello’s segment, which first ran at the end of the 6 pm hour of Wednesday’s "The Situation Room:"
WOLF BLITZER: John McCain's wife Cindy is taking center stage in a whole new way. She's featured in a spread in Vogue magazine -- a move possibly aimed at a very specific goal. Let's go back to Carol. She's looking at this story for us. What are you seeing, Carol? What are you hearing?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, you know, most of us don't really know much about Cindy McCain, except she's really, really rich. But if you take a peak at Vogue magazine, you may get a more well-rounded view.
COSTELLO (voice-over): Ooh la-la -- Cindy McCain in Vogue magazine looks spectacular, lounging at her seaside condo, sans John McCain -- feet bare, wearing size zero jeans. She projects an image quite unlike the Cindy McCain we see on the campaign trail.
SUSAN MACMANUS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: So far, Cindy McCain has been low-key. She's been sort of taking the traditional role of standing by her side -- her husband's side at events and clapping and smiling and being supportive of her husband.
COSTELLO: A role critics say makes Mrs. McCain look like -- well, Glenn Close in the movie 'The Stepford Wives.'
GLENN CLOSE (from "THE STEPFORD WIVES"): Well, that's all marvelous.
GLORIA ROEMER, REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT: Well, you know, there's that saying that's been going on for years, you know, don't hate me because I'm beautiful. And that may apply here, because, you know, she is very attractive. You know, she can't help it.
COSTELLO: Roemer says Mrs. McCain's exterior belies who she really is. Mrs. McCain isn't perfect. She suffered a stroke four years ago and worked hard to overcome its affects. She donates tons of time and money to charitable causes. What voters do know about her -- well, she's enormously wealthy, and she says she won't release her tax returns ever -- which says to voters, you're not one of us -- hence Vogue and the jeans.
MACMANUS: Jeans are as all-American as apple pie, and in the fashion world, no matter what they look like, they're in fashion, and so it's no surprise that Cindy McCain would choose a spread with jeans and a nice shirt.
COSTELLO: Interestingly, while Cindy McCain chose jeans for her Vogue spread, her likely competitor, Michelle Obama, chose a traditional black dress with pearl earrings for her Vogue spread. As The Washington Post described it, it was if Michelle Obama was saying 'I am not some scary other.... I am Camelot with a tan.' Whether these images will sway voters one way or another remains to be seen. But we're still in the 'getting to know you' stage.
COSTELLO (on-camera): And, in short, expect both would-be First Ladies to be much more visible in the near future, so you can get to know them -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, thanks very much. I'm looking forward to reading that article and seeing the pictures. Carol, see you tomorrow.
Hey, now. You’re insulting Aunt Esther. She was at least a good Christian woman with likely Conservative values, unlike Michelle Obama.
She is accomplished--without being married to a senator. After reading an article about her, I realized she doesn't need his "permission." He didn't know she had gotten a pilot's license until she took him for a flight. I got the impression she doesn't take any crap off John!
She preferred to live and raise their children in Arizona so he commutes.
I’m not on her bandwagon. She’s not running for office, and hasn’t tried to act like it. Mrs. Obama has.
Arizona. I think it’s still up. I;ll look for a link.
$20 says once the campaign begins in earnest, everyone will know everything about this. If the MacCain campaign were smart (and it isn't), they'd leak this story out and defuse it.
Liz, I have read some really good things about Cindy too. Yes, she got hooked on drugs just as Rush did - because of extreme pain.
I have to say this, she is wealthy beyond belief and she doesn’t flaunt it and she stays in the background. We wouldn’t know much about her if not for her husband.
She is his second wife and perhaps she enticed him away, I don’t know. We all have our good and our bad, I guess the final ‘scale’ is what counts.
There was an article in the Wall Street Journal on Cindy McCain, John’s wife:
All I ever saw was this attractive woman standing beside John. I was surprised how talented and involved with world problems she is.
This is a summary of the article. She graduated from Southern Cal and was a special-needs teacher. After her Dad died she became involved with his beer distributing firm and is now the chairwoman. Sales have doubled since she has taken over from her father.
She and Sen. John McCain have a marriage prenuptial agreement; her assets remain separate. She is involved around the world clearing land mines - travels to these
countries on a detonation team and serves on their board.
The McCain’s have a 19 year old serving in Iraq, another son in the Naval Academy, a daughter who recently graduated from Columbia Univ., an adopted daughter in high school, and a son who is the finance guy at
the beer firm.
Raised kids in Phoenix, AZ rather than Washington DC. (better atmosphere). He commuted.
In 1991, Mrs. McCain came across a girl in an orphanage in Bangladesh. Mother Teresa implored Mrs. McCain to take the baby who had a severe cleft palate. She did so without first telling her husband. The couple adopted the girl who has had a dozen operations to repair her cleft palate and other medical problems.
They have a Family Foundation for children’s causes.
She’s active with ‘Halo Trust’ - to clear land mines, provide water and food in war ravaged and developing countries.
She will join an overseas mission of ‘Operation Smile’, a charity for corrective surgery on children’s faces.
She has had two back surgeries and became addicted to pain killers. She talks openly about it which she says is part of the recovery process.
I’m surprised the media is so quiet about her attributes. She sounds more capable than Hillary or Obama.
We would really get two for the price of one.
A person with business and international experience.
John did work for the firm for awhile when he left the Navy. She, however, has the real business experience.
I put it up for everyone to enjoy.
If it meets with approval it would be here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020020/posts
Thank you devolve, a ‘familiar’ one to you, lol.
Michelle Obama has broad hips, no doubt about it, but she is not fat.
Hillary is what you call ‘pear shaped’, heh! - and the cankles don’t help. Thus, she develops into a ‘pin head’ form.
I didn’t read about all the sizes but the more expensive the clothing, the smaller the sizes are marked. Makes ‘em feel good, don’t you know, lol!
Jackie really could stop clocks and traffic, one of a kind.
There’s an uncanny parallel here between the Kennedys and the Obamas. Both wives have been shattered by the infidelities of their husbands, which neither, naively, anticipated.
Michelle bears the cross with less stoicism.
Unfortunatley Cindy dated John while he was still married. John divorced his disabled wife to marry her a coup[le of days after the divorce became final.
Cindy has admitted to a drug addiction and to stealing drugs from charity boxes. Also, she forged prescriptions and demolished the pharmacist who blew the whistle on her. John got all the charges dropped, otherwise she would be a convicted felon.
Classy? No.
I didn’t say she was classy. I said she had faults and I enumerated the good things she has done.
Rush could be in jail too because of drugs. I’m sure many famous people could be, once they get hooked reason goes out the window.
Have you heard of Hillary doing all of that to help children all over the world? And most women with that kind of wealth put themselves out in public to ‘push’ their causes. She quietly goes about hers.
We have no perfect people.
I just can’t understand why people admire a girl who dated a man she knew was married and who stole pain medications from Red Cross boxes.
I have no problem with someone who has an addiction. Any of us could be addicted. From what I hear she has tried to keep her addiction under control.
I hope I never have an addiction so strong that I would steal pain medications from someone in pain.
Of course I would take her over Angry Michelle but I have reservations.
Lol, you keep blowing Michelle up!!
YOU:
{I just can’t understand why people admire a girl who dated a man she knew was married and who stole pain medications from Red Cross boxes.}
ME;
“She is his second wife and perhaps she enticed him away, I don’t know. We all have our good and our bad, I guess the final ‘scale’ is what counts.”
Did I say I admired that? NO
I hope you never have an addiction that strong either. I believe I said it makes people irrational.
If you have ‘reservations’ about Cindy over Michelle I am sorry.
You are the only one who knew that, lol.
Monica would envy her........
I posted right below your post and had this in my comment;
“She talks openly about it which she says is part of the recovery process.”
That was in the Wall Street Journal. I don’t think this is a secret to any of us who read the news and are on the internet. It probably will be to the rest of the people.
Strangely, Bill Clinton’s drug use didn’t seem to have a bad effect on his admirers. But Cindy is not well known to the general public.
JFK was heavily medicated because of medical problems. Betty Ford was an alcoholic, the list could go on and on.
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