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MICHELLE: Barack 'Has Dragged Me Kicking and Screaming Into Things that I Wanted No Parts Of'
weeklystandard.com ^ | 3/23/14

Posted on 03/23/2014 4:36:08 AM PDT by Liz

In a question and answer session at Stanford Center at Peking University in Beijing, China, First Lady Michelle Obama said that sometimes one needs to do things she's uncomfortable with. She made the comments in response to a question about studying abroad.

"For me, I prefer to -- the relationship -- the commerce relationship between -- and the future. So in this program, I think I cannot only learn about the language, the American cultures, but also I can take some courses on this field. So in this way, I cannot promote myself on this field, but also, what is most important I think is to learn -- to understand -- to make a better understanding on the United States cultureand people.

And I think it’s really important for people, especially young generation, to have some time to go abroad, to live and study there so in this way they can build a deeper understanding with each other," said a graduate student at Peking University.

The first lady responded, "Excellent. And one thing that you pointed out that I think it’s important to consider is not letting fear be your guide. Andthat’s oftentimes what holds many young people back from doing fabulous things.

Let’s take my husband, for example. He has dragged me kicking and screaming into things that I wanted no parts of. (Laughter.) And a lot of it was because of fear -- the fear of making mistakes, the fear of not knowing, the fear of uncertainty, the fear of leaving your comfort zone.

And we’re living in a world where we can no longer afford to let fear keep us apart, because the truth -- what I have learned, coming from the background I come from -- I grew up in a little apartment on the South Side of Chicago. My parents didn’t get a chance to go to college, but they poured everything they had into me. And no one could have envisioned that a kid like me would be sitting here, having given a speech at Peking University as the First Lady of the United States.

But easily, fear could have blocked me at every turn. So I want all of the young people around the world to operate with the freedom that we have all fought for -- the freedom to explore the world, to learn about new cultures, to try hard things, to make mistakes. And I know parents want you to be perfect because we want you to be safe -- (laughter) -- but life is about making mistakes,and maybe saying the wrong thing at the wrong time,and learning that you recover from even some of your worst mistakes, so that that fear doesn’t keep you from being as excellent as you can be.

And that’s what I think study abroad -- it’s that first step of leaving your country, speaking another language, having it come out of your voice, your lips, and having someone here actually understand you. And you think, well, that wasn’t that bad.

So I want you -- first of all, I just want to applaud you all for being that brave, and for being a role model to other young people of what the world needs in you as leaders. So don’t be afraid. Start with your parents.

Michelle Obama is in China with her mother and daughters to talk about education.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: michellevacations
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To: Liz
Michelle Obama is in China with her mother and daughters to talk about education go on yet another taxpayer-funded vacation.

Fixed.

81 posted on 03/23/2014 7:01:19 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Some people meet their heroes. I raised mine. Go Army.)
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To: ReaganGeneration2

She start right off saying she’s a future “alumnus”.

A woman graduate is an “alumna”.

.


82 posted on 03/23/2014 7:01:40 AM PDT by Mears
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To: Liz

This idiot knows she can lie with every word that comes out of her mouth about herself since the Chinese people are not allowed to know much about Americans..


83 posted on 03/23/2014 7:02:38 AM PDT by PLD
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To: maggief

Did a number of relatives accompany Michelle on this trip?

Mom and the older daughter never seem to look happy, although Mom dresses more tastefully than Michelle.


84 posted on 03/23/2014 7:03:19 AM PDT by ladyjane
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To: Liz
A Princeton and Harvard Law graduate?

Sadly, yes. This is the face of Affirmative Action.


85 posted on 03/23/2014 7:09:17 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Liz

86 posted on 03/23/2014 7:12:10 AM PDT by PLD
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To: Marguerite

She’s drinking better stuff than that now that the taxpayers are footing the drink bill.

I can’t even afford that no matter how badly I might need it now. The inflation that they keep assuring us does not exist has destroyed my buying power. I might be able to afford a bottle of Thunderbird. Now they are calling for a freeze here tomorrow night so my blueberry crop will probably fail and I won’t even be able to get Sam to make some homemade blueberry wine for me. Maybe the wild blackberries will be alright. If I were a chemistry professor with terminal cancer there is no telling what I might do.

Isn’t there some kind of government program to help tall, silver haired old men who are losing the ability to cope with the insanity of modern life?


87 posted on 03/23/2014 7:14:29 AM PDT by RipSawyer
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To: Liz

“”OMG-—she’s illiterate””

That was my first thought when I started reading but it appears to be the question (?) of a student...even tho’ no question is stated, it does say “response” by the Mrs.

IMO the article is poorly written - especially to not make it clear at the very beginning who is speaking those words.


88 posted on 03/23/2014 7:18:14 AM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: Marguerite
She'll first think of ... this

I seriously doubt it.

I'm thinking she's of the Louis Roederer Cristal set, hangin' with Shawn Carter and spouse.

Or, more likely, Fred Sanford's upscaled Champipple, doubled, of course, when not in the view of the public.

89 posted on 03/23/2014 7:20:12 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Liz

It appears Barack has not been able to drag her kicking and screaming into a decent clothing store yet. :-)


90 posted on 03/23/2014 7:27:23 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Tax-chick

Yeah, I had to read through that part, too. But, then, I realized that it was the Chinese student’s question for Mooch.


91 posted on 03/23/2014 7:31:38 AM PDT by Bigg Red (1 Pt 1: As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.)
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To: Gaffer

Affirmative action - that’s who. You grifter.

***
Now, now, don’t discount the mighty contributions by Soros and Co.


92 posted on 03/23/2014 7:32:50 AM PDT by Bigg Red (1 Pt 1: As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.)
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To: Bigg Red

Obviously. But it was the guaranteed acceptance and inevitability of leftist affirmative action card coupled with white guilt which cemented the deal that enslaves us all now.


93 posted on 03/23/2014 7:34:48 AM PDT by Gaffer (Comprehensive Immigration Reform is just another name for Comprehensive Capitulation)
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To: Liz

Is she quoted correctly??? This woman is not making sense!


94 posted on 03/23/2014 7:35:18 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Liz

Complete inability to link coherent thoughts together


95 posted on 03/23/2014 7:37:06 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: staytrue
Thanks for clarifying my mistake. I should have realized those words did not come from Michelle, they were too coherent..........
96 posted on 03/23/2014 7:38:59 AM PDT by varon (Para bellum)
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To: Liz

She’s clearly setting herself up to do a Hillary-—from the WH to the Congress——greasing the skids on our dime-—like the parasitic Clintons.

***
Exactly. Of course, this time the progressives get a twofer. C’mon! Don’t be sexist and racist, America!

I realized in watching clips from Obamugabe’s second coronation that she was being groomed. I studiously avoid watching or listening to any clips of Obamugabe, but I did see a bit of this coverage.

When I saw her walking, I realized that someone had been working with her on her walk. She actually looked like she was trying to put one foot in front of the other, and it made me wonder why, as she had been doing that Frankenstein stagger of hers for years.

Yep, they are trying to make her a little more palatable. Must be devoting a lot of talent, probably a staff of at least 10 in that private finishing school. Of course, if it does not work out, I am sure the Soros Administration is poised to just appoint her to the position of president. The phone and the pen are still there to be utilized.


97 posted on 03/23/2014 7:45:10 AM PDT by Bigg Red (1 Pt 1: As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.)
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To: staytrue
It is not Michelle Obama.

My mistake. Thanks.

Michelle is not a moron.

Prove it.

98 posted on 03/23/2014 7:45:56 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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To: VerySadAmerican

I have no common ground with liberals - I also choose to be polite and have as little to do with them as possible. It’s better this way, because you otherwise feel intimidated, or, compelled to get into a discussion with them. In a gathering, this is usually frowned upon, which make me feel like I just have to smile and pretend I go along with their garbage, then go home annoyed.


99 posted on 03/23/2014 7:50:08 AM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: Tax-chick

It appears this statement came from a Chinese student ...

***
And if this piece had been written decently, those of us reading it would not have been confused.


100 posted on 03/23/2014 7:51:06 AM PDT by Bigg Red (1 Pt 1: As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.)
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