on Feb 20th, 2008Spin it: the missing really
Conservative talk show hosts and their marionette listeners and viewers are still having a field day over Michelle Obama’s comment Monday about being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.
Or did she say “really” proud and why, if one is certain of having heard her say that, is that word missing from some clips?
The simple answer is she gave the speech twice. News organizations can choose which to use, depending on. Whatever. Watch for yourself, and thanks to someone called SuperObama for putting this together.
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Well, “really” isn’t the issue, it seems to me.
I think this comment is best understood in the very complicated and violent context of race in America, but if you go there, you’ll be accused of playing the that particular card, which I have no problems with. History is history.
This is on par with Hillary’s cookie making comment — no offense to our top chef — to my mind.
Not smart. Not a crime against humanity. However, I don’t understand if this was a speech and not an off the cuff comment, how this comment was allowed to fly.
Gives this reader pause.
Actually, for me, “really” is the issue. Conservatives are not just blathering about the comment, they’re debating whether she did say ‘really’ — without saying there are 2 versions! And I doubt it’s a coincidence that the clip with the missing ‘really’ is the one much of the right favors.
I’m disgusted by the not-always subtle editorializing in the media, whether it’s something like this or that ’shopped mugshot of that criminal Simpson back in the day. Objectivity flew out the window in both cases. Even a double-murderer is entitled to objectivity by media that base their reputations on it.
While I agree Michelle Obama’s statement is not something a rational person would use as a basis for deciding whether to pull the lever for the spouse, I think the only parallels with Hillary’s cookie comment is that both were probably the result of naivte and both women probably meant what they said.
Come to think it, my friend, I have a link to Hillary’s cookie recipe somewhere here. Looks good!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
After a strange and mysterious two-week silence since Super Tuesday, when they left their coverage with Hillary firmly in the pound seats, the BBC TV News here finally and very belatedly reported on Obama’s surge tonight, giving him a 10-nil run. I think you call that “10-and-’O'”.
They also showed an electorate-encouraging Barry soundbite from a speech in Houston, and an embattled HRC talking about substance not style and saving American jobs..
The Beeb also covered the Michelle speech, quoting the ‘really’ version.
Video #7 below seems to show her saying ‘really’, but with the sound removed. I gave up on #8-15 so I can’t vouch for those.
The BBC’s Justin Webb in Washington gave his firm verdict on Cindy McCain’s ‘proud’ quip (also shown) that the McCain camp are now taking Obama extremely seriously.
In response to the obvious question raised about the age of the Republican frontrunner, I recall someone on BBC Radio 4 last week opining that McCain would only seek ‘one good term’ if elected. Hmmmm.
I’m glad to hear the Beeb is back on top of all this. It’s awfully easy to fall into a horse race mentality and perhaps wiser heads chose to avoid that.
And it sounds as if they’ve hit every significant note; McCain’s speech (to say nothing of Cindy’s quip) Tuesday night was certainly aimed at Obama, not Clinton, stressing his experience and all but calling Barry a rousing speaker but an empty suit.
One good term? I hadn’t heard that. After the debacle of the last 7 years I’d happily accept one GOOD term from anyone.
So now McCain is in the soup too. You got to love the food references,ella. Anyway, about a month ago, Mos Def was on Bill Maher and he pointed to exactly the point that Michelle alludes too. It must be terribly hard to be proud of a country that wants to “send you back where you came from”, wants to profile you into second class citizenship, wants offer the back door of sports,and music to what white America enjoys so naturally. If you don’t understand why she is proud to find that America in this election seems to be finally doing something that is beyond race and gender, then you have had your head up your repugnant behind way to long.
rhbee - Excellent points, wonderfully expressed. Thank you very much.
PS - Did someone say soup?
It’s debate night!
rhbee, Bravo - well said! The worst right wing pundit response came from Bill O’Reilly, who’s comment I won’t even repeat it was so offensive to me. I’m still deeply upset by it. In a country where a black person still has to wonder about something as simple and small as when he’s gonna get served in a deli line, it IS encouraging and dammit, uplifting, to look at an Obama crowd and see all of us together for a change. It makes me proud too.
o/ - Waving at pbsweeney!