Michelle Obama and modern American identity
Last night, Michelle Obama delivered what by many accounts was the best speech not just of the opening night of the Democratic Convention but of either convention to date. As David Gergen put it on CNN, “If they have two more nights like this, they can probably break this race open.”
Gergen’s enthusiasm aside, statements by spouses do not swing elections. (The exception may have been Hillary Clinton’s 1992 rescue operation on “60 Minutes,” in which she stalwartly defended her husband against philandering charges.) But in her well-written, well-delivered speech, the current First Lady nonetheless accomplished something important, reminding a rapt audience in Charlotte and tens of millions watching at home that she and her husband are very much in the modern American mainstream, drawing upon this nation’s traditional values to guide both their private lives as well as their political sentiments.
Even those who disagree strongly with those political sentiments should be able to acknowledge that Obama and his wife are quintessentially, honestly American, and that Obama’s story reflects much of what is best about this nation. Whatever their final verdict of his presidency, for example, historians will marvel that the first black person elected to the White House was elected just seven years after the attacks of 2001, and that he was named Barack Hussein Obama. They will attribute that success, quite accurately, to an American generosity of spirit, a true example of American exceptionalism, even as they are also forced to note the sour paranoia that it inspired in some quarters.
As Obama himself put it in a 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention, “I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that in no other country on earth is my story even possible.”
That’s the part that some conservatives cannot accept. To acknowledge that Barack Obama is just as American as they are is to acknowledge the ways in which their America has changed, and they cannot bring themselves to embrace those changes. In their minds, to do so would be to lose an America that has already gone, transformed into something still true to its roots but recognizably different, as it has always been different.
Instead, they flock in large numbers to the demogogic “2016: Obama’s America,” seeking reassurance — no matter how absurd — that this Obama is indeed something different, something unAmerican and even anti-American, and that their own deep-set suspicions are valid.
That is not the Obama that most of their fellow citizens see. It was certainly not the person whom his wife described to them last night. And it’s sad. Those who instinctively reject not just Obama’s policies — which are of course subject to fierce and honest debate — but Obama as an American are in fact alienating themselves from their own country. They are defining themselves out of its mainstream, and by doing so they lose what they are trying so passionately to retain.
– Jay Bookman
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876 comments Add your comment
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 5th, 2012
10:15 am
I’ll try to channel some progressive compassion.
.
The poor roughly only 10% of Americans who listen to the siren call of government/statism and naively vote for the frauds of the Washington party………………………………………………………………………………..do NOT deserve what they or their children will get.
.
Sad.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:15 am
““. . .historians will marvel that the first black person elected to the White House was elected just seven years after the attacks of 2011, and that he was named Barack Hussein Obama.”
he was elected in 2018??
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
10:16 am
b-troll
September 5th, 2012
10:10 am
I doubt any “True Republican” watched the first day of the DNC. They would rather not take the chance to learn something, but would rather be told what to think.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 5th, 2012
10:16 am
Checking out…please feel free to debase my fair name in my absence:-)
southpaw
September 5th, 2012
10:16 am
Jay @9:32
Do you figure it was right for W to get in with his relatively low score? Didn’t think so. Then…I guess that two wrongs DO make a right after all.
Bernie
September 5th, 2012
10:17 am
Doggone/GA @ – 10:04 am: Are You aware of really what you are trying to IMPLY with your remarks? Do you NOT realize that the MAJORITY of the foodstamp recipients are SINGLE WHITE FEMALES Named Cindy, Beck and LINDA. who have 2.5 children with names like Junior,Jim Bob, Newt,Paul, and Rick, krissy, sandra, erin, amand and little Becky?
Their Eyes are mostly Blue and brown. Their hair too is mostly Blonde,Brown & Black.
These Women are typically healthy, working in low paying jobs, without benefits for themselves or their children. They work very long hours every week for almost nothing. Now tell me again, how wrong it is for a Nation as wealthy as the UNITED STATES OF AMERIICA should not be willing to help provide even the most basic assistance to these Citizens.
Especially when it is the DADS, Who is mostly WHITE MALES, who have failed in their responsibility in taking care of these same individuals. By not paying current monthly and past DUE child support payments and alimony for their care. so please
let us hear your opinion on that!
Its a good thing this Black Man in the White house is FAR too willing to DO what most WHITE MALES even here Will not. THEIR JOB, AS A PARENT!
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:18 am
““a bunch of faux outrage”? Tell that to some schmuck who has been out of work for the last year or two. Tell that to some conscientious black male about 28 without a HS education who is trying to find a job. ”
tell that to the corporations that are sitting on record profits
tell that to the CEOs that are making record salaries while holding their underlings’ salaries the same
kayaker 71
September 5th, 2012
10:18 am
getalife, 10:14,
“I think she should run like Hillary after her husband’s second term.” BWhahahahahahahahahah.
NoBodyYouKnow
September 5th, 2012
10:19 am
Every time a negative comment is made about the President you always get “prove it” or “how so”? All I can go by my friends is my own personal experiance in the area I live in and what my friends and relatives are experianceing. I have a nephew (a college grad) that was laid off from his job 2 and 1/2 years ago. His roomate was laid off over 1 year ago. Both have been doing resumes and job applications daily. As of today 9-5 neither have found work. I have a son who has always done construction work. Can drive heavy equipment, No construction is going on. Been doing odd jobs for over a year. Can’t find anything steady. Which brings me to a policy decision made during the Bush administration by Mr. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. Both Democrats, They both pushed strongly for the mortage people to accept loan applications from people who had negative credit. They meant well, however most of these new homeowners never made one house payment. Mr. Frank and Mr. Dodd believed everyone should own a home. As a result of that thousands of home loans went under. And Fanny May, and Freddy Mac, went BROKE. And guess who’s left holding the bag? YOU AND ME. And yes G. “cowboy” Bush went along with it too.. I’m no fan of his. I stated in a comment last week I thought Romney would be better choce in this election. Then I get HOW SO? He’s a business man, been very sucessful, his running mate has a degree in economics. Yea, he’s a rich man, so was F.D.R. so was J.F.K. Hell they’re all rich. Both parties.Then you hear Romney is Morman, what will the morman church tell him to do? Most don’t remember when J.F. K. was running. I do. Then it was “He’s a Catholic” “whatever that POPE tells him to do He’s gonna do”. I voted for J.F.K.. And still beleive he would have been a great president if he’d have lived longer. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat. Democrat or Republican we better wise up and vote for the best educated, experianced, person. Forget race, gender, party, how nice looking they are. Mr. Obama is clean cut, has a beautiful wife and children. Makes a great speech. But thats it. I’m going for Romney.
Proud to be me
September 5th, 2012
10:19 am
Michele spoke of how her father took out “loans” so that she could get a college education, but when
Romney suggested that college students borrow money from their parents to start a business . . . the leftist media scoffed at that and ridiculed Romney for having said that (as well as that San Antonio Mayer)! And, the difference would be . . . ? — I’m, of course, assuming that Michele’s dad repaid the loan; don’t know how many sons/daughters would repay their parents.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:19 am
“please feel free to debase my fair name in my absence”
you need to see the Tao of Steve … one cannot debase the name Steve – all things cool are named Steve
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:20 am
@Proud to be me
September 5th, 2012
10:09 am
Certainly if Michele says it (or Obama) it must be true! NOT!!!!
*************************************************************************************
I am proud to be ME.
I am not naive, stupid, uneducated or delusional.
What would make you think that we would fall for anything?
We did not just fall off of the watermelon truck.
Give us a break.
Give hate a break.
Ain’t you tired Proud?
yuzeyurbrane
September 5th, 2012
10:20 am
Jay, of course you are on target again. It is interesting how some of your posters recite the allegations re Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick in rote detail as if that event occurred last week even though it was over 40 years ago and the object of their hatred is dead. Kind of ads an exclamation point to your article.
nelson
September 5th, 2012
10:21 am
HOT NEWS- Home prices not rebounding, still static.
HOT NEWS- Manufacturing another headache for the United States economy .
HOT NEWS- The national deficit tops $16, 000,000,000,000. The deficit is taking on a life of its own unable to be reigned in.
Glen
September 5th, 2012
10:21 am
I was going to intelligently comment, but after reading all the posts, I find they are doing the same thing the other side is being accused of…………..hate rhetoric…………..not many intelligent comments there……
ragnar danneskjold
September 5th, 2012
10:23 am
The party of “all talk” delivers words. Sure, that will help the 8% unemployment rate.
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
10:23 am
2016 Under Obama
-$21 Trillion in Debt
-8.0+ Unemployment for 8 years straight
-50+ Million on Food Stamps
-$4-5 gas prices
-Housing prices still flat
-Israel possibly gone and Egypt/Iran/Syria running the Middle East
- Increased taxes
-Increased insurance premiums and diminished quality from Obamacare (my premiums went up 8% this year)
-Obama telling me “I didn’t work my butt off and build what I have for the past 23 years”
-Obama telling me “I can come along for the ride but I’ll have to sit in the back seat”
Good times…
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:24 am
I think our President will get a seven point bounce and will maintain this lead and win again.
The gop can’t even come up with an original line and plagiarized reagan..
Listen closely to our President’s speech because he will lay out his second term.
MoreRightthanLeft
September 5th, 2012
10:24 am
my two takes on last night besides michelle looking yummy
“we all belong to the goverment”, says the democratic delegate…
and “government spending is what made america great!!!”
wait! is that what libs believe?
government belongs to us…
and why are libs recognized as a group and not individuals.
Joe The Plumber Too
September 5th, 2012
10:25 am
awww poor barry……..the rock star ex cocaine abuser couldn’t sell out the stadium in Charlotte, his horse and pony show (no, I’m not talking about me-shell) has been moved to a smaller arena. That’s the problem with washed up, one hit wonder, has-beens. Even his groupies have moved on. Poor little barry, hopefully he finds a Holiday Inn that will book him for his concession speech.
DebbieDoRight - A DoRight Woman
September 5th, 2012
10:25 am
President can fix the world problems in 4 yrs when it took Bush to create the mess in 8 yrs
Wisconsin — this reminds me of (dare i say it?) the year the Packers hired Ray Rhoades to take over as head coach. He lasted exactly one year before they fired him. Was his win/loss ratio worse than the person before him? Nope. Was his win/loss ration worse than the person AFTER him? Nope.
IMO I think they wanted Ray to turn the Packers around in one year — for some reason there are people in the U.S. who expect a black person to come in and make an IMMEDIATE change/improvement. If that doesn’t happen, then they are obviously UNFIT or unqualified for the job.
The cons always want to talk about business acumen. What president, VP, etc. of a company could come in and make an immediate impact in a company that’s been floundering for years? It took IBM 10 years to get back its prominence and Apple about the same amount of time too. It took Coke at least 5 years to regain it’s share of the market; but Obama, a black/white man (for you cons, you know you love it!); is supposed to do something that even Warren Buffet could not have done in the allotted time that cons have given.
Amazing.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:25 am
“Obama telling me “I didn’t work my butt off and build what I have for the past 23 years”
-Obama telling me “I can come along for the ride but I’ll have to sit in the back seat””
yes. that’s EXACTLY what he said.
not.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:25 am
Glen,
Ignore the cons and opine on the facts.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:26 am
@Rightwing Troll
September 5th, 2012
10:13 am
“Trying to put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig.”
HE CALLED THE FIRST LADY A PIG!!!!!
**************************************************************************************
Shocked?
The devil continuously WHISPERS MEANNESS in the ear of the CONS.
Shocked?
Noooooo.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:27 am
” and “government spending is what made america great!!!”
sweet jeebus, you guys actually believe she said that, don’t you.
unbelievable.
jtmcnsltng
September 5th, 2012
10:27 am
Stevie Ray @10:15
Do you have any statistics on how many people are reentering the insurance pool after losing coverage for whatever reason?
jarvis
September 5th, 2012
10:28 am
Any fool listening to a political convention speech as a reason to vote for a person is sorely misguided.
It’s pandering. The GOP pandering to it’s conservative self-help crowd, and the Democrats pandering to its broke voting populus.
Glen
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
One more thing, Bookman, you are so obviously bias against the Republicans, it’s embarassing………I looked at your past blogs, and so slanted…………there was a glowing rendition of how awesome Michelle Obama was (and it was a good speech), but no mention of Romney’s wife’s great speech, or Condileeza Rice’s great speech, which was delivered without a teleprompter and she wrote herself……..etc……….the bias from the media is another reason why many Americans don’t trust y’all any more than we do Congress…………
Welcome to the Occupation
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
They are defining themselves out of its mainstream, and by doing so they lose what they are trying so passionately to retain
I agree with the general interpretation of the significance of Obama’s election and his life story, but I completely disagree with this interpretation of the “mainstream”. What has radically changed the mainstream is the rise of the Tea Party, its complete stranglehold over one of the two major parties, and the fact that the other party currently has no will or ability to really counter the agenda, not to mention the radical tactics, of this radicalized GOP. Therefore the entire political ’spectrum’ gets dragged to the right, ‘mainstream’ and all.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
“Obama telling me “I didn’t work my butt off and build what I have for the past 23 years”
-Obama telling me “I can come along for the ride but I’ll have to sit in the back seat””
****************************************************************************
If CONS would stop telling lies about Obama,
LIBERALS will stop telling the truth about CONS.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
Boy, this much slobbering for Michelle. Do we need a shop vac for Clinton and sump pump for Obummer to get the slobbering off this site?
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:29 am
We are at the point when responding to con lies is a waste of time.
They are not living on the same planet.
Not even close to reality.
We will run them over then keep dragging them into the 21 st century and keep moving forward not back.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
10:30 am
Bookman. Bias? Show me.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:30 am
“Boy, this much slobbering for Michelle. Do we need a shop vac for Clinton and sump pump for Obummer to get the slobbering off this site?”
jealous much??? because I didn’t hear that kind of resonance from ANY of the GOP speakers.
jarvis
September 5th, 2012
10:31 am
@getalife, listen to his 2008 speech and let me know how well it laid out his agenda?
Not even similar.
SRB
September 5th, 2012
10:31 am
Nice straw man to throw up there with “some conservatives.” The extreme of the right always seems to be under a microscope but what about the other extreme liberal side? Seldom do you hear about “some liberals” and their ideas. There are extreme elements on both sides and I doubt any Republican or Democrat agrees with every single position on the plank. You and the media concentrate on absolutely moronic comments by Akin and link that to all Republicans. It is a fair question to ask of other Republicans but not continuously and drag it out.
Glen
September 5th, 2012
10:31 am
GETALIFE,,,,,,I would opine on the facts if there were any real unbiased facts on this blog……..not a political lovefest…
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
10:32 am
Obama told one truth in 08……” please join me why we transform America”
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
“If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else.”
- Barack Obama, Roanoke, VA, July 13th.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:33 am
I think all Americans reading this blog should opine on her speech last night.
Just give your honest opinion without lying or insulting like the cons.
I am listening.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
10:34 am
thug writes they didn’t hear gushing over GOP convention speech’s…… And that shocks me about BSNBC………..
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:34 am
Never mind glen.
MoreRightthanLeft
September 5th, 2012
10:35 am
no thug..the president said it..cnsnews.com april 25 , 2011…
keep believing he is his brothers keeper…Obama can spend money as long as its not his and his blantant attempt to get the moron vote is stinking up the place
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:35 am
jarvis,
I did and yes he did.
Mary Elizabeth
September 5th, 2012
10:36 am
“Mr. Obama is clean cut, has a beautiful wife and children. Makes a great speech. But thats it. I’m going for Romney.”
====================================================
You mention your family’s inability to find jobs and the hardships that they have endured over the last few years, and thus you are going to vote for Romney. What is sad is that you do not recognize that you will be voting for the same policies which created your family’s hardships to start with.
The Great Depression began in 1929. It took over a decade for America to pull out of that Depression. This nation had a nearly total financial collapse, the Great Recession, in 2008, and it is a minor miracle that America has recovered as quickly as it has from that disaster, in 3 and 1/2 years. Yet, you would vote for the same party that was in power when this Great Recession occurred? Do you not see that current Republican policies are not conducive to middle class strength and viability in our nation? President Obama’s policies have created more than 5 million private sector jobs in 29 weeks, and that number is more than the total number of jobs created during the previous eight years of the Bush administration. We must not fall victim to propaganda and short-sightedness and, thus, vote a Republican ticket – which will only return America to those policies that nearly crashed this economy to start with.
Gordon
September 5th, 2012
10:37 am
“Last night, Michelle Obama delivered what by many accounts was the best speech not just of the opening night of the Democratic Convention but of either convention to date. ”
LOL. Nothing but a lot of emotion (”mom-in-chief”, blah blah blah). Absolutely no substance. It is sad that one emotional rant can make people forget about a horrible record. Our debt climbs past $16 Trillion and Obama is doing nothing about it. But hey, he used to drive a rusty car and he’s just like me. Truly pathetic.
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
10:37 am
“They (Republicans) can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back.”
- Barack Obama, October 25, 2010, RI Convention Center
Ronald Reagan Parkway
September 5th, 2012
10:38 am
Michelle Obama for Congress!! After President Obama finishes his second term of course!! Loved the dress and read that it cost in the price range of $250-$500. Big difference in what Ann Romney paid for hers ($1,900). Which woman is more in touch with the “middle class”?
Bernie
September 5th, 2012
10:39 am
Joe The Plumber Too @ 10:25 am – One thing for sure we know that W. was far more bigger abuser of DRUGS and Alcohol than President Obama.
Prior to arriving in Washington that was George’s FULL time JOB for Years! You could see it in all of his speeches,interviews and decisions over an 8year period.
Just go and gander in your search engine…George Bush quotes. You will fall on the floor in Laughter, shock, shame and asking of your self how could we have let such a Man in the White House. An idiot and a FOOL!
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:39 am
Looks like her great speech caused our cons to lose it again.
I just love to read that.
Thanks cons.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:40 am
“thug writes they didn’t hear gushing over GOP convention speech’s…… And that shocks me about BSNBC………..”
I didn’t hear ANYone – even your fellow republicans – gushing me about the GOP speeches.
Rightwing Troll
September 5th, 2012
10:40 am
“r…Obama can spend money as long as its not his and his blantant attempt to get the moron vote is stinking up the place”
Silly Pants… Everybody knows the “moron vote” is in the bag for Romney, Obama’s going after the free thinking undecideds…
skydog
September 5th, 2012
10:41 am
Even the best performers have good nights and bad nights.
Good nights are when the audience and performer are feeding off of one another and the performance rises to something bigger than the sum of it`s parts.
The Allman Brothers call this phenomenon “Hitting the Note”
Michelle “Hit the Note” last night.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:41 am
Steve Shamrock: “If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business. you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. “
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
10:41 am
BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN…
Bill Clinton was spotted walking hand in hand with Sandra Fluke down a hotel hallway…it is also reported there was a strong odor of cigar smoke.
Rightwing Troll
September 5th, 2012
10:41 am
GOP convention = reaching out to “real americans”.
Dem convention = reaching out to everybody.
anon1
September 5th, 2012
10:42 am
Vote for Romney/Ryan and send our troops to Iran. Sorry, but that’s the way Repubs stimulate the economy.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:42 am
@Joe The Plumber Too
September 5th, 2012
10:25 am
awww poor barry……..the rock star ex cocaine abuser couldn’t sell out the stadium in Charlotte, his horse and pony show (no, I’m not talking about me-shell) has been moved to a smaller arena. That’s the problem with washed up, one hit wonder, has-beens. Even his groupies have moved on. Poor little barry, hopefully he finds a Holiday Inn that will book him for his concession speech.
********************************************************************
JOE – “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
JOE – “The LORD rebuke you, Satan!
The bible promises:
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die.
Verbal Kint
September 5th, 2012
10:43 am
Before we return to our regularly scheduled program of “we all belong to government” convention, a few words from our sponsors:
• Median incomes: These have fallen 7.3% since Obama took office, which translates into an average of $4,000. Since the so-called recovery started, median incomes continued to fall, dropping $2,544, or 4.8%.
• Long-term unemployed: More than three years into Obama’s recovery, 811,000 more still fall into this category than when the recession ended.
• Poverty: The poverty rate climbed to 15.1% in 2010, up from 14.3% in 2009, and economists think it may have hit 15.7% last year, highest since the 1960s.
• Food stamps: There are 11.8 million more people on food stamps since Obama’s recovery started.
• Disability: More than 1 million workers have been added to Social Security’s disability program in the last three years.
• Gas prices: A gallon of gas cost $1.89 when Obama was sworn in. By June 2009, the price was $2.70. Today, it’s $3.84.
• Misery Index: When Obama took office, the combination of unemployment and inflation stood at 7.83. Today it’s 9.71.
• Union membership: Even unions are worse off under Obama, with membership dropping half a million between 2009 and 2011.
• Debt: Everyone is far worse off if you just look at the national debt. It has climbed more than $5 trillion under Obama, crossing $16 trillion for the first time on Tuesday and driving the U.S. credit rating down.
MoreRightthanLeft
September 5th, 2012
10:44 am
getalife..
it was inspriring but so was Baracks 100+ speeches , but they wear off when you dont see results..i think the larger population are more frustrated with politics amd politicians and when you add the media bias…its gets ugly…if you read or listen to both sides in media..its no wonder we are divisive… if i were to point fingers..it would be the media…which side is truthful and how much gray area do we swallow..my honest opinion.. i dont hate barack..i totally disagree with his policies, they arent working , man up and make changes..tell me why , when you have a failing economy and your making it worse you deserve another term…explain without using the word Bush…bc after i hear another blaming excuse..i turn off…I bult my career and i take responsiblity for the good and bad..i owned two companies and got wiped out 2007-2009…started bver without assistance and im still standing
Lord Help Us
September 5th, 2012
10:44 am
Not mentioned in the comments I have seen was the full embrace and examples of the ACA…
Lots of speakers last night giving Obama the praise he deserves for this legislation. IMHO, the ACA will become one of the foundations of Obama’s message between now and the election.
Misty Fyed
September 5th, 2012
10:44 am
I think Jay needs a cigarette after writing that article.
Gordon
September 5th, 2012
10:44 am
“I didn’t hear ANYone – even your fellow republicans – gushing me about the GOP speeches.”
That’s because we recognize speeches for what they are: speeches. They are just talk. I don’t vote for people based on what they say, but on what they do. Obama has a record now, but we’re supposed to ignore that and vote for him because of speeches? I’m sure tomorrow night will be full of soaring rhetoric just like 4 years ago. It’s just talk.
Marietta Al
September 5th, 2012
10:45 am
Why do Democrats care so much about what other people make and how they do in life? Being rich or poor is always the topic of discussion with Dems including the ongoing theme last night. That is the main point that I took objection to that Michelle was saying. She claims that “they (dems)” believe in hard work and success…is that really true, I think not. Worry about yourself, not those around you. Do not covet thy neighbor, please!!
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
“no thug..the president said it..cnsnews.com april 25 , 2011…”
then I’m sure you’ll have NO PROBLEM linking to the EXACT quote
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Gordon
September 5th, 2012
10:37 am
OK Gordon, I’ll ask you too. What exactly can President Obama do about the deficit without the help of Congress? Will someone please answer?
Misty Fyed
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Conservatives refuse to accept change? So I guess if Romney wins this year…you democrats will embrace the change and get on board with his policies…..right..
southpaw
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
WLOFL @10:29
I told you this before, when your initials started with I R S, but apparently I need to repeat it.
You have to start telling the truth before you can stop.
kimmer
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Hmmm FLOTUS @ 10:04. The one party won’t talk about one man’s personal finances and the other won’t mention the entire nation’s finances. Oh yeah that sounds reasonable.
Oh, and that man who you say will help and include everyone has had four years to help and include and has laid a giant goose egg.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
cons heads exploding is a major mess.
Love it.
Four more years!
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:48 am
“That’s because we recognize speeches for what they are: speeches. ”
yeah. you’re SO ABOVE that. yet, you’re all about Reagan.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:48 am
@Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
10:41 am
BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN…
Bill Clinton was spotted walking hand in hand with Sandra Fluke down a hotel hallway…it is also reported there was a strong odor of cigar smoke.
**************************************************************
Sham Rock…….
Very Apropos……
Mark T
September 5th, 2012
10:48 am
NEWS UPDATE!!! Another 2.6 million people slipped into poverty in the United States last year, the U.S. Census Bureau recently reported, and the number of Americans living below the official poverty line, 46.2 million people, was the highest number in the 52 years the bureau has been publishing figures on it. Minorities were hit hardest. Blacks experienced the highest poverty rate, at 27 percent, up from 25 percent in 2009, and Hispanics rose to 26 percent from 25 percent. For whites, 9.9 percent lived in poverty, up from 9.4 percent in 2009. Asians were unchanged at 12.1 percent.
But yet were somehow better off than we were 4 years ago
Ohio's Ted Strickland
September 5th, 2012
10:48 am
“Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport” .
Misty Fyed
September 5th, 2012
10:49 am
Sure Normal…It’s called leadership…He brings the heads of both houses to the Whitehouse and demands they balance the budget…He goes on television and appeals to the voters to call their congressmen and demand a balanced budget……so far no such leadership
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:49 am
cons blame our President for the gop congress failures and never hold their party accountable.
What good are you cons?
Peter
September 5th, 2012
10:50 am
Yes, those previously uninsured are much less healthy that the opposite and need attention…
WOW that is a big assuming statement…… But hey we all have our opinion.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:51 am
@kimmer
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Hmmm FLOTUS @ 10:04. The one party won’t talk about one man’s personal finances and the other won’t mention the entire nation’s finances. Oh yeah that sounds reasonable.
Oh, and that man who you say will help and include everyone has had four years to help and include and has laid a giant goose egg.
*************************************************************************
It TOOK Bush 8 years to destroy this country.
YOU expect Obama to FIX it in 4 years.
That’s NOT reasonable.
Give us a break.
Jack
September 5th, 2012
10:51 am
Perhaps Michelle should be on the ticket instead of Barry. If she was elected, Barry could be proud of America. And was wondering if Michelle could absolutely shut out all the anti-American venom she heard in Wright’s church for 20 years. Everything you hear coming from the Obamas is sugar coated Hollywood rhetoric and written by speech writers who could care less what happens to this country. Bookman’s “thesis” is the result of a preconceived bias.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:52 am
What have you done for your country to compare to the
Obamas cons?
You don’t even act like Americans.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
10:52 am
Misty Fyed
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Conservatives refuse to accept change? So I guess if Romney wins this year…you democrats will embrace the change and get on board with his policies…..right..
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s just stupid. If Romney wins there will be no “change.” We’ll just revert backwards to the same policies that nearly destroyed our Country 4 years ago.
Given his background, Romney IS the perfect man to over see the completion of the destruction of America. He’s experienced in dismantling businesses, sending the jobs over seas, and then pocketing the profits. He can have us down to a nation of serf farmers tilling foreign owed land that used to be American owned in record time. He won;t need 2 terms, he’ll fire sell America in one.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:54 am
If you hate you country cons and want to destroy her again, self deport.
Leave.
Good riddance.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 5th, 2012
10:55 am
““Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport”
not to mention his boat
good thing his wifey made such a point of saying that they only vacation here in the states …
mmmhmmmmm
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 5th, 2012
10:55 am
AS I remember it last week…..we were much kinder to Mrs. Romney.
Mary Elizabeth
September 5th, 2012
10:56 am
President Obama’s policies have created more than 5 million private sector jobs in 29 weeks, and that number is more than the total number of jobs created during the previous eight years of the Bush administration. We must not fall victim to propaganda and short-sightedness and, thus, vote a Republican ticket – which will only return America to those policies that nearly crashed this economy to start with.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
10:56 am
congress failed to do the budget cons.
Hold them accountable and stop deflecting blame.
We Love Our First Lady - The FLOTUS with the Mostest
September 5th, 2012
10:57 am
@Misty Fyed
September 5th, 2012
10:47 am
Conservatives refuse to accept change? So I guess if Romney wins this year…you democrats will embrace the change and get on board with his policies…..right..
*******************************************************************************
“get on board with his policies…..right”
Will YOU get on board that SHIP when he sends his money offshore again?
RIGHT?
sail on….sail on….sail on ALONE
Joe The Plumber Too
September 5th, 2012
10:57 am
bernie……..who the h3ll was talking about Bush?
Flotus…….while little barry may be Jesus to you, he’s Judus to me.
Jm
September 5th, 2012
10:57 am
Oprah cried
kayaker 71
September 5th, 2012
10:58 am
Is Wright going to speak at the DNC convention? Just to prove how diverse the Democrats are they should have a race baiting, America hating black preacher come forth and teach us all about Black Liberation Theology and how that translates to loving your neighbor. Then they might invite that thug from the Black Panthers who wants to kill cracker babies and keep the evil Tea Party from the voting booth. Ah, diversity…… a wonderful thing.
stands for decibels
September 5th, 2012
10:58 am
Even those who disagree strongly with those political sentiments should be able to acknowledge that Obama and his wife are quintessentially, honestly American, and that Obama’s story reflects much of what is best about this nation.
Yeah, one would think such a thing, wouldn’t one.
MoreRightthanLeft
September 5th, 2012
10:58 am
Fred? right!!! we cons want exactly what we had in the past…bc all cons are rich…and hate grandma…and want to kill babies..and make the poor suffer more…and racist…yep you nailed us…Bsrack sent more jobs over seas and dimanlted more companies and families..and is a millionaire on a govt salary…next!!
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
10:59 am
Granny Godzilla – Union Thugette
September 5th, 2012
10:55 am
AS I remember it last week…..we were much kinder to Mrs. Romney.
++++++++++++++++++++
That’s because she is white. It makes the cons here feel real big and tough to call the first Lady Moochele.
getalife
September 5th, 2012
11:00 am
You cons should start acting like Americans before any American listens to your lies and insults.
Not happening here cons.
Try Kyle’s blog.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
September 5th, 2012
11:00 am
Bookman. Bias? Show me.
When did he say he is not biased ?
Wingfield is biased too. Bookman is a liberal columnist.
Yes he is biased.
What is your point ?
stands for decibels
September 5th, 2012
11:00 am
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this yet, but Cynthia Tucker fans can get their fix over at cnn.com, where she’s posted a nice (and complementary-to-Jay’s) piece on the First Lady, as well.
a taste…
This was red meat served up in a bed of lovely salad greens from Obama’s garden. Who could argue that wasn’t a fitting entree from a First Lady?
/drive-by
Beyond the left-wing gush
September 5th, 2012
11:00 am
CHARLOTTE, September 5, 2012 – Tuesday night was the second night of the 2012 Democratic Convention from Charlotte. Some will insist that it was the first night, but this is false. The first night of the convention was canceled under a hail of ineptitude and failed fundraising.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/2012-democratic-national-convention-tampa/2012/sep/5/julian-fidel-castro-michelle-seinfeld-obama/
stands for decibels
September 5th, 2012
11:02 am
oh, one other thing:
Is Wright going to speak at the DNC convention?
You guys had your chance to gin up poutrage about Obama’s church 4 years ago, and you couldn’t manage it.
but by all means, do keep on trying. It makes you look so special.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
11:02 am
MoreRightthanLeft
September 5th, 2012
10:58 am
Fred? right!!! we cons want exactly what we had in the past…bc all cons are rich…and hate grandma…and want to kill babies..and make the poor suffer more…and racist…yep you nailed us…Bsrack sent more jobs over seas and dimanlted more companies and families..and is a millionaire on a govt salary…next!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Can you translate that into English that real people can read please? I’m sure you have a point in there but I was unable to decipher that mess.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
September 5th, 2012
11:02 am
Is Wright going to speak at the DNC convention?
We will have him on when the Pat Robertson speaks at the Republican one.
“I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that’s the way it is, period.” –Pat Robertson