Some things are worth traveling for- a Super Target, a sister's birthday, and the chance to speak to Michelle Obama. As of today, we've traveled for all three.
We went to Carroll, Iowa to see Mrs. Obama speak to a capacity-plus crowd at Coffee World coffee shop. If you've never been to Carroll, it's about two hours west of Des Moines on the way to, well, nowhere in particular.
In her speech to the crowd, she said she thought the American people want what her dad had when she was growing up- a good-enough job, the chance to send their kids to college, the security of a dignified retirement and the knowledge that if somebody in the family got sick, they would not be in danger of declaring bankruptcy. It's not a lot, she said, but the security of a life like that is slipping away from too many people.
She didn't take questions from the crowd, but she did speak with CJP about how she thinks women's lives would be different in an Obama administration.
I have enjoyed the interview with Michelle Obama. I do admire her as an accomplished individual and a strong woman. However, I was surprised to hear at least one thing, which seemed to be not exactly coinciding with what I have read even on wikipedia (which i would count to be an unbiased source).
-for example, “we have just paid out our student loans”, now referring to wikipedia:
“Applying the proceeds of a $2 million book deal, the family paid off debts in 2005 and moved from a Hyde Park, Chicago condominium to their current $1.6-million house in neighboring Kenwood.[118]”
(see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama)
Sure, it was not a long time ago, but 3 years ago is not exactly “just now.”Also Hyde Park neighborhood is not exactly the worst neighborhood of Chicago, if we just keep things straight.
I am also a bit saddened with the statement of “no you can’t have it all”, coming from someone who is so accomplished in her career. Yes, it is tough for women, and I agree that there is often a lot of adequate social services missing and maybe a problem with general attitudes towards women. However, what women have to know exactly is that they can have it all, but it would be easier if we had better formulated daycare, etc.
That same detail caught my ear during the interview. I’ve seen Mrs. Obama speak many times and she has always been very open in saying they paid their loans off thanks to the proceeds of the book. She actually said that a few minutes before this interview during her speech to a group of voters. I took the discrepancy as a function of fatigue after months of telling the story, not so much as an effort to cloud the issue.
Even if they paid off their loans 3 years ago…. when was the last time Clinton had a student loan to pay? I think she was trying to get the point across that they are real people living real lives compared to the other canidates, so they are closer to the compassion of what “REAL” is all about.
I know of a lot of a lot of women who are single moms but are that way because they keep having children out of wedlock. I do not think it is the governments responsiblility (which in turn makes it my responsibility) to make sure she “can eat her vegetables”. There comes a time when one needs to take responsibilty for ones own actions.
I do not know what the answer is for the children who suffer because of this.
Michelle and Barack Obama associate with some very questionable characters, namely Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers, Rezko and Auchi, known anti-semites, anti-American, racists, terrorists, and criminals. And it is this that brings their own character into question. Obama cannot TODAY denounce his pastor, after believing in him enough to attend his church for TWENTY YEARS! He is arrogant enough to believe that we will believe him when he says he never heard his pastor’s inflammatory remarks. His WIFE must have heard them , however, as evidenced by her statement,”This is the first time I have been proud of my country!” One only needs to see the tapes of what goes on in that church to know that Obama must have been greatly influenced by this man, Wright, who inspired Obama’s book, by his own acknowledgement! He can attempt to denounce, then hide away all these people until the nomination, but he cannot hide from his past, and he cannot hide from the truth! Americans will not be fooled by it!!!
What Americans should not be fooled by,Susan,is the notion that those who speak out passionately about the centuries of social injustice in our country dating back to its origin are racists or anti-American. Was not the country founded on racism? Did not the U.S. expand by the institution of slavery? These are some of the points of Jerimiah Wright’s messages (Obama family pastor) and many other ‘controversial’ leaders of the African- American community. These are some of the points of many American leaders’ messages -African- American or otherwise - who are aware of and truthfully acknowledge the negative aspects of U.S. History 101 in addition to the ’stars and stripes forever’ themes of democracy. By the way, in a democracy, all viewpoints may be considered in a public forum, whether we agree with them or not.
Yes dear, this is the first time *many* Americans have been proud of their country - not just Michelle Obama - me included. Eventually, we as a nation, shall overcome. But first, we must accept the whole truth of the past, not just the parts we are comfortable with.
What is troubling about Ms Obama’s comments re: “….the first time in my adult life I have been proud to be an American” comment, is the idea that only her husband has been worthy of her respect and pride. No one prior to him. We have had many American heroes, but only he rises to the level of warranting her “pride”. If that comment doesn’t smack of racism, none will. Addtionally, if this is the first time you have been proud of your country, simply because a black man is running and may win, I am further chagrined. Those are far more telling comments than most realize. As for me, I am proud of my country for saving the world from tyranny in WWII. I am proud of my country because the USA is the first in the world to respond to cruel dictatorships, rampant starvation and world catastrophes. And not just with eloquent words but with our money. And not just because white America helps, but because all of America helps.
Also, America was not founded on slavery. America was founded by a primarily Christian Caucasion people looking for religious freedom. And they sacrificed all to get it. They did not ask for it to be handed to them on a platter. What they asked was of themselves. They took on the responisiblity at great losses but they perservered. Some groups want all handed to them, on the backs of everyone else. If you deny that, hit the history books again. Racism is far from going away, and people such as Rev Wright fan it and fan it to their own profit and gain. It is an American right to “speak out passionately”, but with that goes the responsiblity to speak out truthfully.
a lot of people have this misconception that democrates will not go republican if obama wins, well to all those so called analyst on cnn, msnbc and that flavia colgan on larry king live here is a news flash, reasons why
1- obama is a man who took his daughters to church to listen to a minister who preached hatred and bigotry.
2- he only disowned his minister after he called him a politician and told the truth about him.
3- he is suppose to be a candidate of change and one who unites but he refused to help with florida and michigan being counted, because he knew that he will lose.
4- his wife michelle obama has no respect for this country and yet expects to be first lady.
5- if i need inspiration i will go to my church not to a presidential candidate.
if people find nothing wrong with all of the above then this country is really easily taken in.
Let’s look to successful people and countries for answers.
In China if an unmarried woman has a baby, she is given an abortion, if she gets pregnant a second time, she is sterilized. In China, only 1 baby per married couple was allowed. This is called family planning and it worked in China. If you can not afford to feed a baby and clothe it, house it, nurture it, educate it, provide for it for 18 years you are given an abortion by the government. Men who run out on thier family and refuse to pay child support are taxed automatically via thier job, unemployment checks, thier drivers licences and SSN.
In Italy, Canada, Scandinavia and UK there is socialized medicine for all and social welfare for all. Children born into those countries are loved and wanted and cared for by thier parents, and wanted loved well provided for children grow up to be productive healthy intelligent citizens. To stop puppy mill breeding abuse by women, forced abortions, family planning limits, ie., 2 or 3 children per woman after passing a planned parenthood ability to provide test, would be similar to Chinas population control programs.
Also in advanced countries abortions are given free to women. No women are forced by poverty and rape to breed children they can not feed. Education is free for all, affordable housing is built and is available, and large living garishly wealthy GREEDY people are scorned by all and taxed at 50% BY ADVANCED GOVERNMENTS. Alcohol makers and dealers are taxed at 200% negative impact fee, to pay for all the car crash victims and violent crime victims alcohol creates. These are just some of the plans successful governments have implemented. Individuals like Bill Gates reported women must be economically and administrativly empowered in health care and politics, because as Gates task force discovered, men misappropriate kids lunch money, rob the elderly and rob the poor and men spread stds. Bill Gates committe on Global Health Care 2003/2004, found in countries where men rule 98 to 100% of the population has deadly stds. In countries where women rule, the std rate is as low as zero. This suggests a need to create morality by law, in Morroco if you committ adultery and cheat on your spouse you go to jail for 6 years, male or female. There are a few cures, not bandages. America needs std/aids education and a moral compass to heal and advance. Without a moral compass/health std aids/ blood education and chastity, USA citizens will die of stds and aids like Africans are dying of stds and aids. African women are routinely raped by aids/std infected men and forced to breed children with aids that strave and die. That is what happens when chastity health laws are not obeyed by men and women. Chastity is not a moral issue, it is a health care and law issue.
Michelle Obama is very charismatic just like her husband and it is the reason why i like her. I also feel that she could connect with people more easily than any other first ladies.
Some things are worth traveling for- a Super Target, a sister's birthday, and the chance to speak to Michelle Obama. As of today, we've traveled for all three.
We went to Carroll, Iowa to see Mrs. Obama speak to a capacity-plus crowd at Coffee World coffee shop. If you've never been to Carroll, it's about two hours west of Des Moines on the way to, well, nowhere in particular.
In her speech to the crowd, she said she thought the American people want what her dad had when she was growing up- a good-enough job, the chance to send their kids to college, the security of a dignified retirement and the knowledge that if somebody in the family got sick, they would not be in danger of declaring bankruptcy. It's not a lot, she said, but the security of a life like that is slipping away from too many people.
She didn't take questions from the crowd, but she did speak with CJP about how she thinks women's lives would be different in an Obama administration.
January 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I have enjoyed the interview with Michelle Obama. I do admire her as an accomplished individual and a strong woman. However, I was surprised to hear at least one thing, which seemed to be not exactly coinciding with what I have read even on wikipedia (which i would count to be an unbiased source).
-for example, “we have just paid out our student loans”, now referring to wikipedia:
“Applying the proceeds of a $2 million book deal, the family paid off debts in 2005 and moved from a Hyde Park, Chicago condominium to their current $1.6-million house in neighboring Kenwood.[118]”
(see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama)
Sure, it was not a long time ago, but 3 years ago is not exactly “just now.”Also Hyde Park neighborhood is not exactly the worst neighborhood of Chicago, if we just keep things straight.
I am also a bit saddened with the statement of “no you can’t have it all”, coming from someone who is so accomplished in her career. Yes, it is tough for women, and I agree that there is often a lot of adequate social services missing and maybe a problem with general attitudes towards women. However, what women have to know exactly is that they can have it all, but it would be easier if we had better formulated daycare, etc.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Hi Nastia,
That same detail caught my ear during the interview. I’ve seen Mrs. Obama speak many times and she has always been very open in saying they paid their loans off thanks to the proceeds of the book. She actually said that a few minutes before this interview during her speech to a group of voters. I took the discrepancy as a function of fatigue after months of telling the story, not so much as an effort to cloud the issue.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Even if they paid off their loans 3 years ago…. when was the last time Clinton had a student loan to pay? I think she was trying to get the point across that they are real people living real lives compared to the other canidates, so they are closer to the compassion of what “REAL” is all about.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I know of a lot of a lot of women who are single moms but are that way because they keep having children out of wedlock. I do not think it is the governments responsiblility (which in turn makes it my responsibility) to make sure she “can eat her vegetables”. There comes a time when one needs to take responsibilty for ones own actions.
I do not know what the answer is for the children who suffer because of this.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Michelle and Barack Obama associate with some very questionable characters, namely Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers, Rezko and Auchi, known anti-semites, anti-American, racists, terrorists, and criminals. And it is this that brings their own character into question. Obama cannot TODAY denounce his pastor, after believing in him enough to attend his church for TWENTY YEARS! He is arrogant enough to believe that we will believe him when he says he never heard his pastor’s inflammatory remarks. His WIFE must have heard them , however, as evidenced by her statement,”This is the first time I have been proud of my country!” One only needs to see the tapes of what goes on in that church to know that Obama must have been greatly influenced by this man, Wright, who inspired Obama’s book, by his own acknowledgement! He can attempt to denounce, then hide away all these people until the nomination, but he cannot hide from his past, and he cannot hide from the truth! Americans will not be fooled by it!!!
March 16th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
What Americans should not be fooled by,Susan,is the notion that those who speak out passionately about the centuries of social injustice in our country dating back to its origin are racists or anti-American. Was not the country founded on racism? Did not the U.S. expand by the institution of slavery? These are some of the points of Jerimiah Wright’s messages (Obama family pastor) and many other ‘controversial’ leaders of the African- American community. These are some of the points of many American leaders’ messages -African- American or otherwise - who are aware of and truthfully acknowledge the negative aspects of U.S. History 101 in addition to the ’stars and stripes forever’ themes of democracy. By the way, in a democracy, all viewpoints may be considered in a public forum, whether we agree with them or not.
Yes dear, this is the first time *many* Americans have been proud of their country - not just Michelle Obama - me included. Eventually, we as a nation, shall overcome. But first, we must accept the whole truth of the past, not just the parts we are comfortable with.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
What is troubling about Ms Obama’s comments re: “….the first time in my adult life I have been proud to be an American” comment, is the idea that only her husband has been worthy of her respect and pride. No one prior to him. We have had many American heroes, but only he rises to the level of warranting her “pride”. If that comment doesn’t smack of racism, none will. Addtionally, if this is the first time you have been proud of your country, simply because a black man is running and may win, I am further chagrined. Those are far more telling comments than most realize. As for me, I am proud of my country for saving the world from tyranny in WWII. I am proud of my country because the USA is the first in the world to respond to cruel dictatorships, rampant starvation and world catastrophes. And not just with eloquent words but with our money. And not just because white America helps, but because all of America helps.
Also, America was not founded on slavery. America was founded by a primarily Christian Caucasion people looking for religious freedom. And they sacrificed all to get it. They did not ask for it to be handed to them on a platter. What they asked was of themselves. They took on the responisiblity at great losses but they perservered. Some groups want all handed to them, on the backs of everyone else. If you deny that, hit the history books again. Racism is far from going away, and people such as Rev Wright fan it and fan it to their own profit and gain. It is an American right to “speak out passionately”, but with that goes the responsiblity to speak out truthfully.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
a lot of people have this misconception that democrates will not go republican if obama wins, well to all those so called analyst on cnn, msnbc and that flavia colgan on larry king live here is a news flash, reasons why
1- obama is a man who took his daughters to church to listen to a minister who preached hatred and bigotry.
2- he only disowned his minister after he called him a politician and told the truth about him.
3- he is suppose to be a candidate of change and one who unites but he refused to help with florida and michigan being counted, because he knew that he will lose.
4- his wife michelle obama has no respect for this country and yet expects to be first lady.
5- if i need inspiration i will go to my church not to a presidential candidate.
if people find nothing wrong with all of the above then this country is really easily taken in.
October 4th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Shopping at Target? Still paying off student loans? How long has it been scenes either one of them has been in school? She thinks I am a fool!
November 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Let’s look to successful people and countries for answers.
In China if an unmarried woman has a baby, she is given an abortion, if she gets pregnant a second time, she is sterilized. In China, only 1 baby per married couple was allowed. This is called family planning and it worked in China. If you can not afford to feed a baby and clothe it, house it, nurture it, educate it, provide for it for 18 years you are given an abortion by the government. Men who run out on thier family and refuse to pay child support are taxed automatically via thier job, unemployment checks, thier drivers licences and SSN.
In Italy, Canada, Scandinavia and UK there is socialized medicine for all and social welfare for all. Children born into those countries are loved and wanted and cared for by thier parents, and wanted loved well provided for children grow up to be productive healthy intelligent citizens. To stop puppy mill breeding abuse by women, forced abortions, family planning limits, ie., 2 or 3 children per woman after passing a planned parenthood ability to provide test, would be similar to Chinas population control programs.
Also in advanced countries abortions are given free to women. No women are forced by poverty and rape to breed children they can not feed. Education is free for all, affordable housing is built and is available, and large living garishly wealthy GREEDY people are scorned by all and taxed at 50% BY ADVANCED GOVERNMENTS. Alcohol makers and dealers are taxed at 200% negative impact fee, to pay for all the car crash victims and violent crime victims alcohol creates. These are just some of the plans successful governments have implemented. Individuals like Bill Gates reported women must be economically and administrativly empowered in health care and politics, because as Gates task force discovered, men misappropriate kids lunch money, rob the elderly and rob the poor and men spread stds. Bill Gates committe on Global Health Care 2003/2004, found in countries where men rule 98 to 100% of the population has deadly stds. In countries where women rule, the std rate is as low as zero. This suggests a need to create morality by law, in Morroco if you committ adultery and cheat on your spouse you go to jail for 6 years, male or female. There are a few cures, not bandages. America needs std/aids education and a moral compass to heal and advance. Without a moral compass/health std aids/ blood education and chastity, USA citizens will die of stds and aids like Africans are dying of stds and aids. African women are routinely raped by aids/std infected men and forced to breed children with aids that strave and die. That is what happens when chastity health laws are not obeyed by men and women. Chastity is not a moral issue, it is a health care and law issue.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
i like Michelle Obama because she is more charismatic than the previous first lady.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Michelle Obama is very charismatic just like her husband and it is the reason why i like her. I also feel that she could connect with people more easily than any other first ladies.
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:31 am
I love Michelle Obama! She is so intelligent, graceful, stern when she needs to be and she has a wonderful sense of humor.