Michelle Obama: "For the First Time in My Adult Lifetime, I'm Really Proud of My Country"

Is there a difference in saying “ ....for the first time in my adult life , I am proud to be an American......” when compared to “....for the first time in my adult life ,I am REALLY PROUD to be an American.....” . TO BE REALLY PROUD does not diminish pride but adds value and distinction to pride. Michelle is really proud of America. Michelle did not diminish her pride for America. No. Michelle , like all true American's never said she was not proud of America. No. Michelle ,like all true American's IS REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA ,always has been from youth to adulthood. But then there was the realisation of the AMERICAN DREAM . THE DREAM BECAME POSSIBLE, AND NOW MICHELLE IS NOT JUST PROUD,No not just proud, but REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA. That is a great statement said by all people that love America and are proud of America and all patriots that love America and are really proud of America. That is like extra proud or more proud on top of proud. That’s okay. All her life she was proud but now she is REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA.
There are degrees of commitment. There are degrees of patriotism. There are degrees of pride. It is good for anyone to qualify their pride for America and distinguish “........REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA..” from “...proud of America........” .
MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD START “........... A REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA MOVEMENT.............” AND CORRECT THE MISCONCEPTION OF CERTAIN SOUNBITES PLAYED ON CERTAIN MEDIA CHANNELS.
We are only adults once. WE GROW UP , WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN WE SPOKE AS CHILDREN, BUT WHEN WE GROW UP , WE PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS ,LIKE PREJUDICE,LIKE FEAR MONGERING, LIKE PETTY SQUABBLES AND NIT PICKING ON PETTY ISSUES SUCH AS HE SAID SHE SAID HE SAID SHE SAID ETC ETC ETC .With adulthood ,comes maturity. Maturity to face reality ,make the right choices, and be “......... REALLY PROUD OF AMERICA.......”. Errol Smythe

While most of America was offened or at least surprised by Micelle Obama's remark of ....proud of my country, I was not. As a black woman, there has not been too manyy times that I have been pround of this country. Yes, I am glad I was born here but as a black person, I and others, have not really been considered 'Americans'. 9/11 was the first time, at least in my lifetime, that this country felt like 'one'- they attacked us! But that didn't last too long either. If you cannot understand her comment, try looking at it from the African-American point of view and then tell me if you are proud. Don't mention MLK or Malcom X, sure WE were proud of them but not the country. Think about it.

Obama '08

For the first time since I have been able to vote for 38 yrs., I am NOT going to vote! I really don't want either man for president. I was debating between Hillary and Barack.Since Hillary isn't in the run anymore, I'm left with the two choices.But all I hear is negative about both men.I'm very concerend about Barack,more so then McCain.Every time they all promise the world and when they get in they don't follow thru. Anyways, I'm not voting this year.

I think the most patriotic thing you can do is admit that you have a problem and try to fix it. Judging by these comments saying that you are "proud of this country" is the same as saying that this country is perfect, which is laughable. This will truly be the only time I use the words "America" and "perfection" in the same sentence. If that makes me unpatriotic than so be it. I love the country but I do not like the tons and tons of crap that this country is known for. Does that mean I want to move to Europe or Africa.... NO that just means I want things to change to America can be better. How more patriotic can you be if you feel that way?? Anyway, I don't care what the person said that's not even running for president

Her statement demonstrates that MO is not First Lady material.

Some of these comments are so ridiculous. It's clear that she's referring to the experiences throughout her life, specifically those connected to the political process, not her country. As she said, "I've seen people who are hungry to be unifed around some basic, common issues and it's made me proud."

However, criticism should not, in any way, brand someone as un-American. The right to criticize and express dissent exemplies one of the oldest and most central American freedoms.

This is only another example of an audio clip people are willing to use to damn Obama's campaign without any convincing rationale.

So if Michelle Obama is NOT running for anything what, exactly, are Hillary's skills and experience for being President? I mean, she's got 8 years in the white house doing nothing as first lady. She has 8 years in a governor's mansion (again as first lady--doing nothing). And about 2/3 of a term as senator much of which was really about jockeying for a shot at the white house.

You cannot have it both ways folks. Either Michelle Obama is a jaded, negative person whose single-minded excitement about her husband's success is not relevant because "she is not running for anything" (in which case, Hillary has no relevant experience). Or, what she says, does and things is important.

Which is it?

What is it with these people? I vote for the candidate, not his relatives and friends. Who doesn't have a dear relative whose ideas and comments embarass them? And why is it only the Democratic spouses that get picked apart? Think of Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Clinton as First Lady, Mrs. Kerry, Mrs. Edwards. I find it interesting that these same people don't care that Mrs McCain will never release her financials and Mrs. Bush was never called out for killing a young man with her car. I'm not saying they shuld be castigated but if they were Democrats would they be treated the same?

I have, and will remain, to be proud of America. We have problems, we have faults, as do all countrys. Ours are more public because we are America. Michelle Obamas remarks were idiotic. She has a crude manner about her. How can anyone want to see this lady as The First Lady. I guess when she was graduating from all these fancy schools, marrying her prince, having her babies in America, she was not proud. It bothers me that Barak Obama is a turncoat to the flag. Wonder if he will put his hand on the bible to take the oath. Probably, just to show us that he will, he will do so. Then turn his back again. As far as his speech about his pastor, of course he had to come out and go against him, in public, but what about later? I am a white proud American. I did not believe in slavery, I think abortion should be a choice, I do not agree with being gay, and I have many gay friends, I am a southern baptist, I am still trying to figure the bible and its teachings out, but regardless, I still love and am proud of America. If you are not, I dont think slavery exist anymore, leave. All I hear is supressed blacks, white people doing them wrong. We can not take a step forward, always looking back to the whats, the whys, and who was at fault. My family was too poor to own slaves, we probably were slaves to the big plantation owners ourselves. Grow up, history is history, just like Martin Luther King, Malcome X, John F. Kennedy, Abe Lincoln and Robert E. Lee. There would be no Black History if all the White History never took place. Do we have White History month, No. Do we have a White Miss America, No. Granted it has all been one sided at times, but the change was coming, and it did way before Obama. I love reading about history, black or white. But, it's history. What happens tomorrow will be history. I am sorry to see that Obama and his wife are trying to win the election on their Black History only. My vote, as a Proud American, goes to Hillary Clinton.

Oh? Some of the people here decide to cast their votes elsewhere because of a candidate's wife's talk of her pride (or lack thereof) for her country?

What? this is USA? But it sounds so much like here in China, where democracy advocates and elected legislators are suppressed because they "do not love the country".

Treasure what your founding fathers have fought for you, dear Americans. But if you prefer a place where everybody must have the same "love" or "pride" towards the country, China welcomes you.

- from Hong Kong

Dear Sir..... Madam
I am one of those unfortunate people who can not express herself in proper English ,as I am a LEGAL immigrant and did not go to Harvard ,But just the same I would like to voice ,my Political incorrect Opinion..........
Any Delegate who runs for the most powerful office in the Free World ,calls Himself AFRO -AMERICAN ,should never have the opportunity to sit in the Oval Office ,If he ore she is not 100% American ,and Proud to be AMERICAN .has NO business Being President of the USA..
the Word AFRO -AMERICAN alone, divides AMERICA ,and should be outlawed ,The word Racism and Political incorrect should go exactly the same way ,Those Words have been used over and over to stirred up HATE ,and also to promote there individual AGENDAS ,pretending fairness ,well meaning-ness ,support and good will,
Where Obama's Wife is concerned ,Can any one imagine her with her Attitude as a First lady .I would like to convey a personal message to her ,get a Reality check ,if it would not be of all the non Black Americans who voted for Barak .he would have never made it as Far ,

After Michelle's comments and now this Jeremiah Wright, I got to say to myself, "this is his spirtual leader for 20 years."

He lost my vote.

Let me assure you, you don't need to be a conservative to be offended by Michelle Obama's professed lack of pride in America.

ChrisPhiladelphia is quite right. Michelle does indeed have the right to say what's on her mind. But I don't want someone who thinks like that to be MY first lady.

I think it's so stupid that people would even think about getting worked up over this. I haven't been proud of my country for a long time now, and I'm still skeptical he'll get elected, but Obama's success and ideas are slowly giving me hope. I just turned 18 and the first vote I'm going to cast will be for Obama tomorrow.

I would like to thank some of Obama’s supporters for teaching some of us less fortunate good American voters, a lesson on intellectual, political, and grammar correctness. If some of us happen to fall into the different category from which the clear divide is established, then the more I will not vote for them.

I think that what Mrs. obama said is absolutely true, me being an African American male, I have never been proud of my country, due to extreme racism and the conservative views the country has. Not once in all the history that I have learned about this country can I say that it is made me proud to be American. I support her statement fully because before now, what did she have to be proud of the United States for?, its hatred toward minorities? or its policies in the past that kept minorities down?. Im pretty sure that if Hillary Clinton was to say this same statement that it would not have received so much controvery. She is entitled to the "freedome of Speech" (or so it says in the Constitution) so here saying this statement is with in her right. If people (a.k.a those who are not considered "Minorities) don't like it, I think that's too bad, its about time someone (whether they are black, asian, latino, etc..) stood up and gave the United States "a slap in the face" because we need it. American does not need another white male President (as brutal as that is, I feel its true), its time for the voters to embrace a different President, someone different and that is why I only will support Hillary or Barack. If this country does not elect Hillary or Barack as our next president, then I am sorry but I wash my hands of the United States and the so called "American Dream"

As a non-American I've taken little interest in US elections since 1960! (remember JFK?)
Today I've been reading about Barack Obama and it's inspiring. Many of the comments here are depressing. If Americans could realise that they are not the centre of the universe and also that quite a few americans are ashamed of America, they might realise why an inspirational, mixed race President with a background like Obama's (never mind his wife) could restore America to a true leadership role in the world and make it a better place for all of us. One day (soon?) America will have a woman President but, for the moment, do we really need another Clinton?
Obama may be closer to McCain and will probably win. Let's hope so because neither Hillary Clinton nor McCain can reverse the contempt with which America is regarded in much of the world. (And that's not all Bush's fault).
Make America truly great and change the world!

I pray every night that "life" will win out in November. Obama is the wrong choice for many reasons, but his Pro- Abortion stance is the main reason he should not step foot in the White House. Remember a good tree does not produce bad fruit and right now the Obama's are really stinking up the place.

It is easy to say that if Hillary doesn't win the Democratic side, McCain is going to make the Obama's look bad and win big. You all better hope Hillary comes out on top to make the presidential election competetive.

For such an educated woman I feel her words do have some truth behind them. She seems self-centered and I can't possibly believe that she has the same love for our country as many of us people posting do.

I think Barack is a well spoken man, but his lack of experience and having a wife that simply likes to run her mouth won't help his cause.