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Obama Blasts Conservative Attacks Against Wife: 'Debate Me Not Her'
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ShareJuly 17, 2008 2:34 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Parker reports: Presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said conservative criticism of his wife, Michelle, infuriates him.
"I don't have a thick skin when it comes to criticism of my wife," Obama told the women's magazine Glamour in an interview to run in the magazine's October issue. "And you know, the problem is that rarely do these folks have the guts to say it to your face."
Obama, who is vying for the support of women voters who flocked to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign during the primaries, argued his wife and Clinton have been the target of similar conservative attacks.
"Hillary Clinton was subject to this, others have been subject to this in the past," Obama told Glamour editor -in-chief Cindi Leive Wednesday, "It is part of our political environment that I'd like to change."
Asked whether he blamed Sen. John McCain's campaign for the attacks, Obama said, "I wouldn't say the McCain campaign itself, but I would say that the apparatus of conservative columnists, blogs and the like. Talk shows, talk radio....When you see in the span of two or three or four weeks essentially the same talking points being used on a whole variety of shows or a whole variety of columns, over and over again."
Michelle Obama sparked conservative outrage when she said during the primaries it was "the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country."
She later clarified her remarks, but conservative media outlets repeatedly replayed the tape and the Tennessee Republican Party launched an online video criticizing her. Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin called her Obama's "bitter half," and the conservative National Review magazine called her "Mrs. Grievance."
Obama said a barrage of conservative attacks against his wife has taken "a toll." Michelle Obama is viewed more favorably than Cindy McCain, 48 percent to 39 percent, according to a June ABC News/Washington Post poll, however her negative ratings are also higher.
"It's infuriating, but it's not surprising," Obama said, "because let's face it: what happened was that the conservative press -- Fox News and the National Review and columnists of every ilk -- went fairly deliberately at her in a pretty systematic way, and treated her as the candidate in a way that you just rarely see the Democrats try to do against Republicans."
"I've said this before: I would never have my campaign engage in a concerted effort to make Cindy McCain an issue, and I would not expect the Democratic National Committee or people who were allied with me to do it. Because essentially, spouses are civilians. They didn't sign up for this. They're supporting their spouse," Obama said, "So it took a toll. If you start being subjected to rants by Sean Hannity and the like, day in day out, that'll drive up your negatives."
Michelle Obama has attempted to soften her image, appearing on women's television programs and developing a new campaign speech highlighting her working-class, Chicago roots.
The Obamas have also recently granted interviews to Access Hollywood, US Weekly, and Glamour, entertainment media with a high female fan base.
Defending his wife in the Glamour interview, Obama said, "Everybody who knows Michelle knows how extraordinary she is. She's ironically the most quintessentially American woman I know. She grew up in a 'Leave it to Beaver' family. She is the best mother I know. And our kids are a testimony to that, because she's really had to raise them, oftentimes without me being there.
"She's the most honest person I know, she's smart, she's funny, so yeah, it infuriates me. And I think that it is an example of the erosion of civility in our political culture that she's been subjected to these attacks," he said. "If they've got a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her."
July 17, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (473)
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She seems like a fake idiot, and she looks like Aunt Ester from Sanford and Son.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 17, 2008 3:18:27 PM
Actually with all do respect Mr. Obama. Your wife did sign up for this as does every candidates wife who runs for public office. If a man decides to run for office then he better be ready to except the heat on all fronts. I understand that you don't like them talking about your wife but wake up and smell the coffee! When you decided to run for office as a liberal it was open season on Barak as it is for any conservative candidate from people who support you!
Posted by: Micah | Jul 17, 2008 3:18:37 PM
She seems like a fake idiot, and she looks like Aunt Ester from Sanford and Son.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 17, 2008 3:18:39 PM
eyeonyou
BTW - who cares what color you are. You are an idiot.
Posted by: t | Jul 17, 2008 3:18:50 PM
Yes, one more edition of the press covering the press.
Posted by: Ricky | Jul 17, 2008 3:19:07 PM
Obama says debate him, how, he runs from every debate....and no one knows what his positions are since he is always intentionally ambigious....he has only a tiny voting record (extremley liberal)and virtually no public accomplishments...how is this guy running for president now....how about in 8 years after he has a real record.....I do not like McCain but I have no idea who this rookie is .....so it must be McCain....sorry Obamaniacs..
Posted by: mowgli | Jul 17, 2008 3:19:50 PM
Doesn't have a thick skin when it comes to his wife? Great...he'd sell all of our nuclear secrets to Iran if they threatened to call her a name.
Maybe Republicans do it because wives of Democratic candidates act like they'll be co-Presidents when they talk. She needs to just shut up in general, and no one would say a word.
Posted by: Jay | Jul 17, 2008 3:20:17 PM
Republicans only care about themselves, their rich friends, and what they can personally get out of their "service" to the country. They would take a baby's bottle out of their mouth if they can benefit personally benefit from it. Throwing people who they no longer have a use for under the bus is part and parcel of how they operate. Their truly do not represent the interest of real people, just the elite, the wealthy, and corporations. Their M.O. is to embarrass, degrade, and to spread lies about anyone who doesn't agree with them or who stands in their way. Bunch of leeches.
Posted by: Jake | Jul 17, 2008 3:20:30 PM
That's right Obama.....defend your woman!
I respect him for doing the right thing as a husband, a father and a man. The unfortunate thing is, Michelle's going to continue to be "dogged" until November and if he should win the presidency then it's really going to be on!
Posted by: TW | Jul 17, 2008 3:20:48 PM
It's simple: Michelle Obama is not running for president. People who feel the need to attack her are cowards and desperate - grasping at straws.
Posted by: newsdudeATL | Jul 17, 2008 3:20:51 PM
Hey Buzzard,
Remember he doesn't talk about his whiteness. I think he said something about disassociating himself from his mother's race when he was about 12.
Posted by: t | Jul 17, 2008 3:20:55 PM
Michelle Obama is not special and she has gotten what she deserves for getting invovled. The democrats are whining because they don't know what to do when they get back what they have dished out for so long. It's funny to watch liberals cry as the same crap they throw comes back at them it's just too much. Bunch of pansies
Posted by: blarn | Jul 17, 2008 3:21:51 PM
the Obama's better figure out soon that many of us do not intimidate easily. Michelle goes out on stump speeches and talks about policy and critiques America and its people - -YOU BETTER BELIEVE SHE IS FAIR GAME.
No one is gonna lay off. By the Way - - I hope she enjoys the $600 earrings she can buy with her stimulus check - most people used it for gas and don;t own $600 earrings.
Posted by: few | Jul 17, 2008 3:21:52 PM
It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it's time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 1% then vote for Obama.
Posted by: pt | Jul 17, 2008 3:22:21 PM
Yes she is, just like obama, smart funny and liberal and eletist just like her hubby. She always looks mad and heck at everyone, other than when she is fist bumping Obama.
She sat in the same church, listening to Rev. Wright and never had any questions, come on now.
Posted by: W. Orrin Eldred | Jul 17, 2008 3:22:22 PM
Can you imagine that scary face greeting people at the front door of the White House. What a mess. Hi Aunt Ester!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 17, 2008 3:22:29 PM
Obama stop being such a pu$$y.
If your wife goes into the spotlight on her own then she is open to being criticized.
Do we really want our president to be a whiny b*tch because his wife is being made fun of?
Grow up.
Posted by: Ben | Jul 17, 2008 3:22:59 PM
Cindy McCain is a pencil neck rich bit** who is as phoney as a three dollar bill and her husband has a filthy mouth. No way are they presidential material, they are sewer mouths.
Posted by: eyeonyou | Jul 17, 2008 3:23:21 PM
John, and Cindy are a class act, and the real deal. The OBAMAS what a joke!
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 17, 2008 3:24:28 PM
They are both opportunist and use every word and situation to their advantage.
Posted by: roncraw | Jul 17, 2008 3:24:34 PM
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