Date: Monday, June 16, 2008
By: Michael H. Cottman and Jackie Jones, BlackAmericaWeb.com
Stepping up attacks for the rough-and-tumble presidential campaign, Republicans have set their sights on a new Democratic target: Michelle Obama.
In a preview of what's to come, the media is already questioning whether Michelle Obama will be featured in negative ads by the GOP in an effort to discredit Michelle and her husband, Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, who is challenging Republican Sen. John McCain for the White House.
Fox News has dubbed Michelle as Barack’s "baby mama" and some black political analysts say the disrespect for Michelle is just beginning and the attack ads about her are perhaps not far behind.
But a gallant Barack Obama defended his wife and told reporters he’s not having it.
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"If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful," Obama told ABC's "Good Morning America" last month, "because that I find unacceptable the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family."
Some black women argue that people are uncomfortable with Michelle Obama in a potential role as America's first black First Lady.
"Here we have a classy, intelligent black woman and some folks just aren't interested in that picture, particularly because she could become our first black first lady," Breea Willingham, a journalism professor at St. Bonaventure University, told BlackAmericaWeb.com.
"Black women aren't 'supposed' to be in that role; they're 'supposed' to be cleaning the rooms in the White House, not running it," Willingham said. "But bottom line for me: Who cares what the GOP says about Michelle? The sister is bad and will continue to do her damn thing regardless."
In a recent column for The New York Times, Maureen Dowd wrote, "It's good news for Obama that Hillary's out of the race. But it's also bad news. Now Republicans can turn their full attention to demonizing Michelle Obama."
Dowd listed many of the negative rumors circulating on the Internet about Obama, including a videotape in which she allegedly denounces "whitey." Obama aides say no such video exists.
And The Wall Street Journal asked: "Is Michelle Obama fair game?"
Some black women say no.
"This strategy would be laughable if it weren't so sad and desperate!" Margaret Mitchell, a technical writer in Rochester, N.Y., told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "The GOP must really be quaking in their shoes if this is their grand scheme for winning the election."
On Fox News, The graphic "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking on Obama's Baby Mama!" was flashed during a recent interview with conservative columnist Michelle Malkin about whether Barack Obama's wife has been the target of unfair criticism.
In response to the outcry, the network issued a statement, not an apology. "A producer on the program exercised poor judgment in using this chyron during the segment," said Fox's Senior Vice President of Programming Bill Shine, in a statement to Politico.
In the past two weeks, Fox anchor E.D. Hill has apologized for referring to an affectionate onstage fist bump shared by the couple as a "terrorist fist jab," and Fox contributor Liz Trotta said she was sorry for joking about an Obama assassination.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, a commentator and political analyst, criticized Fox News for the "baby mama" reference.
"At what point is it clearly concluded that Fox News is a racist network?" Watkins asked in a column. "What does this say about our country that we have many Americans who will continue to support a network that says things like this about black people?
"Does this lead us to believe that we have become equal and respected partners in the American family?" he asked. "Would they say the same thing about Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Cindy McCain or Hillary Clinton?
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3 comments:
Seriously, does the GOP WANT to really go after Michelle Obama when Cindy McCain is such an easy target?? Oh....their little twisted plan would be to go after Michelle and then if the Obama campaign hits back, then they post up sweet blonde-haired Cindy as the Cinderella-esqe victim of the bad black boogeyman....silly rabbits. Much like McCain, they seem to have underestimated how much of a new day it really is. We can all use the blogs to our benefits now.
I think they will try anything because they probably realize McCain can't win on his own merrit. Therefore, they will probably decide the only way he could win would be by somehow discrediting Obama.
So please, everyone, be cool, be prepared for all kinds of nastyness, rise above it, take the higher ground and know that your dignity will outshine their sleazy tactics. I know you've been doing this all your lives...
Michelle is too strong for them. They can't do nothing with her.
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