Cindy McCain’s War of Words with Michelle Obama
February 20, 2008 by polivox
While campaigning for her husband on Monday, Michelle Obama said the following: “For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country, because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback. And let me tell you something. I need to believe that we live in that kind of nation, where hope and possibility and unity is still what drives us.”
That one statement caused the conservative attack machine to come out with guns blazing against Michelle in an attempt to cause her husband’s campaign to suffer. The most unanticipated attack against Michelle came from Old Man McCain’s barbie doll wife Cindy McCain.
”I’m proud of my country. I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier,” Cindy McCain said, ”I’m very proud of my country.”
What really ticks me off about this issue is not what Michelle Obama said, though I feel she could have been more precise about what she meant, but that a trust-fund baby, adulterer and drug-addict like Cindy McCain would dare to attack someone like Michelle. (see expanded story below)
I don’t know what Michelle really meant, but I trust that her life story as an African-American female entails a completely different perspective of America than mine does.
It’s alright to not always be proud of one’s country. It does not make us any less a patriot or a citizen to admit that our country has not always acted in an ethical, moral or even decent manner. On the contrary, we are stronger as a nation when we face and admit our shortcomings in order to make us better and stronger.
Examples in American history that we should not be proud of (not a complete list by any means):
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Persecution, relocation and desimation of native Americans
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Slavery
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Jim Crow laws
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Subjugation of women and denying them the right to vote
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Forced imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during WWII
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Atmoic bombing of Japan (not once, but twice)
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Vietnam
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Iraq
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Response to Hurrican Katrina
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The Jena Six
In order to make clear the past and character of both Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain, I offer the following summation on both women. Make up your own mind as to who would make the better First Lady.
Cindy McCain:
Cindy Hensley McCain was the only child of wealthy beer distributors in Phoenix, Arizona. She began an adulterous affair with John McCain in 1979 after the two met in Hawaii.
John was still married to Carol McCain who was badly injured in a car accident in 1969. Carol had waited faithfully while John was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five and half years.
Within months after meeting and beginning an adulterous affair, John filed for divorce from Carol and married Cindy in 1980. Cindy’s wealthy and politically connected father helped John to gain access to the political circles in Arizona and thrust him into the U.S. Senate. Cindy actually used her trust fund to make loans to McCain’s campaign, allowing him to outspend his political opponents (so much for campaign finance reform).
In 1989, Cindy became addicted to painkillers, which she attributed to the stresses of the Keating-Five loan scandal. Her addiction became so bad that she even resorted to stealing drugs. She also blamed her addiction on back pain.
A privileged and sheltered life. Wealthy and highly educated — the best education money can buy. A drug addict. Oh yeah, she’s the ideal Republican version of a First Lady.
Cindy has actually expressed that she feels Americans would like a more traditional First Lady like herself.
Michelle Obama:
Born to a Chicago city water plant employee. Her father also served as a Democratic precint captain and her mother was a secretary for a mail order catalog company. She grew up on the south shore of Chicago where nightly family dinners were commonplace.
Michelle skipped the second grade altogether and eventually worked her way up to study sociology at Princeton University and graduated cum laude in 1985. She went on to obtain her law degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.
Michelle met her husband while working at a Chicago law firm. She also worked in public positions for the city of Chicago in areas of planning and community development. She also became the executive director for a non-profit organization that nurtured young people to get involved in social issues.
Michelle Obama has also served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, developing that school’s community service center.
I’m sorry, but no. I am a Latino and I’m proud to be an American. I’m proud of America, yesterday, today and in the future. I didn’t like what Obama’s wife said. Sorry.
Alvin:
I think it’s great that you’re proud to be an American and proud of America.
I too have been proud to be an American and proud of my country at times, but I have also experienced times where I was not proud of what my country did or was doing in the world.
If you read my posting again, you may see that the point I was trying to make.
We are stronger and better as a country when we can take an honest look at ALL we are as a country and recognize the good with the bad. It is only by being honest with ourselves that we can build on the good and correct the bad, thus making us better people and a greater nation.
America is a great invention. Our nation’s founding fathers pulled together all the great notions and ideas they felt would build a great foundation for the new thing called ‘democracy.’ They were bold and brave men.
We owe those founding fathers and the wonderful foundation they provided by continually building upon it — reaching up, not down.
I love that as a Latino (whether new to this country or a second, third or fourth generation) you are proud. You should be. You found opportunity and a home.
Never be sorry for sharing your opinion or standing for what you feel.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Steve at Poli+Vox
[...] (Read my post about Cindy McCain.) [...]
Why is anyone surprised Michelle made that comment. Why are blacks “African-American”. They are African first and American not by choice> I do not completely blame them either. Many Euro-centric emotions tug at my heart strings and I feel a naturlal urge to return to my roots. My experience tells me blacks truly dislike white people and celebrate our failures at every opportunity. Why do the Obama”s attend a black-only church?
Michelle obama is supposedly a very intelligent and good campaiogner.
how could she have let such a shameless quote slip or did she REALLY mean it
she is using her lawyer tactics in this campaign
‘msj
To John:
Blacks are African-American because their ancestors were brought here by force as slaves but the offspring were born here making them American citizens. They are not African first — it is a part of their heritage.
None of us are TRUE Americans except for the native Americans (Indians). To state otherwise is naive and short-sided.
I also think that if your experiences tell you that “blacks truly dislike white people and celebrate our failures,” then I feel sorry for you. That is simply not true. I am caucasian and live/work in New Orleans. My closest friends and co-workers are blacks and we celebrate together, comfort one another and are very close.
As to why the Obamas attend a “black only” church — that’s just stupid. They may attend a predominately black attended church, but there is no such thing as a “black only” church. That term implies that a specific church forbids white people from attending. I dare you to find me such a thing.
Thanks for sharing.
Steve at Poli+Vox
[...] involved in the collapse of Savings and Loans in the 1980s and his current wife Cindy is the product of an adulterous affair the two had while he was still married to his first wife [...]
The notion of being proud of one’s country, right or wrong, is rather sad. It is this attitude that allows dictators to gain and sustain power. I’m certainly an American. My European ancestors have been here mostly for 250-350 years, and I seem to have Native American roots through at least two of my grandparents. There were also slave holders and anti-slavery activists, and people who were accused of witchcraft, along with accusers. Some ancestors were Anglican, some Puritan/Congregationalist, others were Dutch Reformed, or Baptist, or Lutheran, or Catholic, or Methodist. Some were indentured servants, others were wealthy freemen. Most were seeking freedom from oppression and prejudice in Europe. I’ve travelled in Europe, Africa, Asia, North & South America, and Australia, many times to remote rural places. People have told me what they like and don’t like about America and Americans. I am generally positive about my country, but it makes me cringe when I hear people say the US is the best country in the world and that everyone would like to live here. That’s just not true on many objective and subjective levels.
I do not fault Michelle Obama for being proud of her country for being hopeful enough to embrace her husband’s message. Nor do I think she was wrong to express that in the way she did. I can tell you that the Bush-Cheney regime is nothing to be proud of. I am ashamed that my fellow countrymen elected and reelected them. I am ashamed of the course they have chosen for our country and I am ashamed of myself and others for not finding some way to end their destructive policies before now.