Political Hotsheet
By

Michelle Castillo /

CBS News/ November 21, 2011, 11:07 AM

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden booed at NASCAR

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's wife, were booed by some NASCAR fans as they served as the grand marshals for the racing circuit's final event Sunday.

Obama and Biden were at the Homestead-Miami Speedway to promote Joining Forces, an organization that promotes the hiring and training of veterans. They were joined by Army Sgt. Andrew Barry, a veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi wars who now volunteers at an Orlando, Fla., veterans center, and his family. The clip shows that people cheer for the soldier, but boo when the two women's names are announced. There are some audible sounds of approval, but they seem to be mostly drowned out by the dissenters.

There's been some dispute as to how drastic the booing was. ABC News reports that a source who was with Obama said that no one at the event could hear the booing over the "loud chaotic program with jets flying over and tons of noise."

In a statement to CBSNews.com, White House Communications Director Kristina Shake did not address the booing, but instead focused on how Obama was honored to be at the event. "Mrs. Obama was proud to join NASCAR in recognizing our nation's veterans and military families to raise awareness of this important issue for all Americans," Shake said.

"As she has always said, she will proudly stand with anyone making a major commitment to serve and honor our military community and yesterday, NASCAR did just that. They paid special tribute to our veterans and military families at the championship race by donating over 5,000 tickets to military families and by honoring Sergeant Berry and his family, true American heroes. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden enjoyed their visit to the speedway and are looking forward to working across the country to honor America's veterans and military families," she explained.

Tony Stewart: amazing win, NASCAR champ again

And according to the Associated Press, the women received a standing ovation at the pre-race driver's meeting. Obama also spoke at a NASCAR-Joining Forces barbecue for military families. She talked to the the military children at the event, thanking them for their sacrifice of being strong while their parents are away.

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
264 Comments Add a Comment
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fmw1960 says:
Most of you people appear to be typical leftist idiots. You malign and slander people who express their opinion of a First Lady that they do not approve of, even going as far as to call them Nazis (wow, how stupid), but I'm sure that you all got a thrill up your leg when your libtard cronies booed President Bush on Hussein Obama's inauguration day. I guess that's OK. And the little college freaks who were out in front of the White House on the night that the commie Obama got elected, chanting for Bush to "leave now". But that's cool, right ? Listen you foolish Marxists, those people who were booing Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have just as much right to express their opinion as the people who booed Bush. That's called freedom you mindless drones. If this were a Nazi state, anyone who spoke out against the government would be arrested and imprisoned. We all have the right to express our opinions on the internet, or in the public square and even at a Nascar race. Get over it and accept the fact that the majority of people in this country DO NOT think the way you socialists do. YOu represent only 20 percent of the population and you will realize that in November 2012. Even if the GOP runs a dead cat on a stick. King Hussein Obama is done.
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CzSki replies:
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Epic fail of a prediction for Nov 2012.
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smehl1506 says:
These are the "patriots" who call the President of the United States a Muslim terrorist. So I'm sure the First Lady has the courage and the grace to stand up to a little booing by these pathetic morons.
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fmw1960 replies:
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Yep. Mad as hell and will vote the commie out in 2012.
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technocoffee says:
If dim, fat, uneducated rednecks hate you-you are on the right track!! Shows how so many southern republicans are fake Christians who screamed about respect for the Office of the President when Bush was in and ruined the career of the Dixie Chicks when they dared to speak out against Bush. But then they boo the First Lady, make racist jokes and have had a guy shoot at the White House trying to kill Obama--yep, them thar is some GOOD, REPUBLICAN "Moral Values"......
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fmw1960 replies:
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You are just an idiot. Why is it always ok for letist commies to trash conservatives in any vile, deceitful and usually dis-honest way they want but when conservatives insult Marxist libs it is somehow a terrible thing ????
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amondo79 says:
They had to expect that.
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deancollins says:
Running http://www.LiveNascarChat.com i can tell you our analytics show that fans come from all over the country.

Watching what they say during the in race chats tell me that they are anything BUT the stereotype. I think the article is skewed in assuming a stereotype here when the crowd was probably just republican :)

Cheers,
Dean Collins
http://www.LiveFanChat.com
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SCBlues replies:
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I've attended NASCAR events in the past and agree that folks from all walks of life and areas of the country attend. The fact that Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden were booed really makes me angry - especially in light of why they were there and the organization that they were there to promote. I hope that the booing was from only a small minority of the fans - NASCAR should show some class and come out and apologize for this embarrassing behavior.
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smittyc says:
His effigy is being burned at college campuses. Oh well that's Hopey Changey for ya.
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Fatesrider says:
Gotta love how the right-wing are patriotic - provided the nation is led by right-wingers.

(That's not patriotism, folks. That's nationalism. You know, like the Nazis were? Same thing.)
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tmn says:
Southern Hicks - period.
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fmw1960 replies:
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Northern college idiots, then ? The night the commie got elected ?
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gadfly65 says:
NASCAR fans = mostly rednecks
Rednecks = mostly Republican
Republicans = mostly lacking civility
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fmw1960 replies:
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Did you not see Obama's inauguration ??? Or the night the commie got elected ???? You think that was civil ????
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riddelup says:
I wonder if these good ole boys will boo when they discover God is black?
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fmw1960 replies:
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So tell me, when did you meet Him ???
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