Michelle Obama: Iron Woman

New Republic: Why The Sure-To-Be Blistering GOP Attacks On Michelle Obama Won't Work

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Ed Kilgore.

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In 1828, President John Quincy Adams's reelection campaign reportedly traded on innuendoes that Rachel Jackson had been imperfectly divorced from her first husband. Since her second husband, Andrew Jackson, once killed a man in a duel for the same insult to his wife's honor, Adams was perhaps lucky to lose no more than the presidency to Old Hickory.

So, while there are abundant signs that Republicans this year are itching to take the practice to new lows, let's not forget that attacks on first ladies, actual or putative, go back a long way. And for all of the fear in Democratic circles about the damage these attacks could do to the Obama campaign, there are equally abundant signs that the Republicans have chosen the wrong spouse to trash and bash. Indeed, the proposed demonization of Michelle Obama as some sort of radical, honky-hating Shadow (racial implication intended) Behind the Throne could well backfire.

Despite the long pedigree of presidential spouse-bashing, it didn't really become a regular feature of politics until quite recently. After Rachel Jackson, the first first lady to be thoroughly excoriated was Woodrow Wilson's second wife, Edith, who allegedly ran the country for a while after her husband's 1919 stroke (just prior to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote).

Then came Eleanor Roosevelt, whose many detractors created the current pattern of going after the spouse as a collateral attack on the president. Roosevelt, an outspoken (for her time) supporter of racial justice, was a particular target of southern white Democrats who didn't want to criticize the wildly popular FDR.

Fast forward to the mid-1970s, when Betty Ford's controversial remarks on "Sixty Minutes" supporting abortion rights and condoning premarital sex became a lightning rod for conservative unhappiness with her husband, who ultimately faced a tough 1976 primary challenge from Ronald Reagan. Reagan's own wife, Nancy, got a lot of early flack for her White House consultations with astrologers, and later on, was criticized by conservatives who thought she was tempering her husband's ideology out of concern for his historical reputation.

But all these skirmishes were merely a prelude to the savaging of Hillary Clinton, who throughout the 1992 campaign and the entire Clinton administration was variously denounced as some sort of hyper-ideological Red Queen, as an enabler of her husband's weaknesses, as a hateful and humorless shrew, and in the far reaches of right-wing crazyland, as a crook and even a murderer. Those who wonder about the tenacious loyalty of many feminists to HRC should remember how frequently and for how long she was treated by conservatives as the symbol of everything threatening to The Old Ways about the women's movement.

Compared to HRC, 2004 First-Lady-in-Waiting Teresa Heinz Kerry had a somewhat easier time of it, though there was definitely an under-the-radar Republican effort to use her accent, her foreign birth, her wealth, and her candor about things like cosmetic surgery and the memory of her first husband, to reinforce claims that John Kerry was from another world, if not another planet.

(For what it's worth, Richard Nixon attacked his own wife: In 1960, in his last televised debate with John F. Kennedy, Nixon repeatedly deployed the phrase: "America can't stand pat.")

The history is relevant because the already-developed assault on Michelle Obama represents a sort of Greatest Hits of the nasty genre: like Eleanor Roosevelt, she's an ideologue; like Nancy Reagan, she exerts dangerous influence over her husband; like Hillary Clinton, she's Not Like Us.

Michelle Obama's detractors have had thin gruel to fuel their outrage: a happy remark in Wisconsin in February that "for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country;" a relatively downbeat primary-season stump speech that stressed the struggles of working-class and middle-class Americans; her imputed blame for the past and recent antics of the Obama's long-time pastor, Jeremiah Wright; and a Princeton senior thesis written more than two decades ago that has been ignorantly described as an endorsement of racial separatism. But this limited material has generated endless hostile conservative blog posts, a series of tirades by pundits ranging from Bill O'Reilly to Christopher Hitchens, a cover article for National Review calling her "Mrs. Grievance," and a racially tinged internet ad sponsored by the Tennessee Republican Party. And where there was no "evidence" to distort of Michelle Obama's supposed anti-American bitterness, radicalism, and racialism, it's been invented, as shown by the recent viral rumor, completely unfounded, that there's some video floating around showing her ranting about "whitey"--in some versions, in the company of Louis Farrakhan.

Despite all this negative commentary, a recent Gallup poll showed her favorable/unfavorable ratings at a relatively strong 48% favorable, 29% unfavorable (as compared to 39% favorable, 25% unfavorable for Cindy McCain). And like previous spouses, she has an opportunity to improve them over the course of the general election campaign. In April of 1992, shortly after Bill Clinton clinched the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton's Gallup ratings stood at 38% favorable and 39% unfavorable, with the famous "Stand By Your Man" 60 Minutes interview in January of that year probably representing the most enduring image of HRC. By election day, they rebounded to 49% favorable and 30% unfavorable.

Why am I convinced the campaign against Michelle Obama is going to backfire if it's not abandoned? There are three reasons.

First, the Obama campaign has learned from past slurs, particularly the legendary "Swift Boat Veterans" attacks on John Kerry in 2004. As Obama campaign manager David Axelrod told Newsweek in April: "He's not going to sit there and sing 'Kumbaya' as the missiles are raining in. I don't think people should mistake civility for a willingness to deal with the challenges to come."

And the Obama campaign seems particularly determined to deal with attacks on the candidate's wife. In just the last two weeks, The New York Times reported a major effort to "reintroduce" Michelle Obama, and just as importantly, to bat down the slurs against her. The speedy explosion of the "whitey video" rumor (which Michelle Obama herself mocked as "something George Jefferson would say") showed that both mainstream media and progressive bloggers were vigilant about this kind of sludge. Sean Hannity of Fox News, the self-designated launching pad for many of the personal attacks on both Obamas, hasn't been able to draw a poisoned breath without immediate contradiction. A recent issue of the checkout-line staple Us Weekly has a heartland-reassuring cover story entitled "Why Barack Loves Her." The campaign itself has launched a Web page aimed at knocking down smears against both Obamas. And there's a new independent site, called Michelle Obama Watch, devoted to full coverage of the coverage of the putative first lady. It's abundantly clear that Team Obama doesn't buy the conventional wisdom of the past that counsels a resolute silence in the face of personal attacks.

Second, the effort to make Michelle Obama seem "alien" and "radical" runs up against the truth in ways that are going to be difficult to ignore. If anything, Michelle Obama's persona, history, and "message" are more reassuringly American than her husband's. In contrast to his exotic and complicated background, hers exhibits the contemporary version of the Horatio Alger myth: a family rooted in South Carolina and transplanted to the southside of Chicago; a hard-working father (struggling against a degenerative disease, MS) and stay-at-home mother; great success in a series of highly competitive and racially integrated school settings; and the abandonment of a bright career in corporate law to become a non-profit organizer, an executive for a non-profit hospital, and most of all, a devoted wife and mother of two children.

The truth obviously hasn't gotten in the way of personal attacks on candidates and their families in the past, but the more they are presented and reinforced in the course of a campaign, the less sway rumors, whispers, and anonymous e-mails control the flow of information. Both the facts about Michelle Obama, and aggressive efforts to present them, will help to expose the racism at the heart of the overall conservative assault on the Obamas as "Not Like Us."

Which leads to the third point: While many Americans harbor conscious and unconscious racist attitudes, they don't much like to be reminded of them. Indeed, in a general election contest in which John McCain desperately needs to beat Barack Obama among white women, flirting with racism could be particularly hazardous to the GOP. As John Judis pointed out, public opinion research suggests that the modern-day "gender gap" between the two parties is at least partly attributable to the antipathy many white women have expressed towards Republican racial attitudes. Along those lines, Republican "racial inclusiveness" rhetoric has long been aimed not at attracting African-American voters but at convincing white swing voters that voting Republican doesn't mean voting racist. All that could be at risk if McCain abets too much anti-Michelle Obama talk.

In the end, attacks on Michelle Obama as some sort of (literally) dark and dangerous presence face a high threshold of credibility, and ultimately depend on the belief that she reflects a hidden underside of Barack Obama's sunny, optimistic and inclusive persona. It's not entirely within the control of the Obama campaign to rebut that suggestion. But everything about the real Michelle Obama--and the campaign's efforts to present her to us--should make that easier.

Ed Kilgore is the managing editor of The Democratic Strategist, an online forum and blogging site.

[caliguy55]

These are John McCain''s own words spoken on msnbc.com:

%u201CI didn%u2019t really love America until I was deprived of her company.%u201D

See the video for yourself at:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/

Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.

[toldyouso12]

Enough about Michelle--let''s talk about Cindy McCain.

A lot of people forget she was the Mistress of John McCain and broke up his marriage to a sick woman who stood by McCain while he was a POW and when he first returned home.

That''s right. Many Republicans with their morality on their sleeve, and many HRC supporters and DNC defectors who claim to be feminists conveniently forget that in choosing McCain, they are also opting and plugging to put a man''s mistress into the White HOuse. How''s that for a "first lady" gives a whole new meaning to respectability, now doesn''t it?

is this mccain''''''''s first wife or second, i lost count?

Posted by RGRXX175 at 07:42 PM : Jul 01, 2008


McCain''''s first wife stood by and waited for him while he was a POW. She ended up handicapped and stayed by his side when he returned home. He repaid her by having an affair with Cindy and dumping his first wife and kids for her. Essentially, McCain follows in the rich tradition of wife swapping and humiliation as practiced by Rudy Guiliani, Newt Gingrich, et al. i.e. fvcking over the first wife and then dumping her and marrying their fvck partner. The Republicans are intent on us putting SOMEONE''''S FORMER MISTRESS into the white house. If not Rudy and Judy, Then McCain and the wife he publicly calls a trollop and ****.

[wrlok12]

As the writer made significant points how much a First Lady importance is, as in his statement about E. Roosevelt, the wife of a presidential candidates wife does come into play. If she is important in ''his'' life, it would be ambiguouds for someone to think she doesn''t otherwise, she is to be judged as one of a ''pair''.

[bloogirl-2009]

i am one of the 18 million who did not vote for o''mama. i can''t get past her "proud" remark. i don''t care how much back pedaling she does about that remark. that is all they do - go back and gloss over things they said or try to justify past actions like listening to "rev hate america" for 20 YEARS! they are both too unbelievable and she just doesn''t seem to be the type to pour tea for visiting heads of state. before anyone jumps on the color bandwagon, his color makes no difference to me - it''s everything else about him and her that makes me hesitate.

[johnny343sc]

YET AGAIN ANOTHER LIBERAL-BIASED "WE SUPPORT BARRY HUSSEIN" STORY TOUTED ON CBSNEWS.COM.

;)

[oneworldusa]

If Henny Ray can''t get a better picture of someone than that, then she needs a new career.

[brianbwb-2009]

Face it, it is highly likely that Mr. Obama, and not his wife, will be the next president, all those who can''t deal with it can either move, kill yourselves, or get used, as many of us were for generations, to being the group whose concerns went ignored.

[andor3]

"Why are life long Democrats and liberal leaning or middle of the road American voters not going to vote for Senator Barack Obama in November.."

They voted fro him once and will again and he will be our next President. And rightly so. The handful of prejudiced and ignorant who oppose Barack are insignificant, and the group actually supporting McCain are even fewer.

There are NO Democrats opposed, only Republican shills upset at the unity of the Democrats and the unbeatable hand it gives Sen. Obama.

[patriciabj]

This is an excellent, thoughtful and well-written article. Thank you, Ed Kilgore.
As to the photograph of Michelle, YES!!!

[rushlimpdrug]

Posted by marizara at 07:24 PM

Get over it, the woman is butt ugly.

[rushlimpdrug]

I have searched for photos of this lady in her
younger years and found none.

Why?

[rampman2]

Will she fist bump forien leaders to.

[Marie Zarankevich]

The use of such an unflattering photo in a journalistic presentation is the height of rudeness. -- Have our dirty politicians influenced the media so negatively that we can no longer trust their reports? -- If so, we need another arrangement. -- This will not do.

[wapotank]

First of all Michelle is a liar when she talks of her and her Pied Pier supporting Gay rights...that in and of itself alone puts my vote to the Homophobic McCain, who is at least honest about his stand....The Obama''s on the other grand stand, will say anything, do anything and promise anything for a vote.

They are dishonest and care only for their personal agends..

[gemstone1955]

What this means is that the PUMA style movement will not be over even after Senator Obama%u2019s defeat in November. Other election years as well could be in doubt for any candidate backed by the out of touch Party leadership. How long and painful a process this will be is up to the current Democratic Party leadership. The sooner they get out of the smoke filled back rooms and remember their Party is to be the sentinels of the democratic process of we the people the sooner these long time Democrats will let the PUMA loose in the wild and the Democratic Party will once again capture the White House and stay in control of congress.

[gemstone1955]

As these life long Democrats watched their Party leaders on May 31st 2008 in the RBC meeting they felt they were witnessing Animal Farm come to life before there very eyes within their own Party. While many setting in the chairs at that meeting were in some way connected to or even part of the struggle to make the Democratic Party a %u201Cwe the people%u201D Party. Those very same people now as leaders have moved into the farm house and are behaving like those they struggled against. Once again Party bosses rain like the elite and cut deals in back rooms with indifference to we the people%u2019s voice so that once again not all members are given an equal voice.

Every Democratic Party leader or elected official should take note that all these long time Democrats have found their voice and will not abandon their Party, even those who have resigned will be back but only as united PUMA%u2019s. The Party must understand they will be back as Democratic Party PUMA%u2019s with a mission that is well thought out and action plans that are well defined to be carried out until there Party has the corrected re alignment once again.

[gemstone1955]

What the DNC and other Party elected leaders do not realize is that this is not just a 2008 Presidential race issue but in reality is a much larger issue and therefore a longer project for the movement. The real issue is the need for re alignment of direction within the Party leadership as a whole. These life long Democrats view this need for re alignment a must happen action, which will most likely mean a change in Party leadership personnel. The pushing forward of the no experience and not near ready yet Obama as the Democratic Parties Presidential nominee is just a symptom of what is really wrong within the Party.

[gemstone1955]

The real whys have to do with the wrongs done by the DNC toward the membership of their own Party and not all the inadequacies of Senator Obama as a Presidential candidate or even fact that the Party is not putting forward the one candidate that everyone since 2006 has agreed is the best candidate and only sure winner to recapture the White House. All these horrible wrongs by the Party leadership are the unifying force for all these groups of Democrats. These same Party leaderships wrongs is the sustaining power to there PUMA style movement%u2019s commitment of defeating Obama and fixing there Party. It is also what is making this movement a growing movement instead of shrinking movement.

[gemstone1955]

Why are life long Democrats and liberal leaning or middle of the road American voters not going to vote for Senator Barack Obama in November, should he become the Democratic Parties nominee? The DNC is selling that Party unity is strong and there are no worries in November because the Democratic Party will be completely united. The agenda driven media will give this much more play then it deserves. We know Senator Obama has already pulled the gender card out and told all these life long Democrats %u201Cto just get over it%u201D as if this entire group is only bitter women over the age of 40. Just in case it is bigger then just women and does in fact includes men and others peoples groups such as rural Americans, out comes the tired ole race card yet once again as the only reason why these life long Democrats do not want him as the Party nominee and why they will not vote for him in November of course that would be no more true this time then it has been any other time Obama has used his race card tactic.

[larysinclair]

That is the best pic of Michelle I have ever seen, I bet that is the face Barack see''s when she tells him to scrub the toilet and bake those yummy pot brownies!!

Obama/YourMama!!