NPR: Michelle Obama Attacks "Elitist" Label

Michelle Obama Attacks "Elitist" Label

In a stop at an Indiana middle school yesterday, Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential leader Sen. Barack Obama, defended her husband against charges that he is "elitist.'

"There was no silver spoon in his mouth," she said. "His mother was an 18-year-old white woman raising a black kid in the 1960s."

The Indianapolis Star reports that Obama added "her husband learned that 'sometimes life deals you a short hand; sometimes you live on food stamps.' "

Describing herself as the "product of a working-class community," Obama talked about how the rising cost of college education and the low pay of many jobs make it difficult for middle-class Americans to make a living and put their children through college.
"We are making certain careers financially obsolete," Obama said before breaking into a bit of sarcasm. "Barack and I know this all too well with our elite selves."

The audience responded with a loud standing ovation.

Obama said she wants people to know that she is a "proud product" of the Chicago public school system.

"When they look at me and see perhaps the next first lady of the United States," she said, "I want to be a constant reminder of what an investment in public education can look like."

11:09 AM ET | 04-18-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Indeed. They were struggling to keep their heads above water with that measly $400 grand a year pittance and so a nice man named Tony helped them buy the little house they wanted so very, very badly. Sure is nice to rely on the kindness of strangers. Isn't America great?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120821921853714665.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

Speaking to small-town voters in Iowa last year, he asked, "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?"

LOL.

Sent by deek | 12:38 PM ET | 04-18-2008

The sad thing is that people "buy" Obama. He comes up, figures out the right combination of word,s repeated often enough to evoke unconscious emotional reactions that make them trust him. That make them believe in him.

And then you listen to someone like Ron Paul or Ralph Nader, and they are so clear, and honest, and they just speak the truth. And yet we've been conditioned to be cynical towards honesty in politics. So they are declared unelectable, and the press makes light of them, because the press operates behind dead eyes.

Don't hold any illusions, Democracy is broken, it relies on people being reasoned, and we just aren't reasoning primates.

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:13 PM ET | 04-18-2008

Another attempt to change the subject. Elitism has little to do with income level and everything to do with attitude towards others.

Sent by Susan | 1:46 PM ET | 04-18-2008

Jody, you should rent the movie "Being There" with Peter Sellers. It's like art imitating life that is occuring now.

Sent by deek | 2:24 PM ET | 04-18-2008

@ Jody-
You need to check facts. There are no saints in a presidential race, and Nader and Paul are definitely no exception. Neither of them are going to be president, it's like me saying Howard Dean has the best ideas and is a great guy, he'll still never be president, because he's not in the race. You'd think you'd like Obama, you obviously hope and dream.

Sent by MUN | 3:09 PM ET | 04-18-2008

I think what deek is saying here is that he won't support a politician if he doesn't eat cheap, unhealthy processed food.

And Jody: Nader isn't honest. His desire to hurt and punish the Democratic Party has grown so consuming, in 04 he took money from the exact same sort of companies he used to crusade against - just so he could try to spoil the vote again. How is that "honest"?

Stop paying any attention to what a politician says, and look at what they DO.

Sent by Kasreyn | 3:28 PM ET | 04-18-2008

Fortunately, most Americans will not be swayed by this brand of political trickery; designed to cloud the judgement of individuals who are undesided as to which candidate to support. Sen. Obama is certainly not an elitist. One must expect this type of political blather when the stakes are so high.

Sent by V. Blackburn | 4:07 PM ET | 04-18-2008

The defined term: a group or class of people: they are working class and would not maintain without working...

having major share of authority or influence in group: African Americans that is true, senate no, corporate America no, presidency no, why there is the congress and judicial department; compared to the Clinton's as governor before they became President and Mrs. First Lady;
Does he mean social equality for Black Americans no, most definitely not, He will mean social change to a better future for all; remember segregation...

Jesse Jackson's campaign is where he is now with the uncounted delegates...

He is not a really great speech maker, he has a little more achievement...

McCain and Clinton critize to keep the race issue out... it is OK; are they elite of America

Condescending is what he is! maybe, however some groups of people are like that in urban America; the ones who have voted for him from the Get Out the Vote projects of Russell Simmons, P Diddy, 50cent and others...

Will he become a renaissance man? a true elite, that does become a hero for his political efforts... Maybe

Sent by Imogene Covin | 3:00 PM ET | 04-21-2008

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