Do you know why some don't like Michelle Obama?

[Colobo]

Simple: She's a strong, determined, unapologetic, beautiful, extremely intelligent and succesful black female.

I said it. Now flame away if you don't like it.

[jakem]

1. hard to find anything wrong with your premise.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Replace black with white and you'll get why people don't like Hillary.

[jakem]

3. i can find plenty of things to dislike about hillary beside her good traits.

.really.

[WinkyDink]

34. How well do you "know" Michelle?

[jakem]

49. i know her well enough to trust that she, as Barack, is trying to accomplish something good.

But I am not electing her.

Just like I did not elect Hillary for first lady.

[jasmine621]

59. Precisely my thoughts. nt

[MarjorieG]

110. I empathize with Hillary's loss, but strong doesn't mean unprincipled kitchen sink strategy.

[ccharles000]

6. I agree.

They are both wonderful and strong and some can't handle that.

[melody]

12. I used to adore Hillary Clinton ... her own actions have destroyed that

I don't like Hillary because of the fact she's now intent on destroying Obama, not beating McSame.

[patrice]

16. With all due respect, you are Wrong and refusing to recognize that fact is proof of your disrespect

for People's ability to think for themselves.

Why do you have no respect for others' minds? Could it be that your own mind operates on the principle that you declaim and you, therefore, think everyone decides things the way that you do?

For the sake of whatever is good, please honestly ask and answer these questions about yourself.

[Midlodemocrat]

28. God, project much?

Chill out before you give yourself a heart attack.

:eyes:

And, I'm not a Hillary supporter.

[patrice]

29. You just accused everyone who does not want HC of being Racist. Who's projecting?

I don't want her because there is an at least 50:50 chance that she used the IWR as a resume builder and because she will lose the GE.

[Midlodemocrat]

30. LOL. Man, that's quite a reach.

Seriously, chill out. I did no such thing.

[patrice]

41. So what are you saying in #2? "People don't like HC because she is white." . . . nt

[leftynyc]

72. You're putting quotes around

something that was never said. That is blatently dishonest and you owe the poster an apology.

[terrya]

35. Where in the name of all that is decent did you get the idea that Midlodemocrat accused people...

of being racist?

God, woman, take a Valium or something. Please.

[aquart]

45. Honey, get used to it. We're going to be hearing that for 4 years.

"You disagree with Obama? You're a racist! So rubberstamp him before there's a race war."

He'll be coming in with ALL of Bush's usurped powers and we won't be able to say boo about any damn thing he chooses to do.

Personally, I can't wait to see Sally Quinn suck up to Michelle. And we all know she will.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[genna]

70. Hillary problem. Not being able to appreciate the difference between fantasy and reality.

That problem has been extended to supporters like that Harriet woman. It is like watching drama queen leading her court of admirers to the gallows.

It is destructive to everyone affected.


I don't particularly care whether or not she accepts responsibility for this, but I do care how people are characterizing this erratic and emotionally unstable behavior.

I recognize the whole diminish a woman by claiming hysterics. I still think if a man would have exercised one quarter of the HRC's behaviors this primary season, he would have been kicked to the curb 3 months ago.

[terrya]

18. Agreed.

[Colobo]

24. The poster is completely wrong.

[Colobo]

22. Wrong. People don't like her

because of her political stances and tactics.

[Midlodemocrat]

32. I would disagree.

And, I'm talking about all voters, not just Democrats. There are a lot of republicans who despise her for the very reasons I stated.

You know. The ones with a "Anyone but Hillary" bumper sticker.

[Divernan]

48. The "ABB" Republicans did not oppose Bush because he was a man, but because he was Bush.

The ABH people oppose Hillary because of all of her personality faults/negative traits - not because she's a woman - often, it's because they despise Bill and she suffers for her voluntary, continued marriage to him.

[Tim4319]

33. Outside of Hillary being a white woman

I once thought all of they traits described her very well. That is what I said the Republicans hated about her so much while she was first lady. I respected and admired her for that.

Now, although I still respect her for what she has done, I am loosing respect for her for the way she has managed her primary run.

[BigDaddy44]

51. Hillary? Beautiful?

maybe in your world............

[emilyg]

109. You bet she is.

[roguevalley]

53. those aren't the parts I dislike. Victimhood and whining, lying,

selfishness and delusion are the parts of Hillary I don't like. I don't like them in anyone.

[greguganus]

66. Nah, Out of all that, hillary is just determined. n/t

[hfojvt]

78. you left out the "some" of all fears. n/t

[frickaline]

88. People don't like Hillary for honest reasons; people hate Hillary for gender reasons.

nt

[ecstatic]

94. That may have been the case before the primaries began nt

[AZBlue]

95. Might be why some people don't like her, sure.

But a LOT of us have quite a few other reasons, most of Hillary's own doing.

[adoraz]

104. LOL! you have to be joking.

[Warren DeMontague]

113. If Michelle Obama had voted for the IWR

I would want her to apologize for it, too.

[noel711]

4. No flames... I love Michelle...

What a first lady!
Classy, intelligent,'take-no-prisoners,' almost exotic..

And I think they're still deeply in love.
What a concept for a president!
His wife loves him!

[mmonk]

5. Simple.

They were told to by rightwing pundits. The average American isn't very smart. Their opinions are shaped by others.

[Tippy]

7. Your post is right on......n/t

[BrklynLib at work]

9. Hence the very approriate term: SHEEPLE

[melody]

15. Obviously the average American is smart ... Obama just clinched the nomination

Why is it Americans never get credit for what they do only for what they don't do? And by that I mean ALL of us.

[BlueManDude]

8. the candidate's wife should not be making news.

she needs to shut up until november.

[BrklynLib at work]

Should she stay barefoot and in the kitchen?

:crazy:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. No, but if SHE wants to run for office, she's more than welcome to do so.

Yet, until she runs for office, she needs to stop making headlines. Everyone, EVERY LAST PERSON working for a campaign is instructed to never say anything that veers off the message. People get fired for making headlines for the candidate. This has absolutely nothing to do with anything but making sure that the core message of the campaign is all that anyone pays attention to.

[Eurobabe]

26. are you for real?

:eyes:

[BlueManDude]

38. yep and i felt the same about teresa heinze who did her husband no favors

michelle obama's job is to stand there and smile.

[Eurobabe]

40. Do you work for GEICO?

Do commercials? :eyes:

Psst., it's Teresa Heinz Kerry.

[sandnsea]

58. Don't you love these posters

Says he lives in Boston, then pops off with completely ignorant shit like this, and can't even spell Heinz. It'd be an automatic pizza if I were in charge.

[Eurobabe]

105. He got a slice from me, on my ignore list now

LOL.

[leftynyc]

74. So I'm guessing your model for

that crap is Nancy Reagan.

[JTFrog]

27. Can you imagine if someone made that comment about Hillary? Now or back during Bill's campaign?

The ick factor of that post is off the charts.

[BlueManDude]

39. obama has enough on his plate without having to put out michelle brushfires

[sui generis]

10. some say

others say. What, did fox news take over here?

Mark my words, she is also ambitious. Realistically, what people DON'T like, speaking from the hatred dumped on Hillary by this very DU, is a co-president, for perfectly valid democratic reasons.

Now, there is nothing wrong with ambition - but people view the ambitions of the candidate they didn't vote for as suspect, as they view the unknown. Most people don't like the unknown either.

Trying to be fair, I would rather see a real partner to a presidential candidate actively supporting the candidate rather than just being a wallflower, and I want that "partner" to the president to be photogenic, socially responsible, and intelligent just as you do, and not in any particular order, but similarly to disliking her for those reasons alone I am suspicious of liking her for those reasons alone.

Let the play unfold before we start telling people who they need to like.

[Marrah_G]

11. That's not why I am not crazy about her

I don't hate her, I just don't like her very much.

However, in respect for Obama's win, I will keep my reasons to myself for the reasons are not something that will effect the race.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mass]

17. Tastes are personal. I like her, but you cannot get people to like somebody if they do not.

As long as they do not repeat RW talking points, I am fine with that.\nt

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

21. That's a fair point.

Now, if one finds themselves not liking ANY female that might assert herself, well, that's a different story altogether. In this context, however, she needs to realize that she is not the one who should be making headlines, and especially not negative ones. Same went for Bill Clinton - he absolutely should NOT have been making bold proclamations while campaigning for her wife.

[sandnsea]

76. Not liking Teresa and Michelle is a rw talking point

in and of itself. There's absolutely no reason to not like either one of them. Except for people who prefer women to be vacant side pieces, like Laura is.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

19. You're right - she should run for office herself.

But until she does, she needs to stop making headlines that detract from her husband's message. That's really the bottom line, and it goes for every last person that works on a campaign.

[marshall]

20. Those that don't like her sum up all those qualities in one word---Uppity

It's a racist code word.

[LucyParsons]

56. Also a sexist codeword.

[rucky]

23. "...Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter"

[Eurobabe]

25. Who knows Katz, who knows

The only thing I can come up with is that Michelle does come off sometimes as a bit aloof, I've never seen her in person, maybe in that situation she is different. Perhaps she is just protecting her family and her husband, she is guarded at times, and I sure as HELL don't blame her.

I like her alot, she is a dynamite woman, and she will make a very capable and professional first lady.

[madaboutharry]

31. I agree

Exactly.

[mod mom]

36. Didn't she look stunning last night in that magenta dress and her beautiful smile?

[truebrit71]

37. Because some folks are afraid of strong independent women?

...No idea why...

[TragedyandHope]

42. Another reason is

that the Rethug slime machine has been working overtime to smear her with whispering campaigns since last year and so many in our own party were all too happy and eager to further the spreading of those same lies.

[aquart]

43. And a proper wife who knows her place. Let's not forget that one.

[ampad]

44. Some of these Hilly supporters like the victimhood

That is why the loved Hilly so much. She was good at pretending she was hardcore when it suited her and good at yelling sexism when it fit her. I see quite a few "sexism" police in this thread and one of them just made a sexist comment about Michelle. Do you think any of the sexist police will call that person to the mat? Had that been said about Hilly they would be crying and throwing a fucking fit. This is exactly why I don't take their claims of sexism to heart. It's like the GOP claiming Condi Rice gets a bad rap because she is black yet Bush allowed folks to drown in LA during Katrina and that wasn't racist at all. The GOP mindset is the only person to ever face racism is Condi and any other black repig every other black person who claims racims is just crying wolf. With Hilly supporters only Hilly is "worthy" enough to play the woman victim. Michelle Obama opens her mouth, someone tells her to shut up then that is justified because she is not Hilly. Just a bunch of fucking hypocrites. The reason why quite a few don't like Teresa and Michelle is because neither one would bow down to the victim mentality. Had Hilly actually been as strong as either Michelle or Teresa she would of told Bush to stick that war vote up his ass and did the right thing. Instead she postured as a strong person which ironically probably cost her the nomination. I would say jealousy has quite a bit to do with it as well.

[mopinko]

46. she has a great sense of humor. always a challenge for the freepish.

missing her dry wit can really distort who you think she is.
i think people will get to know her better, and will warm up to her.

[Beacool]

50. That's not the reason.

I have never posted one negative word about Michelle, but I have heard enough from other people while campaigning.

To some she comes off as very angry all the time, like someone with a chip on her shoulder.

I don't know her, so I'll reserve my judgment. But, it would do her husband's campaign good if she sounded a little more positive and cheerful in her speeches.

[Peacetrain]

84. I have had the great good fortune to spend

time with Michelle early on in the Iowa campaign.. and she is funny, easy going and anything but angry , or a chip on her shoulder.. I have not even seen a video that shows that..???? Now Bill is mad 24/7 it seems or that is all the video clips I see.. and if you want to see angry.. do NOT tie into Cindy McCain, she could clean someones clock I think

[genna]

86. Angry is an obvious foil when it comes to black people. Anger is unacceptable.

Be unassuming.

Please tell me how accomodating Michelle needs to become to win your approval.


You want to talk about chips on your shoulders?

How about not conceding a win to the Democratic nominee? Is there a chip involved?

[Peacetrain]

100. What??

Michelle Obama is awesome IMHO..

[Peacetrain]

102. OOPS... Never Mind.. I was off line

I just realized you were posting to someone else..:blush:.. Looking for my glasses

[Straight Shooter]

52. You just had to go and insert the word "black" in there, didn't you?

Keep telling yourself that's the reason. People didn't like Teresa Heinz Kerry, either.

I don't know, maybe it has something to do with a person's projection of their personality that rubs people the wrong way? Does everybody IRL love you? Find you charming? Probably not. That's life.

As for me, she strikes me as flinty.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Recursion]

61. "uppity"?

[Straight Shooter]

62. You know how people act when they suddenly come into a lot of money?

Some people are still able to maintain perspective, while others all of a sudden get the idea they're better than everyone, that we're all here to tell them how great they are.

Same thing with power. As Abraham Lincoln said, "If you really want to test a man's character, give him power." I guess that goes for a man's wife, too. No matter the outcome of the GE, the next 4 years will not be pleasant. And I know all the O supporters thought Michelle's dress yesterday was magnificent, but it almost screamed, "Look at meeeee." She always dominates the photo when they're shown as a couple, but that dress really drove home that even on his big night, Michelle wants people to notice her.

The only way I'm going to be able to deal with that Peterbilt ego of hers is by realizing she's the mother of those two adorable girls. :)

Good to see you, too. I expect I won't be hanging around much longer, I've got plans. :hi:

[mtnsnake]

69. Agree about everything

especially the dress. lol

:hi:

[Straight Shooter]

73. Seriously.

That color damn near singed my corneas. :D

:hi:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

97. They forget their place, right, Straight Shooter?

So what are your plans, SS? Sent your resume to the McCain campaign?

[NashVegas]

98. Re: Michelle's Dress

Maybe you just don't get out at the right places, but when AAs dress up for to-dos, they dress UP. The only thing about it that seemed a little bit much about it to me was that it was purple (royal color). But, whatever.

[bhikkhu]

106. I am thinking the next four years will be fine.

Really looking forward to them, in fact. The first time in years.

[sniffa]

91. Well that's CH:F for ya

The GOP can't get a fair shake here. Everyone just hates her.

[AlCzervik]

93. no you did not just call Michelle Obama "Uppity", no you didn't. Good to see who you are.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

99. I didn't think anyone used the term anymore!

Yet I've seen it used more here on DU, in earnest, than anywhere in my entire life. :puke:

[AlCzervik]

101. i can't even believe this shit but it's good to see people reveal their true selves.

because if there were any doubts before now we at least know.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

96. "uppity"

:wow:


You aren't even bothering to hide it.

[chascarrillo]

103. "uppity"

Wow. Just wow.

[jonestonesusa]

107. "it's always the race card with them"?

Who is them?

The basic question is why people respond negatively to Michelle Obama, or Teresa Heinz Kerry, for that matter.

There's been plenty of fair criticism of people on this board who post sexist comments about Hillary Clinton, although some of the sexism still gets by.

So what do you mean by "uppity," "angry"? These are the same terms that have been trotted out for decades to describe African Americans that do not follow their social roles as legal and de facto segregation have set out. I like discussion - I share my perspective, and I want to hear that of others. Why so secretive about why you do not like Michelle Obama if you don't like her? Why not get specific and point to what she has said or done so we all can think about it?

I actually agree that she should be disciplined about her public remarks, since it is a campaign, and Democrats want to win. That's a fair criticism. Calling her "uppity" or "angry" is not.

[JI7]

114. notice he accuses us of using the race card at the same time he uses

the term "uppity" to describe a black person he doesn't like for being the type that speaks up.

[sandnsea]

60. I love Teresa

The same kind of sexist pigs disliked her as dislike Michelle. I guess they think women are supposed to be sniveling lying whiners who can't succeed without their husband's name.

[Straight Shooter]

64. I like Teresa. I don't like Michelle.

I like Hillary. I don't like Laura, or Lynne Cheney. I don't like Condi Rice. I like Maya Angelou. Damn, it's so tough to pigeonhole people, isn't it, once your preconceived notions are stripped away.

I'm glad you "love" Teresa. I'm sure she appreciates it.

[sandnsea]

75. Just those "other" people

who had the problem with Teresa. The same ones who are having the problem with Michelle. It's them, not you. Yeah right.

[Straight Shooter]

83. There you go again.

All sweetness and light.

[jeffrey_X]

54. Just like my wife.

I understand completely.

[LucyParsons]

55. I posted something to this effect a few weeks ago.

I agree.

I hear it from my relatives all the time. It makes me laugh - at them.

[Lady-Damai]

63. America has issues with dark skin black women being successfull....

Anyway, MICHELLE OBAMA ROCKS!!!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. She's a troublemaker. Which this country needs a lot more of.

Actually, I like her more than Barack.

[Aloha Spirit]

67. Amen!

[lutefisk]

71. That's for sure . . . n/t

[busymom]

68. Personal preference, I guess...

I just personally don't feel like I would get along with her. I would have a blast with Donna Brazille though. So..it isn't about black/white or successful/not successful.

[Catherina]

77. No flames. More hugs

[Dhalgren]

81. Great response! Great picture!

:hi:

[Catherina]

87. :) I love that pic. It says so much

:hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

89. Zat Barack's mom? -nt

[billyoc]

79. I think it's because she's not a Republican.

If Condoleeza Rice were running for President, the only sound you'd hear would be fanboys falling at her feet. :hi:

[Independent-Voter]

80. That doesn't fly so well in the hills of Appalachia I hear. Just sayin'

[NotThisTime]

82. You are in fact, quite right.... She's no stepford wife

[depakid]

85. I don't know anyone who "dislikes" her

but I do know some who hope that she'll be more careful to avoid saying impolitic things.

Difficult to do, for sure. I doubt many here could deal with the fishbowl any better.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

90. Michelle reminds me of me, only I'll concede that she's smarter!

Makes we wanna break out my old Public Enemy album, "Fear of a Black Planet"!

[GoldieAZ49]

92. none of the above

arrogant bitter and out of touch with America and Americans

I don't care what she looks like, but beautiful is a stretch beyond reality

[jonestonesusa]

108. And let me guess, you get to decide who's in touch with America...

Which America and Americans are you referring to?

[cynatnite]

111. Hmm..I have not seen anyone here that did not like Michelle Obama...

although I do admit to not liking a particular green dress she wore some time ago. I hope that doesn't count.

[Occam Bandage]

112. It's much simpler than that.

She has better arms than they do. They're jealous.