Pajamas Media

271 Comments

1. AJ:

YES, she is a racist, and a devout one. She is a bad person, and a hypocrite, who is all about herself and her race. It was be more of a tragedy to have her as first lady than her naive husband as president.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:18 am 2. Joanna:

I would no more vote *for* Obama because of his race than I would vote *against* because of his race. I’m voting against him because I don’t trust him any farther than I can throw him - and his wife’s behavior is doing nothing to improve my distance.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:43 am 3. patti:

Can’t quite figure her out. What a waste of time. She could use her talents and education in much better ways then stiring up race relations for no apparent reason.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:43 am 4. Concerned Citizen:

She’s a racist.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:43 am 5. SwingShiftCEO:

Just remember: a vote for Obama is a vote for hope, change, and…hopeful change.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:44 am 6. » If Michelle Obama Isn’t Racist, What Is She?:

[...] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:44 am 7. My new WordPress MU Site » Blog Archive » If Michelle Obama Isn’t Racist, What Is She?:

[...] liza wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptMaureen Dowd fears Michele Obama will be tagged an “angry black woman.” With good reason. [...]

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:48 am 8. huxley:

The online dictionary defines racism:

1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2: racial prejudice or discrimination

I can’t see charging Michelle Obama with the first definition, but she and the members of Trinity church, and even Obama himself, focus way too much on who’s black, who’s white, what that means, why blacks must be understood, and what whites must do in return, for this not to be some form of racism, albeit a subtler sort than Jim Crow.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:48 am 9. havefun:

Hope y’all can hold back your anger when she’s sitting in the whitehouse. And please keep attacking her and making false claims about her husband. Everybody but you republicans and rednecks eat that up and spit it back up on your stupid faces. Good thing you are too dumb to realize that throwing mud is only helping Teflon Barry. But please continue I am sure attacks on his wife will win over Hillary supporters.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:51 am 10. orter:

We’ll be glad to continue. Stick around. The fun is just starting. All it’s going to take is for her to open her gaping pie hole again.

Jun 12, 2008 - 10:01 am 11. A Dane:

Take all the crap coming from both her and Obama, switch the words white and black. Then tell me that they would not be considered white racists.
Apparently it’s okay to be a black racist. That’s considered progressive, but white people who value their race are just plain evil.

Jun 12, 2008 - 10:12 am 12. george:

The irony is that she appears to have this belief that being ‘black’ means one is poor and helpless and lumps them all into one group time and again. Talk about an elite racist removed from reality, and apparently she sounds even more racist towards black Americans then white ones. What a lovely couple they make…

Jun 12, 2008 - 10:14 am 13. Juju:

Asian-American woman here. Since Michelle chooses to arrange white people in front, I’ll move to the back. Waaay to the back, as in OUT THE DOOR to McCain’s camp.

Signed,
Asian supporter of Hillary who’s voting for McCain

Jun 12, 2008 - 10:35 am 14. Michelle Obama: A Racist By Any Other Name:

[...] article on If Michelle Obama Isn’t A Racist What Is She? is up at Pajamas [...]

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:06 am 15. RE:

There’s no point in beating around the bush.

She’s a racist.

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:08 am 16. Bill N:

Obama wants to decide for us if and when we get access to health care. He wants to take money away from those who work for it and give it to those who don’t. He wants to bring the troops home from Iraq, thus guaranteeing an Iranian victory and “hope” for further jihad on American soil. He chooses as his advisors the most vile America-hating people around, including some who pray to God to send Americans directly to hell and others who advocate the violent overthrow of the government, including some who have actually tried to accomplish just that. He is a tramp, a thief, a thug and a traitor. Who CARES what his wife is?

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:33 am 17. Moultrie:

M. Obama’s pitifully written thesis is very clear on her thinking…it’s absolutely 100% racist. The thought of having this arrogant, ungracious woman as the 1st Lady will repulse many voters.

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:43 am 18. lora:

I am trying to figure out how she is a racist because of her thesis, I am a black woman and married to a white male and I went to a predominatly white school and felt very isolated and had strong feelings about this issue, I am not a racist, Michelle is a strong black woman and she is not meek and passive, and for some reason this is a threat to certain people. I do agree with one of the posters that attacking her is going to backfire. Believe me, there are plenty of real issues to address and even attack Obama on, stick to the issues folks.

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:49 am 19. S. G. Hayward:

First off, there’s no such thing as race, black or white.

Secondly, the concepts of race and privilege and their existence still exists today, and it’s extremely hard for anyone living under them to identify their existence. Having a national discourse about their continued presence and effects is necessary for this nation’s health. For instance, white supremacy is much harder to pick out now. It is simply unbelievable that white people who were racist and grew up in a racist, and continue to live in white-majority areas, have all simply forgotten years of hatred and prejudice. We did not conquer racism in 1964. It is still alive and well, and it’s being controlled by the same people who have always controlled it.

When Ms. Berry goes off to smear the Mr. and Mrs. Obama with such phrases like “yet another Ivy-league educated millionaire (as both she and her husband are)” and then continues to tell us how they can’t understand what it’s like living “paycheck-to-paycheck,” she leaves something gaping unsaid. Namely, that everyone in the positions of power in the government today, the policy-makers and the politicians, are millionaires. They might not have been when they started, but they are now. Simple fact, there is no one in politics who has not been somewhat removed from poorer Americans, or even lower-middle class Americans, as the majority of the people in this country are.

Now, Ms. Berry describes herself as “a typical white person”. Typically, white people are racist. But we can’t see it. I grew up in a Northeastern city, went to public schools, lower-middle class college-educated parents. And yet, even though I went to a white-minority school for every year of my education; that “white fear” is still in me. I see a black man and I’m afraid and suspicious. I should be more afraid about the drunken white kid in any car hitting me, or the rich white businessman screwing my job over by stealing from the company I work for. Those things are more likely to happen.

Furthermore, I’d suggest you take the time to watch this video and listen to what this man says. Even if you sincerely disagree with it, listening will not harm you, and it will only make your future arguments that much stronger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UJlNRODZHA

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:54 am 20. dem in chicago:

Oh please. She’s NOT a racist. What she IS is your next first lady of the U.S. Get used to it.

Jun 12, 2008 - 12:24 pm 21. Arius:

“Typically, white people are racist” (spoken by a true racist). This is only true if you admit that typically, black people are racist in the same manner, often worse. White liberals want to think that white people are racist and that black people can’t be racist to assuage the sense of quilt that has been drummed into them. Black people want to think that only whites are racist as compensation for their inferiority complex, a historical artifact that black people must themselves work through.

Jun 12, 2008 - 12:35 pm 22. john:

I agree with Bill N. Racism is the least of Obama’s problems. You can start for example with him being the MOST liberal senator then add on him being a socialist maybe even communist. Add to that his despicable associations and willingness to sit and chat with our enemies. Yea, I could care less about his wife. He’s enough to destroy this country.

Jun 12, 2008 - 12:40 pm 23. huxley:

Having a national discourse about their continued presence and effects is necessary for this nation’s health.

So Obama said in his big race speech, pointing the finger at whites much as you are doing, then he promptly dropped this supposedly important conversation, and later the Rev. Wright, whom he said he couldn’t disown, and finally the whole Trinity church.

Typically, white people are racist.

According to current DOJ statistics, blacks murder whites at a rate 25x more often than visa-versa. That sounds racist to me.

Can we also say, “Typically, black people are racist”? If not, why not?

Jun 12, 2008 - 12:55 pm 24. Ryan:

This blog article is filled with ridiculous statement after ridiculous statement. Mrs. Obama might say some inoppurtune things that are in turn blown up and taken out of context as to portray her as a typical “angry black woman”. It states that Mrs. Obama claims to understand “the plight of the Black lower class”, when her thesis explicitly uses the word speculation in the quote that the author of this article used as support for her bashing. Also, Mrs. Obama states that she grew up in a working class family on the south side of Chicago, all of which is entirely true and you some how try to say she is fabricating information to better show her compassion for the lower class blacks in America. Katherine Berry represents the portion of America who inevitably will try and turn the Obamas into the stereotypical type of black people who hate whites and America in general. Well, Ms. Berry…there are enough educated and ignorance lacking Americans who can see through race and vote for whom they feel is the best candidate to lead the FREE world and they have proved it by making Obama the Democratic nominee. Right when I had almost lost faith in America, the country I love so much, they nominate a black man for President and he will more than likely win the election. It is a true sign that maybe America is still the hope of the world, the trend setters, the revolutionary thinkers.

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:04 pm 25. Donash:

If you can´t keep your big mouth shut then why open it !!
Michelle is just another typical stupid nincompoop else she wouldn´t be his wife !!
Donah////

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:09 pm 26. OneOfMany:

Katherine Berry, you are not a typical white person. You are a blantant racist desperately hoping that your own ignorance is shared by the majority. You are quite wrong in that assumption, and the fact that Senator Obama is the nominee should be proof of that.

Your hack piece of writing is worth no other comment other than to say that I feel sorry for you. You must harbor such resentment in your own life to lash out at a candidate’s wife. That is truly pathetic and speaks volumes more about you than anything you’ve written about Michelle Obama.

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:11 pm 27. Sandra M:

Michelle Obama’s comment about being proud of America for the first time in her life or proud to be an American for the first time in her left because of her husband’s candidacy shows a self-absorbed narcissism that is stunning. I’m proud of being an American and proud of America several times a week, thank you.

The woman has no gratitude at all even though her race not her grades got her where she got. And, that earmark of a million dollars to the hospital she worked at ended up TRIPLING her salary.

Her comment about what Obama “will allow you to….” whatever chilled me. That’s the thinking of a collectivist, a tyrant. He looks so nice like Nelson Mandela. She seems so rancorous and fierce (like the notorious Winnie Mandela).

And then there is Obama’s half-brother, Abongo Obama, and his cousin Odinga, who are using mass violence (locked men, women and children in a Christian church and burned them to death) to overthrow a pro-American duly elected government in Kenya and put Muslim Sharia law in place. Obama went to Kenya to help out with the election they lost. There are pictures (google Obama Odinga). and Obama called them during the New Hampshire primary telling them to cool it lest their violence reflect on him.

Obama’s friends, his minister, his family and his Princess Ticked off, finger-wagging shrew of a wife will all help defeat him.

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:24 pm 28. Keith:

You call yourself “venomous” and you’re right. Get a life!

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:38 pm 29. Linda Kearney:

I like Barak but I won’t VOTE FOR HIM due to his wife Michelle’s antics.

She was compared the last few days to Jackie O. Please…I am almost 60 years old and I saw and watched Jackie O. before and after JFK died and Michelle wasn’t born till after JFK died.

Jackie was southern born, gentle, kind, quiet, small size, shyed from publicity even taking her kids out of the country for years and away from the Kennedy family influences. She was well educated and soothed public opinion about her “skirt chasing Pres hubby”. She had dignity and charisma and worked for all races equally.

Michelle is tall, big boned, well educated yes but loud, brash, insulting and definately has BLACK agenda over everyone else on her front line issue. “Poor black raised” she was not so she has NO idea how the rest of us grew up let alone SURVIVE from paycheck to paycheck. Oprah had Barak’s back and money support since day 1. She should be his VP/first lady.

Carolina Kennedy and others support Barak. I doubt Caroline made the comparison between her mother and Michelle and if she did SHAME ON HER.
I don’t like McCain either but I won’t vote Obama….if he looses the Pres. Michelle will be a main cause.

Jun 12, 2008 - 1:48 pm 30. ALEXISTAN:

And Brutus is an honorable man.

Jun 12, 2008 - 2:15 pm 31. LisaP:

I’m so looking forward to McCain’s historic landslide victory in November, when I’ll no longer have to listen to Oblahma’s naive boot-licking supporters prove their idiocy minute by minute. Oh, and that (w)itch he’s married to, ditto for her.

Jun 12, 2008 - 2:26 pm 32. C'mon:

Blacks can indeed be racist. But to call Michelle O. racist for her statements is simply embellishing. Why is it racist to have a bad taste in your mouth for a place that in your life time championed segregation? Why is it blacks can’t show disdain for a period of our history in which they were the victims, without being called racist. That is not directed at the citizens. It is directed at past policies. She is a woman who grew up black in America.

And if whites were not represented fairly in America it would be fine to swap black for white when you protest. But that is not the case. Also blacks don’t have a problem with white pride or power. Blacks have a problem with white superiority or oppression.

According to current DOJ statistics, blacks murder whites at a rate 25x more often than visa-versa. That sounds racist to me.

That makes no sense. First of all Blacks kill Blacks when you talk violent crime. Also your stats fit your argument if they are real. Your not counting all the blacks killed by cops “legally” compared to whites. Not to mention liquor stores, inferior schools, and everything else in areas with a large black populations.

Jun 12, 2008 - 2:33 pm 33. kathy berg:

Reading this blog, I’d say you are the racist Kathryn….!

Since you think you are so balanced, when are you out Cindy McCain for being arrested for stealing drugs and committing adultery with another woman’s husband…that would be Mr. McShame first wife Carol!

Jun 12, 2008 - 2:52 pm 34. LA Progressive:

I am amazed at the nonsense people will say in these comments. Michelle a racist? Give me a break. Has she experienced racism towards her in her lifetime? Most definitely YES! The only problem with Michelle is she is honest and open and those are two things we don’t expect out of politician’s wives. I prefer her any day over Laura’s stupid, doting expressions or Cindy McCain’s plastic exterior. For once, a real woman and you are all scared to death because she isn’t 100% what you are used to!

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:00 pm 35. Concerned Citizen:

Hey C’mon….I want to mention the Vietnamese Boat people. The boat people came over with nothing. Zero. They took whatever menial jobs they could get and their kids worked like slaves to get an education. They didn’t sit around and collect welfare, they wanted to work and work hard. They lived in dumpy, crime-ridden neighborhoods because that was what they could afford and they received the same education available to anyone else in this country. And they have succeeded in spite of racism, not speaking the language and a litany of other challenges. Why can’t everyone else do this? Did I miss something here or did they succeed in spite of “White Oppression”?

Not everyone gets the same opportunity or “fairness” in life, whatever that is. It’s up to the individual and the community they belong to to do something about their own situation, not wait for someone else to “make it right”. Quit complaining.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:04 pm 36. S. G. Hayward:

I’m calling my own “race” racist, and thus I must be the racist? That’s seems impossible.

Murder statistics do not prove racism.

There are many more white people than black people in this country. It seems quite probable that anyone who has killed someone has killed a white person. But what are the murder statistics for white people killing white people?

As for asking for a discourse, and then asking us to examine ourselves, I simply have this to say: I am white. I have been defined that way. I have a moral duty to criticize myself and my “race” as it is defined before I go about criticizing others and their massive and diverse groups. I have been blessed with the skin color and the introspection to have an inside glance at why white culture thinks the way it does. Forget Reverend Wright. He is merely someone to provoke us. There are many white equivalents of Reverend Wright. He spoke from a culture far removed from any place of whiteness.

As Ms. M who mentioned that it was Mrs. Obama race, not her grades that got her her education, the fact is that there are many ways white racism still pervades society.

As an example, I respectfully as you to watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uH0vpGZJCo

If you can find examples as insidious as these of black racism then by all means, bring them up, drag them into the light, so that they may be disinfected.

But for us to tar and feather a black women with “racist,” especially as white people, seems more like revenge than an educated discourse on what racism is. After all, do black people control many institutions other than those that serve their communities? Because people who are racist are not problems as long as the institutions they embody are not racist. For instance, even if we were to elect the first black racist (if that is what he is) to president in the form of Barack Obama, then it appears unlikely that he’ll be able to push through anti-white legislation that is not supported by whites. And certainly no white person would support something that is racist against them? Furthermore, a black racist as president would have to counteract all the white racism already present in the system, which probably would make things more equal. And in four years, one can elect a white president to undo any slight damage done.

Finally, to the person who used liberal as a dirty word. I see no reason to use conservative in the same way. After all, this country was founded by what we today would term conservatives and liberals alike. We are all an integral part of the greatness of this country, and assaulting one section of the country in attacks is an assault on all. This does not mean we should be blind when it comes to the evils done by all sides, but we should seek to make fewer enemies than we do when we divide ourselves.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:19 pm 37. racist AA:

it amazes me how racist white people like this kathryn can be and how they will never know what it is to be a black person.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:27 pm 38. cv:

She is definitely a drag on the campaign. Why are the Obamams protesting so much? Obamas baby mama! Now that was funny! Now SNL can’t use it!

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:29 pm 39. Roy M:

“According to current DOJ statistics, blacks murder whites at a rate 25x more often than visa-versa. That sounds racist to me.”

Well it sounds like a lie to me.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/tables/ovracetab.htm

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:37 pm 40. david levavi:

Michelle Obama’s attitudes are the wages of affirmative action. Casting aside merit and replacing it with race-based preferences has created a generation of racist and seditious African Americans eager to bite the generous American hand that feeds them.

Affirmative action winners are ashamed and uncomfortable about their unearned success. Ashamed before White peers whose success is legitimate and ashamed before Blacks who they feel they’ve left behind.

Barack and Michelle are an affirmative action success story writ large. Their accomplishments are as fraudulent and corrupt and hollow as the racist policy that raised them far above their worth.

If your freedom or finances were in the balance would you hire either of these two lawyers to represent you in court? Can you define “community organizer?” Is it a qualification for any job you can name? How much does a community organizer earn and who signs his paycheck?

Why are Harvard and Princeton concealing Barack and Michelle’s theses? Is this ethical? An example of academic freedom and openness? Why such fear of honest American sunshine by our elite universities? After the spectacle of Harvard and Princeton rolling in the gutter like scrapping dogs for the honor of having Cornell West on their faculty, no one bothers to raise such questions.

Affirmative action underlies the success of the Obama’s friends in Chicago as well. Their racist and seditious church and their racist and seditious minister are funded by American tax dollars in the millions. Likewise Pfleger’s church and Farrakhan’s mosque.

Wright, Pleger and Farrakhan may be racist America haters, we are told, but they do a great deal of good for the community. They help the homeless, fight prostitution, get addicts off drugs and kids off the street. Who provides oversight to insure that this is so and that public moneys channeled through their shrines are not misspent? Their Holy Reverends. Metrics? Ya gotta be kidding.

In Iraq, General Petreus distinguished himself by traveling around with sacks of cash to bribe gangster Muslim clerics to our side. Our politicians practice the same policy right here at home. The Revs Wright, Pfleger and Farrakhan are living high at the expense of the American taxpayer. And they’re as loyal to America as their bloodthirsty brothers-in-the-cloth we buy by the bushel in the Baghdad.

Not to raise questions about Obama’s wife and Obama’s associates is simple gutlessness masquerading as civility. Obama’s wife is fair game and the Republicans are derelict in their duty to their party and the nation if they don’t expose her every racist and anti-American utterance. Likewise Obama and every single one of his grotesque associates.

Hold them up to public scrutiny and keep the public eye fixed on them continually until November. McCain can take sunshine. Obama can’t.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:50 pm 41. colagirl:

I like Obama. I think he seems like a genuinely nice guy. I also have no intention of voting for him whatsoever, because I think he’s too inexperienced and strongly disagree with him on his stance on Iraq, among other things.

Michelle? I read a comment on her once — can’t remember where — that indicated “she displays a combination of bitterness and entitlement that is quite disturbing” that I find fairly accurate. Comments such as “for the first time in my life I can be proud of my country,” or such as “I’m married to the answer” or her enumeration of things Barak Obama is going to *require* us to do, don’t endear her to me either. She didn’t convince me *not* to vote for her husband, but she sure isn’t helping.

I’ve heard the argument that ” can’t be racist” before, paired with its fellow “women can’t be sexist.” To me, it’s always sounded like a way to give members of said ethnic group who buy into it a free pass on being as vitriolic and hatefilled as they want (as well as giving a secret, guilty thrill to those whites/men who buy into it, by flattering them with a vastly exaggerated notion of their own power). It’s a sick game that ultimately benefits no one. Hate is hate and bigotry is bigotry, no matter the skin color or chromosome type, and one truism about hate is that the hater always seeks for validation and justification for their hatred.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:56 pm 42. Billy:

I don’t think she is a racist but she does have a grudge. Yes, her thesis was poorly written and she knows that quotas got her into her schools. Having a hard time with the bar exam also made her feel that “The Man” had stacked it all against her and intensified her grudge.

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:56 pm 43. C'mon:

Huh?

I want to mention the Vietnamese Boat people. The boat people came over with nothing. Zero. They took whatever menial jobs they could get and their kids worked like slaves to get an education.

In your eyes. Choosing to come to the U.S. for a better life as immigrants with an identity of their own is similar to forced slavery and forced ignorance.

I wasn’t complaining. I was simply explaining her right to express her pains. To people like you.

I hope you are not in public service CONCERNED CITIZEN (teacher, police,ems,fire,judge) because you are dangerous.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:01 pm 44. Dave II:

Michelle Obama’s view of AMERICA is what gets me. I could care less what she thinks on race relations.

Listen to her descriptions of “life” in America sometime. It is nothing but sad, negative, whiney, pathetic garbage… clearly out of touch with the mainstream, middleclass person out there.

Of course…not identifying with “middleclassness” is a badge of honor for Michelle. Wouldn’t want to appear “too white”!

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:06 pm 45. Billy:

David Levavi, Her this is here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2305083/Pri...

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:09 pm 46. budo:

Racist is VERY correct. Check out her thesis at Princeton entitled “Pronceton-Educated Black and Black Community” by Michelle LaVaughn Robinson (her maiden name). IT IS VERY ENLIGHTENING and SCARY!

Wow, how did this fraud get to where he is?? A smile and “change” can get some people a long way! I watched him again today making a speech and he reminded me somewhat of his last debate in PA where he stumbled, stuttered and ‘AHed” himself silly. This clown is OK when prescripted (not always) but obviously loses his composure even under the slightest of pressure.

He would be a DISASTER as a governor much less President. As a DEM voter for 40 years I am DISGUSTED with this choice and WILL NEVER vote for this media created narcissistic novice.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:13 pm 47. Be open minded:

David
I am a human resource manager for a very large Co. Fortune 10. I know for a fact that affirmative action helps and is needed in some forms. Our main facility is in a urban area. every 3 years we hire 30 new employees for the past 32 years. We use a standard test to screen potential candidates. Then we do a through background check. At that point we interview the remaining. I know for a fact as a company we did not call people perceived to be minority’s no matter if they made the cut or not. Not to mention the majority of applicants were minority’s. This practice didn’t stop until the state began to investigate. Now we hire a handful every now and then. Actually the state had us hire some of the minority’s that were qualified as part of a settlement. So when you blame a minority for taking your job think about blaming the people who should have been legit the first time around.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:19 pm 48. Kay:

“S. G. Hayward:

First off, there’s no such thing as race, black or white”

Agree 100%. There is only the human race. The color of the outer layers of skin is just a physical characteristic, nothing else. Try to think of how you would explain ‘race’ as its defined in the mainstream to a person blind from birth and you’ll realize how stupid the idea is.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:27 pm 49. The problem:

The problem is we associate disappointment with America as white hate. That is no more silly than supporting America being considered black hate. It is okay to disagree with government. And if you disagree you just disagree.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:36 pm 50. david:

If you’re an educated person you understood what Michelle Obama meant when she said she has never been proud of her country as she was today. What was she talking about?? duhhhh, maybe she was talking about the fact that Iowa, an all white state, just overwhelmingly voted for her African american husband. I don’t think a black woman who went to Princeton then Harvard is not proud of her country you idiots. Maybe she left out the word “”more”" duhhh. for those of you that don’t understand this blog, God help you.

Sincerely,

The educated people

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:37 pm 51. Anna-Lee:

I agree with everyone who says that Michelle Obama is racist. She doesn’t like whites. I’m very concerned about being in this Country if B Obama is the president.

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:38 pm 52. tell em:

S.G
people won’t watch because they prefer plausible deniability. Then they would have to admit to themselves what they already know.

In case you missed it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uH0vpGZJCo

Jun 12, 2008 - 4:49 pm 53. DrRay:

To all you right-wing conservative bigots:

Michelle is fine. Here’s one non-African American and his family all of whom will be voting for Obama. Now combine all the tens of millions of our votes and you have no option but to choke on your own hateful venom against the wife of one of the nicest Presidential candidates we ever had!

Obama-Gore ‘08 or Obama-Sebilius ‘08!

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:07 pm 54. david:

beware of great whitey, for great whitey will always prevail. God help us

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:11 pm 55. douglas:

Talking about a waste of time, lady you have done it because your article said nonething of any value. Since you are so interested in 1980s research you should write about Mrs. John McCain’s indicement on drug charges in 1987,which she entered a consent decree plea with the justice department to avoid prosecution.
Just what we need in a First Lady!!

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:16 pm 56. Nahanni:

The Obama’s are proof positive for the fact that racism, like stupidity, is an equal opportunity employer.

But I do have a memo for them and their supporters.

Please keep calling everyone and anyone who does not worship at the altar of Obama a racist. It is backfiring on you big time.

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:22 pm 57. Cranky:

I don’t care if she’s racist or not. I can’t stand her or her smug husband and don’t want either of their liberal selves in the White House.

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:25 pm 58. DrRay from Ohio:

Michelle is a lot better than the Botox-filled Cindy McCain, btw. And why the heck did McBush divorce his first wife after she had an accident and marry a rich woman for her money and power? A sign of things to come perhaps: now he’s surrounded by lobbyists with their offers of money.

McSame should retire instead of fighting for more tax cuts for the rich (I am one of them by the way) and a needless war that cost us billions and thousands of lives and plunged us into a recession.

God bless the USA! Obama ‘08!

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:33 pm 59. The mighty whitey:

Your argument is specious. She is no more a racist than my very melanin challenged self.

Get ready Kansas. There will indeed be a Black Man in the oval office come January.

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:43 pm 60. Ger:

Roy M:

“According to current DOJ statistics, blacks murder whites at a rate 25x more often than visa-versa. That sounds racist to me.”

Well it sounds like a lie to me.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/tables/ovracetab.htm

It sounds like a lie, but if you look over the
statistics for the past 30-40 years and factor
in that blacks over that time have represented
just 11.5% to 13% of the population then it
starts to come out to 20+%. Let’s say that in a certain year the black population was 12%. That means the non-black was 88% (7.3 times as
much). You then get the equivalent black on white crime for say 1993 of 10169(7.3*1393). That is
23.5 times the white on black crime of 432

Jun 12, 2008 - 5:47 pm 61. Sharon:

Michelle is a racist! I am a former Hillary supporter and it is not that I dislike Obama so much, but it is his lack of experience, him being a left-wing liberal and married to that “Big Mouth racist Michelle”, that I will vote for John McCain in November.

Jun 12, 2008 - 6:24 pm 62. Angry African:

It seems as if the Republicans are getting their knickers in a knot over Michelle Obama. And getting ready to take aim at her over the next few months. But maybe they should take a look in the mirror and ask themselves what are they so “proud” of? Maybe they should revisit what Michelle Obama has seen from her American leaders since she was born the year after President Kennedy got killed. And then, no matter what they come up with and manage to spin, I’ll still take a straight shooter who doesn’t mince words - the Michelle way. That’s American. That’s the American way. And the choice of spouses also tells me loads of the candidates themselves. And not the way you think. http://angryafrican.net/2008/06/12/michelle-not-a-stepford-wife/

Jun 12, 2008 - 6:42 pm 63. David P:

The America hating left will fulfill it’s grandest ambitions if our nation refuses to examine the catastrophic legacies of democratic foreign policies. Carter & Clinton’s reckless & naive decisions have led to nuclear Mullahs in Tehran and an Israel devastated by blood thirsty Arafatnicks.

Iraq is a foothold for the United States, no longer welcome in Saudi Arabia, we needed to set up shop somewhere. It wasn’t going to be like our welcome in the kingdom, the end goal was to establish ourselves, and at the same time hopefully settle the country. In time those logistics would work themselves out, the primary threat was and has always been Iran. Tis better to establish forward operating bases sooner rather then later.

Jun 12, 2008 - 6:46 pm 64. Arius:

The specifics of Obama and his wife are less important than having the Democrats in control of the House, Senate, and White House. I don’t think any of you have started to think about the consequences. Look anywhere in the country where there is single party rule and you will find corruption. Chicago is an example. Clinton was singularly corrupt but had a Republican Congress that pulled him to the center. If the Democrats win everything then there is nothing to pull them to the center. This is the worst time for this to happen since we are heading into the biggest credit contraction since the last Great Depression which was caused by Hoover and Roosevelt that both upped taxes again and again which turned a recession into a depression. It may already be a fait accompli. Congress is already pushing windfall tax legislation against the US oil industry. Only Congress would answer the country’s need for more oil and gas by legislation to reduce oil and gas and further drive up energy costs. Congress is already taking about tax increases of nearly one trillion a year for ten years. I follow the markets in commodities, currencies, credit, housing, and equities, and you should be afraid. Everything I read coming out of Congress and the two parties shows abject ignorance of the markets. The government will drive the economy into a Hyper Inflationary Depression. I guess then all you partisans will be happy.

Jun 12, 2008 - 7:11 pm 65. Paul:

Raciest? Like ‘typical’ black people?

Jun 12, 2008 - 7:56 pm 66. huxley:

I brought up the murder statistics.

See Percent of All Stranger Homicides by Race from the DOJ. Blacks kill ~4x as many whites as whites kill blacks. Adjusting for the fact that there are ~6.5x as many whites as blacks, therefore blacks are ~25x more likely to murder whites than visa-versa. And comparing black-on-white rape to white-on-black rape is astronomically worse.

Jun 12, 2008 - 8:22 pm 67. S. G. Hayward:

I’d argue that the al Sauds in Saudi Arabia are very fond of the United States, as we’re a stronger supporter of them. If we do have tenuous position there, it is because of American blunders that included Iraq. The Western world has a duty to the Middle East to ensure its peace, mainly because we have helped fuel the conflict there, in more ways than one.

I do not think Americans should be the people to “settle the country” if that is Iraq or Arabia. We are, after all, the Land of the Free, and it is our duty to be the beacon of Freedom throughout the world. We should not be withdrawn isolationists, like the Republican senator President Bush quoted who believed that he could have just talked to Hitler and solved the war. But neither should we bring democracy to the world by way of force or by establishing ourselves abroad in any way beyond allied assistance and cultural diplomacy. An American force should be wise and smiling. After all, diplomacy might very well be the art of hiding one’s strength. The clean looking great America is more appealing than the America that drops bombs.

My personal belief is that the current administration has severely crippled the myth of the mighty American military. It is now known that the most powerful military in all of history can be stopped and severely bloodied by what amounts to little more than well-armed bands of thugs. The loss of the belief in the eyes that American force was overwhelming has been catastrophic and has only emboldened our enemies around the globe. We must retract and rebuild.

I do not think however, that there is a perfect candidate before us. John McCain is a man with questionable health, from a rapidly aging generation, and is running on a reputation that has been diminished by pandering for the last four years. What makes it worse for McCain is that his economic package is undercut by the fact that Obama’s tax program actually saves money for those of us who make under $112,000 a year (the majority).

Barack Obama is a shrewd politician, has garnered unpopular support from radical elements of the left, is backed by a juggernaut of a grassroots campaign, has an inspiringly vague message and powerful speaking qualities. However, he has not committed to discontinuing the use of the unconstitutional signing statements that were created by the current administration, making me fear an expansion of the executive branch beyond the current increase it has gained in the last eight years.

That said, Congress has a duty to check any radicalization or increase in the President’s power, and I rather wish that the way politics worked was that legislators didn’t all want to be president, but were proud of representing the people directly. The fact that we our top candidates were all senators makes me fear a continued diminishing of Congress’ power in exchange for a stronger executive as no senator will check the the power of the presidency in case they should find themselves in the position to use such power. In fact, I venture to say that Congress only comes to battle with the president when there are party politics in the mix.

Which brings me to the next point: we do nothing to decrease the vitriolic atmosphere of this political season by calling one another names distinguishing between liberal and conservative, left and right, republican and democrat, as though we are all not Democratic Republicans. The Obama-McCain showdown was predicted in January to be the most civil of the possible scenarios in this General Election, and instead, I can imagine no scenario worse. I am sickened by the venom on both sides, whether it’s the idiocy of those pretending to be proponents of the Republicans, or those masquerading as supporters of the Democrats. Both do their party harm.

Racism is not distinct to one party, as anyone who has studied American history can tell you. We did not slay racism in 1862, nor did we slay it in 1964, and I can guarantee it will not be defeated in 2066. But we have the ability to recognize what racism we can find in ourselves, and we should thus be aware of it.

As Jesus said, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” There are none among us who have the right to cast our stones at Michelle Obama. If you cannot appreciate that, perhaps you should choose a less free nation.

Jun 12, 2008 - 8:37 pm 68. Justin:

@ Democrats on this thread

You know what the Democrats remind me of? There was this one episode of South Park where a gay teacher tried to get himself fired for being gay so he could sue the school for 12 million or so in court for discrimination. He then went through the entire episode doing one outrageously perverted thing after another in front of the students. When the students complained everyone was angry at them for being homophobic. Finally, at the end of the episode it dawned on the parents that they didn’t hate gays, they just objected to this one creep who just happened to be gay. I REALLY WISH THE DEMOCRATS COULD UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON’T OBJECT TO OBMAMA FOR BEING BLACK. THAT WE HAVE JUST SEEN HOW THIS FREAK IS AND WE DON’T LIKE HIM FOR WHO HE IS.

Unfortunately that will never happen. The Democrats have a deep seated need to believe that the opposition is racist. It helps make them feel more comfortable with not examining their own party too closely.

I say to all of you who are like me, those of you who does not like Obama because of who he is, keep trying to convince the other side that we are not racist. Keep telling them the truth. This may seem futile at first, but understand that it was because we gave up on trying to communicate with them while they have never stopped spouting one outrageous slur after another that has allowed them to have any strength at all in this country. Don’t quit talking to them. Giving up on them is what they want. The Democrats want to be able to curl up with their comfortable happy illusions of being the good guys that are fighting against horrible racists. Don’t let them have their lies. At every chance, at every turn, explain your feelings to them. Be forceful, be blunt. Don’t give the Democrat scum the chance to turn around whine about how you are just covering up your racism. Don’t be tolerant of their slanders. Don’t show them or their point of view an inch of respect. The Democrats are SWINE who thrive off of believing these sorts of things about the people who oppose them. It makes championing concepts that time has consistently disproved, such as Marxism, that much more comfortable. The Democrats are the racists and the villains in this argument and this election. Don’t let them believe otherwise.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:05 pm 69. huxley:

Hayward — You seem to forget that Michelle and Barack Obama attended an arguably racist church for 20 years in which America was damned and libeled and white people blamed for all the ills of the world, while the congregation danced and clapped and the Obamas praised their church and its pastor to the sky.

Racism is not distinct to one race either, which is something that has become quite clear in 2008.

You also seem to forget that in a free society people speak their minds as they see fit without asking permission or being asked to move elsewhere if their words don’t fit the requirements of people like you.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:09 pm 70. Kathy:

Michele Obama is raising her kids to hate white people. She is definitely a hater……..hater of the country and white people…there is no controversy here. And her husband is a product of Affirmative Action. He thinks there are 57 states, that kids with Asthma use breathalizers and inhalators?????????? That’s just a start.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:12 pm 71. Justin:

Dear educated people aka David,

““For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,” she told a Milwaukee crowd today, “because it feels like hope is making a comeback.””

Also, I have a college education. My Chemistry teacher is voting for McCain and so am I. After all, only a freaking brainwashed idiot would vote for Obama. Either that or a person who was simply racist against white people.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:19 pm 72. Justin:

@S. G. Hayward:

“I’m calling my own “race” racist, and thus I must be the racist? That’s seems impossible.”

Only if you believe that a person cannot have a racial prejudice against his own race. Which you clearly do.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:26 pm 73. theresa:

my god, most of you sound utterly ridiculous. it just eats you up that michelle was a bright student who excelled at not one, but two elite institutions and had the gall to point out that she felt like an outsider, doesn’t it? i’ll type this in a way that i hope you can understand. an. ivy. league. degree. DOES. NOT. exempt. one. from. racism. got that? DOES. NOT.(for women, it doesn’t always exempt them sexism). nor does it improve the plight of a WHOLE group, especially when that group has historically and continues to be at an economic and social disadvantage. what exactly has she done that deserves the title of racist? telling the truth that some white people suck? (eloquently of course)should she grovel before the people who, despite her impressive pedigree and accomplishments, imagine themselves better than her? people are a trip. they don’t have a pot to pee in, poor and uneducated (lacking book smarts and common sense), yet they’ll look down on others because all they have to cling to is their race. i’d laugh, but i sense your paranoia is quite real, leading you to make these crazy remarks , so i’ll pray for you instead. the heck with it, i’m still going to laugh at you because scary, stupid white people are a source of amusement to my friends and me. carry on.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:29 pm 74. Jennifer:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

This is awesome satire. Sometimes it takes putting things this ridiculous in print to make people see just how silly they sound. Kudos to the author!

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:33 pm 75. S. G. Hayward:

Mr. or Ms. Huxley, whichever it may be,

I am entirely aware of the church of which you speak, and its rhetoric, including the “god damn America” statement. I am not ignoring it, I find it hard to condemn though. I was lucky enough to attend a panel discussion on the Black Church in America, and I can say that it certainly opened up my eyes. The racism against whites in the Black Church is a direct result of racism against blacks in the rest of society. It was the only place black people could turn to without fearing attacks from whites.

I have also not spoken a word against white pastors of white churches who spoke similar words about God’s condemning or punishing or damning America for other sins, besides the call by Wright that God was damning America for its treatment of blacks. How many times did we read that God was blessing America, and a few of the pastors who support McCain, and McCain sought, have said things that are quite unsavory. Both the rhetoric of Wright and Falwell is a nuisance. If I am guilty of ignoring Wright, I am guilty of ignoring those that advocated a similar punishment. As are we all.

Racism is certainly not specific to majorities or minorities. However, the harm from racism is when powerful institutions use it to oppress others. However, there is no institution in America other than Black Churches that are controlled entirely by blacks, and thus any authority that the Obamas might use to use racist power against will ultimately be executed by institutions made up of predominantly white people. We all have the ability to defend ourselves against oppressive forces as is given to us in the Constitution. Exercise your rights. Those who are the instruments and tools of power have the strength and the ability to do those who misuse them great harm, and they should do it if that power is used unconstitutionally.

Finally, I admit my the last sentence of my last comment was a tad out of line, and soiled the rest of what I said. I am sorry for using it, and it was as close-minded as many of the less savory responses here. I just wish for a more civil debate. I feel increasingly turned off, the more I read of those who attack and attack relentlessly without thought or tact, tarring one another with words we should all be proud of. We are, after all, a proud country.

Jun 12, 2008 - 9:56 pm 76. whatsername:

Only someone mired in their own privilege would be ignorant and unobservant enough to call Michelle Obama racist. That’s an absurd thing to say.

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:21 pm 77. schnargley:

How dare all you Nascar hillbillies so viciously attack a woman, especially this tall, strong, proud, defenseless black woman! Just because Michelle is proud of her blackness, advocates that they stick together and avoid whitey’s influence, taht they get even for 300 years of oppresion by the white man, and is disgusted with white culture and its domination of her race does not make her racist. Those who stated that there is no race but the human race are the real racists because it is indirectly attacking the black race. If people like Michelle hate you and want to get away from you or get even politically by getting power, it’s all your fault for being racist to her and her race. Although I am from north European stock and cannot dance or jump, I am profoundly disgusted by my race and will gladly see Sen. Obama and Michelle as POTUS in order to balance out the white man’s hateful history. I say with Rev. Wright, “Godamn America! God damn her!!”

Elect Obama and Michelle!

Jun 12, 2008 - 11:49 pm 78. Today’s Ma.gnolia Links : Slobokan’s Site O’ Schtuff:

[...] Pajamas Media » If Michelle Obama Isn’t Racist, What Is She? [...]

Jun 13, 2008 - 12:01 am 79. Sotally Tober:

Maureen Dowd is nothing but a race baiting wannabe journalist. You sound exactly like Hillary Clinton…”Oh, I’m not saying that Michelle Obama’s a racist”…yet your headline is exactly what you meant it to mean. Just look at the comments. Every female name who posted is a sore Clinton supporter. What a bunch of pansy-ass cry babies. Get over it! You too DOWD!! Maybe you should switch over to the “Enquirer”…I hear they need ‘reporters’ and you’d fit in perfectly.

Jun 13, 2008 - 12:49 am 80. Muyiwa:

Oh Great Katherine!! she is Racist, so u wont vote her husband? This is interesting, a white woman calling a black woman racist? i do not mean tos ay racism is teh exclusive of whites, no, we blacks are very much racist also, we do have our prejudices, but I dont think these prejudices stand alone, they r a product of stimulatiion to our environment!! we became racist coz we were at the recieving end of racism

Jun 13, 2008 - 1:05 am 81. Roy M:

Huxley,

That analysis of murder statistics, explained by Ger (thanks) is just a meaningless number salad.

Why do I say that?

Well, using your method of analysis red-haired people kill normal people at a rate 32x the rate that normal people kill Gingers. “That sounds like racism to me!”

An individual randomly chosen white person IS less likely to murder someone than a black person, but so what? White people are so much more numerous and, more worringly, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE I GO. If *I* get done-in the probability (about 90%) is that it’ll be another white person that pulls the trigger. When that day comes at least I’ll be able to say ‘Look, see, another white person did it. Told you so.’ before the lights go out.

If it is a black person who kills me I will be really annoyed, I mean ABSOLUTELY LIVID “Doesn’t he realise I was in my colleges anti-racism society” will be my dying words. Maybe I should protect myself by telling every black man I encounter that “I was in my colleges anti-racism society - bro, repsect”.

Anyway.

Here is a nicer dubious statistic for you. When you meet a person of a different race they are (roughly) 75 times more likely to marry you than they are to kill you. In my case its even higher “I was in my colleges anti-racism society - sista, repsect”.

Jun 13, 2008 - 3:00 am 82. Andrew Ian Dodge:

The vitriol directed against the author is symptomatic of the college-peddled PC view of race. Its basically states that the only people capable of racism are white people. Its clearly ivory tower nonsense to anyone who has experience living with people of other races but there are those who persist in believing it.

I am not sure if Mrs Obama is a racist but she certainly holds large sections of her country in utter contempt.

Jun 13, 2008 - 4:06 am 83. Lorne Progosh:

I find it interesting when I read these blogs how many of the bloggers on the left are so militant, so angry, and so adebt at changing any meaningful dialogue into cause for attack on anyone who has opinions that differ with their own. If I had written an opinon that I thought Michelle had said something I beleive to be racists, - based on what I have read here I would be considered 1) a racist myself 2) stupid 3) uneducated 4) absurd etc etc. Those who are professing to be fair minded and thingking well rounded individuals clearly need to take a long carful look in the mirror. If you have any honesty left you might see something you don’t agree with.

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:24 am 84. Steve in Boston:

People of African descent are treated poorly throughout the world. They have been slaves on all continents in all time periods and hundreds of thousands are currently enslaved today by their fellow Africans. African Americans are descendants of people who were sold by their kin to Europeans. They have every right to be angry and ashamed….of their own history and current plight. So called “black leaders” like Sharpton and Farrakhan and now apparently Wright and Michelle Obama perpetuate the victim mentality on their generation in order to promote their own personal agendas. Wake up fools. Asians and Mexicans had it just as bad, if not worse than Africans when they first came to this country. The Irish didn’t have it much better. The difference with Africans is that they continue to wait for some sort of reparations or hand outs because of their ancestors suffering and every other race has moved on and prospered. You want a discussion of race…how about the fact that blacks (13% of the US population) commit 52% of the murders in this country and 41% of other violent crimes. Most of these crimes are committed against other blacks. Let’s start there.

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:48 am 85. Bill in NC:

She’s no Halle Berry, but still kind of cute when she smiles!

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:49 am 86. Jason:

Just wait for her to go on The View and open her mouth, again… then we’ll have even more evidence of the Obama Agenda. Anyone defending her saying that she has no right to be criticized is ignorant in thinking that a wife of a Senator, and presidential candidate (which is hard to believe he’s gotten that far considering his background) shouldnt be held accountable for her actions and words. Then again, a lot of Obama supporters are very ignorant to the facts about him, his campaign, his policies, his history, his friends, his advisers, his faith, the list goes on… for more about how he’s bad for this country visit http://www.iheartmonkey.blogspot.com

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:55 am 87. LorraineS:

When Katherine or any other white woman can walk in a black woman’s shoes, and experience what we face in this society, then you may have something valid to say. Until then, try to get a clue and understand that you don’t share our experiences. I am thrilled that we are in a place that we can actually see a black man represent a major political party and that speaks volumes compared to our shameful history. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that we still don’t face daily discrimination and are ever combating stereotypes from people who simply don’t know for whatever reasons. I differ with Obama’s Democratic and Liberal views, but ………..

I say that you don’t understand the contexts of Michelle’s statements not having the least bit of knowledge of her life experience so it is near impossible for you to see them from her perspective. No she is not racist. Neither am I —— an ultra conservative card carrying Republican BLACK American woman!

Jun 13, 2008 - 6:05 am 88. Christofer:

What is it about M. And B. Obama that requires everything they say to be parsed and interpreted by experts to understand what they really mean?

Obviously there will be problems if Obama is eleceted as president as it is evident that no one can understand what he says or means without careful study.

:=)

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:31 am 89. John:

LorraineS - What is it with this “our experiences” garbage. We all have unique experiences and believe me things have never been easy for white folk either. Blacks in turn do not specifically share the white experience or the Hispanic experience, so you cannot speak to it. Since you cannot possibly understand the experiences of the other races you have nothing to compare your own experience to. Intelligence, hard work and perseverance trump prejudice and discrimination any day in this country which makes us unique in the world. There is true racism and slavery happening right now in many parts of the world. To spend so much time crying about racism in America is a joke. America has provided all races a better shot at equal opportunity than any other civilization the world has ever seen. This is especially true for those of African descent. Our American history has some bad chapters in it, but hundreds of thousands of “white” people fought a civil war to ensure that Americans of African descent would be treated as equals in this society. What more do you want or expect from us?

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:43 am 90. John:

Sorry….millions of people fought and hundreds of thousands of “white” people DIED in a civil war to ensure that American of African descent would be treated as equals in this society.

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:46 am 91. John:

Sorry correction…millions of “white” people fought and hundreds of thousands DIED fighting a civil war to ensure that Americans of African descent would be treated as equals. At no other time in the history of mankind did one race sacrificed so much to ensure the equal treatment of another race. This is a uniquely American experience. As far as I am concerned the sins of our past legacy of slavery were paid in full with the blood of our compassionate and courageous ancestors.

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:50 am 92. Roy M:

Lorraine,

Hi, I was in my colleges anti-racism society.

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:51 am 93. PLT Arizona:

I’m not sure Johnboy McCain wants us to air his wives dirty (filthy rich) laundry….
If thats the way grandpa wants to play he better be ready…

Jun 13, 2008 - 8:32 am 94. Wood:

Katherine Berry,

You apparently missed the home schooling sessions that you’re treating your son to….

I hope you have a plane ticket to leave the country at once, after the democratic victory in November. And stop cutting holes into your bedsheets. You need them to sleep on..

Jun 13, 2008 - 8:36 am 95. huxley:

White people are so much more numerous and, more worringly, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE I GO. If *I* get done-in the probability (about 90%) is that it’ll be another white person that pulls the trigger.

Roy M — Probability is trickier than it seems and often at odds with one’s gut sense, as your post demonstrates.

According to the 2005 statistics I cited, your odds of being murdered by a white stranger are 70%. Whites comprise 74% of the population so this in the ballpark of what one would expect.

However, your odds of being murdered by a black stranger are a shocking 28.7%, even though blacks comprise only 12.2% of the US population. That’s so high, it’s statistically significant…and tragic.

Jun 13, 2008 - 8:44 am 96. J.G.:

To Katherine Berry: Now I know what is wrong with Kansas. The twisters are causing twisted Republican minds. Who doesn’t say silly, even stupid things (check the silly statements on your blog). Michelle has to understand that she is in a fish bowl and that people like you love to pounce and twist every syllable she utters.

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:07 am 97. Rubicon:

I wonder how many will want to come back to these comments in 2012? Seems to by then we will know what kind of person our next president is, no matter who wins.
I won’t argue the white v. black thing. Its pointless & it leads many to decide to oppose someone on just those grounds alone.
I will argue that I want nothing to do with redistributionist socialism. That is oppression in any form. Just ask the average $20.00/ month salary Cuban, or those in Venezuela who are now beginning to suffer the effects of Chavez, w/ much more pain to come.
I do not oppose a black, I oppose a socialist. Talk Sowell & his ilk & then we have someone of substance to lead!

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:08 am 98. PoliGazette » Very Well Said:

[...] interesting article was published at Pajamas Media about Michelle Obama, and her views on race. What distinguishes [...]

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:31 am 99. P. Ami:

@TellEm and SG Hayward,
I did bother to watch the debate you’ve linked to and have various questions I would ask Tim Wise regarding some of the details and data he uses in the debate. But, his whole notion regarding affirmative action is flawed. First, he labels the fact that whites were not slaves in the US as a form of affirmative action towards whites. He also names the Homestead Act as another form of affirmative action biased towards whites. He also considers the supposed 300 year head start that whites had in America as a sort of affirmative action. All these arguments actually redefine the term Affirmative Action and assumes the role of the American government to be something other then what it is.

Regarding the Homestead Act. Free blacks could and were allowed to participate in the Homestead Act. The fact that today some 40 million Americans are descendants of Homesteaders and are currently living on land purchased under that act is a figure I highly doubt. Even if it were true, we are talking about 13% of the American population who currently benefits by the Homestead Act. Seeing that Mr. Wise focuses on people of color, I’ll just mention that since blacks are 13% of the American population I wonder what the sense is in evening the playing playing field of 13% (blacks) of the population against the interests of a current majority of the population (those of us who came to this country much later then the Homestead Act’s provisions or never benefited from it in the first place) because of long ago benefit provided to what is currently also only 13% (the percent of white people who are still reaping the benefits of the Homestead Act) of the population? I would say the benefits are for the bureaucrats and their equally ugly step-sister, the college professor/lecturer.

The real issue here is that the role of Government is to keep the peace, defend the nation and maintain individual liberty. Racism exists but the government is obligated to transcend racism. Americans are not under the same obligation. The government may not discriminate according to race, color or creed. The private sector has that right. The private sector should not need to hire anyone other then those they would like to hire, for whatever reason they might hire anyone. The government must hire according to merit and merit alone. The government must equally protect the public from violence, theft and other crimes, whatever the motive. Not hiring someone, not selecting someone for entrance to a private institution, or behaving uncivilly is not a crime and should not be punished, whatever the motive. Affirmative Action is a system enacted by the government by which it enforces on the private sector a level of fairness which only the government is obligated to uphold for itself. It is an infringement by the government on the liberty of the private sector and should be ended.

Mr Wise brings up another interesting point. He stated that the bureaucracy put in place isn’t anywhere near large enough to actually enforce Affirmative Action. It is interesting that even with the nearly ineffective enforcement of this illiberal system the society has managed to become generally less racist, more integrated, and black individuals who work hard, are skilled and have a little luck have an opportunity to live the American Dream. Maybe statistically a black person is less likely to achieve the American Dream. Perhaps black people need a little more luck, or work a little harder in order to achieve many of their goals. Its just not that important to some of us that we would want the government grown large enough to infringe on our right to be bigoted so long as we are not criminal.

One sees all the “rednecks” and “uneducated” readers and posters on this site, some of whom are black and some not, who in spite of their status as uneducated rednecks have managed to get a hold of a computer, an internet connection, and just enough education to express themselves in a public forum. This is all in spite of, according to Mr. Wise, the ineffectiveness of Affirmative Action. Seeing this unwashed mass making its way onto this technologically sophisticated forum, bringing blacks, whites, educated liberals and bigoted conservatives together to argue over the intellectual history and personality of the first Arab-American candidate for POTUS’ wife, well, seeing this makes me so proud of the steps America has taken in leveling the playing field even as Affirmative Action, according to one of its advocates, is nearly unenforced. Here we can post our words on the Great American forum where dozens or even scores of readers might have a look at our ad hominum attacks, our false logic, our play with census figures, our best political guesswork and the occasional cogent and relevant point. Only in America!

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:51 am 100. Hello:

John-Steve Boston

I won’t dare challenge the sacrifice of any Civil war veteran Union or Confederate. But you are using there sacrifice in vain for your argument. And I hope your a descendant of old America.

Crime in poor community’s is real and disgusting. But it is not racist nor is it relative to blacks only. All over the world people kill people.

You have to realize that there has been and in some cases still is systematic oppression of blacks. It’s everywhere.Your better off just saying “screw them, I don’t care about there issues”. instead of doing your best to ignore all the information that is available that directly shows the benefactors of U.S. policies.

The Aristocrats and Victorians use the the more recent generations of Americans. Since they didn’t benefit directly from the stolen labor, they really feel they had to work as hard as minority’s and are the perfect propaganda parrots.

Would it be wrong to complain to the waitress if you didn’t get what you paid for. If not why is it wrong to protest when you are not represented fairly.

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:52 am 101. huxley:

I am entirely aware of the church of which you speak, and its rhetoric, including the “god damn America” statement. I am not ignoring it, I find it hard to condemn though.

S.G. Hayward — Thank you for a respectful response. However, I just don’t agree. Getting past racism IMO should mean equal standards of behavior for all regardless of race. If it’s not all right for whites to caricature, abuse, and slander blacks, it’s not all right for blacks to do so to whites. Period.

[The Black Church] was the only place black people could turn to without fearing attacks from whites.

How does this justify making the Black Church the place for racist attacks on whites? I consider it tragic that black churches are inculcating racial anger and hatred rather than a higher moral standard which is the normal function of a church.

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:57 am 102. newguy40:

“…Systematic Oppression of Blacks. It’s Everywhere.” according to Hello. Please cite examples of current Black Oppression currently under way in the US.

Jun 13, 2008 - 10:00 am 103. Michael Canzano:

Facts show more Blacks hate Whites than Whites hate Blacks. Since there are more Whites in America than Blacks the hatred is disproportional. Of course the Obama’s are racists. When I heard the standing ovation Pastor Wright got from the NAACP and his herd when dissing Whites, I wasn’t surprised. Its a one way street. The new racism is anti-racism.
I am racist and anyone who claims to be a rainbow is just a plain lier. What’s up with the Blacks is that they are obvious. First they protested segregation and now they embrace it. We lowered test scores so they could get to college with out an athletic scholarship. I’m an American of Italian decent and would be outraged if the rest of the nation lowered test scores for Italians because we were considered dumber than the Anglos. “Free lunch” is the Black Mantra and Michelle and B.O. participated with both hands. Then she dissed Whites for not considering her “The Black Cinderella”.
American Christian Infidel

Jun 13, 2008 - 10:39 am 104. kwh:

I don’t know if Michelle O. is a racist, but her hatred towards white society is palpable.

For the last 50 years, whites have been instructed that racism could only be legitimately judged by the target of said racism; hence, all evaluations of “racist behavior” were properly made by the putative target while the accused’s denials were given little weight.

Apparently, this standard is racially based, so Michelle’s hatred of whites can’t be used by whites to infer racism. This is indeed curious.

One thing is very clear however: If ever you publically criticize a African American Democrat for anything, 99% of the time you inevitably will be called a racist.

Jun 13, 2008 - 11:11 am 105. If Michelle Obama Isn’t Racist, What Is She? Maureen Dowd fears Michele Obama will be tagged an “angry black woman.” With good reason. « Tizona’s Weblog:

[...] Pajamas Media [...]

Jun 13, 2008 - 11:18 am 106. Hello:

The prison industrial complex. You have lobbyist for the private prisons influencing lawmaking. Which in return result more minority arrest( i.e loitering). Now while in prison inmates work for all different types of industries. Inmates are paid less than minimum wage. That would be o.k. if the profits paid to the prisons went back to the taxpayers but they don’t. The prisons keep what they make on top of what the govt. pays them per inmate. This is a example of modern oppression. Here are some stats you can research.

African Americans represent 12.7% of the US population, 15% of US drug users (72% of
all users are white), 36.8% of those arrested for a drug-related crime, 48.2% of
American adults in state, and federal prisons and local jails and 42.5% of prisoners
under sentence of death.
Statistical Abstract of the United States (1999), Sourcebook of
Criminal Justice Statistics, (1998), National Household Survey of Drug Abuse (1998) and Bureau of
Justice Statistics Bulletin: Prisoners and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1999.
African American women (with an incarceration rate of 205 per 100,000) are more
than three times as likely as Latinas (60 per 100,000) and six times more likely than white
women (34 per 100,000) to face imprisonment.
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2000
(Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, August 2001).
The United States imprisons African American men at a rate four times greater than the
rate of incarceration for Black men in South Africa.
Craig Haney, Ph.D., and Philip
Zimbardo, Ph.D., “The Past and Future of U.S. Prison Policy: Twenty-five Years After the Stanford
Prison Experiment,” American Psychologist, Vol. 53, No. 7 (July 1998), p. 714.
In 1986, before mandatory minimums for crack offenses went into effect, the average
sentence for an African American convicted of a drug-related crime involving crack
was 11% higher than for whites. In 1990, four years after the implementation of harsher
federal drug laws, the average increased to 49%.
Meierhoefer, B. S., The General Effect of
Mandatory Minimum Prison Terms: A Longitudinal Study of Federal Sentences Imposed
(Washington DC: Federal Judicial Center, 1992), p. 20.
Due to felony convictions, 1.46 million African American men out of a total voting
population of 10.4 million have lost their right to vote.
Thomas, P., “Study Suggests Black
Male Prison Rate Impinges on Political Process,” The Washington Post (January 30, 1997), p. A3.
One in three black men between the ages of 20 and 29 live under some form of
correctional supervision or control.
Maurer, M. & Hurling, T., “Young Black Americans and
the Criminal Justice System: Five Years Later (Washington DC: The Sentencing Project, 1995).
Latinos represent 11.1% of the US population, 10% of US drug users (72% of all users are
white), 22.5% of sentenced state prisoners convicted of a drug-related crime, and
18.6% of American adults in state or federal prisons and local jails.
Statistical Abstract of
the United States (1999), Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, (1998), National Household
Survey of Drug Abuse (1998) and Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin: Prisoners and Jail Inmates at
Midyear 1999.
African American children (7.0%) were nearly nine times more likely to have an
incarcerated parent in prison than white children (0.8%). Similarly, Latino children
(2.6%) were three times as likely as white children to have a parent in prison.
Bureau of
Justice Statistics, Incarcerated Parents and Their Children (Washington, DC: US Department of
Justice, August 2000).
Native Americans represent less than 1% of the US population. Over 4% of Native
Americans are under correctional supervision (compared to 2% of whites). Native
Americans are the victims of violent crimes at twice the rate of the general population
and 60% of these victims describe the offender as white.
American Indians and Crime,
Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999), Statistical Abstract of the United States (1999), Sourcebook of
Criminal Justice Statistics (1998) and Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin: Prisoners and Jail

Jun 13, 2008 - 11:28 am 107. Crazy:

Mike C.
Get a grip. Your full of Sh*t.

Jun 13, 2008 - 11:38 am 108. jvon:

I’d vote for change but it’s such a hassle to have to roll it and bring it to the bank.

I hear McCain favors extending the Bush tax cuts, which will save me the trouble of counting all that Change.

Jun 13, 2008 - 12:23 pm 109. dave:

hate is ugly. some of you are really ugly people.

michelle doesn’t hate whites. you folks are willfully deluded.

this article is garbage.

Jun 13, 2008 - 12:24 pm 110. A. C.:

a racist, a hater of America.

Jun 13, 2008 - 12:34 pm 111. Moe:

Wow. As if the post wasn’t bigoted enough, we have posters more than willing to pick up any slack left by Ms. Berry.

First off, her thesis was written over 20 years ago. You are either naive or plain dumb if you think that interracial relations have not vastly improved from the 80’s. Factor that into an Ivy League school that wasn’t used to seeing black faces on campus, and you have the situation in which she wrote about. Even her roommate admitted that she was a bit sketchy about having a black roommate…but M.Obama’s just making this all up, right?

Second, the southside of Chicago is a mix of all types of economic situations living in one neighborhood. So it is VERY possible she could’ve been a middle-class family living around those who were not. Which means she would know something about their plight.

Third, you don’t know Obama, Ms. Berry, so how can you possibly know what she “thinks”??? What if I said to you that while you aren’t “racist”, you *think* all blacks are??

Fourth, black history is not well taught in public or private schools. White history is everywhere. Sorry to burst your bubble, but blacks have been involved in this country since its inception. The real crime is that she should have to take a specific class directed at black studies in order to get a good grasp of the role that blacks played in this nation.

And I’m black. And I was also surprised that Obama won Iowa. Guess that makes me racist, hunh? Or, whoops, I mean, I guess that means that I think all whites are racist.

What a horrible article. The world is that much worse for having had this blatant smear (with horrible racial undertones) in print.

Jun 13, 2008 - 1:18 pm 112. LivinginNC:

Yes, it’s very simple: Michelle Obama is a racist. As one of the previous commenters (A Dane, Jun 12, 2008 - 10:12 am) said, if you switched the use of the words ‘white’ and ‘black’, would her speech be considered racist? You betcha!

I am very sick and tired of being told that only whites can be racist. There will not be racial healing until everyone, including liberal whites, truly realize that every race can be ‘racist’. It is the words that are important, not the skin color of the person saying them. If you view Michelle Obama’s words using that premise, you would have to conclude that, yes, she is a racist.

Jun 13, 2008 - 1:34 pm 113. Roy M:

ACI

I’m not a rainbow, but my family is. You would be amazed how easy not being a racist is when that is the case. Having said that it seems pretty damn easy for many people I know so maybe there is a more basic reason for me not being a racist. Never really thought about it much. Maybe its because my parents didn’t bring me up to be racist. Thats got to be a big influence, or rather an important absence of a negative influence. (Thanks parents. Good job.)

I can kind of see a basis racism in some other countries. You know, the blood and soil thing, but racism in America is just so…..well, un-American. And yet, as you and some others here and elsewhere demonstrate, very American.

Jun 13, 2008 - 2:07 pm 114. P. Ami:

Micheal Canzano and others,
I consider myself racist in the sense that I am aware of race and I think that this awareness is generally informative. I also consider myself of a race and tend to support the efforts of that race of people and feel myself closely associated to the land from which my nation comes. If that support comes at the expense of other groups, so be it. The only country which I give equal support to is the US and consider the interests of both my countries, both my people, and our common G-d to be congruous and mutually beneficial. I do not, on the other hand, consider myself a race supremacist. I don’t think that any one race is better then the other. I relate to individuals, as they are, and do consider some individuals generally superior to others but this is not related to race. Some individuals are more worthwhile to me then others. On the other hand, I have met many “superior” individuals who are not as good at specific tasks as some folk who are generally “lesser” people. Still, all people, no matter their race, color, creed or level of success in any field, are equal under the law and equally loved by G-d. So long as the law remains blind then we are as liberal as we are likely to be.

As an aside, Zionism is racist and should be. On the other hand, Zionism is not Jew supremacist. It is an ideology in which a religion/race of people should have a homeland. If that comes at the expense of another group who would like to be given the Jewish land for their own racist/religious use then so be it. Might sometimes is right.

Regarding the prison issue. If people, be they Black, White, Latino, Asian just took responsibility for their actions, didn’t break the law and tried to make something of their lives through some hard work and proper organization then those people would not put themselves in a position to get screwed over by the system. Stop smoking crack or dealing it and you won’t contribute to the figures quoted by Hello. The system is not victimizing innocent people. If that system is rigged against certain people then the argument for them would be valid if not made in defense of convicted scumbags. Take the mirror image of what Hello’s argument tries to prove, that the system is rigged, and instead choose to say that Blacks are more likely to commit crimes, to have cases which a jury of their peers are less likely to acquit them of, and less inclined towards recovery from their criminal behavior. With that mirror you are simply using the same facts to suggest an equally valid point. The way to alter those arguments is to make them moot by living a law abiding life.

What is in Michelle Obama’s heart? I don’t know. I find the quotes I have read and heard her to utter to be contra my view of this country, my community and my desires for the direction our country should take. Her college papers indicate a thinking full of twisty thoughts and convoluted logic. According to her thinking nobody can really understand anybody else seeing as none of us have had the experiences of the other. According to her logic, as well as the expectations created by the misunderstanding we all seem to share of her husband’s words, no one is really expected to understand what anybody says, what they have done, or what they think. To understand the Obama’s we should have to have had a wealth of experiences that could then contextualize what it is they really mean to say. Seeing that I am not an underprivileged, black woman who managed to survive magnet programs, the Ivy League school curriculum, the hard work of community organizer or have faith in Black Liberation Theology, I have little hope of understanding Michelle and ditto for her husband. Seeing that I am looking for someone who I can relate to, whose ideas represent mine to as great a degree as can be, and who I can understand, I think I’ll vote for McCain. At least I’m not expected to have been a prisoner of war, a navy pilot, a US Senator, or a white guy raised in a military family to understand what McCain says, means and wants.

Jun 13, 2008 - 2:13 pm 115. Roy M:

Moe,

“The world is that much worse for having had this blatant smear (with horrible racial undertones) in print.”

Surely just an insignificantly tiny bit worse.

I must admit I am wondering if I really would defend TO THE DEATH her right to say it.

Jun 13, 2008 - 2:24 pm 116. An Idiot Defending A Racist By Any Other Name:

[...] publishing my piece on Michelle Obama at Pajamas Media, I remember why I so seldom write political stuff anymore. Idiots, like mosquitoes in the [...]

Jun 13, 2008 - 2:34 pm 117. David Gillies:

Isn’t it rather cringe-inducing to hear a woman with her educational background saying, “ain’t no?”

Jun 13, 2008 - 3:09 pm 118. Catch Me On The Radio:

[...] now that I’m somewhat nervous. I had no idea when I wrote that piece that it would generate that kind of response, much less three separate death threats (and counting) and one of the first Fiskings I’ve [...]

Jun 13, 2008 - 4:00 pm 119. John:

Capitalism and the free market care not what race you are or what language you speak. All with good ideas and perseverance have an equal chance to make your life what you want it to be in this country. Take control of your life because in the end excuses will get you nowhere.

Jun 13, 2008 - 4:19 pm 120. P. Ami:

David,
We get it. The Left only defends the right to say what the Left agrees with.

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:09 pm 121. Hypocrite:

What is the education of. George W. Bush., Bill Clinton, ect. I have heard plenty of grammatically incorrect speech my entire life from “well educated people”.

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:11 pm 122. Katherine Berry:

Personally, I find the willingness of so many commenters to vilify me as an ignorant, uneducated person unfamiliar with life as a racial minority to be terribly amusing.

I’ve already torn up one of you. http://www.electricvenom.com/idiots-bite/an-idiot-defending-a-racist-by-any-other-name/

As someone who was born half-Native American and half-Iranian, but whose appearance has led others to classify her as white throughout her life, I find the claims that I don’t “get” the minority experience to be specious. And you want education? Fine, I’ll match my law degree, my ABT Masters and my doctorate-in-progress (along with my twin B.A.’s and 9 minors) against whatever you want to bring on.

But as to those of you who suggest that my reluctance to vote for Obama means I must be siding with McCain, let me just say: I’m an Equal Opportunity Bitch.

Lay off with the death threats. It’s an opinion people. And while mine was well researched and documented, the majority of the “Hate Kate” responses, well, my kids could come up with something more informed.

Jun 13, 2008 - 5:32 pm 123. navyvet48:

In my opinion, MO and BO are racist. I haven’t forgot the comment from her aide that said get me more white people. That was so staged that I was sickened about it. The reverse racism and belief that they deserve things like Affirmative Action seems to part and parcel of their existence. The shame of it is they are raising another generation of themselves.

Jun 13, 2008 - 7:31 pm 124. Cant we all just get along:

What is with the name calling on here? It seems to be “ok” to categorize conservatives as Nascar watching Rednecks and worse..To me thats a sugar coated,racist insult…I would most definately be considered racist if I were to make a similar statement about liberals….Purple “flavored” Kool-aid drinking Thugs….(Just typing that sickens me….but I mean…Its that same sick stereotyping mentality.) I consider myself to be a conservative liberal…(I know!) I am quite torn because neither nominee impresses me. They both scare the hell out of me. I was really hoping for Hillary…Now I find myself leaning toward McCain. And seriously…calling the person who stated that there is only one race..”the human race”, a racist..is just absurd…petty…That was not the implication..Its not that deep…

Jun 13, 2008 - 9:56 pm 125. Ger:

http://www.electricvenom.com/idiots-bite/an-idiot-defending-a-racist-by-any-other-name/#more-9519

Does Tim Wise have any persuasive arguement why
Barack Obama, who is half-white with an African
father, should be the beneficiary of Affirmative Action? I mean where is the history of slavery and discrimination in his background? This reminds me of some years back
when a student who was the recipient of a
minority scholarship to Harvard was met with
a stunned reception when he showed up to claim it. You see, he was white. Was there fraud involved? Nope. It turned out he was an American citizen who had been born in South Africa.

Jun 13, 2008 - 10:44 pm 126. Truth:

Katherine;

While I strongly disagree with your assertations and observations in your article. I stand by you in defense against threats and hateful bullying. Don’t give in and respond angry thats what feeds them. When they think they are under your skin they rejoice.

Jun 14, 2008 - 8:54 am 127. William C.:

Michelle Obama is so ashamed to be black
she can’t stand herself…

“She felt like a guest at her university”

It was stated best by a previous comment: If she
were white she would undeniably be a “Racist”.

I hope she keeps opening her mouth, as more
voters turn to the Republicans.

Go Michelle…

A Patiot

Jun 14, 2008 - 9:29 am 128. Javelin:

Let’s dig up some dirt on his daughters too, as well as his in-laws. I’m sure some of them are communists, enviros, rappers or black liberation theologists or something that the right minded upstanding folks here would find abhorrent.

Jun 14, 2008 - 12:06 pm 129. Dee:

Hi Kate,

I read your blogs and love them and to those who think you are uneducated well that is clearly not the case. As for the death threats please take care. There are a lot of crazy people out there.

Let me state that I am black but I am not American and I don’t live in the US but my son goes to school there and for the first time in his life he has encountered racism. On your blog you sta