NBC Cheers: Michelle Obama 'Chose to Fight Back' Against 'Controversial New Book'
On Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams proclaimed to viewers: "A new book you may have heard about written by a reporter for the New York Times about life in the Obama White House paints what is at times a not-so-flattering picture of First Lady Michelle Obama and today she chose to fight back."
In the report that followed, correspondent Andrea Mitchell gushed over the First Lady: "Michelle Obama in Virginia today promoting one of her top priorities, medical care for military families....A popular cause, like her fight against childhood obesity. That and her signature style have defined her role as First Lady." Mitchell then remarked: "Not the meddling spouse portrayed in the controversial new book, 'The Obamas.'"
A clip was played of Michelle Obama declaring in an interview with CBS's Gayle King: "...people have tried to paint of me since, you know, the day Barack announced, that I'm some angry black woman." Mitchell noted: "White House officials say it is a caricature of Michelle Obama that first emerged in the 2008 campaign."
After playing a sound bite of Mrs. Obama on the campaign trail announcing, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country," Mitchell derisively added: "Opponents seized on that comment to paint Mrs. Obama, a Princeton and Harvard Law School graduate, as some kind of radical."
Mitchell touted White House talking points dismissing some of the claims made by author Jodi Kantor: "Mrs. Obama also rejects the book's claim that she clashed with her husband's aides, former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and former Press Secretary Robert Gibbs....White House officials acknowledge moments of tension between the First Lady and the President's staff, but they say far less than in past administrations. They say the book doesn't fully convey the personal bond between the Obamas."
Here is a full transcript of Mitchell's January 11 report:
7:14PM ET TEASE:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Still ahead, as we continue, the First Lady and how she's portrayed in a controversial new book. And tonight she is pushing back.
7:16PM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIAMS: A new book you may have heard about written by a reporter for the New York Times about life in the Obama White House paints what is at times a not-so-flattering picture of First Lady Michelle Obama and today she chose to fight back. Our report tonight from NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Michelle Obama in Virginia today promoting one of her top priorities, medical care for military families.
MICHELLE OBAMA: Please know that America will be there for you and your families.
MITCHELL: A popular cause, like her fight against childhood obesity. That and her signature style have defined her role as First Lady. Not the meddling spouse portrayed in the controversial new book, "The Obamas." Today Mrs. Obama challenged that portrait, as she did with Gayle King on CBS.
OBAMA: I guess it's more interesting to imagine this conflicted situation here, and a strong woman, you know, but that's been an image that people have tried to paint of me since, you know, the day Barack announced, that I'm some angry black woman.
MITCHELL: White House officials say it is a caricature of Michelle Obama that first emerged in the 2008 campaign.
OBAMA: For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country.
MITCHELL: Opponents seized on that comment to paint Mrs. Obama, a Princeton and Harvard Law School graduate, as some kind of radical. Now, the new book by author Jodi Kantor quotes aides as saying the First Lady felt pressured to look perfect, "...because everyone was waiting for a black woman to make a mistake." Mrs. Obama also rejects the book's claim that she clashed with her husband's aides, former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and former Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
OBAMA: I can count the number of times I go over to the West Wing, period.
MITCHELL: The book suggests Mrs. Obama did not want to be like Hillary Clinton, who had her own office in the West Wing. According to the book, Mrs. Obama told an aide, "I don't want to be Hillary Clinton. I can't be that person." White House officials acknowledge moments of tension between the First Lady and the President's staff, but they say far less than in past administrations. They say the book doesn't fully convey the personal bond between the Obamas. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Manchester, New Hampshire.
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Comments
Seriously, in that picture of
Submitted by kareling on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:27pm.
Seriously, in that picture of her next to Brian Williams, she looks just like an angry black woman!
They couldn't find one of her smiling?
Yeah, she's so brave isn't she? "Speaking out"....
Submitted by krendler on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:28pm.
...speaking out against the evil racist reporter at the NY Times!
I didn't notice the smile
Submitted by crimsonspark on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:45pm.
I didn't notice the smile because I couldn't get past that God awful haircut that she has. Seriously Michelle, get thee to a stylist. Blonde, what would MOTUS have to say about that?
The article states "the First Lady felt pressured to look perfect, ...because everyone was waiting for a black woman to make a mistake." She failed on both accounts, because I haven't seen anything she's worn that has made me go "WOW" (at least not in a good way). And as far as her not making a mistake, let's see, there's not being proud of her country until BO won the nomination, wearing expensive sneakers to feed the homeless, jet setting to expensive places with fifty of her closest BFFs...I could go on and on. MO is definitley not the the class act they try to make her out to be.
Oh, here's a clip of Michelle being "interviewed" by a friend...
Submitted by krendler on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:28pm.
...Bad enough that CBS even approved it ("Sure, Gayle. Go ahead and interview your friend"), then NBC repeats it as if it's objective reporting or something.
Isn't it about time for Michelle to stage another shopping trip to Target where an AP reporter, with camera in hand (I mean, who DOESN'T bring their expensive camera in with them when shopping at Target?), can just coincidentally run into her.
"Oh my! You caught me being a regular American shopping at a discount store!"
NBC is DNC
Submitted by merly1 on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:31pm.
They have become pathetic....................I still remember Brian Williams dressing down Jimmy Fallon on the latter's late night show for Fallon daring to speak ill of Owebama's war posturing. Williams is a joke.
Chose to fight back?
Submitted by KornKing on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:31pm.
My ass-there's a reason she has the nickname Mooch. Her only interest is herself and making sure everyone knows how cool she is.
The
Submitted by grammajane on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 6:53pm.
interview, as seen on the Internet, with Gayle Oprah, Michelle looked/came across very angry that some one wrote the truth about her. Not many smiles coming from her angry face during that seating. She smiles and acts "happy" when the camera is a foot away. Didn't hear Laura Bush complain about the crap written about her but, then Bush is a class act!!! Williams gets worse by the day. Such a big-shot now because he has some new show that is never mentioned anywhere
So, the angry black woman who...
Submitted by MinneMike on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 7:38pm.
goes on national television to "fight" being called an angry black woman?
Indeed! How ironical! "I'm
Submitted by ex buff e-dub on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 10:12am.
Indeed! How ironical!
"I'm NOT angry! I'm NOT ! I'm NOT! I'm NOT!"
NBC = National Barack Channel
Submitted by OxyCon on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 7:55pm.
Since when is it a news networks responsibility to stop covering the news so they can do damage control for the Obama White House?
So...
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 7:58pm.
So, she's so angry about being labeled an angry black woman that she's fighting back. That's pretty much the gist of it, is it not? Looks like the description of an angry black woman fits her to a tee.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
There she goes again...
Submitted by Slyrr on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 8:03pm.
Look out! Angry black woman on the loose!
ABW
Submitted by Schofield Kid on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 8:29pm.
Anyone who's seen pictures of Queen Michelle before her makeover in 2008 can see she was a bitter angry woman. Michelle Malkin used to feature a picture of her with BO and their terrorist friends:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/04/why-parents-don%e2%80%99t-trust-the...
That is one pissed off lady, black or otherwise. Why is it that you can't post hyperlinks here? Anyway, cut/paste into browser if you want a laugh.
Tension, but "far less than in past administrations"
Submitted by krendler on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 9:26pm.
White House officials acknowledge moments of tension between the First Lady and the President's staff, but they say far less than in past administrations.
Far less than in past administrations? And how the F would they know that? Were they there - on the inside - during past administrations? Of course not. The only thing they're doing here is corroborating what the author stated, without going into all the specifics (that the author provided).
I could care less what self-serving banter Michelle and her gal pal want to gab about. It's no wonder the Obama campaign put this spoiled, miserable, America-hating racist B*$#@ in a box - out of site - once Barry had secured the 08 Dem nomination.
Ever notice how these shameless cretins
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 9:49pm.
Never miss an opportunity to bash someone else by excusing themselves. What a couple of jerks
Exactly
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 11:18pm.
It's not a reliable statement because they can't possibly know.
It's a talking point for the Dems and the MSM, and I expect Andrea Mitchell to use it frequently from now on. Every time more negative anecdotes become public, they'll tell us "It isn't a bad as past Administrations."
The WH knows that they have to maintain control over Michelle Obama's public exposure because they can't afford more "First time I've been proud of my country" quotes, just as they can't afford any more Joe the Plumber moments with her husband.
I also wouldn't be surprised if author Kantor gets released by her employer, or gets audited by the IRS as a punishment to her and a warning to other authors.
news headline...... the
Submitted by pepsiman on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 11:10pm.
news headline...... the un-angry first lady lashes out at new book, strangles misconceptions about her and fights to restore her image
How can they say she is angry?
Submitted by Redrowan2000 on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 12:03am.
http://asp.awkwardschoolpic.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Michelle_obama.jpg
How can they say she is angry ,just look at her high school graduation picture. I also had never heard the words "angry black woman " before I heard it from this angry black woman.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
WOW!!! At least she's stayed
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 01/13/2012 - 2:31pm.
WOW!!! At least she's stayed true to form...............only these days she's trying to deny her 'roots' - kinda like her l'il beeyatch Boy Barry.