ABC Channel 7 in Chicago aired a "Special Report" on Sunday night, November 16, in which they gushed that Michelle Obama was going to "break down barriers" for America's black women. Reporter Cheryl Burton waxed poetic, moon-eyed over the fact that a black woman was soon take her place as first lady of the United States, wife to the president. But, that's just it... wife to the president. Not to belittle the important role that a wife has in a marriage (or a husband has for that matter), and not to diminish the importance of traditional marriage, but a wife is not an elected position. It is not one with the sort of power to be "transformational." On top of that, the role of first lady should not be considered a role with power or one capable of transformation!
To be sure, we have to be honest about the triumphalism on Obama’s behalf and realize that it truly is expected, even healthy. Obama marks the final piece of the puzzle of repairing American race relations. Blacks really have gone from the lowest of chattel slavery to seeing one of their own elected to run the country and we should all marvel at and be grateful for that fact. No one should try to belittle this achievement. But, one must be careful not to make of it more than it is. Obama is not the first piece, but the last. We should not celebrate as if he’s the only good break blacks have ever gotten in the US. To do so belittles all the many examples of progress that came before him. And his wife has no formal part in it at all. She was not elected to first lady and she does not hold an office in government.
But ABC can't help itself.
She's making history and changing attitudes, and it started before the world knew Michelle Obama would be the nation's next first lady.
This all sounds nice, of course, but it is really little but puffed up nonsense.
Reporter Burton goes on to claim that "America" doesn't find black women beautiful.
And America's picture of what is deemed beautiful rarely includes black women, especially those with darker skin. But some say new ground is being broken.
These days, this is more stuff and nonsense. There have been for a few decades continual parades of beautiful black women that have set America's hearts fluttering (especially America's men). Women like Halle Barry, Alicia Keyes, Rihana, Mariah Carey, Beyonce Knowles, this is but a tiny list of such women from the last few years. Names can be brought up going back decades. So, to say that black is never beautiful in America is simply an overreach, and an insulting one at that.
But, entertainers aside, why is it that a wife, a first lady of the United States of America, a woman with no official role in government, no power, no official way to "break barriers" is so lauded? Why have we not seen such stories about Condoleezza Rice, for instance? Now there is a powerful black woman, beautiful to boot, that has, indeed, had real power, the kind that can "transform" the ideas of the place black women have in our society?
Ah, but we know why the Old Media won't celebrate Condi, don't we? She isn't a "real" black woman to them because she doesn't toe their far left political line. Condi Rice didn't satisfy their ideological needs, so she is to be relegated to the "Oh, and" status. Just like she was in the mindless fluff of this ABC 7 piece.
After minutes of adulation for Michelle Obama, a woman that can really do nothing official in Washington, we get this:
"When you have women who are poised like Michelle Obama for that kind of level of influence, like a Condoleezza Rice," said Finley. "You're going to be looking at how black women handle power, how they influence it and how they leverage it to benefit populations within and beyond. So that's going to be a brand new view for what you think of when you think of black women."
That's it for Condi, now back to your regularly scheduled sycophancy for Michelle the "transformative" woman of no power or position.
Like I said, it's wonderful that we have a moment in American history with such a symbolic nature. But Michelle Obama is not the power of the White House, nor should she be. She should be a dutiful wife, take up some nice charity, and stay out of the way otherwise (the same argument we had for Hillary during the Clinton years). If she is, someday, to be elected to some office or another in her own right, that is the time she must be "transformative" (again, just like Hillary). As first lady, however, she has no such role for government. Maybe in other ways, but not in government.
Unfortunately, ABC 7's hagiography is misleading and dangerous. It builds a role for Michelle she does not have leaving open the possibility of deep disappointment to come in the very people that ABC 7 imagines are so fragile.
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»→ Move over Hillary
November 17, 2008 - 11:54 ET by Cool ArrowMichelle's a self-made coattail hanger with a bright future in Healthcare Reform.
Michelle rose to power the old fashioned way, unlike Sarah Palin, who did it on her own merits.
»→ OK, that was harsh
November 17, 2008 - 12:00 ET by Cool ArrowIf there's one barrier Michelle has seemingly broken, it's that even though her family's in government housing, she is still married and living with her husband.
And that's a pretty good start.
BWAHAHAaaaa
Lowest common denominator
November 17, 2008 - 11:58 ET by dboAny way you slice it, Mr Zero plus Mrs Zero still equals zero.
Black Hero????
November 17, 2008 - 12:09 ET by ScrapironHalf white/half Arab = black hero. I did come up with one accomplishment of Hussein's that none of his supporters came up with. We know he hold the record for voting 'here' but that's small potatoes compared to being paid for 4 years as a U.S. senator (approx $800,000) while reporting in for work 143 days. That has to be a record rip off of the American Taxpayers by a freshman senator. Politics pays well if you know where the bodies are buried.
Old, Retired and glad of it.
where do i send the money to
November 17, 2008 - 22:12 ET by pepsiman127where do i send the money to pay that colored lady's mortgage payment and gas bill? or do i just wait till they take it out of my paycheck?
Gangsta lawya sistas
November 17, 2008 - 12:14 ET by HockeyKidGangsta lawya sistas repreZENT!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Affirmative Action
November 17, 2008 - 12:22 ET by iveseenitallMichelle, an Affirmative Action student who couldn't get into Princeton on he "scores"(how unfair). So she did it on her "color". And she's married to the Affirmative Action president, who couldn't get elected on his "merits" ( whatever they were), so he and the media did on his "color". Barry's right about one thing though--- America sure has gotten a "change". And you ain't seen nothin' yet! Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
»→ ISIA
November 17, 2008 - 12:25 ET by Cool ArrowI'm willing to believe she's a product of the Affirmative Action Mill if you've got the links to prove it.
Cool Arrow
November 17, 2008 - 13:09 ET by iveseenitallI've seen a few Youtube videos in which she, herself, stated that she didn't have the "scores" and needed "help". I also read her "thesis". It is flawed. It is not up to the standards I've had with some freshman college students. It is definitely not what should have come out of a Princeton graduate. Yes, she is a product of the Affirmative Action "mill", as you call it.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I'm so sick of this........
November 17, 2008 - 12:22 ET by BEGRUNTsycophantic adulation of these two ZEROS. As the thread states, what about Condi Rice?? Oh, well she's an "Uncle Tom", and therefore doesn't count. So lets tout this angry, chip on her shoulder, condesending, bitter black female as some sort of role model. What a class act!!! These two clowns will set back race relations for decades.
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
Begrunt
November 17, 2008 - 12:26 ET by iveseenitallSo right. Condi is a class act. Neither Barry nor Michelle could hold a candle to her. The world is upside down--- thanks to the media.
NEVER, NEVER trust a "liberal"
One significant thing BHO and Michelle can really do,...
November 17, 2008 - 12:34 ET by Prester John....and this is something my wife, who sees innumerable pregnant unwed black woman with the father rarely present at the doctor's office where she works, mentioned is to really "get in people's faces" about the fact that 70% of the black children who aren't aborted don't have fathers in their lives.
It was one thing for the welfare pimps to bash Bill Cosby when he brought up the whole issue of children without fathers and promoting getting a good education, but how can they possibly challenge the Obamas on this subject if they really shine the spotlight on fatherless black children and the failure of their fathers to take care of them?
The cynic in me says that BHO will just buy their support with more money for their scam organizations, but on this subject I will give him the benefit of the doubt if he actually says something about it.
Well I just don't know if a
November 17, 2008 - 14:27 ET by motherbeltWell I just don't know if a staunch supporter of abortion "rights" is the one I want making the case against kids growing up without fathers.
I wonder if Michelle is 'finally proud" of her country now?
November 17, 2008 - 12:31 ET by c5thenIs she proud to know that a significant % of the votes that Barack got were simply because of his skin color?
Will she handle herself to make the rest of the country proud of her?
Will she send her daughters to the worst public schools or to one of the best private schools?
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
Local reports say that the
November 17, 2008 - 12:47 ET by HockeyKidLocal reports say that the 'bamas have already interviewed several local private schools, including Sidwell Friends, alma mater of Chelsea Clinton. DC public school officials are "encouraging" them to consider one of DC's "excellent" charter programs. They will, of course, send Sasha and Malia to the private school of their choice, citing an unwillingness to "play political games" with their children's lives.
Too bad our children don't get the same consideration.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
a "hagiography" I'll second
November 17, 2008 - 12:49 ET by SickofLibsa "hagiography"
I'll second that.
But was she a "drag on the ticket"?
November 17, 2008 - 13:17 ET by krendlerI'd love to see someone like Jay Leno ask Barack "Was Michelle was a drag on the ticket?", like he asked McCain, referring to Palin. Imagine the outrage. But the truth is, during the general campaign, the Obama camp knew she would be a drag which is why you barely heard a peep from her once Obama had clinched the Dem nomination and they no longer needed the daily politics of grievance bs. They effectively hid her away in a closet.
And for months, the media never asked "By the way: What ever happened to Michelle Obama?"
Now that he's been elected, of course, it's safe for her to come out and be celebrated as the new Jackie O.
Leno wouldn't dare; neither
November 17, 2008 - 14:30 ET by motherbeltLeno wouldn't dare; neither would anyone else.
Because if you look at that photo, she looks like when she's done "breaking barriers" she's going to start breaking kneecaps.
LOL
»→ Michelle
November 17, 2008 - 14:40 ET by Cool ArrowMichelle is no more a drag than Ru Paul.
What irritates me is that Volvo is going to be parked in front of government housing while her husband uses government money to bail out GM.
"To be sure, we have to be
November 17, 2008 - 15:30 ET by zf"To be sure, we have to be honest about the triumphalism on Obama’s behalf and realize that it truly is expected, even healthy. Obama marks the final piece of the puzzle of repairing American race relations. Blacks really have gone from the lowest of chattel slavery to seeing one of their own elected to run the country and we should all marvel at and be grateful for that fact. No one should try to belittle this achievement."
Sorry, but Bullshit. Is this Daily Kos all of a sudden? Obama does not have a drop of American Black blood in him, he is not "one of their own." Electing someone based on their race and not his character or accomplishments is not healthy. Race relations were not "broken" and even if they were Obama the racist toward whites America hating intellectual midget is not the guy to "repair" it.
Trying to pretend electing this poser is some high-water mark in either race relations or tolerance is the real slap in the face to those African-Americans who actually achieved something and who truly benefited the country in the past. Obama was judged based on his skin color, this is not progress.
»→ zf
November 17, 2008 - 15:47 ET by Cool ArrowI totally accept this election as a high water mark in American race relations.
I'm happy that racism is now a thing of the past.
A black man, (yes, that's how he is perceived), from a bi-racial home, growing up without a father in the house, assisted by food stamps, grows up to be President.
Work hard, stay in school, and you can achieve anything.
We have proved racism is over. Celebrate its passing.
Remember it was Obama who
November 17, 2008 - 15:48 ET by littlemissmuffinRemember it was Obama who played the race card during the campaign: "I don't look like all the other presidents."
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
Umm...
November 18, 2008 - 00:21 ET by Warner Todd HustonZF,
As to your claim that he isn't "black enough" seems to me that you just played the same illegitimate game that those who say Condi isn't black enough play. Are you acting like an idiot leftist now? IF so, that doesn't say much about you does it?
And as to your last paragraph, I'd further say that you have a reading comprehension problem if you don't realize I basically SAID THAT in my original piece above.
You need to calm down, stop acting like an over emotional woman during "that time" of the month, and pay attention.
As a Canadian and an
November 17, 2008 - 16:32 ET by AizlynneAs a Canadian and an Albertan, I gotta say that you guys should be less concerned about his skin colour than what he will do!
I guess because we never had the slavery issue, it's hard to understand how my American friends would show how non-racist they have become by voting in a brown dude with zero experience.
I guess this is the wow factor ... to showcase him out there so the likes of Matthew and Olbermann can pat themselves on the back for how far they have come racially. I find it a rather sad sentiment actually.
As for Michelle, she should play a role. Most husbands and wives go to each other for advice on tough decisions. She will be no different. And if she gets the luxury of white house and white house staff, she SHOULD be doing goodwill duties on behalf of Americans. Isn't that part and parcel of the fee you pay?
She'll certainly be one of them
November 17, 2008 - 16:40 ET by AJBI bet she'll be just like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton -- race baiters and hate mongers shaking down those who they can get away with.
<i>"I bet she'll be just
November 17, 2008 - 17:42 ET by Aizlynne<i>"I bet she'll be just like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton -- race baiters
and hate mongers shaking down those who they can get away with.</i>"
Unfortunately that is a problem that Americans as a whole are still having to deal with. These guys need to keep racial tensions high for self-gratification. This is something liberals on both sides of our border suffer from.
I work and live amongst many Americans (in Calgary) and I don't think skin colour has been an issue for them for a long long time. Only the scare mongerers that need the limelight for self-serving purposes still talk about racism.
Now how about those women!!! (lol)
You know
November 17, 2008 - 18:53 ET by BobAnthonyABC 7 Chicago is WLS-TV. The calls mean World's Largest Store (Sears) as their broadcast tower is at the Sears Tower. Well after reading this, THEY SHOULD STAND FOR WORLD'S LAMEST STATION ON TV! And to think that station is in the same building with Rush Limbaugh's affiliate WLS 890?
Fahey Flynn and John Drury must be rolling in their graves at this. Those were WLS' powerhouse anchors. Flynn noted for wearing his bowtie and his "How Do You Do Ladies and Gentlemen..." intro (a Bob Hope ripoff if never there was one.
For the record, I am NOT RECOGNIZING BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ODINGA AS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! I would like to become part of a
secession front!
i need some bumper
November 17, 2008 - 22:29 ET by pepsiman127i need some bumper stckers....."not my race not my president"......."annointed not elected"....."01.20.13.......(\)......."obama lied people didnt care"