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February 25, 2008
Is Michelle Obama Unpatriotic?
Michelle Obama has drawn criticism for saying the success of her husband’s presidential campaign has made her proud of America for the first time.
During a campaign rally in Milwaukee before the Wisconsin primary last week, Michelle Obama said : ““Hope is making a comeback and, let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change.”
Some people are deeming Mrs. Obama’s comments unpatriotic. Just days later, some people were also questioning Senator Obama’s patriotism, saying the Senator did not wear a flag pin and properly pledge allegiance to the flag.
Michelle Malkin, a blogger for Townhall.com, said Mrs. Obama comments are an affront to the many accomplishments America has achieved:
“Every naturalization ceremony I’ve attended, where hundreds of new Americans raised their hands to swear an oath of allegiance to this land of liberty, has been a moment of pride for me. So have the awesome displays of American compassion at home and around the world. When millions of Americans rallied to help victims of the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia — including members of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group that sped from Hong Kong to assist survivors — my heart filled with pride. It did again when the citizens of Houston opened their arms to Hurricane Katrina victims and folks across the country rushed to their churches, and Salvation Army and Red Cross offices to volunteer. “
Even Cindy McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain, felt it necessary to respond to Obama’s comments, saying during a campaign rally that she’s always been very proud of her country. But not everyone agrees with McCain and Malkin’s response to Michelle Obama’s statements.
On the Seminal blog, one blogger wrote that Mrs. Obama is justified in her feelings:
“Michelle Obama is an African American female, and based on that alone her relationship to her country is a more complex one. Without a doubt, the roots of Michelle’s comment went far beyond the government’s treatment of African Americans, but that alone would be grounds for righteous indignation. Should she be incessantly and automatically proud of a government that only in the last 40 years has begun to move towards the self-evident truth that all men are created equal?”
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