June 12, 2008
The Facts
Now that Barack Obama has basically become the nominee for the Democratic Party, a new set of campaign “rules” are being tried out between the two parties. And on that note, Obama’s wife, Michelle, is back in the news this morning, but not for something she has said or done in recent days. The news is whether or not a spouse should be exempt from campaign rhetoric during the run to the General Election in November.
My View
Barack Obama said in an interview that the media and the opposition should remain “hands off” where his wife is concerned. This attitude is no different for any candidate, with maybe the exception of Hillary Clinton, whose husband, as an ex-President, is expected to always be open to criticism. In general, I certainly agree with that. However, when a spouse insists on making controversial comments during the campaign, he or she can not expect the critics to remain silent. Unfortunately for Michelle Obama, she has made several controversial comments.
Clearly we are in a new era of politics and election strategies, especially with both a woman and a black man being a major contender. Even with Clinton out of the race, not a lot will change on this issue. Combine that with some of the things Michelle Obama has publically stated and the doors are open. I, too, have raised an eyebrow or two over a couple of her comments, and I’m generally considered one who thinks spouses are off limits. So it’s no wonder many have zeroed in on her, most especially with the roles first wives have been playing for the past couple of decades.
So here’s my suggestion; if you don’t want to become a part of the criticism, you have to keep all your comments and remarks out of the controversial zone. As the old saying goes, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. We have lost our way in this country for many reasons, but one of the major reasons is that each and every one of us has adopted the attitude of “I can say what I feel, but no one else can”.
Filed under: Democrats, Presidential Campaign
