An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« The Great Writ Survives As Liberty & Security Are Reconciled In The Imperial Age of Bush

Supreme Court Guantamo Ruling Underscores Court’s Future Makeup As Election Concern »

Michelle Obama Watch

Posted by JOE WINDISH, Technology Editor in Politics.
Jun 13th, 2008 | Comments

Theda Skocpol asks, Will White Feminists Speak up for Michelle Obama?

The attacks gathering on her are scurrilous, profoundly sexist and racist. Will prominent white feminists and female pundits and officials — including Congressional Republican women — speak up forcefully against slurs on Michelle Obama? It will be a strong test of their good faith. Do they care about fairness to all women involved in public life, or are they just whining for Hillary or maneuvering for her voters?

Pam Spaulding tells us of an ‘art’ exhibit shut down in NYC that featured Obama’s daughters labeled as “nappy headed hos.” The exhibit also included the cover of his book altered to say “The Audacity of Black Hope,” among other offenses.

Ann Bartow joins Pam in pointing to Gina of What About Our Daughters who has launched a Michelle Obama Watch site, described as…

…a nonpartisan effort to monitor the media’s treatment and depiction of Michelle Obama, the most visible African American woman in popular culture. Michelle Obama Watch will become the repository of the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

Marlowecan

"…a nonpartisan effort to monitor the media’s treatment and depiction of Michelle Obama, the most visible African American woman in popular culture. "

"Nonpartisan?" Please... The site is clearly protecting Michelle and...in the process...watching Obama's back.

Also, the site is totally wrong in its claim that Michelle Obama is "the most visible African American women in popular culture."

That honor clearly lies with Oprah Winfrey. . . as it has for years.

Don Quijote

Racism in America? Never...

The Sock Obama

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...

And it's only going to get uglier...

evebantyte

I am so glad there is a site to show my support for my first, First Lady.

To be honest it is not that any of the presidents wives have not been my first lady but not one, has represented me.

No not even Oprah. By the way SHE doesn't count.

Michelle has proven herself to be what I was raised knowing black women to be. Strong, opinionated, gentle, compassionate, strikingly regal yet so simply plain.

I don't mean to take away from others, but not once has anyone of them represented me.

I love MIchelle, SHE IS MY FIRST LADY!!

runasim

""Nonpartisan?" Please... The site is clearly protecting Michelle and...in the process...watching Obama's back."
----------------------

Marlowecan,
Do you know the party affiliation of those minding this particular site or how they intend to vote ?
i don't; so maybe you could share the information?

While it's reasonable to assume they have no problem with Obama, the attacks on his wife bring much larger issues into play than his candidacy.

I think it's a mistake to reduce evey single thing to its basest possibilities before there is good reason to assume so.
There should be a gap between conjecture and assertion, a gap wide enough to at least consider the possiblilities.

StockBoySF

On the "art" exhibit that was shut down:

I honestly don't know what to make of this. On the one hand is the first amendment rights of the artist, but on the other hand there is a very real threat to Obama (his assassination) which this exhibit (to many) supports.

My personal feeling is that no *subject* is sacrosanct to artists.... exhibits like this are meant to help raise awareness and debate on racism, politics and other issues. But the exhibit does stir up feelings of animosity towards a political figure and IMO indirectly supports hatred and violence against Obama.

Obama's children should be left out of this... they did not volunteer to be Obama's kids, nor did they pose for the exhibit. They are young and can neither participate in any debate the artist is aiming at them, nor defend themselves. Besides the "nappy headed hos" language is just plain offensive.

I think artists do have the responsibility to balance their art against the well-being of their subjects. In this case I feel several lines were crossed. But I don't know what else the artist could have done which would have made for a provocative exhibit without endangering Obama or his family... but then again that's what makes a good artist.. balancing these needs.

blog comments powered by Disqus