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From the Financial Times Deutschland: Michelle Obama: A ‘Revolutionary’ That’ll Be Good for America
As revolutionary as the change that a President Barack Obama would bring, Thomas Klau of Germany’s Financial Times Deutschland thinks that his wife Michelle as first lady would herald an even greater revolution – but not the type that involves a Kalashnikov slung over her shoulder.
Klau writes that throughout American history, “As in a monarchy, the wife of America’s head of state is indisputably and for all, the First Lady of Society. Her tastes, her choice of curtains, or the style of her clothing are all legitimate topics of reporting for the nation’s most prestigious newspapers.”
Given this unusual truism of the American system, Klau goes on to write:
“All of this reflects what an enormous breakthrough that the entry into the White House of Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic candidate Barack Obama, would be. In some respects, she would represent an even greater revolution than the parallel entry into office of her husband. … One suspects that she won’t be one to forget that the celebrity and success of rare social achievers like TV genius Oprah Winfrey, Secretary of State Rice and her predecessor in office Colin Powell – conceal, more than reveal, the reality that a majority of Black Americans experience – and the history that they have inherited.”
“For a considerable portion of the White majority, when Michelle Obama declared several months ago that for the first time she was proud of her country, it was an offence against the first commandment of unconditional American patriotism. … But the Black minority knows what Michelle Obama meant. Blacks are embittered and scoff at conservatives – a mortal sin against the second commandment of unconditional American patriotism. From a European point of view, this apparent bitterness seems like a much clearer perception of the realities in the country.”
By Thomas Klau*
Translated by Julian Jacob
July 10, 2008
Germany – Financial Times Deutschland – Original Article (German)
A President Barack Obama would be regarded as evidence of a turning point in the United States. However, an even greater breakthrough would be a First Lady Michelle Obama.
As the United States was born, for heads of state the global norm was kings or queens, not presidents; so it was that in the early months of the republic there was a serious debate about whether the president, for the purposes of symbolic equality, should be addressed as “Majesty.” And it wasn’t only eccentrics or those who were nostalgic for monarchy who pleaded for this. The second U.S. President, the great founding father John Adams, was one of the proponents of this title, which sounds so peculiar to us today.
If one wants to understand the USA and its political system, it’s worth directing one’s attention to these early years. The United States is a young country. Just one hundred and twenty years ago, European settlers or their descendants were still fighting battles of conquest against the so-called natives. But at the same time, it’s the oldest great republic on this planet – one of the very few countries where government institutions can look back over a 200-year history.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. election.
15 Responses to “From the Financial Times Deutschland: Michelle Obama: A ‘Revolutionary’ That’ll Be Good for America”
I'm glad that Germans see race as the most important deciding factor as to who should run the country. It certainly is THE most important issue facing americans today. So much so that I would vote for Barack Obama in spite of the fact that he isn't qualified to take over this time around, just because he has dark-colored skin. I'll even look past the fact that he was raised essentially white and privileged and had to “adopt” “ghetto angst” as an election ploy… All that matters to me is that a person with dark skin run our country. Just based on that one fact I can hang my hat on the fact that he is imminently qualified to usher in “change”…
Sarcasm aside, I myself tend to agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in that the color of a person's skin shouldn't determine who they are in society.
Beware of focus on skin color. It can backfire.
I think the conservatives and their wrap yourself in the flag and overt but, shallow symbols of patriotism is sickening.
It doesn't matter how many flag pins you wear or stickers on your car that matter. it's how you are toward your fellow americans, your love of country also is shown when you are worried and raise your voice if something is wrong.
Trying to paint the Obama's as unpatiriotic is also disgusting.
Barack Obama is a US Senator running for president! Common sense alone would tell you the man loves his country.
But, Michelle, I feel is unfairly targeted by a rightwing disappointed in not having Hillary to bash. They have 20 years of oppo research and have been geared up for years for the chance to go after Hillary. she lost so they are now using Michelle as a substitute and that is wrong.
Michelle is a classy, beautiful and down to earth, authentic woman who is bright and successful. she would make a wonderful role model and I'm sure those who watch things like style would gush at her impeccable one.
I wish the rightwing would stop trying to demonize the women of the democratic side. Just because rightwinger like their women to be ice queens who are perfect little stepford wives does not give them the right to trash our side and the women who are alive and stylish and strong.
I should add, however, that the article posted a video from the view. Judging from the reaction to the dress Michelle wore that day, I would say millions of women accept and admire Michelle as she is.
The dress sold out and is on back order for months.
That should tell the righwing that they may try to trash democratic women but, as far as average women are concerned, Michelle is alright with them.
Dresses and skin color. Man am I relieved we have our priorities striaight when it comes to dealing with these dire times we're in.
Personally, I think we should pick the next president based on the type of cologne his wife/her husband wears.
Yes! Think of the money we'd save if we just ran a poll based on cologne choice? There is nothing more important in a world leader than his/her spouse's choice of body-odor masking..
Michelle Obama is example of everything that is bad with the U.S. instead of what is good. She received every opprotunity while in one of the best public schools in the U.S. and used it to get into Princeton as a diversity admit. Yet, she majored in Sociology. Not exactly the educational background that is going to help the U.S. compete in the international marketplace. Ms. Obama then used her quota admission to Princeton and her race to get admitted to Harvard Law School. Of course, Ms. Obama did not have the drive, ambition, or the intelligence to compete at the Big Law firms and might have flunked her bar exam the first time.
She ended up working in public relatiions (a pink collar field if there every was one) and not one that improves the economy of the U.S. or betters her employers bottom line. Of course public relations along with Human Resources have become the domian of the black women in many firms in the U.S.
I am still waiting for someone to explain how she is a great example. If she was white with the same intelligence she would have ended up as an Univ. of Illinois graduate, would have ended up at a second tier law school, and would have never been a VP at University of Chicago Health System.
SD, Michelle was a corporate attorney for Sidley Austin, which is a large and highly respected law firm.
Also Michelle would not help the US compete in the international marketplace- that's the job of her husband. But even if she were to help… I think a degree in Sociology and a law degree with corporate law experience and then working as Vice President of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center, is much better experience than a being a librarian…. I don't mean to knock Laura Bush, but since you're stepping into this area I thought I'd just point it out.
While we are talking about First Ladies and their education… I just checked Wikipedia and saw that Barbara Bush is a college drop out and Nancy Reagan majored in English and drama….
You say that, “If she was white with the same intelligence she would have ended up as an Univ. of Illinois graduate, would have ended up at a second tier law school, and would have never been a VP at University of Chicago Health System.” Well, Michelle did graduate cum laude from Princeton so she's not as stupid as you would have us believe…. I think if she were a white woman with the same intelligence she could have gone on to any college she wanted.
Furthermore, given that so many African Americans don't make it out of the South Side, I think Michelle's achievements are a testament to the values of her parents in demanding that their children make something of themselves.
You seem so concerned about Michelle receiving special treatment and would not help advance the US's interests… I don't think it's really an issue because the president should be working to advance the US's interests overseas. But since you're concerned about such things…. which president used his family's political connections to avoid serving in Vietnam? Which president got “gentlemen's C's” in college? Which president needed to be bailed out of his failing companies? Which president used his family's political connections to start and support his political career?
I don't know the circumstances of Michelle's college admissions. I also don't know the circumstances of her bar exam, and I would bet that you don't either. But if you compare Michelle and George W. Bush, I think it's clear by a long shot that he received far more “help” than Michelle. I think that Michelle, who did graduate cum laude from Princeton, is far smarter than Bush. So I'm not sure why you're knocking Michelle and make assumptions about her intellect and abilities…. she's not running for president…. As far as her job not helping her employer's bottom line…. I do not think that the primary goal of the University of Chicago is to earn money for shareholders (which it does not have)… I think the University of Chicago's primary goal is education and supporting the community around it (i.e. through its hospital and other community services).
I think the Klau article is right on. I also think that the reason so many conservatives hate Michelle isn't the fact that they don't have 20 years worth of mud to fling at her, I think they hate her because they consider her a threat to their “white” lifestyle which they are so familiar with.
I think Americans understand that the First Lady does exhibit a lot of influence and is someone who can be a role model in certain areas. Because of this many conservatives don't know how to respond to the notion that the tone and mood of the WH and national politics will be set by African Americans…. and (according to them, even though it's completely false) muslims to boot!
I think Michelle will make a fine First Lady.
StockBoySF,
Thank you; you summed my feelings both about the article and then with the two tiresome posters (Sil and SD). I can't add anything other than a thank you for a job well done.
Thanks once again for a job well done.
StockboySF,
For America to compete in the world marketplace, the best and bightest need to do something besides major and sociology and go into public relations. Have you ever wonder why Michelle Obama ended up in healthcare public relations (usually the job of washed up news reporters and former local television producers?).
America should reward people who go into engineering, the hard sciences, technology, and other fields where they can become innovators, entrepeuners, and capitalist.
Michelle Obama had every advantage and ended up in a pick collar field that is field with black women. Maybe Princeton could help with the shortage of black and female engineers and physicist by only admitting black females who are willing to major in the sciences instead of sociology. How could you not graduate with honors with a degree in sociology when that field suffers from graduate inflation and most princeton students graduate with honors?
Of course, Senator Obama is probably just as much an example of a quota black as is his wife. A white kid going to Punahoa in Honolulu with middle grades would have ended up at the University of Washington or the University of the Pacific instead of Columbia.
You're welcome, Loviatar.
I just finished reading this piece in the Washington Post about Michelle and thought, “How timely!”
Bear in mind the article is about Michelle and stereotypes of African-American women. Near the end is this, “Recently, a friend who's a married professional mother of three girls wrote to me: “I think one of the most interesting things about Michelle Obama is that what she and her husband are doing is pretty revolutionary these days — and I don't mean running for president. For a black man and woman in the U.S. to be happily married, with children, and working as partners to build a life — let alone a life of service to others — all while rearing their children together is downright revolutionary.”'
On the one hand (I think) this is unfortunate. It's a harsh indictment on American society that blacks historically haven't have the same opportunities as whites and the “American Dream” for many whites, a dream that whites can actually achieve, looks very different than the American Dream for blacks and what blacks can actually achieve. On the other hand this (successful marriage, good jobs) would be considered a huge accomplishment for many people (and not just African-Americans- after all the divorce rate in this country is amazingly high). Who would have thought that two African Americans, one from the poor South Side of Chicago and the other raised in Hawaii (on food stamps for a while) with a stint in Indonesia would have a true chance at becoming President and First Lady? Even though there are great gains in this country on race, there is still much work to do. I am so happy to see that Obama isn't an apologist for so many problems in the African American community and why African-Americans need help. Obama rightly knows that all successful people, whether the white upper middle class, or blacks, or even all those folks in other countries pulling themselves out of third world status have certain values, such as education, taking responsibility for one's decisions, judgement gained through experience, ambition, a basic desire to improve one's lot, etc. Obama knows that successful parents take their children's education seriously (as Michelle's parents did- and they stimulated Michelle and her brother in dinner table discussions about important matter). This may seem like standard fare for any upper middle class white family, but it isn't the norm for all people. But it is important to understand the larger world if you do want to succeed.
Obama's words to black fathers who do not take responsibility for their own children are much more powerful than those same words from a WASP politician born into money and privilege who doesn't understand the black community's (or most Americans) struggles.
Here's the link to the entire article.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar…
SD, SD, SD….. Bush received gentlemen's Cs (and no honors that I can see) from Yale…. McCain was almost kicked out of the Naval Academy because he wanted to party more than study and he graduated 894 of 899 in his class….
Both McCain and Bush are where they are because of their family connections (McCain's father was an Admiral and his wife's connections helped, too). McCain's only real public service sector job was given to him by his father-in-law in a beer distributorship as… drum roll… Vice President of Public Relations (a field you disparage) …. a job he wouldn't have even gotten on his own as he had no previous experience….
Despite the obvious family ties to their success and limited mental capacity of both Bush and McCain you insist on attacking Michelle Obama because she supposedly has had special privileges…. When she's held more responsible private sector jobs that she got on her own, without help of family connections. You even manage to denigrate her honors at the nations top schools.
She's not even trying to be president of the United States and she's obviously smarter and had more successful private jobs on her own merits than Bush and McCain have between the two of them.
As far as Obama- he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard law, not a prestige that Harvard gives to fill quotas. He was also president of the Harvard Law Review, probably the most influential and prestigious law journals in the world. Hardly a position he got through quotas.
Your sliming Obama and Michelle is just so laughable when one considers the accomplishments (much less and with a heavy reliance on family connections) of both Bush and McCain. Do you really think McCain graduating 894 in his class of 899 at the Naval Academy and being handed his VP of Public Relations at this father-in-law's beer distributorship is really more worthy then Michelle Obama's graduation with honors from a top school, her experience as a corporate attorney with a prestigious law firm, and being Vice President of external affairs at the University of Chicago, another top institution (and a position she had to work towards)?
This shows precisely the reason why America is the way it it today. If you're white with a mediocre intelligence and family connections, you can go to any school you want and through connections be handed any job (as long as it is within the family business) and even be president of the US. No need to work hard and prove yourself- you're already in.
On the other hand, if you work hard all your life, get into the top schools and with hard work graduate with honors. Then go on to have highly responsible jobs without the help of family connections (and you're successful), you're still not even qualified to be First Lady… because you're not “one of us”.
By the way, I really think it's rich that the only private sector job McCain had was one that was given to him by his father-in-law and one that you believe is filled with black women because they can't get other types of jobs (or “real jobs” in other words). I absolutely love your comments at times.
Wow StockBoySF, I was outside enjoying some barbecue when I heard this awful sound, I wiped off the barbecue (great barbecue by the way St. Louis style) and raced inside to see what was the cause of that awful racket. And what do you know; it was SD getting an awesome PWANED.
Be gentle with SD and Sil, its Sunday and the regular Republican troll computer is down for its weekly uploading of talking points. The backup troll computer is not as swift and is missing some of the latest updates so it can't respond as quickly.
Hey SD,
Did it hurt? Did it hurt really really bad? Gooooooooood. ;>)
Thanks, Loviatar- my point wasn't to gloat but to respond to SD's nonsense. I don't think SD was aware of McCain's job as VP of Public Relations, a field which SD thinks is fitting only for black women (and try telling that to the many folks, of all types, in PR who not only work hard but are struggling to make ends meet). The rest of his argument doesn't hold water. Even though I try to stay informed there's a lot of stuff I miss and a lot of stuff I don't know. But SD's argument clearly fails on so many levels- it goes beyond his not knowing the candidates.
I'm afraid it will be expecting too much for the same people who have enjoyed trashing Hillary and Pelosi to show much in the way of maturity and civility toward Michelle Obama. They seem to have this sort of fear aggression when it comes to strong, successful, and opinionated female democrats. Not all of them do, but there is a definite pattern there. It's kind of weird if you ask me.
JSpencer,
It's because they have small penises.