BHO is really getting tough now!

[widgeon13]

Lay off my wife!

I can't imagine how ugly this is really going to get if he gets the nod, pretty nasty. I can see some great one liners in the future!

"Take my wife... Please!"
Henny Youngman

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/michelle_obama_fair_game_barac.html

Michelle Obama fair game. Barack warns "lay-off" his wife.


WASHINGTON -- After wife Michelle was attacked last week in a video produced by the Tennessee GOP, Sen. Barack Obama sent a warning to the troublemakers on Monday to "lay off my wife."

No matter the outcome of the presidential election, the contest has served to permanently vault Michelle Obama from relative obscurity to fame, as she has taken on major fund-raising and surrogate speaking roles on behalf of her husband, even phoning superdelegates to try to close the deal for him. Michelle Obama has her own chief of staff and press secretary, and campaign advance staffers handle her larger events, where she has turned out to be a significant draw in her own right.

Just as Bill Clinton at times has been at times a mixed blessing for Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Cindy McCain has been in the news because she won't release her tax returns, Michelle Obama -- one of the campaign's greatest assets -- has also stirred up controversy. Spouses are not exempt from scrutiny if they are major surrogates.

The most significant jam Michelle Obama has gotten herself into was back in February, when she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm proud of my country." Last week, the Tennessee Republican Party came out with a video featuring a clip with Michelle Obama's quote.

Asked about this, Sen. Obama said, "The GOP, should I be the nominee, I think can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record. If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful.

"Because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family. Michelle is the most honest, the best person I know. She is one of the most caring people I know. She loves this country. And for them to try to distort or to play snippets of her remarks in ways that are unflattering to her I think is just low-class. And I think most of the American people would think that as well.

"Whoever is in charge of the Tennessee GOP needs to think long and hard about the kind of campaign that they want to run, and I think that's true for everybody, Democrat or Republican."

He left the topic with this threat: "But I also think these folks should lay off my wife. All right? Just in case they're watching."

[Mule]

Are you referring to the American Winnie Mandela?

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good old Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee

[Jim Richards]

Attacking candidates family members is just low class. McCain's wife catching grief about her lack of tax disclosure is low class, too. Politics in America has gone to *****.

[widgeon13]

It may be low class and I don't disagree with that but that's the state of our political situation and it's one that our society has brought on itself. Pretty much everything about the political scene today is low class.

As I said, this is not going to be pretty.

[Jim Richards]

You should have stopped after acknowledging it was low class.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Attacking candidates family members is just low class. McCain's wife catching grief about her lack of tax disclosure is low class, too. Politics in America has gone to *****.

I disagree when the family member has a press secretary and gives speeches. Like Michelle Obama. If she was just suzy homemaker and smiled and waved that would be one thing, but she is campaigning for her husband. Therefore, in my mind what she says on the campaign trail is fair game. Iagree with you on McCain's wife not disclosing her tax returns. They keep their finances separate, that should be the end of the story. Additionally, why should a candidate release his or her tax returns? To show they actually paid taxes? I don't think it's germane to anything. Unless you're Ted Kennedy who was deeply involved in transferring family funds to off shore accounts to avoid taxes, but hey, even he used the tax code.

[Jim Richards]

All candidates' spouses campaign. Even their kids help. It's just low class to attack the family members when the candidate is the one running for elected office. The candidate, if elected, has to answer to the people, not the family members. Low class is just low class.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

...Pretty much everything about the political scene today is low class....

I haven't been visiting PPOT nearly much lately for that very reason. I've been around a few years, and have endured the political "discussions" before, but the tone of PPOT has sunk to a level recently where it's no longer "fun" to even visit anymore. Most of the folks on here seem to be fairly intelligent, but I just don't "get" the juvenile antics, name calling, hints of racism, etc. of some of the more vocal members (when it comes to politics). I've thoroughly enjoyed the exchange of ideas, etc. from almost everyone here, and I've learned a lot from folks with perspectives that differ from my own, but I've come to the conclusion that the "good side" of PPOT isn't worth enduring the political BS. Do you guys (and you know who you are) REALLY want to turn this place into a political cesspool...if so, enjoy the swim .

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

All candidates' spouses campaign. Even their kids help. It's just low class to attack the family members when the candidate is the one running for elected office. The candidate, if elected, has to answer to the people, not the family members. Low class is just low class.

It's equally low class for a candidate to send out family members as surrogates, who often make some sensational statements and then cry "Lay off my wife/husband/kid!" when people actually want to challenege what they have said publicly. Why did no one tell the press to lay off Bill Clinton? His mouth was constantly hurting his wife's campaign and the media called him on it. Why is it ok for Chelsea to say whatever she wants at campaign events, refuse to answer any reporters' questions on it and then have her mom say, "Leave my daughter alone!"? Hey, if you don't want people attacking your familiy, don't pimp them for your campaign. Michelle Obama is no different. If Barack really wanted people to lay off her, he should keep her away from the campaign trail. Anyone who picks up a mic to make a speech should be absolutely free game for the media and political opponents to question or criticize.

[Jim Richards]

Yawn. Are the family members elected? Do they have a Constitutional responsibility to uphold?

Low class is just low class.

[TerryBPP]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Yawn. Are the family members elected? Do they have a Constitutional responsibility to uphold?

Low class is just low class.

If they receive a title like "1st lady" I believe there past should be looked into.

Also, she wasn't camera shy until the press found her thesis on how white people are the devil. Obama was dangling her out there like bait then decided she wasn't catching what he was fishing for.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Are the family members elected? Do they have a Constitutional responsibility to uphold?

No, and that's even more reason to scrutinize them. I suppose you think it was perfectly fine for Hillary Clinton to head up her husband's health care task force as an unelected, unaccountable, yet very powerful person, and that she should not be questioned on it. And as long as you think anyone in a campaign who isn't running for an elected or appointed position should be beyond criticism, I guess you have no problem with lobbyists for foreign governments running these campaigns too, right? Please, don't ever tell us you have a problem with Mark Penn lobbying for the Colombian government on the opposite side of the position of the campaign he ran. Ditto for Charlie Black or Tom Loeffler for McCain. I guess the elected officials are the only ones who ever matter. No one ever should have criticized Karl Rove or James Carville either, right? Oh, if they're family then it's taboo.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

No, and that's even more reason to scrutinize them.

That makes no sense. Did your employer interview Sandy to see if they should provide you with the job in Phoenix? Did Sandy's employer interview you?

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I suppose you think it was perfectly fine for Hillary Clinton to head up her husband's health care task force as an unelected, unaccountable, yet very powerful person, and that she should not be questioned on it.

Don't suppose what I think. It makes you look foolish.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

And as long as you think anyone in a campaign who isn't running for an elected or appointed position should be beyond criticism, I guess you have no problem with lobbyists for foreign governments running these campaigns too, right?

Once again, don't suppose what I think.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Please, don't ever tell us you have a problem with Mark Penn lobbying for the Colombian government on the opposite side of the position of the campaign he ran. Ditto for Charlie Black or Tom Loeffler for McCain.

Are they spouses/family of candidates?

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I guess the elected officials are the only ones who ever matter. No one ever should have criticized Karl Rove or James Carville either, right?

Are they spouses/family of candidates?

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Oh, if they're family then it's taboo.

Finally, you understand.

[Rick Lee]

If my wife and I had gone to each other's job interviews to tout ourselves and slam the other job applicants, I'd fully expect some questions. But we have nothing whatsoever to do with each other's jobs and don't talk to each other's bosses.

[the]

Can't have it both ways. Either stay in the background, or be subject to the same criticism as anyone else speaking on behalf of the campaign.

Personal attacks = bad. Criticism of the words or ideas spoken on the campaign trail = fine. It's ridiculous to think there is a campaigner who can say whatever they want, with a free pass from any discussion or criticism.

[Superman]

If Obama shows some class in upcoming months, this warning should be heeded. He stepped away from the rancor of those sharp remarks between himself and Hillary, and took on a statesmanlike appearance. If the bad guys resort to personal attacks and attacks on his wife.....and they will.....and if he plays his cards with dignity......then those attacks will backfire. It has been a long time since we saw a presidential candidate who appeared to have both intelligence and maturity. I wouldn't expect that from him, but it looks like he may be capable of it. If he is, then he just might make the bad guys look exceedingly petty. And immature.

I say "watch out" for this guy.

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by KC911

Do you guys (and you know who you are) REALLY want to turn this place into a political cesspool...if so, enjoy the swim .

You are so right KC - good to keep it fun.

Otherwise, say what you want about W. but Laura Bush is class act and will by a tough act to follow.

[Jim Richards]

Laura Bush is a class act, for sure.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Laura Bush is a class act, for sure.

Well, she is in that she hasn't made any political speeches on anyone's behalf. I sure like that about her.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Superman

If Obama shows some class in upcoming months, this warning should be heeded. He stepped away from the rancor of those sharp remarks between himself and Hillary, and took on a statesmanlike appearance. If the bad guys resort to personal attacks and attacks on his wife.....and they will.....and if he plays his cards with dignity......then those attacks will backfire. It has been a long time since we saw a presidential candidate who appeared to have both intelligence and maturity. I wouldn't expect that from him, but it looks like he may be capable of it. If he is, then he just might make the bad guys look exceedingly petty. And immature.

I say "watch out" for this guy.

Obama only did this because he could afford to. He was winning and didn't have to get tough. Had his and Clinton's primary delegate counts and poll numbers been reversed, I highly doubt he would have tried to appear above the fray. It's easy to exude an air of grace under pressure when there's no real pressue.