Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Michelle Obama and Marie Antoinette - Cake and $600 Earrngs
There are few, if any, articles in the media about a remark Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, presidential candidate (D)made in Pontiac Michigan last Wednesday. Ms. Obama, in an address covered by the Oakland Press, noted that a $600 stimulus check was not enough to buy a pair of earrings. (Paraphrasing) Her comment serves to highlight the differences between the “haves” and have-nots” in this country and the total disconnect that is apparent between the elites and the rest of us. It is also worth noting that a candidate must have a tremendous financial advantage to succeed in an election leaving the ‘common man” out of the political arena. Therefore, in an absurd world it makes sense that a woman who has a significant private income thinks little of spending her cash on earrings – marking the remark - trivial. On the other hand, the lack of coverage on this particular utterance, in an age where every word spoken by a candidate and his or her “surrogates” is analyzed ad nausea, is certainly of concern. The simple fact is: Michelle Obama, is not just a “surrogate”. Should Obama be elected, Michelle will be a First Lady - affecting policy and representing the nation. One is reminded of an historical quote made by Marie Antoinette, the pampered Austrian Princess who lost her head in the French Revolution. The poor girl merely said, “Let them eat cake!” - This in reference to starving French masses, resulting in quite uproar. The princess, not unlike Michelle Obama, had a lack of understanding when it came to the “commoners”.
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2 comments:
What Michelle Obama actually said: "You're getting $600, What can you do with that? Not to be ungrateful or anything. But maybe it pays down a bill, but it doesn't pay down every bill every month."
"Barack's approach is that the short-term quick fix kinda stuff sounds good. And it may even feel good that first month when you get that check. And then you go out and you buy a pair of earring."
The earrings remark was meant as irony -- a joke.
Hello K9Mensen! Glad to see your comment. Understand that there are different versions of the exact quote on a variety of websites – I have two shown below – Also, note that I used the disclaimer (Paraphrasing) – which suggests that what I had written was not an exact quote. My point - regardless of Mrs. Obama’s $600 earring statement was a joke or no, had more to do with the perception of those who feel they are elite (Progressive University Professors, Progressive journalists, lawyers and politicians come to mind) and those who have their feet firmly planted on the ground (those who don’t buy into Progressive Ideology or those who work for a living). The reference to an historical figure making a gaffe that ended a dynasty served two points; one – history is bound to repeat itself, and two – gaffes, quotes, (or jokes), taken literally, may end up inciting the very “have nots” that one particular party feels they own. Unfortunately, today one cannot joke (Mike Huckabee), wear the wrong pantsuit or mis-remember an event due to campaign exhaustion, or God Forbid, campaign against Obama (Hillary Clinton), without the bleating of these Progressive sheep soundly crying “racists!” (Foul), over and over again, until no one dares to utter a word, lest they be the next target. It is ridiculous, it is offensive, it is transparent in objective and it is fascist. (Progressives and Fascists do have a lot in common, historically speaking.)
To refresh:
I noted that a $600 stimulus check was not enough to buy a pair of earrings. (Paraphrasing)
Washington Times *(link provided twice in blog)
"You're getting $600 - what can you do with that? Not to be ungrateful or anything, but maybe it pays down a bill, but it doesn't pay down every bill every month," she said. "The short-term quick fix kinda stuff sounds good, and it may even feel good that first month when you get that check, and then you go out and you buy a pair of earrings."
From: USA Today: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/07/lost-in-the-shu.html
“As pundit David Gergen said on CNN's AC360° last night, the Gramm story in particular:
"Covered up a couple of things on (Obama's) own campaign that he didn't want to be leading the program tonight, Michelle Obama out today talking about these (tax) rebates don't amount to much, $600. Well, you just go out there and spend that on a pair of earrings.
"Well, you know, a lot of people don't buy $600 earrings. So, this story smothered those kinds of things. And I think this was a real gift to Barack Obama."
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