Michelle Obama sends a shout-out to Laura Bush

Michelle Obama revealed this morning that she's got a role model who many might consider an unlikely choice for her: Laura Bush.

In one of the highlights of her much-anticipated appearance on ABC's "The View," the prospective first lady told Barbara Walters and the show's four other regular hosts that she was "touched" by understanding words the current first lady recently directed her way.

Bush, in an interview with ABC News, had been asked to comment on the quote that continues to dog Obama -- her comment four months ago, as her husband grabbed the lead in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, that "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country."

Bush let her off the hook, saying, "I think she probably meant ‘I’m more proud.’ ... You have to be really careful in what you say because everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued.”

We noted previously that Obama owed Bush a big thank you. And, it turns out, that's exactly how Obama reacted -- she said she has sent Bush a note expressing her appreciation.

She also said she's "taking some cues" from how the first lady has handled life in the political spotlight, praising her "calm, rational approach." (The Times' Johanna Neuman, writing for our new "Countdown to Crawford" blog, has more on Obama's comments here. And, because so many were eager to see how Michelle handled herself, so does our Show Tracker blog.)

Obama had sought to clarify her "proud" remark almost immediately but, not surprisingly, she was asked about it again today. She's pretty much got her answer down pat now, saying, "Of course, I'm proud of my country. Nowhere but in America could my story be possible."

What she was trying to express back in February, she added, was how proud she was of the "political process" and the interest the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had sparked.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: ABC

Comments

[Agnes]

Michelle Obama said, "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MYADULT LIFE TIME, I'M PROUD OF MY COUNTRY". Later during the day in another place where she spoke, she added the word, "REALLY". The meaning makes a lot of difference.

[Marcos El Malo]

Whatever you might think of her husband, Laura Bush is a class act. It's heartening to see Michelle Obama following in her footsteps (hopefully all the way to the Whitehouse).

[Phil Apino]

Will Michelle Obama still be proud of her country if her husband loses the election? Or is her pride dependent on things going well for her and Barack?

You decide.

[ericmiami]

Sen. and Mrs. Obama will do this country proud. This bitter old white guy is voting for Obama!

[Ryan Mercer]

One can be proud of their country and not be proud of everything it does. How many of us are PROUD that we have tortured detainees? In a less politically charged context, would the words "I'm proud of my country" become the target of a character assassination? Does it actually matter even if it REALLY is the first time? How bitter does one have to be to take these words as spite?

[TomG]

Barack and Michelle are giving Americans a lot to be proud of.

[Donna H.]

Michelle Obama said what she meant, and she meant what she said. Enough said.

[N Smith]

AGnes, this is NOT TRUE. I watched the speech. It's online. She SAID "For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country." What the big deal anyways? We seem to reject the most worthy leaders over the most stupid,mindless, and pointless "mistakes."

[Jonathan]

Stoip watching FOX Agnes, you aren't doing yourself any favors. I just viewed the original video and also the one posted, clipped by FOX. They ALTERED THE VIDEO AND REMOVED THE WORD "REALLY." I viewed the original version, and the Fox version right afterward and its clearly been altered and manipulated.

[dee]

Michelle Obama is not too bright for a Princeton grad!!

She does not know what to say and she is pretty negative.

[DenisR]

Yes, he has big ears and his wife is smart. There is nothing wrong with the Obamas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mark]

Don't know what Don thought he was implying with the "Shout Out" in the title but I hope it's not because Michelle is black. I bet if Cindy McCain had made some gesture of friendship to Laura they wouldn't have put "Shout Out" anything in the title or story. Idiot.

[Tom in NC]

Michelle Obama said, "FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MYADULT LIFE TIME, I'M PROUD OF MY COUNTRY". Later during the day in another place where she spoke, she added the word, "REALLY". The meaning makes a lot of difference.

Posted by: Agnes | June 18, 2008 at 10:49 AM

Agnes: Actually No. HER meaning was the same. The difference is in the relative difficulty of those who wish to deliberately misconstrue her words, as Laura Bush warned about.

“Hope is making a comeback and, let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud of my country. Not just because Barack is doing well, but I think people are hungry for change.” “I have seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues and it has made me proud.” (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bQIjE6Diez0).

[bvivet]

Fair enough....McSame, you better fatsen your belt. The little boy gonna wipe you out like a blanco.

OBAMA '08

[Steve M.]

Agnes,

Whether she said the word "really" makes a difference? Difference as to what exactly? Difference as to who will make the better president for the United States for America for the next 4-8 years: Obama or McCain???

Because if that's not the focus, there is no reason to dwell on this issue months and months after a candidate's wife made one ill-spoken remark.

[phoenixandrew]

Even if she wasn't proud of her country before, it really shouldn't have been an issue. For the first six years of the Bush presidency, with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, I wasn't proud of my country either.

[rajah kahn]

It was Shawn Hannity who blew that statement out of proportion on his radio and fox news(He calls himself a "true christian), as far as I know he is a HYPOCRITICAL CHRISTIAN...
You know, I really like Laura Bush, and Hillary does not have any class like this lady...Laura Bush is a GENUINE person, has MORAL values, is an EXTRAORDINARY human being. She is very INTELLIGENT and full of PASSION. She has such CLASS, that if this lady was running for PRESIDENT, although I am a DEMOCRAT) I will not HESITATE to vote for this stalwart of a woman. She is class, personna.
God bless the First Lady, Laura Bush. There will be none like her, so clean and unique.

[Christina]

Nice Try, Michelle NObama! Trying to associate yourself with the best first lady in history, wife of the Best President In The History Of The United States, as verified by over 50 historians at Liberal Elite Universitiies will not help you, because John McCain will be the next President, and Cindy McCain is no NObama!

http://www.womenforjohnmccain.com/

[anandine]

I once heard Laura Bush described as "hot, in a real-estate seminar kind of way."

[JOHN]

WOOT! for the bitter ole white guys voting against the same ole white guys/business as usual.. I truly hope i see a country that finally expresses its discontent/shame with
Republican big business/war machine politics and sends an intelligent man and women to the white house this fall.

White guy for Obama

[Tom Tucker]

Gimme a break. The only reason Obama values Bush as a role model is because Obama wants to take her place. And I think her comment is calculated and politically motivated to appeal to voters on the right. I wonder when the view will host Cindy McCain.

[Karen]

I agree that Laura Bush is a class act. How he managed to keep her in his life is a total mystery to me. She is so far above him it's riciculous, both intellectually and as a human being.

[jp]

Let's see how proud of their country all the racial bigots are after the majority elects a black to the presidency.
GET OVER IT! She's human.

[Jeff S.]

Michelle Obama spoke the truth. My people fought during the American Revolution, the Civil War, and of course our hallowed WWII. If our unacknowledged genocides of native peoples, African people and our able assistance in the Guatemalan Genocide under Ronald Reagan aren't enough to shame you, you must have a warped sense of pride. I love the people of this country, its land and its ideals. There is no greater patriot than the one who stands up to the bullying of oppressors and their minions and denounces their actions such as Kathy Kelly, Daniel Berrigan, Daniel Ellsberg, etc. I can't speak for Michelle Obama, but I am very proud of her.

[Anna]

It appears that the Obama supporters now like Laura Bush because she said what they wanted to hear. Anyone who ignores the Obamas baggage and faults and who praise and worship them are great people in the eyes of their supporters. Laura Bush is a great first lady without pretense. I think president Bush has done a fair job as president. Remember he has not had a lot of help from the deomcratic congress.

[Christina West]

Michelle NObama may try to curry favor by sweet talking to Laura Bush, but she will be old news in NOvember when Americans vote for McCain instead of NObama, and Cindy is our new First Lady!

http://www.womenforjohnmccain.com/

[Philip]

I am an African American, and I can say, without reservation, that for the first time in my adult life: "I am really proud of my country-America"

Not becuase of Barack's color or his race (mixed), but becuase American's maybe showing a willingness to judge a person by thier intellegence, character and leadership qualities. God Bless America!

[David]

Michelle Obama continues to be an incredibly class act! Anyone with half a brain knew exactly what she meant in Febroary--I agreed with her then, and I agree with her now. To those of you who can't stand the thought of her husband being President? Get over it. Gays are getting married, and a black guy is going to be President. The world won't come to an end. If you don't get it, talk to your kids. Better yet, listen to them.

[West Virginia man]

America we need Obama in the white house yesterday and for the next 8 years. I am tired of all the racism here in America. White people do and say what they wont black people do and say then get punished for it.
We need a balance act now. There are allot of great black leaders in the world and well as get people. All you people that are still living in the past snap out of it. The McCants will Bankrupt US just like the Bushitters!!!

Anna where in the hell have you being in the last eight years. This country is not the world favorite right now. Gas prices are through the roof!!!!

[Just wondering...]

for the number of obama supporters, the fact that they argue when race is brought up, how vocal are they to declare their race when it wasn't supposed to matter in the first place. hmm. makes you wonder. all those times they were angry that race was being played up when they themselves were participating in keeping race an issue. i'm ambivalent to who wins in november. either we have 4 years of the same old, same old, or 4 years of a guy trying to figure out how to put his flowery words into action. wake me up when the elections are over. both candidates are ridiculously inept. it's a sad day when you guys handed the presidency to mccain by voting for obama. great job, obama.

[bob]

Why does the Democratic Party not push Mrs. Obama as the CO. Presedent as they did with Senator Clinton? Do the Democrats think M. Obama is dumber than Hillary? Do Democrats think that black women can not be co-president because of their race? How can Hillary have been the co-president and not a black woman?

[Kevin]

She made $273,618/year in 2006 as VP for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Seems hugely overpaid for a PR person. How was this justified?

[April]

I cannot believe all the pro Obama posts on this site! What is wrong with you people?!? What's to be proud of -- his racist views of whites and Jews, the racist church he chose to stay in for 20 years, but claims to have never heard ONE racist or nasty sermon (If you believe this, I have a bridge for sale), or his many questionable affiliations of Tony Rezko, Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, etc.?!? What is it going to take to knock Obama down -- a gun in his hand standing over a body?!? If he were a white guy, he would NOT be where he is now. It's a disgrace to think that so many Americans are so gullible and driven by hatred of George Bush that they'll make a complete turnaround for a freshman senator who's never run anything in his life, much less the country!!! I have talked to more people, Democrats included, who all say the same thing -- HE SCARES ME! He is dangerous and isn't the "good guy" most of you suckers believe him to be. Wake up!

[Ms. J]

The history of this country, honestly, doesn't give us much to be proud of all the time. Let's remember the thousands of indigenous people who were massacred, annihilated at the very beginning and those murders were justified by the "laws" that Americans created. And if suddenly people are open to the idea of an American with African roots becoming our next president, then yes for the first time in her adult life any African-American woman should be proud. This would NOT have been possible 50 or 60 years ago. African-Americans, especially, have been denied so many of the privileges that have been given to others. And Michelle Obama, with style and grace, has overcome challenges that so many of her critics don't care to even try to understand. It's a shame that for so long and even today there has been very little interest in diversity and equality in America. It is not possible to legislate MORALITY, but that's what we have attempted to do. It's a pretty sad story. Perhaps now, as a country, we have become more enlightened, more open-minded to a new way of being and thinking and living, co-existing. That's something to be proud of...finally.

[ringo]

Asked about "sexism," Michelle informs America that we are "not used to strong women." We have no strong mothers, wives, sisters, etc. We have had no strong female leaders in our jobs and have met none in our lives. And so we cannot cope with HER. Michelle is the first strong woman, apparently, and we cannot hack it. What an arrogant woman. What an arrogant, slanderous statement about America. And, ironically, the saps on the View confirmed her statement by sitting there and failing to challenge her.

[rosalynneus]

Will we proud of our country if Michelle (the ungrateful)becomes the fist Lady?

[Nedly Mandingo]

Sad to say Laura Bush is a good person, but her husband has been so bad that America will take a turtle or a stuffed animal over a republican even if McCain is much more qualified, America is gonna need a lot more negatives about him to come out before America considers another republican after bush.

[valjean]

We need to concentrate on helping others in the world, instead of getting hung up on some words.

The fact that there are so many pro Dumbya/NObama boneheads in this section is representative of what scares me about America. After almost 8 years of Dumbya's corrupt presidency, you still don't get it. This administration has royally screwed us over. Iraq, Katrina, the forclosure crisis, rising gas and food prices are a direct result of failed public policy instituted by Dumbya and his crew of elites. If you think Dumbya's been a good president and the GOP is looking out for honest, hardworking Americans, you need to cut back on the meds (assuming you have affordable health insurance). A vote for McCain IS a vote for Bush! "So long, suckers!", Dumbya

[BIG WIG]

Whooppie's comment was very absurd. Out of context and stupid. Who the heck she think she was speaking too.. This is Michelle Obama, the next First Lady. Was she deliberately trying to demean black women. Take a look at yourself Whoppas. Love you Michelle.

[Marina]

I find it fascinating, in a very tragic way, how dumb down our society has become. Our country is in peril with real issues and the focus is on one statement instead of real facts and REAL issues. Barack and Michelle Obama will be amazing in the White House. They are an incredible team and understand the needs of the middle class. We need progressives in the White House for just that… progress.

McSame, if "elected" via Diebold and those who want to “have a beer with the president” will further destroy our nation. More of the same... no money for infrastructure, schools, healthcare, more war, continued devaluation of the US economy, etc., not to mention what he’ll do to the Supreme Court! McCain is not only losing his mind but has a horrible temper. Qualities you seek for the leader of the free world? Speaking of wives...McCain called his wife a c*nt in public. Yeah, classy guy… Read the facts the corporate media doesn’t share.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/81588/

http://www.mccainsource.com/

[EJDubya]

Anna wrote, "I think president Bush has done a fair job as president. Remember he has not had a lot of help from the deomcratic congress."

Which Democratic Congress would that be? The one that was controlled by the Republican Party for the first 6 years of Mr. Bush's presidency? Have you been living on Planet Earth for the last few years? The Republican Party has controlled Congress from 1994 until 2006, so if Mr. Bush didn't have the support of Congress it was his own party, but we all know that was not the case. He and his party have spent us right into the largest national debt ever seen in America. I wonder if even our grandchildren will be paying on it for their whole lives.

EJDubya

[MajGenDude]

The whole Bush family, plus: Cheney, Rice, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld are war criminals and should be prosecuted as such.

[WhatIsInTheFood]

Anybody with a brain would not question this lady's patriotism. I am tired of people being defined as patriotic depending on what political party they are affiliated with and what they wear. It is ridiculous.

Now lets work to see that we diminish the hungry in our own nation and work on keeping and creating jobs here.

[Nadia]

It seems that Michelle's appearance on the view was intended to make us believe in a kinder gentler Michelle than she really is. Don't think for a minute that she will fool the American people. She meant what she said, look at the associations that she and B. Hussein Obama have. Whatever is in the heart of a person that is what they say. For 20 years she and her husband attended a church that fostered racism and the Obamas never heard it until now. People especially young people are being so duped by this couple who are power hungry and will destroy this great nation. Just listen to the nothing that Hussein Obama says and she is no different from him.

[Susan B.]

Hi April,

"It's a disgrace to think that so many Americans are so gullible and driven by hatred of [X] that they'll [vote for Y]."

I don't know if gullibility is the root problem. I think your suggestion that our judgments as voters is too often corrupted by our irrational emotional responses to candidates and issues is closer to the mark. But of course, that's a failing of our human nature--it doesn't play political favorites.

FWIW, in my limited experience, it's harder to do a good job tracking which emotion responses are irrational if at the time one is making those judgments about others one is experiencing an emotional response, even a rational one.

Step back and see if you can get past the "disgust" you're feeling towards those Senator Obama's supporter, the indignation you're feeling towards President Bush's detractors, and most importantly, the deeply-rooted fear you have of Senator Obama. If you can detach yourself from your own strong emotional responses, warranted or not, you'll be in a much better state to recognize which emotion responses are irrational. Of course, getting to that point of detachment might be too much to ask, and even if you managed you could still get things wrong. But at least you wouldn't be sabotaging your efforts from the get go.

Best

Susan B.