Barack Obama's infuriated by all this criticism of Michelle

Campaigning for the U.S. presidency has its really unpleasant personal aspects. Criticism of the candidate is hard for family members to take. And criticism of the family is hard for the candidate to take.

That's why, for instance, in 1999-2000 at their request, George W. Bush kept his teenage daughters out of the spotlight. Until their recent "Access Hollywood" interview, the Obamas did the same with their younger daughters and later said they regretted that exposure.

But now Sen. Barack Obama says he wishes what he calls the conservative press would lay off his wife, Michelle, because she's a civilian who "didn't sign up for this."

Today, she campaigned in Washington state where the state Republican Party welcomed here with an ad (see video below the Read more line, with a hat tip to WakeUpAmerica).

Obama says he finds criticism of his spouse "infuriating." And he adds: "If they have a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her."

In an interview this week with Glamour magazine, Obama complained that “the conservative press -– Fox News and the National Review and columnists of every ilk” had been too critical in its coverage of her.

He said he thinks reporters from those organizations “went fairly deliberately at her in a pretty systematic way” and, he asserted, “treated her as the candidate in a way that you just rarely see the Democrats try to do against Republicans.”

Obama would get a real argument about that from some....

...GOP spouses. As other blogs have suggested Obama, and perhaps his wife as well, are going to have to develop thicker skin or it'll be a long fall on hubby's blood pressure.

Trouble is, when any candidate's family members openly campaign as actively as Michelle Obama has been promoting her husband's agenda at huge and small rallies, in media interviews and at fundraisers, they're considered pretty much fair game. And rightly so.

Many writers made fun of Laura Bush's hair and clothing choices in past campaigns. Teresa Heinz Kerry got a pretty rough ride in 2004. Bill Clinton caught tons of flak this past primary campaign season, as did Elizabeth Edwards for some of her outspoken statements defending her husband and attacking Hillary Clinton, who was attacked during her husband's campaigns. Writers on this website have made fun of Cindy McCain's choice of dresses.

Their spouses did not complain publicly.

Michelle came under heavy fire in February after saying she was proud of her country for the first time in her adult life (see videos below, including a comment from Laura Bush). She later tried to clarify by saying she's always been proud of her country. But the incident left a mark on Obama’s campaign that echoes around the Internet still.

Obama called the criticism of his wife ironic and insisted that she is “the most quintessentially American woman" he knows. To be accurate, it's not so often Michelle who gets criticized as what she's said.

“She grew up in a ‘Leave it to Beaver’ family,” Obama added.

Obama suggested that both candidates' spouses should be off-limits for the remainder of the campaign because they’re both simply “civilians.”

“They didn’t sign up for this,” said the freshman senator in his first presidential campaign.

But his complaint is likely to fall on deaf ears, especially as long as his wife attends her own fundraisers and campaign events, as does Cindy McCain without complaint.

Full interviews with both candidates are scheduled to appear in Glamour's October issue.

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[keith]

negative - she has fully inserted herself into the campaign and everything that goes with it.

[John Bailo]

You can't have it both ways Barack. If your wife is going to go around saying she's a strong woman who wants to be a "partner" in the White House then she's fair game to every ounce of criticism. Can't stand the heat? Then you know what to do!

[S.A.]

Barack Obama is the candidate who can't take criticism, but he can dish it out. While campaigning for Obama, Michell Obama comes on loud and angry, making degrading statements about america. If you disagree with them, she and Barack try to appear to be the victims. Obama attack, and demand to dictate what can and cannot be said. He' trying to control our speech, even the president has no right to do this. How arrogant can he get? If he knew anything about being president, he would know scrunity of him and Michell comes with the territory. Barack & Michell Obama are too angry, lack patriotism, have too many radical and criminal friends and assoc. and, they appear to not know how a president & first lady are suppose to behave and represent this country with class. The Obamas don't belong in the white house.

[John the Babtist]

ok, now please tell me that this is not a double standard already appearing from Osama, he is infuriated that the media are discussing his so called civiliian wife yet he is happy to have her support him in public and raise donations for him! i think it was a great man that once said if you cant stand the heat you better get out of the kitchen! she is not a civilian and can not be considered anything other than her husbands main supoprter,
i think this is a tast of things to come with osama, say one thing and do something else! wake up people!

[JIae Paik]

As a viewer of the American politics as a foreign student (South Korean), this is quite an odd culture of politics I have to admit.

I guess each country can develop its own culture of politics. But, I have to say that it is not that impressive.

I think you still have many other things you can focus on to evaluate each candidate's credibility as a president.

Good luck. America.

[Bruce Bean]

I only have one question. Where is that negative coverage about Cindy McCain? This is racism at its most insidious. Other candidates spouses, except of course ex-President Bill Clinton, are criticized about their clothes and not their politics. Let's be clear, this is more than just criticism, this is a racial attack on the spouse of the first candidate of African descent.

[Chagrined]

Hannity, among other 'ugly Americans' has an obsession with the Obamas. He is obviously very emasculated by this very intelligent, beautiful real American, Michelle Obama.

Hannity's people immigrated to Michelle Obama's country when no other country wanted them. Obviously, America has been far too generous. This insidious ingrate does not deserve to use our cherished Constitutional freedoms for which many brave people, including Michelle Obama, excluding Hannity's, fought, sacrificed and died.

Chagrined

[Henry Endeley]

Obama is not yet ready to be President of the United States of America. If he is so sentitive about media attacks on his wife he should let her stay home and tend the garden while looking after their daugters. "You cannot eat your cake and have it" Michelle cannot be on the stumping trail and get exempted from media comments. Even Bill Cliton recieved worst flacks notwithstanding his achievements as President. My advise : so as to avoid possible blood presure Obama, should let his wife stay back home at southside Chacago otherwise he is in a very long and blood letting fall.

[Cah Cajun]

I think it's convenient that the writer of this blog misquoted Michelle Obama "she was proud of her country", she said "really proud of her country".. yes words do matter ladies and gentlemen. And let's be fair, aren't Cindy's billions of dollars providing jets considered a part of the campaign just like Michelle speaking publicly? Why don't people attack her 115 year old face with tons of makeup, a white blonde weave, and dresses some 40 year old women wouldn't wear? Maybe people could draw a picture of her having a seizure in one of her diamond plated jets? You conservatives really like to get dirty, so I'm giving it to you, wake up and stop being so sensitive to the word RACIST because your picture is in the dictionary next to it.

[Mattsky]

You can't put her on the campaign trial and then say she is an unfair target. Obama seems to think he is above criticism so of course his wife must be too. Well it doesn't work that way when you are running for President.

[Anie]

Cah Cajun, you probably didn't realize that Michelle actually made this statement TWICE, in two different speeches in Wisconsin, in one day. So, it was a prepared statement then.

The first instance was in Milwaukee, and the 2nd was later in the day in Madison.
The first statement is clearer and didn't include the "really" word --- The later one that day, somewhat more halting (first shown by Breitbart), has a glitch at the time she did add "really" to that later statement.

The statements, from both speeches in Wisconsin, are shown in one youtube video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=EGjR81pFJI4

[jheckerman]

Honestly Obama, what did you expect? Roosevelt,and Kennedy had torrid affairs in the white house and their was barely a mention in their memoirs. These are different times- Everything goes! No limits. We have become a Voyeur Nation! Reality TV, American idol, Lohan and Spears-intervention and rehab . Being respectful to famous people and minding our own business is over- gone. Who gave the Press and Public permission to delve into the private lives of Stars, Athletics, Politicians and Leaders of our Country. And when they do they become the judge and jury. Unfair, Rude, Unjustified and intrusive. Yes! We do not know the difference between what is real and pretend. Look at our programing on TV. Ask Hillary Clinton how private matters, prejudiced opinions and biased judgments affected her life. Fellow Americans- leave Michelle and her children alone. It is none of our business. Lets not loose are dignity as a nation.

[jesse]

The more we attack the more the Obama supporters are galvanized. We should spend efforts in getting our base aroused. Otherwise, it is fast eroding. I am interested in organizing a Republican rally in Downtown for support of McCain. Need volunteers!

[RCG]

Some of the criticism toward Michelle Obama has been
undeniably RACIST in tone. Bill O'Reilly talked about LYNCHING her. Fox News called her a BABY"S MAMA. Mainstream (white media) lacks the courage, knowledge and integrity to address this aspect of the criticism. WHY ?

[chadama]

Senator Obama is well within his rights to be irked at the relentless attacks on his wife. If he said nothing, most of those who are saying she is fair game would be calling him a coward for not defending her. The truth is however, Cindy McCain has not been attacked and if Mrs. Obama is fair game why isn't Cindy McCain? If your answer is anything but, "she ought to be fair game as well." Tell us why she hasn't been attacked? Could it be the blue eyes? The blonde hair? The banked millions? Or God forbid, my, my -- the color of her skin?