bush sympathises with obama

The admirable Laura Bush, when asked about Michelle Obama's infamous remark that 'for the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country' says that she thinks Obama probably meant 'more proud', and goes on to say how careful any candidate's wife has to be on the campaign trail. Given the determination of the Republicans to turn that that gaffe into evidence of the Obamas' unpatriotic worldview, this is no small thing.

Comments

[Candadai Tirumalai]

That was an apt amendment proposed by Laura Bush, who has had more experience in dealing with these matters.

[Dilapidus]

I don't think so. The statement was very clear and the word 'more' doesn't really work there "For the first time ... I'm more proud"?

Michelle said it, and she meant it and good for her. There really hasn't been a whole lot to be proud of in US for a long time. Vietnam, Rwanda, Darfur, Kosovo, Iraq War I was no contest and II is of course, a horrifying tragedy. Her own experiences as black woman in America I can only guess, but it isn't too hard to imagine she has seen much of the worst of America

I appreciate Mrs. Bush's thought there though. It was indeed very gracious to bring to people's attention the ridiculous way we report and respond to gaffes. The fact is that every word out of a public figure's mouth is parsed as if it were intended as scripture. The reason, of course, is that opponents will try to score points.

No need anymore, the press will do it for you.

[Candadai Tirumalai]

People fighting elections, particularly difficult ones, know or quickly learn that they need to take all sorts of considerations ans strategies into acccount, and do not approach it like an academic seminar.