Michelle Obama might not vote for Hillary Clinton if Clinton is the Democratic presidential nominee.
“I’d have to think about that,” Mrs. Obama said on “Good Morning America” on ABC. “I’d have to think about — policies, her approach, her tone.”
That’s the quote that appears in today’s front page New York Times profile of Michelle Obama.
My reaction was, quite simply, WTF!?!?
Would the wife of the man who is running on the platform of change really cast her ballot of John McCain? Mike Huckabee? The GOP policies, approach and tone are preferable to her over those of her fellow Democrat?
We all know she wouldn’t vote for a Republican. When pressed on that comment, Mrs. Obama later acknowledged that “as a good Democrat, she would need to support Mrs. Clinton if she were the nominee.”
Again, I ask, WTF?!?!
There is one thing Democrats should be in total and unequivocal agreement on this campaign season — any Democrat in the White House is better than another four years of the GOP’s commitment to keeping us in Iraq, blocking SCHIP and pretending to support the middle class while helping out their corporate pals.
So why won’t Michelle Obama be just a tiny bit gracious in her remarks about voting for a Democrat? What’s with the attitude?
Clearly, she’s not going to come right out and say Hillary Clinton would be just as a good a president as her husband. I didn’t just fall of the political turnip truck. And, of course, as a good political wife, she looks for whatever opportunities present themselves to undermine her husband’s opponent.
But if I were Michelle, I’d be careful. Hillary has a REALLY long memory (just ask Bill).
If Barack Obama ends up behind that nice, big desk in the Oval Office in January, Hillary will still be Senator Clinton. She’s got lots of power on Capitol Hill and, as she’s told us many times, she knows how to work with the GOP to advance her goals. That would be HER goals.
She’s not going to be inclined to go out of her way to help the man who put the kibosh on her own presidential ambitions.
A little graciousness isn’t going to hurt, Michelle, and, in the long run, it might help.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I guess I think a little differently. Once we get past the primaries, I would also have to reassess the situation, no matter who is running, in order to select the candidate I think best fits where “we” want this country to go. Would Senator Clinton be better served in Congress with McCain or as President? I don’t necessarily know where she would be most effective.
That being said, no matter which of the two wins the nomination, I refuse to vote for McCain. He is already trying to win the far right-wing vote, which is causing him to lose ground with me…and people like me (i.e. middle-ground voters).
February 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
OMG, when I read that a few days ago, I thought WTF too. I’m trying to stay positive despite my flock of HRC friends who are steadfast that if she does win the primary that all the Obama supporters will pout & stay home.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
When I read Michelle Obama’s statement it solidified in my mind even more that Hillary Clinton isn’t a very nice person.
As a black woman I saw how much regard she has for blacks after South Carolina. She couldn’t be bothered with black folk in SC so she sent in Bill to try to caress blacks while she was in California solidifying her support there.
Now, she’s caressing Latino voters in Texas.
I don’t like her and if she becomes the nominee I would cringe voting for her.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
A sizable number of conservative leaning Democrats would vote for McCain should Clinton grab the nomination. I have little doubt that a large contingent of independent leaning Democrats in a race featuring McCain vs Clinton would also cast their ballot for McCain. It is not lost on any Democrat that a push took place to get McCain on a Democratic ticket in 2004. His crossover appeal is huge and a threat not to be taken lightly by Democrats.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Add me to the WTF club.
I hope she was simply caught off guard and erred on the side of saying what she thought would be most supportive of her husband.
Guess we might not see a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket after all.
Too bad, because I’ll cringe voting for Obama alone if he wins the nomination. I don’t dislike him, but I don’t think he is ready to lead our country. I do think Hillary is.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
now that’s just silly, isn’t it? we’d all be supporting the next best in line (aka land of Kerry voters) if our first choice dropped off, b/c the alternative is too dire.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Do you mean to tell me…the wife of her major opponent is unaware of Sen. Clinton’s stance on issues????
Has she LISTENED to ANY of her husband’s debates or speeches?
Not a good bit of prevarication there. Could have said nothing much better.
And they are going to AUSTIN not HOUSTON. Grrrr I was trying for a delegate spot.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
wsujiThis and something she said about Elizabeth Edwards reinforce my opinion that Michelle Obama is not a nice person.
However, that will probably help her face the Grand Outrage Party’s storm of hatred should Barak win the nomination.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Add me to the WTF club and I concur with Karrie’s comment. The last thing the democratic party needs right now is to be divided. The fact that the democratic front runner’s wife would say that she would need to know more information is preposterous. Now I’m seriously irritated.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’m really not understanding the underlying snark. Between her comments and the whole “you’re likable enough” comment by Barack, I’m not sure why they feel the need to make those comments. Or maybe they can’t help themselves???
Not that Bill and Hil aren’t having their snarly moments, too!
February 14th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I can vouch for Alyson’s comment. I happen to live with one of those Democrats.
I agree with you that Hillary could and likely would wield her considerable power against anyone that crosses her. Which is the exact reason I couldn’t vote for her in the primary. To your point, is that really in the best interest of our country?
February 14th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I’m not sure I follow you here: Michelle O should be a graceful and loyal democrat because if she isn’t Hillary will gracelessly and disloyally obstruct her husband’s presidency?
February 15th, 2008 at 12:01 am
If Obama gets the nomination and doesn’t acknowledge the fact that the road to it was paved with misogyny, I’d “have to think about” my vote for him.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:55 am
I’m sorry, but this quote was completely taken out of context, if you watch the complete video of the original interview. She was asked if she’d work for Hillary, and she hesitated.
Do you blame her? She’s made no secret of how tough it is to be a working mom, now a working mom taking a leave of absence to be on the campaign trail.
I personally don’t plan to work for Hillary’s campaign, should she win, nor would I expect Michelle Obama to.
Voting, or supporting, is an entirely different matter, and she made it clear that she would do both.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
i don’t like that obama is a smoker.
i want a president that is focused on health for himself + all of us.
he didn’t attend the livestrong summit on cancer, but hillary + the edwards’ did, which i think means they care more about fighting cancer. i know his mother died from cancer, but he doesn’t seem afraid of preventing it for himself if he smokes.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:29 am
This subject really touches a sore spot for me, because I am really at a lose for what I would do if Clinton became the Democratic nominee. In the end, out of loyalty to the party, I would probably toe the party line.
Two NYTimes op eds explain exactly why I feel the way I do, in words much more elegant than my own:
On why McCain has the kind of character all of us should want for President:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/opinion/17kristof.html?ref=opinion
And why Clinton’s stance on issues is not enough:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/opinion/17dowd.html?ref=opinion
The question becomes one of balancing between these two apples vs. oranges traits.
As for Michelle, no, I don’t think she is a “nice” person. Not the way that Elizabeth Edwards genuinely seems to be. I think that Michelle, in fact, is more like Hillary Clinton. She seems to be a proud, capable woman, entirely up for a fight and quick to hold a grudge. I can’t blame her for disliking or even hating a woman who has turned this campaign into a very personal attack on the man that she loves.
The only place that I will join the WTF chorus though is that unlike myself, Michelle Obama is now a public figure, and to some extent a representative of the democratic party, and as such, probably has a greater obligation to edit herself when in the public eye.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
If one is truly trying to decide between the Dem and GOP candidates, then I have one issue to focus on — judicial nominees. Think of what the Supreme Court looks like now and ask yourself what you want it to look like in four years.