Possibly, or that he realised he didn't live in a warzone in AZ and that's a lot more comfortable.

Who knows, anyway it was strange he mentioned it at all.

The partisan climate and the complete failure of the two-party system in America have made it so that candidates can't even say things out of emotion and have those things slide without every idiot parse the words and put in meanings that weren't there.

Both Michelle and McCain's comments are good examples. Had they both just said "I didn't realize how much I loved America until....." everything would have been fine. But the two-party system has divided Americans and made everybody discombobulated and twisted in their thinking. The two extremes now make it so that if you say anything that can be taken out of context, than it will be turned against you and you'll be attacked for not being patriotic. Completely absurd what Americans have been made to do to other Americans.

Man, man man. A few bad apples spoil the bunch. I know...I just know that not all conservative-minded people are like the few on this thread. Hypocrisy at its finest.

The libs and mids say shame on them both for not being more careful with there words because ignorant folk can and will take them out of context and twist them to fit their agenda.

The conservative and general uneducated population explain away McCain's comment and excuse it and demonize Mrs. Obama's.

Just another reason to consider the rantings of conservatives as relevant as the buzzing of a fly.

But I know better because I am NOT a consevative that all conservatives are willfully ignorant and bias. And by golly I'll find one yet.

Seriously, the reason why conservative get the ignorant, uneducated rap sheet is because in all groups in all places it is usually the least polished who do most of the shouting and none of the listening, reasoning is beyond these people's comprehension and capability and it is not because they are conservative, it is why they became conservative.

I completely understand what Obama and McCain were trying to convey. And I'm a mid road lib. But I am starting to really dislike conservatives personally.

Conservative is equivalent to "uneducated", "willfully ignorant and bias [sic]". I think the Latin in the quote of your words says much about the credibility of your view about who is educated and who is not.

Pigeonholing and generalizing are not usually good ideas and tend to make others dismiss the ideas of those who practice these.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Pot meet kettle.

You are doing exactly what you are accusing us of doing. Yet your ignorance knows no bounds because you cannot realize your own partisanship.

The double standard being applied here is absolutely mind-boggling.

One individual, on one side of the political spectrum, said...

Another individual, on the other side of the political spectrum, said...

...and people are trying to suggest that the former is reprehensible while the latter is perfectly acceptable. It is completely laughable. It's as though Barack Obama came out and said, "I think we should have a consistent presence in Iraq for 100 years," and his supporters tried to differentiate between that comment, and the obscenely distorted comment made months ago by John McCain. It's as though Barack Obama was videotaped singing, "Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Sudan," and his supporters tried to suggest that bombing Sudan is more acceptable than bombing Iran.

You cannot have it both ways. Either both statements are acceptable. Or both statements are unacceptable. Now, I had trouble reading all the posts because I was laughing so hard at the attempts to defend McCain's comments while steadily lambasting Michelle Obama's, but I think LBS and OSB have it exactly correct (I'm sorry if I'm leaving anyone out that had the same mentality)...Neither comment is deserving of scrutiny!! Both statements are perfectly acceptable. If Michelle Obama's opponents wouldn't have relentlessly attacked her as an anti-American, anti-patriotic loudmouth, they wouldn't look like absolute fools right now when they found out McCain said something arguably worse.

It's not about race, gender, religion or political affiliation. It's about objectively judging two undeniably similar statements made by two individuals that just happen to be on two sides of the political spectrum.

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"The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.”
- George Will

TBH, I did bristle a bit at what Michelle Obama said and it didn't matter whether she used "really" or not. However, when she put it in more context, I understand her statement. Even if she didn't put it in more context, and even if I was still put off by it, it doesn't matter. Michelle Obama is not running for the office nor will she have an appointed or an elected position (if the rules of nepotism are followed). After seeing more of her, she is a bright and strong woman. I like her.

Not in the least did I bristle at JSM's comment. Having spent some time living outside of my country, I certainly can relate to what he said and I lived in normal conditions.

I can see the views expressed here about Michelle Obama, if one hasn't listened to her subsequent statements or listened to more of her comments. So, we discuss the context of the original statement and get the information out there. If one is inclined to vote for a candidate based on what that candidate's spouse says, then I suspect one's decision is already made and nothing will change it. (Well, Bill Clinton's statements matter as he is not just a spouse, but he is an ex-CiC, so he carries some weight there.)

On the flipside, I see absolutely nothing wrong with JSM's statement. Rather I see it as partisan payback.

Both statements are innocuous. One did seem off-putting at first, to me, but now I get it as she is less of an unknown to me.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

The difference for me is that McCain is a career politician, I’m used to him talking out his ass. When he says something like this, I know not to rake it at face value. Obama is a relative newcomer to politics. I don’t believe Michelle has been in DC long enough to become a hardcore Beltway insider, so I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she actually means what she says.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

Perhaps I should have said "intelligence" where a good example is being able to understand and communicate. After all the HNIC for the Republican party is "educated" from a top school yet...

Now let me highlight some words that you apparently don't understand the meaning of and their purpose in my text:

the reason why conservative get the ignorant, uneducated rap sheet* is because in all groups in all places it is usually the least polished who...

Now, see, when you read the entire text with the intent of understanding the other person and giving an honest attempt at communication things become clearer and differences that you may perceive aren't really that vast.

I have an idea! Say the above sentence out loud, the one that begins with "the reason why" and when you get to the bold type words say them louder and I bet you'll gather a stronger understanding of what I'm saying.

Lost Soul you should try it too.

*Rap sheet is a colloquialism used to refer to a person history/past. Usually a history including crimes and other negatively viewed things. We all know that we are judged on our past, our employment record, credit history, that is the only way we have to determine the behavioral patterns of a person or people. And it is not always accurate and often times prejudicial.

So once again you have (unbelievably) demonstrated you inability to discern. Because half of my face is black and the other half is white and not white and then black. (See Star Trek) you have made another erroneous assumption.

And I didn't know how to spell "neophiliac" without looking it up to make sure, but I do know what it means be deducing that "neo" means new and "phil" mean love or lover of like Philadelphia, or bibliophile, or audiophile or pedophile (which one could mistake as a lover of feet).

Anyway, fuck your Latin lesson, unless it is absolutely a necessity for someone to take the to time spell out everyfuckingthing in order for you to understand them as I hope to have done with the above.

My problem isn't with you personally but with people who think their ways and ideas are infallable. People who are so arrogant that they will not even consider possibilities outside their own. I have demonstrated time and again that I make mistakes and I've owned up to them and been ashamed when I should have known better. And I hold the same standard that I hold for myself for my family, my political party and my motherfucking country.

I've lived out of country Si Modo, in Europe in fact for three years, and drank creamy fucking milk till I could puke, drove by farms fertilized with human manure too many time to count and I missed my country to.

Lost Soul I marched my ass straight thru Kuwait and Iraq the opening night of Desert Storm. So if these are prerequisites for loving our country then I'm fucking bonkers for the bitch. But more than that, as an American I'm accountable and so are you. We have to do this thing together but as long as conservatives, and yes I see a BIG problem with their damn ideology, continue to have a double standard WE will continue to fall/fail.

You guys remind me of a mother whose son is a living shit causing all manners of hell yet she continues to make excuses for his behavior. The time is come to take our country back for both the demos and repubs. And the only tools we are given to do this is the elected office and the vote. If you love this nation as much as consevatives proclaim then you tell them to stop deceiving and lying and cheating to get their way, because as much as you think you are kicking liberal ass you are only cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I don't want to hate anyone, but your support for these leaders are leading this country down the tubes. Call me partisan if you like but you're reading the words of a clear thinking American who loves his country. Enough to call foul when she goes astray. Letting you child run wild undeciplined in the street isn't love, it's hate.

3 pages of BS, one conclusion.

You say it. Traitor

We say it. Understandable

Same double standard conservatives push in everything.

Called cognitive dissonance, reality doesn't 'connnect'

So you're faulting Obama's wife because she's not that practiced a liar??

It's one thing to love your country, but to really love your country means you love your country even more. Trying to parse words much are we?

Pathetic.

Just another attempt to make excuses for the Obamas.

The first thing that comes out of their mouth is usually the most honest.

What seems to follow when their true feelings are revealed by those comments is more back-tracking and covering their asses.

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"We can't screw it up any worse than they have." - Barack Obama

Wanna bet?



"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste...." - Rahm Emmanuel

What bothers me the most is the way she talks.

Which reflects on the way she thinks.

Will she be thinking in her mind when a visiting dignitaries wife snubs her in private....."She hates me because I'm black".

She's done it in the past.

Will she be a cause for concern in diplomatic settings?

I would rather not have someone representing us who only would be proud of the country she was born in if we elect her lying husband because he's black. That is the only way we can prove to her we're not all Archie Bunkers. You know, we the bitter and ignorant gun-huggers and Bible-bangers showing our antipathy towards those who are different or illegal aliens.



McCain was just saying being in prison made him miss America. When you have something you tend to take it for granted. When you can't have it you want it even more.

Get it?

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"We can't screw it up any worse than they have." - Barack Obama

Wanna bet?



"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste...." - Rahm Emmanuel

Yes, quite right.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos