MICHELLE OBAMA DECRIES SHORT-TERM FIXES

PONTIAC, Mich -- In response to a question about the economic stimulus checks administered by the U.S. government earlier this year, Michelle Obama said her husband believes that short-term fixes don't solve economic problems.

"You're getting $600," she told an audience of mostly African-American women here. "What can you do with that? Not to be ungrateful or anything. But maybe it pays down a bill, but it doesn't pay down every bill every month."

"Barack's approach is that the short-term quick fix kinda stuff sounds good," she continued. "And it may even feel good that first month when you get that check. And then you go out and you buy a pair of earrings," she joked.

The Obamas have been fighting Republican attacks painting the couple as elitist. Michelle Obama, who has been something of a lightning rod for the attacks, has fought those charges by highlighting the irony between the charges and her upbringing on the South side of Chicago. But her line on earrings could be red meat for some, particularly in making them in Pontiac. The satellite city south of Detroit was once a booming auto industry town, but now the per capita income is 40% below the national average and almost a quarter of the population is below the poverty line.

more....
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/09/1190066.aspx

those "some" who would take her joke
and try to make something out of it would be the enemy; the opposition.

Guess what?
That's exactly what the moonie times did.

have the money to buy $600 earrings? Poor choice of words Michelle.

you are reading WAYY to much into it.

Wasn't she in MI when she said it?

Ramen noodles? Shoes for baby? The whole point of the stimulus check was to get people to shop and fritter away money in stores. And that's EXACTLY what a lot of Americans are doing with it. It doesn't do any good for the economy to pay a credit card bill or buy gas with it--it was meant to get people to buy GOODS.

would have been better examples. It would have taken the "elitist" edge off her remarks. She needs to be more careful when she speaks. The very first thing people with no money or no job will think is "well, I can't spend my stimulus check on $600 earrings". She was in MI for goodness sake.

She even said "paying bills" first--was that wrong too? Earrings are frivolous, and she was making the point that whether you're paying bills or splurging with the check, it goes fast--it's a quick fix.

:rofl:

thankyou thankyou thankyou
for the laugh of the week

:rofl:
cripes on a cracker but you got it in for the Obama's, eh?

:rofl:
Hi Bill, how's it hangin'?

So, it is kind of funny.

Of course. :eyes:

Sometimes the concern trolling is just a tad too obvious, ya know? Might want to tone it down a bit.

It's one of those logic thingies. Michelle mentions a $600 check. Michelle mentions buying earrings. True or False? Michelle therefore is talking about buying earrings for $600. False.

No where does she say anything about spending $600 for earrings. That is something that the right wing is pushing, but it's not what she said.

Are we supposed to be shocked at her perceived appropriate price for earrings, or the fact that she mentioned earrings at all? Good Lord, this woman can't say anything without being attacked. This is so innocuous a statement.

She didn't say anything about spending $600 all on earrings. Lordy.

However, can we please not have 100 threads on this, after this one? Not to the OP, but to everyone else. This will be a manufactured BS story the GOP will push.

The opposition poster who is a member of DU helped.
I'm just putting it into context.

Good grief.

Elitist?

I guess they can attempt to paint her as elitist, but her actions prove otherwise.

when operatives for the opposition
get to post here.

What kind of elitist would be caught dead in off the rack clothing like that? Sasha is wearing hand me downs from Malia. Come on now! Michelle was talking to the right people and they knew what she meant. Hell, I was buying two hundred dollar earrings in HIGH SCHOOL, yeah, the BIG GOLD ROUND THE WAY GIRL EARRINGS WITH MY NAME IN THEM. This was the early 90s. I worked at fast food restaurants and with every check I got, I burnt the mall down. So yeah. You spend it even if you don't have it.

To get it above that "other" post

I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't want to justify how I have spent my money. Besides...It's her's, and I'm quite sure she's earned it. Unless it came out of my pocket, it's none of my fucking business.

I suppose you would rather she try to be a little more patronizing in the future..... :eyes:

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh

I used an article that was less out of context
than the one another poster put up.
It was locked eventually.

I just clicked and posted. Oh the irony...just like not actually reading the article before you post. :rofl:

She's right about the earrings. If you are a professional woman who wants to buy a good and durable set of pearl earrings that will look good in a lot of situations, then you could spend a good part of that stimulus check on earrings.

http://www.howispentmystimulus.com/

$600 earrings seem pretty tame, not that's what she was suggesting people do with their rebates. I think she understands purchasing habits in this country, what with consumer debt at about $2.6 TRILLION.

*sigh*

It was being used by an Obama-hating troll who used to support Clinton and now supports McCain.

What's up with that?!
:shrug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=213307

:applause:

than GD:P EVER WAS!!

Yes, we know that our economy's shit (but we also know who fucked us over, and it wasn't Michelle Obama)

And no we don't have money for luxury items (but why assume that we are going to take every joke as a personal affront?)


The polls on this site should give you a pretty good idea about what Michiganders think of Michelle thus far (hint: the MSM is going to have to do better than stupid stories like this one).

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/07/michelle_obama_makes_1st_michi.html

is concerned. There is beginning to be blow back.

or jewelry or some other similar vanity item. Some people feel like they hit the lottery when they get a few (unexpected) $$$. I see it time and time again. Michelle was exactly right.

She was certainly good for an accidental giggle or two...

That one was never, ever a Democrat.

:party:

“That's the end of this suit!”

(Dragged off by horses alá Blazing Saddles)