Full Quote From Michelle Obama (Playing the race card)

Here's the full quote from Michelle Obama, playing the race card:

"Imagine our family on that inaugural platform. America will look at itself differently. The world will look at America differently. There is no other candidate who is going to do that for our country. You know that."

Source: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/059344.php

isn't "Playing the race card". The term has a specific meaning, and this doesn't fall under it.

When she talks about imaging their family on the inaugural platform, and that America will look at itself differently (read: it will look at itself differently b/c it will have elected its first Black President).

Obama basically made this same statment before on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

I do believe this is playing the race card.

n/t

No matter if he is not the best candidate. That his color should be the reason...Look at the mess bush made of this country and people voted for him because he was a "cowboy"...and people were wrong.

She was pointing out something that would be true. Hillary Clinton has pointed out the signficance of the first woman president, as Nancy Pelosi has pointed out the significance of being the first woman Speaker.
But Michelle Obama merely points out the fact that Barack would be the first non-white president and she gets accused of playing the race card? Puh-leaze.

Simply because he's African-American.

In particulary, Tom Joyner has been doing this ad nauseum.

- Tom Joyner had Rep. Kendrid Meek of Florida on his show some months back. Meek has endorsed Sen. Clinton. The first question Tom Joyner asked Rep. Meek was "There's a perfectly qualified Black man running for President. Why aren't you supporting Sen. Obama?"

- Tom Joyner had Michelle Obama on his show, and he asked her "What is up with Black women?" Meaning, Tom Joyner believes there is something wrong with any black woman (like myself) who is not supporting Obama's candidacy.

- Tom Joyner had Barack Obama on his show. And Tom Joyner said that if every Black person who is currently supporting Sen. Clinton, would support Obama instead, then Sen. Clinton probably wouldn't be in the lead in the polls. Obama agreed, saying if that were to happen, her lead "would virtually vanish."

- Tavis Smiley interviewed Barack Obama recently. And Tavis Smiley asked Barack Obama about the notion that if all the African-Americans who supported Jesse Jackson during his run for the presidency, would support Barack Obama, Sen. Clinton would have to pack her bags and go home. Barack Obama responded: "There's no doubt that if we consolidate the Black vote, that would have a profound shift in the national polls." As an African-American, I have to tell you my moth dropped when I heard him say that. "No doubt if we consolidate the Black vote..." WTF?

Again, I don't see how this is playing the "race card." He's just stating a fact - it's the truth. But if Obama, whom I am not a supporter of BTW, or Michelle mentiion race AT ALL, they get accused of playing the "race card." It's a BS double standard.... If Hillary Clinton or John Edwards say the same thing, they'd merely be stating a fact about elections.
How you are somehow getting "All blacks should vote for me because I'm black" is quite beyond me.

look up the term and what it means.

At least the anti-Obama posts are getting more creative. :eyes:

If anything, it's something the Republicans play.

a hell of a lot different. And especially if she was a Democrat the world would say America has regained it's mind. They picked a woman to clean up the mess the men have created in that country. And once more it will be great...go Hillary kick those guys ass.....

and take away any inkling of triumph over generations of struggle.

Nice.

but I thought playing the race card was something someone did if they didn't have anything else to run on. Same with the gender card. Both Obama and Clinton (for all their good and bad points) have a lot to run on and are both highly viable candidates. Acknowledging the fact that we could finally see the first female or minority president is something to celebrate, not tear down. That's my take on things anyway. :shrug:

I also think that the "race card" meme is a phrase invented by right wing types to conjur up images of OJ Simpson killing America's blonde children.

:eyes:

Truly amazing, that the Obama folks will make an excuse for ANYTHING he or Michelle says or does.

If Sen. Clinton had said this about herself...she would be getting crucified on here. Oh, my bad, I forgot...she's already been crucified here on DU for so-called playing the gender card.

I didn't think what Clinton said was "playing the gender card" either.

How many of the, as you say, "apologists" for Obama spoke out again Hillary?

I just don't see how what she said is inflammatory. She's right. If her husband wins, he'll be able to give the country something it's never had before--an African-American man in the highest office in the land. If Hillary wins, she'll be able to give the country something it's never had before--a woman in the highest office in the land. That's just the truth.

(myself included)....but are pointing out an argument that holds no water.

I think it *would* make a difference in how America is viewed around the world. You don't think it would? Ask people in Kenya if it would make a difference in how they look at America!

I don't agree with her that there's no other candidate who could do that--electing the first woman president would make a significant sort of statement as well--but it's not playing the "race card" to simply point out that electing someone who isn't the Obligatory White Man could be seen to have important symbolic meanings!

I find it absurd, the grief these two are getting simply for speaking of and about fundamental facts of their existence.

What she said is true, so what's wrong with it?

Hmmm?

Is this your problem or did I miss someone Faux outrage while I was taking a nap?

I see nothing sinister in Michelle's comments and I don't think it was "playing the race card" in all respect to you.

whether it is obama or clinton. race and gender have nothing to do with it

...that Hillary isn't female, and we can't pretend that Barack Obama is black (and white) and that his wife is African-American.

It's like Irish-American Jack Kennedy saying, "I'm a Roman Catholic and the Pope does not tell me how to run the country."

These are facts that help to shape who they are.

Hekate

That we are serious about change and reaching out.

that's not playing the "race card", that's stating fact