What Kind Of Asian Are You? Where Are You Really From?
Charles Cole III: Our Black Boys...
For some reason, Michelle Obama's recent trip to Shake Shack warranted a story in the Washington Post, and a poll about whether or not the First Lady, an advocate for healthy eating, was a hypocrite.
Ta-Nehisi Coates at the Atlantic called it "the dumbest story ever written in all of human history." But Salon's Alex Pareene sees something darker both in the choice to run the story and the reaction it received in the right-wing blogosphere.
"The Post probably just ran the stupid story to begin with because they know Obama's anti-childhood obesity campaign is catnip for the right wing," he writes. "Matt Drudge is obsessed with Michelle Obama and his weird fantasy idea of her as a threatening, angry, anti-white black woman (who is also a liberal nanny-state tyrant). "
Added Pareene, "the tone of the Michelle Obama coverage, and the commentary it generates, is pretty unmistakably racially tinged. (In addition, obviously, to being usually blatantly sexist.)"
Presidential wives have come in for criticism when they waded (or were thought to have waded) too far into shaping policy. (Think Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton.) Laura Bush focused on childhood literacy, which is pretty innocuous and the kind of pet cause that's hard to politicize. Who's for illiteracy, anyway?
One might think that fighting childhood obesity would be the same kind of cause. Apparently it isn't.
One might think that fighting childhood obesity would be the same kind of cause. Apparently it isn't.
Comments: (88)
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By: mshollywood on 7/13/2011 4:54PM
oops i mean house!!
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By: Wow,really? on 7/19/2011 1:53PM
Correcting that one misspell really isn’t helping your cause, dear. Please learn the rules of grammar and punctuation before you get on here and start trying to act intelligent. Because you were unable or perhaps incapable of punctuating properly, your “points” feel on deaf ears—or rather uncomprehending ears, as that rant made no sense.
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By: ed johnson on 7/13/2011 8:12PM
Well, I don't read the Washington post. Now I have a good reason not to start.
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By: You Know Who on 7/13/2011 6:41PM
Wow , who is Michell Obama , really. Really, Chicago , Illinois USA. One of the filthist citys in America. Open minded yes , anyone can become President , utopic non-sense . It does not take long to become a third country , freedom and justice for whom !! Pay your bills on time, please.
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By: rasil on 7/14/2011 7:20AM
You should have taken Laura Bush's advice and learned to spell, but they say ignorance is bliss. Who is Michelle Obama...The First Lady of the United States of America. Now go take your meds...aspirin?
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By: ADRIAN HARRIS OF SOUTH GEORGIA 80-86 GRAD OF GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY THE EDDIE &DORIS ROBINSON BLACKOUT YEARS on 7/13/2011 6:46PM
HAIL!!!! CREATOR OF THE LIGHT AND THE DARK!!!! ABBA!!!! GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY IN HEAVEN!!!! LORD MOST HIGH!!!! HAIL!! MIGHTY PEOPLE OF THE SEPIA SPECTRUM RAINBOW!!----OF MY LADY, THE FIRST LADY AND HOW THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE THINKS ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY SHE DID. FROM THE PICTURE ON THIS PAGE I SEE "PHYSICALLY" A VERY PHYSICALLY DISIREABLE BLACK WOMAN. I'M LOOKING AT HER ARMS, NECK, SHOULDERS AND SKIN TONE. SHE'S EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE. IT'S OBVIOUS SHE WORKS OUT AND TAKES GOOD CARE OF HERSELF. AS AN ACTIVE ATHLETE MYSELF I KNOW I CAN DIP INTO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AND REALLY EAT AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT CALORIES. IF YOU'RE HEALTHY YOU CAN DO THIS. MY LADY IS A HEALTHY BLACK WOMAN AND SHE IS UNDER THE STRESS OF "HER HUSBAND", THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE HOLDING HER TO THE "POSTION OF A CHILD" AND INSINUATING TO HER- DO AS YOU TOLD THE CHILD TO DO. SHE IS A LEADER AND CERTAINS THINGS COME WITH THE TERRITORY. AN EDUCATED ADULT WHO OBVIOUSLY KNOWS WHAT RIGHT AND WRONG, HELP AND HARM IS, THE WORD OF COURSE FROM HER IS "DO AS I SAY/RECOMMEND NOT AS I DO"--CHILDREN. MAINLY BECAUSE THE CHILDREN SHE IS TRYING TO INFLUENCE ARE NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO EAT FAST FOODS AS I, THE FIRST MAN AND FIRST LADY OR ANY OTHER ATHLETES ARE. DON'T RELEGATE AN ADULT TO A CHILD'S STATUS. ESPECIALLY A POWERFUL ONE. VERY UNCOTH AND HADZARDOUS. BYE Y'ALL.
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By: Simmy on 7/13/2011 7:08PM
Get off her case, it isn't like she does that everyday.
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By: KIMBERLY on 7/13/2011 10:42PM
Michelle Obama doesn't tell ANYONE what to eat. She offers suggestions to help with a growing problem in this country. You can eat yourself to death if you want to, but you can't say that you were NOT offered suggestions for healthier eating!
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By: Kayisha Thompson on 7/13/2011 7:53PM
God Forbids! I mean really do they not have enough work or substance. So what if she eats a burger? MODERATION. Exercise in moderation, drink water in moderation, eat sweets in moderation, we all know that. She's one fine First Lady!
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By: Mz. Jonz on 7/13/2011 8:36PM
*Yawn* Does the Washington Post not have anything else to write about? Plenty of healthy people eat fast food occasionally. It really isn't a big deal unless you eat it often. She is a wonderful example of health and fitness. I find it silly that the Washington Post would try to tarnish her reputation with children. She's trying to do something good, let her be.
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