McCain believes ‘it’s tough’ sometimes to be ‘proud’ of the U.S.

June 15, 2008

This Michelle Obama quote, uttered back in February, is probably the Republicans’ single favorite development of the presidential campaign.

“What we have learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something — for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I’ve seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it’s made me proud.”

The right pounced, insisting that this was proof that the Obamas are insufficiently patriotic. The Obama campaign quickly explained that she misspoke: “What she meant is that she’s really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who’ve never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grass-roots movement for change.”

But to no avail. Less than 24 hours after Obama made the comment, Cindy McCain pointedly told reporters that she’s “very proud of my country,” as if Michelle Obama isn’t. (Ms. McCain repeated the line at multiple campaign events, just to make sure the point was driven home.) The “first time in my adult lifetime” has been the focus of conservative TV ads and video clips ever since.

With that in mind John McCain hosted an online Q&A yesterday and heard from a man who was educated at Princeton and Harvard, and who made more than $300,000 a year. “How can I be proud of my country?” he asked.

The question was obviously intended to be a pointed joke, mocking Michelle Obama. Not only did McCain not pick up on the joke, he offered a surprisingly revealing answer.

There is, alas, no video, but here’s a clip with the audio:

Jonathan Martin reported:

McCain either missed the joke or decided to ignore it and answer the question literally. I think it was the former because the individual asking the question had a thick accent that sounded to be either Indian or Pakistani, perhaps suggesting to McCain a recent immigrant grappling with America’s image abroad.

“I’ll admit to you that it’s tough, it’s tough in some respects,” McCain said, seeming to lend credence to Michelle Obama’s observation.

McCain said America needed to be “more humble, more inclusive.”

The irony is, McCain’s answer was perfectly reasonable. But by giving an honest response to a sarcastic question, McCain inadvertently bolstered the Obama campaign.

It’s “tough” to be proud of the United States? We’re too arrogant and overly exclusive? These aren’t radical, treasonous ideas. But if Obama had said the same thing, you better believe we’d not only hear about it, but the comments would quickly become the basis for an aggressive push-back campaign that would last from now until November. (“What do you mean it’s ‘tough’ to be proud of America? It’s easy to be proud of the greatest country on earth. Why would someone who wants to lead the nation not believe that?”)

Something to keep in mind the next time Republicans decide to go after Michelle Obama.

Now, now. John McCain isn’t personally running as a candidate for president, Michelle Obama is.

Oh, wait.

  • (Ms. McCain repeated the line at multiple campaign events, just to make sure the point was driven home.)

    People do repeat themselves when they’re high.

    BTW, the spin from Camp McCane will be that John is just an honest guy who says what he thinks.

    At this rate they’ll just start screaming “But Obama is BLACK!!” by July.

  • If someone has to ask that question of John McCain, then his Harvard education and $300K income is proof that intelligence has nothing to do with success.

    I too am finally proud of my country for the first time this year – proud that so many of my fellow Americans, who I had mostly given up on their ever living up to the American dream instead of down to my expectations – are seeing through 40 years of right wing bullshit, are coming together as energized as they are to overthrow this fascist coup d’etat we have suffered under, and doing it in the cause of putting a candidate whose candidacy is a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to every moron thing I hate about Americans who have their brains turned off, into the top leadership position on the planet.

    FINALLY we are living up to the dream my ancestors and everyone else’s had when they first came here. We are finally going to be “America the Beautiful.”

    And fuck the goddamned sonsofbitches, the failed brownshirts of the Right.

  • CB: “Something to keep in mind the next time Republicans decide to go after Michelle Obama.”

    More than that, something to throw back at Michelle’s detractors every time they bring it up.

    Michelle’s quote is everywhere, including a video I received from a well-meaning friend, in which her quote is featured along with Obama’s “sinister” associations with Ayers, Wright, Rezko, and yes, you guessed it, Barack’s middle name, which is an obvious clue that he’s a tyrant… And don’t forget the burning hand-not-over-the-heart and the flag pin issues.

    People are so stupid sometimes.

  • I don’t have anything to add. This is such a generous gift from McCain to Obama that it brings a tear to my eye.

  • Pity the Obama campaign felt it had to explain away Michelle’s remarks by suggesting she ‘misspoke’ (a terrible word redolent of the AGAG). She said what she felt, and what she felt is shared by millions of others. We know exactly what meant. It’s weak and confusing to try to back-peddle on something that’s already been said, especially if it’s true and valid. I hope we don’t see the Obama side won’t feel obliged to be so obsequious in the future.

  • I hope we don’t see the Obama side won’t feel obliged to be so obsequious in the future.

    I think it is Obama’s constitutional makeup to concede, apologize, or tactfully clarify the little things, in hopes of returning to the bigger issues. It’s like saying if I wear a flag pin, can we stop pretending that this is the true measure of patriotism? What is truly mind-boggling is how Reps and their compliant media can spend so much time on this nonsense.

    It would be nice to think that McCain took Michelle Obama’s statement off the silly train. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

  • Problem #1 – There is no video. And for the TV pundits if there is no video than it never actually happened. This will get no where near the coverage Michelle Obama’s comments did.

  • McCain always comes up with some spur of the moment answer to suit what he thinks his audience wants to hear. He’s got a million that he can just pull out of his ass relying on his his campaign managers to provide cover later by claiming it was “taken out of context”. Barring that, he always has the fall back position of just claiming he ever said it. I think the guy just doesn’t get that he lives in the age of You Tube. It’s almost as though he belives that information is still spread by pony express.

  • True patriots question the state of patriotism. Only fools and lemmings fail to re-evaluate it. McCain wants everyone to be sheep. Great quote, Michelle. No need to backtrack or apologize.

  • Could you ever run a mccain quote while giving the full context. He went on to say even if it is tough we are proud of america for what is stands for and achieves. He went on to say we are proud for the sacrifices of the soldiers. Michelle Obama didn’t put it in that context. She said it was the first time.

    Does context not matter to you people.

  • David – Saying that we are proud for what it stands for and achieves, and that we are proud for the sacrifices of the soldiers, does nothing to add context to McCain’s statement. What it does is backtrack from the original claim. Michelle Obama’s context was that people were getting politically involved.

  • David, if one is “proud of America for what it stands for and achieves,” then why would one feel that “it is tough, in some respects” to be proud of America? McCain is either backtracking, like Danp says, or he is contradicting himself. Also, even if one concedes the implications of your comments about Michelle Obama (that her statement was worse that McCain’s), it is more important to focus on what a presidential candidate says than what the wife of a presidential candidate says.

  • well, the interesting thing is that people AREN’T getting involved. if anyone thinks this election is about expressing opinions on real issues, you’re painfully mistaken. it’s basically the “i’m voting republican because i hate homosexuals and people who have abortions”… or “i’m voting democrat because… well hell, let’s face it, i’m voting for obama because he’s black”

    the fact of the matter is, no one in this country has voted on a candidate because of real issues that matter to america in decades. what does gay marriage or abortion or being black or being a woman have to do with foreign policy or our failing economy or anything else that SHOULD be important to us but somehow, sadly, is not?

    being patriotic is about aspiring to an ideal… but how can anyone in this country claim to be patriotic when they have no background on which to establish any kind of ideals? people in this country pretend to be “patriotic” because, let’s face it, we’re a huge asshole if we don’t.

    so let’s stop fooling ourselves into thinking we’re some how proud of this monstrousity america has become. let’s stop sitting back on our rockers gloating over our vaste achievements, all of which have been grossly embellished by our own media. let’s try educating ourselves for a change and work toward goals and ideals that actually matter.

  • “McCain is either backtracking, like Danp says, or he is contradicting himself.”

    Contradicting himself is being John McCain.

    Personally I’ve been amused by this “proud of my country” hysteria, though not surprised. Michelle Obama is just another of those in the crowd innocent enough to point out, “but the emperor has no clothes.”

    McCain, caught humorless and offguard, is merely wiping his brow, remarking how hard it’s been at times to keep up the charade.

  • What gets me is that only those people who will not vote for Obama anyway gave any negative weight to Michelle’s comment. Who was Obama’s campaign being apologetic to? I am so tired of people feeling the need to explain away mis interpretations to the very people who are making the misrepresentations. Obama might as well have said only an idiot thinks that way and does so to justify voting for this embarrassment to our democracy. If you can accept twisting that comment into a negative then you lack the ability or motivation to use critical thinking and lack understanding.

  • Yes, McCain, it certain is ‘tough’ to be proud of the US, especially when it spits out elitist warmonger like you and anoints them as some sorta ‘maverick’.

    He embodies what’s wrong with America- pseudo patriotism being used as an excuse to ramrod rotten legislation, corporate agendas, and war on anyone who looks at him funny.

  • Why does the media try to always interpret what they think John McCain means when he opens his mouth. For God’s sake if he is too old to keep it together why would we want him to run this country. It was news worthy on every networks for days to replay M. Obama’s “Proud” comment back in February and she is not the person running for office, but John McCain found it hard and apparently still does to “Proud” of this country. So what is up with that? Michle is crucified but McCain is given an pass. It doesn’t even get any air play of most of the Cable and local so called news channel. They need to start reporting instead of trying to decide who they like better. We just want it straight!!! Is that asking too much?

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