today george will wrote a scathing diatribe on obama and ‘elitism.’ i was taken with one of the responses from one from another country: woody21 wrote: This is so pathetic I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. First, it just makes me laugh how Americans try to denigrate someone who attended an Ivy League School by calling them elitist. So I guess all those people calling Obama an elitist don’t want their children to attend Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, Brown or Harvard? You Americans truly are a funny lot. You keep going on about improving education and when someone is fortunate enough to get a good education you immediately tear them down as being out of touch. Talk about the ‘Dumbing Down of America.’ It’s bad enough the world had to endure Ronald Reagan and two Bushes simply because Americans cared more about personality than policy. And now Hillary Clinton is swigging back Whiskey and Beer just to show the electorate what a good ol gal she is - hell, she’s just like everyone else - give or take $100 million. Oh please, stop the presses, I think I’m starting to break out in corybantic laughter (whew, there’s a big elitist word for you!). And now people from all over the world are rolling their eyes at the United States because someone finally comes along who speaks ‘truth to power’ and what does America do? It skewers him for being an elitist. Yea, those Elitist Community Organizers - they sure are a bunch of snobs! Hey, but I could be totally wrong. After all, America knows best, right? I mean who better to be President of the United States than someone who can’t remember who Al-Qaeda is without the help of Senator Lieberman or someone who dodges imaginary bullets. Of course Obama is no saint but given the choices, it seems pretty clear he would make a far better president than Senator McCain or Senator Clinton. Oh, forgot: going to a top university is bad. Really really bad.

Mark Steyn is on to something. Parents around the country want the same things for their children, but Republican values say certain things are essential - and safe, competent school are one of them - and the government has created a shortage (as government policy is wont to do) of competitive schools in urban areas. If I could be the candidates wife speaking to women - I would say - whatever it takes, to make your children safe and smart - even if it means GORING our sacred cows of public schools - and implementing more charter schools. I’ve noticed that 1)Michelle is the alpha in the family - it was obvious in her public putdowns of her husband. 2) Obama is a beta male, submissive not only to his wife - but to men like the Rev Wright a well. It is Michelle’s prevalent tone of condescension, that temper-tantruming quality and apparent lack of gratitude - that seems to reflect a lack of good manners. Piano and dance lessons are luxuries for most families, and it is poor manners for Michelle to rub her frustration with them in the faces of people who would love nothing more to afford them - but probably cannot.

I have been watching Obama since he spoke at the last Democratic convention. I was very impressed and when he announced his candidacy I said “My vote is his to lose”…..by that I meant I would continue to watch and would indeed vote for him if I was of the same mind in November, 2008. Well, we have found, among other things, that he has been subjugated to hate harangues on Sundays at his church and that he and his wife are very out of touch with common Americans. For me, it has now become a case of what is next? I will not vote for McCain simply because he is too old and a Republican…….but my head is spinning about my Democratic choice…..In addition, I live in Michigan and my vote in the primary doesn’t even count! It is an interesting political season, isn’t it?

Did anyone here actually listen to Michelle Obama’s speech? The blogging I’ve read by people who were in the room was enthusiastic and positive. More and more in this weird political season I’m trying to go to the sources rather than to accept the opinions of journalists who put their own spin on what the candidates are saying.

Gee Suzanne D. You sound BITTER. Are you from “one of those small towns where people are bitter and fall back on their religion and guns?

We say in America that we want honesty, but when we hear it - it is deemed UNAMERICAN. It may not be your reality, sobeit. We are not called to understand everyone’s reality, but we can be empathic. I thought we lived in a country build on free speech. Oh, I forget, only when you agree with the majority. I agree with Michelle Obama this a proud time in America. I can not recall a time in America when so many people were engaged in the political process. I’m certainly proud of that and elated that people are engaged. Politicians typically take the people vote for granted - national and locally. Now, they have actually listen to the people - what a great time to participate in the process. I can only think of a few: when women got the vote, slaves were freed, symbolically; civil rights movement, President Kennedy in office. Help me out if I am wrong. Or should I say that is my percepetion and if you don’t disagree - it still does not make me wrong- we disagree. I thought that is what this country was build on. Oh, I can be wrong again. I believe, Michelle Obama will make a great first lady and bring a new perspective to the White House.

I’ve heard that Mrs. Obama has publicly dissed Mrs. Clinton and that she is already showing signs of unladylike actions that is worrying our nation. Maybe she isn’t really in tune with the American people, but I give her credit for at least trying to relate to US citizens and sticking by her husband’s side throughout this nomination process. My concern is that by trying to level with citizens, she is coming off as cocky and is only putting up a front so that Americans can understand her and her husband. So yes, they just purchased a 1.6 million dollar home and she rants on about summer camps and dance lessons, it has occurred to me that I’d much rather see her play down her economic status to middle class Americans than show off her high income and flaunt how much money she and her husband have.

Michelle Obama reminds me of Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Kennedy. Bold and brassy with style and charm, with a true education of the subject. When times are tough she will always be there for all of us. Could you imagine Bill Clinton as the First Man of the White House? The media has speculated that he might not have anything to do. Barack Obama has what this country needs and at this time this list is a long and hard one to fullfill. Where as the republicans seem to nominate people that can not remember what is really going on, as is the case with John McCain ( So Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecicut, has to keep giving him the correct answers to the questions!). Women have changed and are hungry to be as engaged with the political arena as the men, however Hillary Clinton seems to keep reminding us that we should view the world in an old fashion way. Wake up and see all the possibilites as a good things and move on.

Liz Smith send this article to Joy on the View she needs an update

Maureen H., good for you to exercize your responsible right of freedom by doin’ real research as to whom the candidates are about. It amazes me how many women in here have already made up their minds! And I don’t hear much about the reasons in bein’ on issues. What a disappointment. And the hidden jealousies and rage that not a one of the candidates has anything to do with. Alotta the girls seem to carryin’ around alotta garbage that shoulda been dumped a long time ago. The cats are spittin’. Seems they’ve been sharpenin’ their hissy, sissy, pissy claws on those steel zoo cages they’re in doesn’t it? And aren’t these nasty nasty cats? And I wonder, if they represent in their fancy growls and cat psychology, one of woman’s greatest weaknesses and dangers to the planet? Nothin’ they growl represents the craft of nurturin’ it seems, and seems to be alotta self grandizin’, and of course I know that is the Nature of cats, but golly these caged felines call it free speech! Without responsibility is anything really free? They think they are cute, clever, language skilled, and intelligent. Too much cat nip possibly? Delussional within their delussion? Call the Vet. Maybe their is an vaccine. Oh dear, changin’ the World might be a matter of several of our Sisters takin’ off their cat costumes and becomin’ real women again or maybe even for the first time. After all we are all over 40 in here aren’t we? Isn’t it time to get outta the middle school lavatory behaviors? Or maybe these nasties are infiltrators of a much much younger age. Imagine the degree of social stupidity to say that Ms. Obama isn’t showin’ gratitude. To whom I ask, for what I ask, and why I ask? There are too many people who have not internalized the danger we are in and how important it is to select a candidate based on adult behavior, which has little to do with age, but rather a placement of maturity and reason and logic that we squeeze inbetween our flaws to help manage civilazation. ‘Hillary is said to have said this or done that.’ ‘Michelle this or that.’ ‘Obama is siaid to have…’. ‘McCain too old.’ “Ralph a spoiler’. Infantile. Really infantile. Kid’s learnin’ bullyin’ from their mommas?

i find Michelle Obama perhaps the least likeable public figure in recent memory. She has an emourmous chip on her shoulder for no good reason, and is a racist. She does not a grateful bone in her body. other than that…..

sl lambert, I would point you in the direction of Michelle Obama’s speech in Canton’s Palace Theatre in Ohio where she said to the audience, ”Our greatest challenge is that we have a mutual obligation to one another…We have lost sight of that because we haven’t had leadership that has asked us to sacrifice and compromise for one another.” These are not the words of someone who “has an emourmous (sic) chip on her shoulder for no good reason , and is a racist.” Before you label her so viciously, please take the time to listen to what she says. I’ve asked myself if I would have the courage to speak on behalf of my spouse, and to travel around the country speaking my own truth to halls full of strangers, both friendly and hostile. I don’t know if I have that much mettle. Whether you like her or not, Michelle Obama has that kind of strength.