As the wife of the likely Democratic presidential candidate, Michelle Obama can expect to face a certain amount of scrutiny.
Her words, particularly those spoken in the context of a campaign event, reflect on her husband. Thoughtful analysis of those words is appropriate.
However, thoughtful analysis isn’t the Tennessee Republican Party’s strong suit. Witness the mean-spirited YouTube video mocking Michelle Obama based on a single soundbite.
The state GOP leadership launched the video with great fanfare and a smidgen of unjustified smugness last week. A press release heralding the video declared it an effort to “welcome” Michelle Obama to the Volunteer State, where she was attending a fundraiser for her husband’s campaign.
The video revolves around Michelle Obama’s controversial comment about her new-found pride in America as a result of her husband’s presidential campaign.
She made the remark in February at a rally in Milwaukee, Wis., and has since tried to distance herself from it or offer further explanation.
It was an ill-advised remark by a political spouse who is relatively new to the national stage. Most charitable people would cut her a bit of slack.
Not so the Tennessee Republican leaders. They smell blood in the water.
Thus, the soundbite of Michelle Obama saying “for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country” plays repeatedly in the video, which the party calls “proud.” The snippet alternates with segments featuring supposedly ordinary Tennesseans expressing their unwavering national pride. One segment, featuring an older, working-class white man, comes across as subtly racist.
Clearly, the Tennessee Republicans have opted to rip a page from Karl Rove’s political playbook. This might be risky, since there are some indications this strategy is no longer working.
Last week, Republicans lost a runoff election in Mississippi for former Sen. Trent Lott’s seat. The district had once voted for President Bush by a 25-point margin.
The loss came despite a nasty campaign that linked the Democratic candidate for Lott’s seat to Obama and to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s anti-American tirades. The Mississippi loss followed Republican special election losses in Illinois and Louisiana.
Given the recent Republican track record, the Tennessee GOP would be wise to renounce gutter politics and offer some real solutions to the problems facing the state and the nation. Appealing to a shallow, jingoistic form of patriotism – the sort that gets in a lather about superficial things like flag pins – contributes nothing to the public debate. It divides us rather than uniting us at a time when the nation is at war and faces serious economic challenges.
We’re not suggesting Michelle Obama is above scrutiny. However, in the interest of fair play, Cindy McCain should be subject to the same intense review; this should include releasing her tax records.
But scrutiny of the candidates’ spouses should be a serious-minded attempt to gain insight into their character. It shouldn’t be an excuse to score a cheap political point. The Tennessee GOP should be ashamed of its video, not proud.
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