Download PDF Version Revolt Magazine, Volume 1 Issue No.4

conservative blogger went so far as to suggest
that even if Michelle didn’t vocalize her unpatriotic
sentiments, we all know she was thinking it. In a
post on her right-wing, consistently inflammatory
blog, Schlussel wrote: “The consensus seems to be
that the First Ms. Thang is saying to hubby Barack,
"All of this for a damn flag." (She said this about the
Photo courtesy of The New Yorker.
Photo courtesy of The White House.
stereotypes, are thwarting those efforts at every
turn. Further proving this point, Wooldrige highlights
that the White House is “doing its best to turn
the first lady into a celebrity mother-cum-clotheshorse,”
emphasizing her primary role as mother and
daughter above all else. According to Wooldrige, this
is because, “Hilary Clinton’s determination to act as
a virtual co-president back in 1993 helped to create
a backlash against her husband’s administration. It
also raised uncomfortable questions about power
and accountability. Given America’s continued
neuroses about race, an outspoken black first lady
might have proved to be even more divisive than an
outspoken white one.”
It’s easier to sweep Michelle Obama’s identity as an
intelligent, informed, politicized black female under
the rug, rather than confront head-on these issues of
extreme racism and sexism. In fact, the White House
itself is encouraging this trivialization of her position
and the backwards media stereotypes surrounding
a woman’s proper role in the home. How is the rest
of America meant to be respectful of the First Lady
and honor her intellectual and political successes
when our own government can’t see beyond her role
as child and a child-bearer? The list of complaints
and grievances Michelle Obama has been charged
with, at this point, seems completely exhaustive and
all-encompassing, fully cataloguing every physical
and intellectual perceived transgression. However,
the media, unsatisfied with their endless complaints
thus far, has now moved well beyond the realm of
facts, extending their grievances to include both her
fictionalized beliefs and assumed, although unseen,
behaviors.
Usually news stories cease to exist when the subjects
stop providing material. However, The Washington
Post in a piece from September 13, 2011 proved
that nothing could stop them, when they dispensed
with all attempts at real journalism and based an
entire article around their attempt to read Michelle
Obama’s lips during a ceremony in honor of the
victims of 9/11. The article stated that as police and
firefighters folded the flag, “a skeptical looking Mrs.
Obama leans to her husband and appears to say,
‘all this just for a flag.’ She then purses her lips and
shakes her head slightly as Mr. Obama nods.” This
libelous and fictional account suggests that both
America’s President and First Lady are complicit in
both their disregard for one of our greatest national
tragedies and an iconic American symbol. Typically
in media attacks against a public or political figure,
it’s an unspoken rule, for both litigious and credibility
reasons, that publications stick to recorded audio
of public gaffes. However, in a desperate attempt to
discredit and shame the President and First Lady,
no traditional journalistic rules or integrity seem to
apply any longer. Under the Obama administration,
an insinuated attack, based off an audioless clip
and the accusations of random, unaccredited
bloggers is foundation enough for the media to
run wild with anti-American accusations. Debbie
Schlussel, a radio host, political commentator and
American flag -- you know the one brave men died
for.) Wouldn't be surprised if that's what she said
because we know she hates America and previously
said she wasn't proud of our country until Obama
had a chance to become Prez. Looks like that's what
she said, but I can't tell for sure. I would need a deaf
person or other expert lip reader to confirm. Watch
and see if you agree (like I said, even if she didn't
say exactly that, we know she's thinkin' it).”
This isn’t even the first time it’s been suggested
that Michelle, much like her husband, is thoroughly
unpatriotic and un-American. During a number of his
shows in February 2008, Sean Hannity repeatedly
distorted passages from Michelle’s 1985 Princeton
senior thesis, in which she discussed the effect of
Photo courtesy of The New Yorker.