Normally, I wouldn’t use this blog as a place to post something of a political bent but then I thought Why not? Librarians have been politically active forever. Not that I’m a Michael Moore fan or anything, but didn’t he once say “[Librarians] are subversive. You think they’re just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They’re like plotting the revolution, man.” So that’s what I’m doing. I’m helping to plot the revolution.
I am demanding that news outlets, pundits and other talking heads start treating Michelle Obama with the same respect with which they treat other political spouses. Not more, not less, just the same. What has me ticked off? Fox News* referring to Michelle Obama as “Obama’s Baby Mama.” This is disrespectful to her on so many levels: wife, mother, African American, professional, presidential candidate’s wife, etc.
First of all, the term “baby mama” is a derogatory term used to describe a woman who has children fathered by a man who is not her husband, boyfriend or current source of encouragement/support. All of these things are the antithesis of what Mrs. Obama is to Mr. Obama. Note, that I called them Mrs. and Mr. It is because they are a married couple who has dedicated themselves to each other and the raising of their two beautiful daughters.
Secondly, few marriages can withstand the scrutiny to which the Obama marriage has been subjected, especially not the Clinton partnership. Even at their darkest times, Bill Clinton was never referred to as Hillary Clinton’s “baby daddy.” And we know what a drama filled marriage they’ve had.
Last, I’m not the only one calling for better treatment of Michelle Obama, so are Jack and Jill Politics, Michelle Obama Watch, and NiaOnline. Not that she needs us to defend her, as a woman – especially a black woman – she has been defending herself all of her life, but I’m sure it helps her to know that she has people supporting her (and not in a wanna be ghetto fashion either, but don’t get me started on that).
*In the interest of disclosure, I was a Fox News fan. I enjoyed the interaction between the anchors but I think this has crossed the line. This was neither funny nor contributory to the dialogue surrounding Barak Obama and his qualifications for the White House. Therefore, I am officially turning off Fox News.
June 13, 2008 at 12:28 AM
This just illustrates how much hypocrisy our public is willing to tolerate. It’s interesting how Michelle Obama is so scrutinized and characterized in such a demeaning manner, yet everyone turns a blind eye to not only the tension in Hillary and Bill’s relationship but also away from the fact that McCain left his 1st wife during their marriage!
June 13, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Well said. It’s remarkable to me that, the more Obama’s opponents try to smear both of them, the better it ends up making them look as a result. They’re so consistently classy, and respond so consistently well to this stuff, that the crap just doesn’t seem to stick to them.
June 13, 2008 at 12:26 PM
@aaaattorneyservices You’re exactly right. I’m sorry that I failed to mention the McCain marriage it’s just that the Clinton one immediately sprang to mind. But I think people need to take a step back and realize that these people (once they are elected) have to go out and represent us to the world and if we’re knocking them down and disrespecting them how can we expect any more from other countries?
June 13, 2008 at 12:29 PM
@Jason Puckett Thank you. I like that the Obamas are such classy people and are rising above the smut. I hope they continue to hold their heads up and run a clean campaign. Attacking spouses and children doesn’t help anyone and I, for one, am tired of the political soap operas. There are far too many other important issues that need to be handled.
June 18, 2008 at 8:46 PM
I think that the depths of our racism as a country are only beginning to be plumbed. In some ways I think this is good–it calls things out into the open where we can deal with them, rather than keeping them hidden in the shadows. I think that white people have been under the collective impression that because African-Americans can go in a store or use the same water fountains, racism has been eliminated. As a white woman married to a black man, I can say that it is most definitely alive and well. This election season will be a real test of how we decide to handle this as a nation.
June 18, 2008 at 10:17 PM
@Michele Martin Thank you for responding and understanding what this type of discussion means not only to black people as a whole but to black women and people who are married to black folks. I was talking to one of my colleagues yesterday and he was surprised to find out that racism still exists. He had assumed that since the Civil Rights Movement had happened that we were all free. I had to explain to him that while it did give us some opportunities that we may not otherwise have had, the movement also pushed racism behind closed doors, making it more subtle. And, in turn, making black folks slightly paranoid (as in did I think what just happened really happen?). I like that people are being forced to confront not just racism but sexism and the duality of the situation that arises for all women of color (and, to extent, white women who are married to men of color).
July 11, 2009 at 9:31 AM
[...] I stay away from political or controversial topics on my blog but there are times when something so distressing or historic happens that I simply have to comment. Yesterday was one of them [...]