Michelle Obama Calls Americans Ignorant?
This is an excerpt from a speech that Michelle Obama gave recently:
“Because sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance… That’s America. So the challenge for us is are we ready for change?”
To tell you the truth I am getting sick and tired of people who talk down to the American people. I am getting sick and tired of people who constantly belittle America.
I can almost understand what Michelle Obama is saying. There probably are many people who hold onto stereotypes and misconceptions, and God knows there are many ignorant people out there. But for the woman who would be first lady to then throw in the comment “that’s America”, implying that Americans as a whole are misguided and ignorant, that pisses me off.
This statement, coupled with her statement about how she was proud for the first time in her adult life to be an American not too long ago, raises serious questions in my mind about this woman. I would be willing to accept the fact that maybe she “misspoke” if it wasn’t for this previous incident.
I find this statement to be arrogant and condescending, and beneath someone who is hoping to become first lady.
For her to say “that’s America” thereby basically calling all Americans ignorant really rubs me the wrong way. I think that the Reverend Jeremiah Wright has definitely had an influence on Michelle Obama’s outlook on the American people.
She asks America “are we ready for change?” So I ask Michelle Obama, are you ready for change? Until you stop looking down on America and realize the opportunities that were afforded you because you live in America, and until you stop talking down to the people you want to vote for your husband, you won’t get the “change” you think is so rightfully yours.
America's Watchtower 
I think she was talking about you.
I think she was right too. You have obviously held tightly to your hatred of half of americans who vote for democrats. your blind hatred of people who you call “liberals” is exactly what’s wrong with america.
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Settle down, Beavis. I’m not sure I’ve seen someone look so hard for a way to be so offended by something so true an example as Obama’s. Americans, at least the majority, *are* ignorant. Look who American’s voted into office? Look at the number of American’s that can’t afford their home because they made stupid decisions. Yeah, I think it’s accurate to say that American’s are ignorant. So thanks, Mrs. Obama, for telling it like it is.
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“beavis, on March 28th, 2008 at 11:28 pm Said:
Settle down, Beavis.”
That has to rank as the first time I’ve seen a commentator tell themselves to settle down as they start typing.
Also of all names to select for yourself while attempting to leave an intelligent reply (no backlink though), why Beavis, the epitome of American stupidity and ignorance?
I got stuck on the sheer irony of that comment.
There is no point in making a comment about a person accusing someone else of hatred when they select the name Malcontent. Someone forgot their happy pill today.
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“justified in their own ignorance”? that doesn’t even make sense. I certainly don’t know anyone who ever felt justified that they didn’t know something. Does she mean playing stupid? Or does she mean miserable? There is no “blind hatred” of Libs here, unless you call the statement of facts blind hatred. Come on, “Mal” I thought hippies were supposed to be all about peace, man…. Hey, Gary is right! You need to adjust your dosage. Anyone who cannot plainly see that Michelle Obama is an angry, hateful person needs to do the same.
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“And the notion that somehow it’s cute or amusing, or a useful diversion, I think, is something that all of us have to recognize is just not the case. We all have First Amendment rights. And I am a constitutional lawyer and strongly believe in free speech, but as a culture, we really have to do some soul-searching to think about what kind of toxic information are we feeding our kids,”
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I don’t hate anybody, well except the NY Yankees. But why I am what’s wrong with America just because my opinion is different than your’s, Mal?
Uuuugghhh, hey Beivis, uuuhhhgghuh. There is a difference between being stupid and being ignorant. If someone bought a home that they can’t afford, that is stupid. If you want to say voting for Bush was stupid okay, that’s a different argument and not at all on topic to this post. Mrs’ Obama was talking about stereotypes of race, and saying that it is basically American to be a bigot. To me that is ignorant, she has been under the spell of Jeremiah Wright way too long.
Deb, great observation, the ignorant wouldn’t feel justified, they wouldn’t know they were wrong. That would not be justification in their eyes. Also don’t you love how conservatives are called hateful and are also said to be attacking people when they try to debate? God forbid you have a different opinion.
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Interesting one – that comment. Do I think Americans are ignorant? Not really. That is too wide of a general statement. Yes, Bush was voted in. But that wasn’t ignorance because he didn’t win the popular vote – just the election. Now, the second time around… Difficult to change jockeys midway though.
Here’s the thing. In a way she is right. Ignorance can be seen everywhere. Last night someone commented on my blog that South Africa is bad because Zimbabwe is going down the drain. And then asked if Zimbabwe is part of South Africa…
I would say there is loads of ignorance about the world over here. But it is something I can understand. This is one hell of a huge country. And most states are larger than countries. So it is ignorance, but mostly because of the sheer size.
The problem I have with her though is that she is being ignorant about being ignorant. Her statement might be true. But the mistake she makes is too think that it is in any way unique to the US. You go to England and people think Americans are all big fat and load Texans. And that the French are spineless. And the Germans have no sense of humour. Okay, that last one is true. But ignorance can be found everywhere in this world. I changed my view on the US since I got here. Always liked the US, but didn’t realise that I would like it as much. So she is being ignorant about being ignorant.
By the way – I am an Obama supporter – as mrpinkeyes knows. Wrote a few blog about how much I like him. So don’t go the “he is anti-Obama” route.
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On the topic of ignorance and stupidity, it definitely does exist in every culture in every country and in every state.
As my wife (then engaged to be) was going through the legal immigration process to get here, my sister chatted with her over instant messenger. One of her questions was “Does it snow there?”
My wife was living on the island of Mindanao, Philippines a few short hours from the equator. Now is asking a question like that based on ignorance or stupidity? If the person doing it is your own sister, there is nothing any politician is going to do to knock a tidbit of common sense into the head of anyone.
There are many, many issues that I could relate regarding people I know or I’m unfortunately related to. We all have some of the ignorant or stupid in each of our lives. The only difference is the stupid can’t get much better. The ignorant usually do not want to try to get better. You can only sit back and wait for the “I told you so” moment. Then they still will not get it.
The main issue in this piece focuses on Mrs. Obama being a potential First Lady. The last thing needed is a First Lady deriding her fellow countrymen and women. It does show she needs more seasoning before taking on any of those duties. Giving sound bites that serve as extra motivation to those who already do not like the USA is hardly a wise move by a potential First Lady.
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Was that the whole quote? Does the ellipsis indicate a “pause” in her speaking? Or does it indicate the rest of a sentence or sentences that have been left out?
Without having those answers, I’ll just say I think angryafrican made some good points. I’m an American living in Canada and ignorance is everywhere. My family is from Nigeria and I have met people here who did not know there are universities or even modern cities in Africa (*thanks* MSM). People are ignorant everywhere. Heck, I’m ignorant of some things….may not know what yet but that’s what ignorance is. The truth hurts sometimes, and people don’t like to hear it.
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I think Gary’s last paragraph summed up my feelings. The way she sounds as if she was speaking down to Americans is what really puts me off.
AA, I agree that ignorance can be found anywhere but the way she said it implied to me that she feels ignorance is inherent in Americans, and I really get offended by this.
You Don’t Say, it is kind of hard to describe the way she said it, perhaps you can find the video on youtube. The quote I used was from a larger speech that she gave, but the portion of the speech I quoted was the whole quote. I did not cut any of it out to push an agenda. She made the “justified in your own ignorance” part of the sentence and then sort of quickly said “that’s America” as if she was either using what she thought was a throw away line or tried to slip it in quickly so it wouldn’t be noticed. I really can’t describe it, you would have to hear it.
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thanks for the clarification. I’ll look for the clip. A french guy at my office made an interesting comment that Barack’s “career” seemed to have really taken off after he met Michelle. She says she’s not really that involved but I wonder what the dynamics really are between them.
Barack had a much different experience growing up than she did so I wonder how they relate.
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Wow, somebody needs to shut her up!! Perhaps worse than Theresa Heinz Kerry ;-)).
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What she said SUCKS. Michelle Obama speaks what she believes to be true. Cowards run from the truth like bats fleeing sunlight. Cowards what someone who will LIE and tells us everything is FINE. PUNKS. American public schools don’t even educate people of the US Constitution. The average American may not even be able to quote one complete sentence from it. Am I insulting YOU? Go buy a book.
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No you aren’t insulting me, tp tell you the truth I agree with a couple of your points. Not only do the schools not teach the constitution, they don’t bother with US history in general either. But , why? Because the liberal agenda is being spread through the school system. As for buying a bool, I am currently reading “Men in Black, How the Supreme Court is Destroying America” by Mark Levin.
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Democracy’s greatest enemy is ignorance. Michelle’s statement is ignorant.
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To AngryAfrican, Bush won the electoral vote, which is how our constitution works. He didn’t have to win the popular vote. In fact, Clinton never won a majority vote thanks to Ralph Nadar.
Michele is not my idea of a first lady. She is angry, she is racist, and she is not forgiving or compassionate. Obama may have been asleep on the pew, but not Michele.
Where can I get hold of the original transcript of the speech?
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It is true half of americans are ignorant.Even though she american.
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Speaking of First Lady Michelle Obama:
Michelle Obama is a racial-minority individual, and in her heart and mind she inevitably does not endorse hate crimes committed by George W. Bush.
George W. Bush committed hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism (indicated in my blog).
George W. Bush did in fact commit innumerable hate crimes.
And I do solemnly swear by Almighty God that George W. Bush committed other hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism which I am not at liberty to mention.
Many people know what Bush did.
And many people will know what Bush did—even to the end of the world.
Bush was absolute evil.
Bush is now like a fugitive from justice.
Bush is a psychological prisoner.
Bush has a lot to worry about.
Bush can technically be prosecuted for hate crimes at any time.
In any case, Bush will go down in history in infamy.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
“GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
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I am not sure where I had read it before, but anyway, it is a linguistically excellent statement, and it goes kind of like this: “If only it were possible to ban invention that bottled up memories so they never got stale and faded.” Oh wait—off the top of my head—I think the quotation came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.
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Third time you have posted the exact same comment. I commend you on your copy and paste skills but do you have anything relevant to say? Why not comment on my reply to your first post of this comment?
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