Out Of Touch?
HAVERFORD, Pa. - Attempting to answer charges of elitism levied at her husband, Michelle Obama received a standing ovation at Haverford College by saying that she was the product of a working class family and public education.
"There's a lot of people talking about elitism and all of that," she said. "But let me tell you who me and Barack are, so you are not confused. Yeah, I went to Princeton and Harvard, but the lens through which I see the world is the lens that I grew up with. I am the product of a working-class upbringing."
Obama described her youth in the south side of Chicago and her family life.
"I want people to know when they look at me, to be clear that they see what an investment in public education can look like," she said to a standing ovation.
Obama also repeatedly said "maybe I'm out of touch," poking fun at the way she and Barack Obama have been criticized in recent days, after he suggested people in PA's small towns are "bitter" and cling to religion and guns.
"If I'm telling you something that you don't know, let me know," she said. "Maybe things are better, and I'm just missing the boat and I'm out of touch."
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
On Call Aside: Um, if the Obamas are going to attempt beat back charges of elitism, why make the case at a small, liberal arts college that costs $35K a year? The leafy Philly suburbs, home to Haverford College, are not exactly the south side of Chicago.
FYI - Haverford's student body is far less affluent than you're assuming. Its financial aid program is first rate. I know. I'm a graduate. So please don't insinuate that we're all a bunch of rich snobs there. We're not. It's just a tiny, quite down to earth Quaker college.
(Now Swarthmore - they're a bunch of rich snobs!)
"On Call Aside: Um, if the Obamas are going to attempt beat back charges of elitism, why make the case at a small, liberal arts college that costs $35K a year? The leafy Philly suburbs, home to Haverford College, are not exactly the south side of Chicago."
Ummmm. If you are going to level charges of elitism at someone else make sure you don't have $100 million in the bank or 8 houses!
My son graduated from Haverford several years ago. I don't know where you got your figures from: his senior year tuition, room and board was about $45,000 and I assume that it is over $50,000 now. If this reflects your reporting, I doubt anything else you have written as these numbers are readily available.
As to Haverford's demographic make-up, it is definetely "elite", both academically and culturally, even if some, perhaps many, of the students receive generous financial aid. In this respect, the author is absolutely right: why would Michelle make her plea at Haverford.
My son graduated from Haverford several years ago. I don't know where you got your figures from: his senior year tuition, room and board was about $45,000 and I assume that it is over $50,000 now. If this reflects your reporting, I doubt anything else you have written as these numbers are readily available.
As to Haverford's demographic make-up, it is definetely "elite", both academically and culturally, even if some, perhaps many, of the students receive generous financial aid. In this respect, the author is absolutely right: why would Michelle make her plea at Haverford.
"Um," just what are you suggesting, exactly?
That Mrs. Obama shouldn't bother speaking to the "elite" crowd at Haverford -- that she should stick to speaking to the choir in Chicago?
That Haverford students are all elitist trust fund babies, so they couldn't possibly appreciate what she's talking about or admire her success?
That the only way to have working class cred is to go to a state school, or that people who aspire to go to an expensive private school like Haverford are elitist wannabes?
Your little aside makes no sense, so please, do explain.
p.s. speaking of speeches, when John McCain decided to give one of his bio tour speeches in an empty Navy stadium, just who was he making his case to? (Oh -- I forgot about the 60 chairs set up for the "wizened" old guard -- I guess that would be the Republican choir. But no, McCain's definitely not "out of touch"...)
Ummm. How does the location of the statement have any relevance to what Ms. Obama (or any person, for that matter) says?
Would her words mean anything more or less if she spoke them on a plane or in the back seat of a limo or on Melrose Avenue in LA?
Ummm. How does the location of the statement have any relevance to what Ms. Obama (or any person, for that matter) says?
Would her words mean anything more or less if she spoke them on a plane or in the back seat of a limo or on Melrose Avenue in LA?
Somehow, I don't think anyone recalls where Churchill, Kennedy or Roosevelt where when they spoke words that have lived on. The words matter. The venue does not.
How does the location of the statement have any relevance to what Ms. Obama (or any person, for that matter) says?
Because if you're trying to tell people that you view the world through a "working class lens" you certainly don't deliver that message at a school that costs $45-50K a year to attend.
Michelle Obama is as tone-deaf as her husband. Remember this "woe is me" nonsense?
And she was originally supposed to be sympathizing with Ohio mothers. Have some cheese with that whine, Mitchy.
If BHO and Mrs. BHO want to do something about the cost of college, why don't they do something about why the cost of college continues to rise at double the rate of everything else. There is structurally something wrong with our system. You've got lazy professors who don't teach classes, a tenure system that ensures bad results and faculties full of socialists who want everyone to pay more so they can pursue their dreams on somebody else's dime. Quit saying the government ought to pay more for people to go to college and figure out why it costs so much in the first place.
You Hillary supporters are "demeaning" to the working class by assuming all comments about humble beginnings and elitism can only be delivered to audiences of working class voters and non-voters.
You go where the voters are is a pretty smart strategy. Something Hillary seems to have ignored in this campaign and thus she is behind in delegates and popular votes as well as states won.
What Michelle Obama said at this appearance is the same thing she's been saying in her speeches for months all across this country. She has always talked about hers and Barack's childhood and upbringing and background, who their parents were and what they did, about how they worked and got scholarships and loans in order to go to college and law school. The only thing different here is that she prefaced the remarks she's been making all these many months with a reference to the recent silly "Obama's out of touch and elitist" nonsense, and this was where she happened to be scheduled to appear yesterday. So perhaps the "reporter" needs to get up to speed on Michelle Obama's schedule and long-time stump speech before making snarky asides.
Ugh, just ugh. What's more pathetic, On Call's NON-reporting or these commenters (corinne, flyover, etc). Gimme a break. Non-stop lies and distortions on this site.
So, Ethan, you think there is nothing wrong with a system of higher education that clearly lacks fiscal controls? A system that bankrupts families with tuitions that are scandalous? I am so proud you find me pathetic. That means I know I am right. Say hi to your hero, Michael F. Moore.