Just Wondered/Michelle Obama's Thesis ?s

[lilyv]

OP here: When I looked at the Wiki biography of Ms. Obama, it described her as her husband's closest advisor. Although she states she is not a "senior advisor", her involvement level in his campaign reads otherwise. I could easily see another "partnership Presidency', in the vein of President and Sen. Clinton.

Anything off wiki makes me think of Michael Scott's famous quote:
"Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information."

Sorry. I don't see a "partnership" presidency. The Obamas are very different than the Clintons.

 

[Bob Slydell]

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

But Michelle's senior thesis reveals the sociology major was acutely aware
of being among the few blacks then at Princeton.

"My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'Blackness' than ever before,'' Michelle wrote in a 1985 thesis entitled "Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community.''

"I have found that at Princeton, no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus, as if I really don't belong.

"Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with Whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be Black first and a student second.''

Early on at Princeton, Michelle wrote, she was determined to "utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit [the black] community first and foremost.'' Yet she now realized attending a launching pad like Princeton would "likely lead to my further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure . . .

"As I enter my final year at Princeton, I find myself striving for many of the same goals as my White classmates -- acceptance to a prestigious graduate or professional school or a high-paying position in a successful corporation. Thus, my goals are not as clear as before.''

That's what all the contraversy's about?

If that's the "juicy" part of the thesis, I can only wonder how much of a page-turner the other 95+ pages are?

 

[gina2000]

I'm shocked! Shocked to find gambling in this establishment!!!

Bully for you, Renault.

I just like to know things that I've been told I can't. It's like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

 

[Charade]

Actually most people grow, change and mature tremendously from 18-28 or so. I don't think anyone should have lifelong accountability for their "profound thoughts" during their college years.

All that aside, she's not the candidate.

Then thesis's are useless. What's the point of pouring your heart and soul into something that may be meaningless and "not you" 20 years later?

I do agree that (some) people should not have their feet held to the fire for something they believed in their youth or younger years. However, I would if they felt the same way today. And now we just don't know. I believe it has something to do with her recent comments that were in the news.

If I did something or said something in my younger years that I was embarrassed about, I surely wouldn't want it brought to light. Especially if I or my spouse was running for president.

 

[wvrevy]

Bully for you, Renault.

I just like to know things that I've been told I can't. It's like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

I was really scared nobody would get that reference.

I don't like it either, and I'd have preferred if his campaign just said "here it is, but be sure to ask us to clarify anything you have a problem with" and released the thing. My guess is, it may have some inflammatory language in there regarding the racial politics of this country, and they knew that people like Rush and Hannity would then be parroting those lines every time they had the opportunity.

I really do understand both sides, and if we lived in less of a "gotcha!" political environment, I'd be a lot more disappointed that the Obamas chose this route. As the reality stands, though, I can't really blame them.

 

[Charade]

could someone please refresh my memory as to the vetting process for Cindy McCain, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan or any other Republican wife?

When I see those ladies getting the same scrutiny, I'll take this seriously. Until then, it's just another attempt to smear and/or bring race into the campaign.

Maybe those ladies (unlike Teresa Heinz) played it smart. They kept their mouths shut.

 

[salmoneous]

OP here:

Since you're back, I'll repeat my question - are you really going to use what a college essay written by a candidate's wife 20 years ago as criteria in who to vote for? Or are you just trying to stir up controversy?

Look, I feel strongly that, until their name appears on the ballot, a candidates wife should have a thing to do with picking who to vote for. But if Republican's really want to go down this path, and start to say that a candidates wife should influence people's vote, they better take a very, very long look at Cindy McCain first.

 

[Charade]

But if Republican's really want to go down this path, and start to say that a candidates wife should influence people's vote, they better take a very, very long look at Cindy McCain first.

That's the Democrats job.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Maybe those ladies (unlike Teresa Heinz) played it smart. They kept their mouths shut.

but we don't know because these kind of questions don't get asked about them.

 

[Fitswimmer]

That's the Democrats job.

I'm hoping that the Democrats spend their time on John, since he's the one that's running.

 

[salmoneous]

That's the Democrats job.

I don't think it's anyone's job. Do you? Do you really think the Democrats should be diggin up dirt on Cindy McCain (actually, there's no reason to "dig up" - there's plenty out in the open)?

But if folks want to say that people should base their vote on the candidate's wife (and is the OP or anyone here willing to stand up and say that?) then they should apply that same standard to their candidate.

 

[bsnyder]

What's more amazing to me than the Obama campaign trying to hide something that they obviously think would hurt his candidacy is the number of Obama supporters who seem willing to blindly, unquestioningly go along with that.

And then they wonder why people are starting to see cult-like tendencies....

 

[Galahad]

(actually, there's no reason to "dig up" - there's plenty out in the open).

Kinda hard to take the high road with cracks like that though.......

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I don't know how "involved" she was in her husband's run for office before reaching the national spotlight but I wonder if we are seeing another Bill and Hillary "tag team" emerging.

well, I think thats the real issue. Presidential spouses are now involved in public policy. I'm not looking to debate the merits, but Hillary Clinton is running in part on her experience gained during her years as first lady.

The position involves more than just sitting around the White house baking cookies and rubbing your husband's feet.

I agree that it was 20 years ago and the Obama's can come forward and say that was then this is now or whatever...but I don't like the secrecy.

 

[Fitswimmer]

What's more amazing to me than the Obama campaign trying to hide something that they obviously think would hurt his candidacy is the number of Obama supporters who seem willing to blindly, unquestioningly go along with that.

And then they wonder why people are starting to see cult-like tendencies....

If the "hidden thesis" was Obama's, there would be an issue.

 

[bsnyder]

If the "hidden thesis" was Obama's, there would be an issue.

The very fact that they have hidden it contradicts your statement.

If a spouse is campaigning, actually going out on the stump and delivering speeches on behalf of Obama, which Michelle Obama is doing, then she has voluntarily placed herself in the political process, and that, rightly or wrongly, entails a lot of public scrutiny.

 

[Fitswimmer]

The very fact that they have hidden it contradicts your statement.

Michelle Obama's thesis is NOT RELEVANT unless HER NAME is on the ballot.

 

[salmoneous]

then she has voluntarily placed herself in the political process, and that, rightly or wrongly, entails a lot of public scrutiny.

It's wrong. Don't you agree? So why engage in it?

 

[charlie,nj]

could someone please refresh my memory as to the vetting process for Cindy McCain, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan or any other Republican wife?

When I see those ladies getting the same scrutiny, I'll take this seriously. Until then, it's just another attempt to smear and/or bring race into the campaign.

Don’t you remember these Laura Bush smear attempts?

2000: her fatal automobile accident when she was a teenager.

2004: her comments about the Kerry swift boat ads.



.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I just looked up Cindy McCain's educational history. She has a master's in special education from USC. I'm sure everyone here who is so interested in Michelle Obama's thesis has read Cindy McCain's. Would you like to enlighten us as to what her thesis had to say?