Is Michelle Obama Becoming a Problem?

One of Barack Obama's political advantages has been his photogenic family, the beautiful wife, and the cute kids that look so much like an African American version of the Kennedys. Then the wife, Michelle Obama, had to open her mouth.

At a recent campaign rally, Ms. Obama mused about her feelings toward her country. She said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

Now Ms. Obama is in her mid forties, so she was an adult long after the era of Jim Crow, Bull Conner, and the like. She lived through the era of Oprah, Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, and a host of other African Americans who have prospered these past few decades. So one would think she could not be pulling the race card.

Ms. Obama has also lived through the fall of the Soviet Empire, and the liberation of Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Nothing to be proud of there?

It's just possible that Ms. Obama was taking a cue from her husband and babbling words without a close examination of what their meaning is. But one should have care about one says, especially when one aspires to be First Lady of the United States and the subject is pride of country.

Mind, Ms. Obama is not the first relative of a President or would be President to be an embarrassment. Jimmy Carter, for instance, has his red neck brother Billy. Virtually every one of Bill Clinton's relations-with the exception of Chelsea-was a walking, talking joke.

Al Gore's wife Tipper annoyed a lot of people, including campaign contributors of her husband's, for wanting to slap warning labels on rock albums with objectionable lyrics. Theresa Heinz Kerry had an annoying, haughty style that more suited someone aspiring to be Queen of some minor European state than First Lady of a Republic. But that matched her husband's evident desire to be a Bourbon Prince.

Hillary Clinton, of course, has Bill, who as President exercised the droit de seigneur with relish and would do so again as First "Gentleman." If Hillary Clinton wins the Presidency, her first act after accepting the plaudits of the crowd on election night should be to serve her husband with papers. That's an embarrassing way to start of one's administration, but it's her lookout for sticking with the cad for so long.

In the meantime, Barack Obama and his handlers need to have a nice sit down with his wife. The Obama Campaign has already been tainted by suspicions of unpatriotism for tacking up Cuban flags with a picture of that notorious terrorist Che Guevara. If she can't feel patriotism, whether out of resentment for past racial injustice or just left wing chic, she should at least learn to fake it. If Caesar's wife should be above suspicion, that should go double for any spouse of anyone wanting to be President of the United States.