The Criticism of Barack Obama's Wife, is it Fair?

Is a candidate's wife fair game in the world of Presidential Politics? The answer is yes.

Barack Obama blasted the GOP today about a YouTube video ad featuring his wife Michelle, in particular featuring a clip of her now infamous remark that this is the first time in her adult life she is proud of her country. This is only the beginning of the attacks on Mrs Obama and already Barack Obama is on the defensive. Is he right to get hot under the collar about this issue? In my opinion, no, he's not. Bear in mind, she said those words. The Republicans didn't make this up and it wasn't a personal attack.

Certainly, it is natural for a husband or wife to jump to defend their spouse. If the spouse is out of the limelight, home baking cookies it would be fine to say, lay off my wife, don't criticize her. This is not the case here and Candidate Obama may as well get used to it. Michelle Obama is on the campaign trail every day making speeches on behalf of her husband the candidate. She is actively involved in public life. Either she needs to tone down her rhetoric on occasion or get used to the heat in the kitchen, it's all part of the game. Almost anything is fair game in love and war and Presidential politics is war, almost at it's lowest most crass level, unfortunately.

John Kerry had a similar problem in the last Presidential election with criticism of his wife who above all else committed the so called crime of being born outside the United States and doubled that up with being outspoken. Hillary Clinton was heavily criticized both on the campaign trail in her role as candidate's wife and in her role as First Lady, starting with the ridiculous criticism of her using her maiden name while a partner in a law firm, and sliding even lower with criticism of her hair, her eyeglasses, her standing by her man of all things. Now, Bill Clinton, spouse of a candidate, has almost taken more flack in this role than when he was the President, starting by the way with his attempt to "defend" his wife. He wasn't supposed to do that. Oh well. Life is tough for candidates and their spouses, but they signed up for it.

The problem I have with Obama's reaction to the criticism of his wife is that it reflects his thin skinned attitude he has had all along. Every time he receives a direct hit, be it Revko of Jeremiah Wright's sermons and publicity antics, he gets his back up. It's as though he feels that he should be immune to tough criticism and free of scrutiny. What I want to say to him is, buddy this is nothing. Wait till the Republicans get their hands on you in the general election, if you become the official nominee. Look what they did to Kerry and the swift boat story. The Clintons and all that's involved in their complicated marriage. George Bush and his 30 year old driving record. This is unfortunately today, the price you pay to become leader of the free world. Imagine what they would have done to JFK if he had run for President during the Internet age. Things were tough for him just because he was Catholic and his father was a ruthless business man. Luckily for the Kennedys, the Nixons and the Eisenhowers, the world was a kinder gently place then.