Tennessee GOP Goes After Michelle Obama for 'Proud' Remarks

FOXNews.com

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Tennessee GOP is at odds with the Barack Obama campaign again.

The state party has released a new Web video targeting Obama's wife Michelle for saying earlier this year she is proud of her country "for the first time."

The video -- which intersperses clips of Michelle Obama's remarks with clips of Tennessee residents rattling off the many ways they are proud of their country -- drew instant fire from the Obama campaign.

"This is a shameful attempt to attack a woman who has repeatedly said she wouldn't be here without the opportunities and blessings of this nation," Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement. "And if the Tennessee Republican Party has a problem with Senator Obama, maybe next time they'll have the courage to address him directly instead of attacking his family."

The Tennessee Republican Party last went after Obama in February, when it posted a press release criticizing his stance on Israel. It also included reference to Obama's middle name, "Hussein," and a picture of him in African tribal garb. Those elements were removed under pressure from the Republican National Committee.

This time, the Tennessee party said in a statement it was simply welcoming Michelle Obama to the state for her appearance at a Tennessee Democratic Party fundraiser.

The YouTube video, titled "Proud," includes Tennessee residents saying they are "proud" as Americans to have the right to bear arms and worship their religion freely. The testimonials also touch on their country's stand against the Soviet Union during the Cold War and against Nazi Germany.

"And while Mrs. Obama has trouble being proud of the country where she earned degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and then became a multimillionaire, her husband makes statements that belittle average Americans' response to the difficulties of life," the Tennessee GOP said in a statement, referencing Obama's recent remarks to a group of California donors that small-town Americans "cling" to guns and religion.

The "Proud" video is riddled with clips of Michelle Obama's controversial comments, made at Wisconsin campaign stops in mid-February.

There she said: "For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."

She later clarified that she meant she was proud of the way Americans are engaging in the political process, and she said she's always been proud of her country.

Click here to see the Tennessee GOP video targeting Michelle Obama.

FOX News' Bonney Kapp contributed to this report.

 

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