May 19, 2008

Memo to Obama

Barack, really now, you can't have it both ways. You can't send your wife out on the campaign trail to give campaign speeches and do fund-raisers on your behalf and then complain that she gets a little criticism. And if you think she ought not get public scrutiny, then you probably shouldn't take her with you onto Good Morning America and condescendingly demand she be left out of the spotlight.

Update: David Oatney says it better than I could:

...His wife volunteered to go out and campaign for her husband, and it is in the context of a campaign appearance that she made the remarks in question. If Michelle Obama is going to campaign for her husband, she has to be prepared to take the heat for any remarks that she might make on the campaign trail-that is part of politics. If Michelle Obama didn't campaign for her husband, then Barack Obama would be correct-she would not be fair game. She is a part of this race, however-she's chosen to join the national discussion, and so she and her words are very much available for political fodder.

Mr. Obama, you are a candidate for President of the United States, and this is a part of political reality. If your wife is going to campaign for you, both you and she must be prepared to take the political heat. If you can't do that, perhaps you aren't capable of the pressures inherent in the presidency.

See, also: Eric Pfeiffer's comments at CQ Politics.

See also: Grantham, and Oatney.