She Said What?!

"For the first time in my adult life, I'm really proud of my country," said Michelle Obama. Her face filled with determination and flooded with admiration, she made a statement that would come back to haunt her.

Monday, February 18, in Milwaukee is a day the potential future First Lady won't soon forget. Her speech is causing an uproar amongst Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike. With media scrutiny rearing its ugly head, Obama did revise her speech a bit, stating that "not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

No matter what she said from this point hereafter, the damage had been done. A birdlike platinum-blonde Cindy McCain greeted her and John's supporters with a catty schoolgirl smile, her blue eyes flashing, "I am proud of my country...I don't know if you heard those words before, but I am very proud of my country."

When asked in a follow-up press conference if she was targeting Michelle with her comments, Cindy stated, "I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country." Funny she should reiterate a sentiment that most all of us identify with, at such a time as she did...do I sense a low blow?

Words matter, this is indeed true. What Michelle Obama said was not the best way to get her point across. But, what Michelle Obama said did not come out as she intended. She is not a seasoned politician and doesn't have her own plethora of behind-the-scenes speechwriters. Her job is to support her husband and give her outlook on the campaign...in an "Average Joe/Jane" approach.

She was not coached and said what came to mind at the particular moment. So sue her. Undoubtedly, the media and Obama opponents jumped at a chance to portray Mrs. Obama as an unpatriotic, immature girl. "How dare she give credit to Barack for changing American popular sentiment?" "How dare she say she isn't proud of her country?" How dare she this, that and the other. Political commentators were called on air and calculators were whipped out to do the math on precisely what year Michelle became an adult.

Give me a break. How about we focus on the larger picture: Barack took Wisconsin and Hawaii, making these his 10th primary wins so far. That is news. What Michelle is saying and how Cindy is reacting is sensationalism...the stuff E! News dreams of...and sadly, it's what's highlighting our media coverage. No wonder people hire speechwriters, say one wrong sentence and you'll be hunted down.

W. Lance Bennett says it best in his book, "News: The Politics of Illusion." He says, "Political messages generally begin with a key phrase, idea, or theme that creates a convenient way for people to think about a political object, be it an issue, an event, or even a person." Our message in this case study is Michelle Obama and her statement in Milwaukee.

He states, "Even when they (politicians) follow their professionally crafted scripts, and stay on message, powerful figures may end up the victims of the same news media that helped promote them in the first place." It's inevitable that the media is using Michelle's awkward statement to spin a message, be it to question her and Barack's integrity or to give McCain a petty upper hand in a tight race for the White House.

Bennett says, "The news is not just an information bulletin board; it is, more importantly, a storytelling process." The Michelle Obama incident this week demonstrates this quote. Remember, Barack taking Wisconsin and Hawaii is news, Michelle Obama slipping up in a short, morale-building speech is not. I want to make this clear.

I studied journalism, am versed in the industry and have participated in various media platforms. The first example of news should be the lead in news stories. How and why he is winning over Senator Clinton should be investigated. What his wife is saying (or what she's implying, apparently) should not be the forefront of our media coverage, as this can begin a battle of 'he said/she said' that has no rational end.