Cindy McCain: "Well, I'm VERY proud of my country, I don't know about you!"

[Bluebear]

Now there's a big surprise. Mrs. McCain is all over Michelle Obama's comment in the best tradition of Lynne Cheney-style campaigning.

What she can't understand is that if you have been invisible in America, either by race or sexual orientation or disability or fill in the blank, you genuinely can be swept away when you finally get invited to the table. (Or so they tell me!)

I know that Michelle has not "never been proud" of her country, and saying it was a misstep, but the sentiment came from a deeper place, something you don't understand when you're rich, blonde, Republican and coiffed.

[rinsd]

1. Excellent post BB.

[JackORoses]

105. not as excellent as the swath of posts coming which will declare Hillary's crushing WI defeat

;)

[TwilightGardener]

2. An heiress-turned mistress-turned narc addict-turned convicted criminal is

proud of her country? She avoided jail time because of her husband's connections, so I guess she has PLENTY of reason to be proud!

[nonconformist]

6. Ooooh, I didn't know about that. She's a convicted criminal? nt

[TwilightGardener]

9. Yes. She stole narcotics from her own medical charity. When she was caught, she

had the person who ran the charity fired--I believe she had to do communtiy service, IIRC.

[nonconformist]

25. Very interesting. Thanks! nt

[Straight Shooter]

44. Tell the truth. She battled a severe addiction problem.

Dukakis' wife had a severe alcohol problem. Betty Ford was an addict.

Let's go on and on about addicts and what they've done while in the grip of their problem. I have a low opinion of Cindy McCain for a lot of reasons, but her addiction is not one of them.

[TwilightGardener]

56. Don't have a problem with the addiction. DO have a problem with stealing.

That's criminal behavior--and she was stealing from the less-fortunate! From her own charity! And unlike the poor nobodies of the world, she got off easy.

[rurallib]

73. And the guy she fired to cover up.

[Straight Shooter]

110. It must get mighty lonely walking on the road of judgment all by yourself.

Addicts steal because they're addicted, because the power of the addiction is greater than anything else. You sound like a conservative, that people with problems have those problems because they're deficient in character to begin with, and when they commit a crime like stealing, it just goes to prove that they're deficient in character and that's why they're an addict anyway.

[eggman67]

108. I hear ya

Having been down painkiller road after a spinal fusion, I know exactly what they can do to you.

[Straight Shooter]

115. Thank you for adding a personal observation.

I hope you were able to resolve any issues you might have had. Pain is a cruel master.

Cindy was addicted to painkillers, also. I was close friends with someone who became an addict while recovering from a horrendous car accident that nearly killed him. The struggle to overcome that kind of addiction is unimaginable for those who have never experienced or witnessed it firsthand.

[ecstatic]

80. No wonder she's proud of her country. Others would be in jail

for doing the same thing, but in "Cindy's America," anything goes.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. She's not

[TwilightGardener]

57. Didn't she plead guilty?

[MonkeyFunk]

70. No

she was never charged.

[TwilightGardener]

72. Oh well--still an admitted thief.

[MonkeyFunk]

75. Yes she is.

I just have this odd attraction to facts.

[TwilightGardener]

79. See below, MY odd attraction to facts.

[goodgd_yall]

101. That's what I like about you MonkeyFunk. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

78. Wait--according to this, she was called a "first-time offender" and didn't serve jail time--

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/index2.html
"Among the questions asked: Did Cindy McCain get preferential treatment by the feds? True, Cindy was a first-time offender, which partially explains the fact that she did no prison time; instead, she entered a diversion program. But at the time, defense lawyers told New Times that if Cindy McCain had been a poor minority and not married to a U.S. senator, she likely would have been locked up."

[MonkeyFunk]

An offender doesn't mean she was convicted

or even charged.

She struck a deal with the authorities, and paid a fine. No charges were brought.

[TwilightGardener]

85. Can you please post a link to where you are getting your info from?

If she had to go into a "diversion" program, then that sounds like the court was involved.

[MonkeyFunk]

86. here

http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter8.html

"To avoid prosecution on drug charges, she would enter a federal diversion program. "


Wikipedia also has sourced details:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_Hensley_McCain

[TwilightGardener]

87. Sounds like she admitted guilt and there was not a trial. She was punished--

that means she's guilty of a criminal offense.

[MonkeyFunk]

92. She was never convicted

and it would be silly to say she was. It's even a stretch to say she's guilty of a criminal offense, given that she was never charged nor tried.

I think you can find plenty of negative things to attack her on, if you're so inclined. Personally, I think we put ourselves out there too far when we attack people's spouses because of drug problems. Our side isn't clean on the issue, either.

Why not stick to substance?

[TwilightGardener]

93. She was guilty. Your defense of her is weird.

[MonkeyFunk]

94. How am I defending her?

I'm refuting your false claim that she's a convict.

It's that odd affection for facts again.

[goodgd_yall]

109. Very interesting Wikipedia entry

I've never researched anything on Cindy McCain. A lot of "shifty" things surrounding McClain and the handling of Gosinski.

[Tatiana]

103. Oh yeah.

Mrs. McCain also said her husband never flinched when, from 1989 to 1992, she became addicted to painkillers after undergoing two spinal surgeries. The addiction eventually led her to steal pills from her own American Voluntary Medical Team.

"I was an addict. That's why," McCain answered when asked about stealing the pills. "I tell you, addiction is a very cunning enemy."

Mrs. McCain said the addiction was an experience from which she learned a great deal about herself.

"My husband was tested in Vietnam. I believe I was tested through this," she said.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/11/22/cindy.mccain/index.html

[goodgd_yall]

111. McCain's parents staged an intervention on her behalf

it says in the Wikipedia entry on her.

[Raine]

52. Big talk from an adulteress. nt

[PretzelWarrior]

98. never mind.

I see your post was about the Fembot.

[Beausoir]

124. How refreshing to see you spewing your bile against a Republican for a change.

[otohara]

133. Chronic Pain Does Not Equal Narc Addict

Christ, give the woman a break when it comes to the pain killers she took for chronic back pain.

[Hepburn]

3. I just saw the clip of her....

...what a totally fucking Stepford Wife! I thought Pickles was bad....Cindy McCain looks like she walked out of the movie ~~ big, bleached hair and all and no one bothered to take the costume or make-up off of her!

OMFG....she is a caricature of a real woman! :puke:

[rurallib]

76. Complete with a large pile of Daddy's money.

[izzybeans]

4. I agreed with Michelle 100%. Cindy McCain sounds like an out-of-touch

robot.

RoboCindy is not the person you want stumping for you when trying to attract votes outside of a country club locker room.

[Hepburn]

Men's or ladies' locker room?

Just curious....:hi:

[izzybeans]

12. Both...it is a country club after all.

[grantcart]

5. shit i wouldn't post anything against her she has e-ray eyes and can take you out with a squint

[Bluebear]

Great, now I won't sleep for a week!

:scared:

[TheDonkey]

7. How old is Mrs McCain... am I the only one freaked out by that whole "thing" between them

WTF is up with that. More power to people that can ignore age but WTF is up with THAAAAAT???

[Hepburn]

11. Early to mid 50's, IIRC. n/t

[madaboutharry]

89. She is 13 years younger than him.

She is in her late 50's.

[DesertRat]

119. She'll be 54 this year. She's 18 years younger than him. n/t

[AgadorSparticus]

128. WOW!! And I thought she was a beautiful woman well into her 60's.

:o I'm shocked

[Skidmore]

8. Cindy McCain probably thinks 100 years of war and torture are okay too.

[Fridays Child]

17. John probably told her that there are Percocet mines over there.

[leftstreet]

60. LOL

:spray:

omg that was funny!

[Patchuli]

95. Thanks for the laugh! nt

:rofl:

[my2sense]

129. ..

:rofl:

[Kaylee]

10. I know what she meant.....

and I completely concur, BUT because of pettiness, the national campaign stump is not a place to voice this. It only gives fodder to those who are looking for something (anything) to bring you down. Some people get real touchy about anything that smells of anti-patriotism. The good news is that is should blow over quickly a la Dixie Chicks and Johnny Depp.

[Straight Shooter]

48. Dixie Chicks debacle has not blown over. It's still simmering beneath the surface. n/t

[billbuckhead]

13. Finally some incoming fire into Camp Obama from the Republicans

Cindy McCain no less than introducing herself to the American public by taking on Michelle Obama. This gaffe will be hammered home every day from now till election day if Obama is the nominee.

[GarbagemanLB]

20. and Bill has said nothing controversial. LOL.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. Sure, and it got lots of play and lots of discussion here

Is Michelle Obama off-limits?

[my3boyz]

14. She can talk?????????? I also see her standing behind him with a smug face. nt

[Hepburn]

24. Smug face???

And here I just thought she was stoned again.

[shaniqua6392]

28. That is just way too much Botox.

Her face is frozen in one expression. Creepy.....

[Barack_America]

40. She needs to lay off the botox. The epic struggle she endures just to keep her eyes open...

...is painfully obvious. Combine that with the pursed lips and you have a woman who gives me nightmares.

[my2sense]

63. I knew it

was something weird about her....I just couldn't put my finger on it. You nailed it.

[Thepricebreaker]

69. Im sorry but she looks amazing for her age. Just gotta give the props were its due.

[ecstatic]

81. She's in her 50s but looks to be in her 60s+. Sorry, I just don't agree nt

[Hepburn]

82. Ummmmmmmmm.....

.....this is amazing for her age???



She looks like a bleached-blond, stoned WITCH!! Scary looking lady...:scared:

[goodgd_yall]

116. Funny----you and the post above yours

Two women who hate the way she looks. And the guy thinks she looks good for her age (as do I---and I'm not a straight woman).

[BuelahWitch]

121. A bit like this...

And yeah, I'm a heterosexual woman too...

[goodgd_yall]

123. Ah well---to each her own

Not saying she's hot, but I think she looks good for her age too.

[goodgd_yall]

114. Hey, I agree

She looks good.

[Barack_America]

15. That Stepford bitch scares the shit out of me.

I seriously have to look away when I see her, lest I shiver with fear.

But, hey, I agree with your statement. And that makes me happy. =D

[Araxen]

16. I haven't been proud of my country for awhile

Iraq and the things we've done to alienate ourselves to the rest of the world do not make me proud of the country. Obama will change that like Michelle said.

[no name no slogan]

18. K&R. Best post of the day

THIS is the reason why I'm on DU.

[cooolandrew]

19. Exactly, Michelle has clearly stuggled to get anywher in America she now taken serious and is proud.

[anamandujano]

31. Straight from Havard--must have been tough.

[MediaBabe]

96. Michelle struggled? She lives in a $2,000,000 home! Must be tough.

How many of us can afford to spend $104,500 for 5 more feet of yard?

She makes $300,000 a year. I'm weeping for how hard she's had it.

Nothing to be proud of. Poor lady. Her values system needs a bit of examining. Maybe she's one of the rich bitches we keep reading about here on DU.

[momster]

126. Was she born rich?

No.

Was he rich when they married?

No.

Did she work and study and sacrifice to achieve her place in the world?

Yes.

This -- in case you aren't familiar with it -- is the American Dream. A nice house, beautiful healthy children, and a solid foundation for the future. The Obamas just want to help other people achieve it.

[stranger_with_candy]

21. Cindy McCain talks?

I've yet to see her say a word, she's just smirking in the background.

[Bluebear]

23. They saw an opening and finally gave her permission to speak

Gets you right here (pointing), doesn't it?

[stranger_with_candy]

27. Depends where you're pointing....

I haven't seen the clip, and pretty sure i don't need to lol.

[bunnies]

22. Did you catch that wierd "huh huh" scoff after that statement?

No wonder they've kept her quiet all this time.

[LisaL]

26. Oh give me a break.

Invisible?
Didn't Michelle go to Harvard?

[Bluebear]

34. How many African-Americans presidential candidates have there been?

Give *me* a break.

[LisaL]

50. Quite a few actually.

They never got the nomination, maybe that's what you mean.
:eyes:

[Bluebear]

58. I have no idea why you're rolling your eyes at me, maybe you had a bad day.

May tomorrow be better for you!

[LisaL]

64. Because there have been quite a few African-American

presidential candidates before Obama.

[ProSense]

29. "Fun With Quotes" and "Michelle Obama Does Not Speak for Me"

See all the wingnut responses in Carpetbagger Report post:

Hours later, the full quote was up. Still later, there was an update acknowledging that the full quote had not been posted.

“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country,” she told a Milwaukee crowd today, “and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change.”

I’m not sure what Michelle Obama meant, but being a black person with privilege and access often makes you more aware of American inequality, not less, and it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s what Michelle was referring to. Try living in say, New Orleans or Newark for a few years and see how proud of your country it makes you.

Of course, context didn't stop Taylor Marsh for being completely nauseating, and here is a rebuttal to her crap:

Michelle Obama Speaks for Me

I have to say it. In response to the lovely and talented Taylor Marsh’s “Michelle Obama Does Not Speak for Me“:

Michelle Obama speaks for me…

For the first time in my adult life, I’m overflowing with pride in my country because of Senator Barack Obama’s run for the White House. Oh I’ve been been brimming with pride in my country (post 9/11 unity) during my adult life. But never overflowing with pride. Just look at it ladies and gentlemen:

A person of color has a legitimate chance to be POTUS. And the entire rainbow of colors are supporting him. For a black man such as myself, what’s not to overflow about? History in the making. Don’t care if he gets the nod or not, Senator Barack Obama has already made tremendous positive impact on America and how the world sees us.

What’s that? No. You’re lying! Let me check… Well I’ll be…

For the first time in my adult life, I’m exploding with pride in my country. A black man and a white woman have a legitimate chance to be POTUS. Look at how far we have come!

Dearest Michelle, you speak for me a thousand times over.

Hillary's surrogates: ready to join the wingnuts on a moment's notice.

[Bluebear]

37. What does this post have to do with "Hillary's surrogates"?

Did you even read it?

[ProSense]

39. I read it, and this comment is about the response to the subject and topic of your OP. n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

30. You are absolutely right

It was a spontaneous political blunder for Michelle to have said what she did, but I understand what she meant. She meant that she was finally able to have a full, deep, and totally complete sense of pride in America without having to push back against and over ride the ugliness of continuing vestiges of racism that sometimes subtly, and sometimes not, invade and infect the daily reality of people of color in America. It is the sense of a new dawn finally penetrating and vanquishing the deepest reservoir of lingering shame about our nation's unequal treatment of our citizens that Michelle was responding to. I have no doubt that she frequently has been proud of our nation, but it must be a liberating feeling to feel that particular burden lifting, leaving her free to fully rejoice in who we are as a people.

It's a shame that politics is often so brutally unforgiving that any number of unguarded comments can come back to haunt those who are in it. Michelle will find the right words to use to express her deeply felt and positive feelings. I have confidence in her, but she will have to stay strong and hang in there when stuff like this happens.

[Glimmer of Hope]

67. I understood what she meant too. To misinterpret her words to make her appear

anti-American is disgusting.

[Hepburn]

32. Cindy McCain is scarey looking, IMO:

:scared:

[Faygo Kid]

55. I kind of think the same thing. Cruella DeVil type as she ages.

When you're born filthy rich and beautiful, of course you "love" your country. I think those have struggled for justice have even more reason to love it.

Anyway, not to be misogynistic, but she is growing leathery in that Arizona sun.

[Hepburn]

83. OMG....how perfect....

...Cruella DeCain! :rofl:

[Straight Shooter]

36. Michelle's remark will be "the gift that keeps on giving" to the GOP.

Cindy is now establishing herself as the patriotic spouse. Can't wait for Pops McCain to chime in that it was only because he was so proud of his country that he was able to endure being a POW, and lo all these years later, he's more proud of this country than he's ever been in his life.

America is a jingoistic nation.

[GarbagemanLB]

42. We'll see once Hillary drops out.

[Straight Shooter]

49. It's Michelle's remark, garbageman. It has nothing to do with Hillary.

Do you even bother to read the substance of what anyone posts, or does every Clinton avatar trigger a Tourette's style response from you?

[GarbagemanLB]

53. No, I just liked how you said this is a huge deal. I wonder how many controversial quotes there are

from the Clinton camp?

[Straight Shooter]

104. Where did I use the words "huge deal"? I did not. Don't put words in my mouth, garbageman.

I said it's the gift that will keep on giving.

Were you even around when Kerry said he was for it before he was against it? How about his botched joke about uneducated soldiers ending up in Iraq?

[Barack_America]

46. And pitting Cindy against Michelle will be the gift that keeps on giving to the Dems.

Michelle will destroy her. Michelle has more intelligence than the combined brain power of Cindy and her battalion of plastic surgeons.

[Hepburn]

54. From the looks of Cindy McCain...

...I would say that her plastic surgeons are not too intelligent. That or fucking blind.

[my2sense]

74. I would love to

see a debate between the two of them. It will be one way of seeing if Cindy's botox treatments really work. Michelle would have her crying like a baby.

:rofl:

[Straight Shooter]

118. "Michelle will destroy her."

That's all we need. A potential terminator First Lady. Teresa was going to "destroy" Laura, too, but this country seems to flock to the poor little woman being beaten up on by the tough savvy gal.

It wasn't intelligence that caused Michelle to pop off that comment.

[my2sense]

130. There was nothing

wrong with the comment if you take in context.

[lse7581011]

38. I Haven't Flown My Flag Since

I don't know when! I'm looking forward to flying it soon thanks to Obama!

[Divine Discontent]

41. I haven't found a reason to really be proud of Michelle, but...

I think your post is awesome! good job! it's comments like this that need rec'd!

[BeyondGeography]

43. Just kicked you up to greatest, Bluebear

Nice post.

[C_U_L8R]

45. what a suck-up.

Just put her on TV often.. the country will make up their own mind.

[JimGinPA]

47. She Thought They Were Talking About Country Music nt

[Unbowed]

51. Is it me or is McCain married to Coultergeist's mother?

Just wondering.

[whatchamacallit]

59. News Flash: America sucks!

More often than not anyway. We do great things from time to time, but mostly, we're an extremely destructive force in the world. One of the things that make us so, is our inability for critical self examination, as evidenced by Cindy McCain's American-auto-pride and the MSM's shrill shrieks of indignation.

[woolldog]

61. That was a good post bluebear.

Thanks for writing that.

[The Backlash Cometh]

62. How can she even put words together with all that sand in her mouth

and eyes?

[grannylib]

65. I'm sure the corporate whore MSM will be all over this as well but

I bet she will handle it with aplomb and grace; she's lost no points with me.
She'd make a much better First Lady than Oxy-Contin Blondie there.

[robertpaulsen]

66. Yes of course, Cindy. And what would this country be without this great land of ours?

:eyes:

[VolcanoJen]

68. Snark Alert

Cindy "Stretch" McCain is proud of her American plastic surgeons.

/snark :spank:

[riverwalker]

71. McCain was married to another w/ 4 kids til Cindy

I can't wait to review the family values of this bunch.

[momster]

127. He's a Creep

He promptly dumped the first wife who'd waited for him with his kids while he was in that POW camp. She'd been in a bad car accident while he was gone as well. He started running around with Miss Rich-From-Beer and started his political career with her money.

[JVS]

77. WE GOT SPIRIT! YES WE DO! WE GOT SPIRIT! HOW 'BOUT YOU?

[stray cat]

84. Republicans are proud of something if the head lemming is proud...

[madaboutharry]

88. Excellent post

Cindy McCain is a woman who has lived a sheltered and privileged life. Apart from her problems with addiction, she has lived an elite life. Not only has she always been rich, blonde, Republican and coiffed, she grew up in world of Phoenix republicans with a trust fund that earns her millions a year. I really have no respect for her or her statement.

Cindy McCain knows very well that when she was growing that another girl named Michelle would not have been allowed at the country club she belonged to.

[ronnykmarshall]

90. Blow it out your ass, Cindy.

You sorry ass bad Patsy Stone knock off.

[Bluebear]

125. ---

:spray:

[THUNDER HANDS]

91. Cindy McCain....maybe it's just me, but that sounds like a stripper's name

yeah, I know.

:spank:

[Barack_America]

97. Ack! She's on! And her forehead is not moving...

And her eyes, my God her eyes! She's not human!


:hide:

[bdamomma]

100. she has had how many surgeries on her face is more like it.

I don't want another pickles in the WH.

[redstate_democrat]

102. So was she really a drug addict?

My god. Is she still on that stuff? Good gracious. What is it with these Republicans and drugs?

[Barack_America]

106. Deep....inner.....shame. n/t

[goodgd_yall]

99. Good on ya, Bluebear

Hearing what Mrs. McCain said, all I could think was "easy for you (white straight lady married to a naval officer) to say."

[Tatiana]

107. How Cindy McCain was outed for drug addiction

How Cindy McCain was outed for drug addiction
When an attempt to get tough with a whistleblower backfired in 1994, the McCain spin machine went into overdrive, and the candidate's wife confessed to problems the media was already poised to reveal.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Amy Silverman


Oct. 18, 1999 | PHOENIX -- GOP presidential candidate John McCain's wife Cindy took to the airwaves last week, recounting for Jane Pauley (on "Dateline") and Diane Sawyer (on "Good Morning America") the tale of her onetime addiction to Percocet and Vicodin, and the fact that she stole the drugs from her own nonprofit medical relief organization.

It was a brave and obviously painful thing to do.

It was also vintage McCain media manipulation.

I had deja vu watching Cindy McCain on television, perky in a purple suit with tinted pearls to match. It was so reminiscent of the summer day in 1994 when suddenly, years after she'd claimed to have kicked her habit, McCain decided to come clean to the world about her addiction to prescription painkillers.

<snip>

It's a story of unintended consequences. It's also a story of power politics and media manipulation that's very un-McCain-like -- if you believe his national media hagiography.

But both of Cindy McCain's staged, teary drug-addiction confessions have been vintage John McCain. His MO is this: Get the story out -- even if it's a negative story. Get it out first, with the spin you want, with the details you want and without the details you don't want.

McCain did it with the Keating Five, and with the story of the failure of his first marriage (Cindy is his second wife). So what you recall after the humble, honest interview, is not that McCain did favors for savings and loan failure Charlie Keating, or that he cheated on his wife, but instead what an upfront, righteous guy he is.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/

Yeah. She's a real stand-gal, who this country has a lot to be proud of.

[Barack_America]

112. Oooh. Thanks for the dirt.

Very interesting indeed. All of these Stepford wives seem to have a crucial weakness such as this.

[jeffrey_X]

113. Beautiful post!

nailed it!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

117. Well, la dee frickin' da.

[Canuckistanian]

120. Tough talk from a privileged white woman

And Michelle Obama's got a perfect RIGHT to say what she said.

I imagine if Cindy McCain and Michelle met on the street in say, 1965, the differences would be obvious.

[Skip Intro]

122. Yeah, Obama's on the forefront of that sexual orientation thing...

yeah...

[Diane R]

131. The rich heiress/trophy wife is ALWAYS proud of her country! Of course, she's never struggled a day.

[dave123williams]

132. Um, Cindy McCain's never had to work a day in her life.

[amborin]

134. yes, saying it was a misstep

not wise...it just gives ammo to the rethugs....

they are using it to say that all leftists are unpatriotic

her remarks were harmful to progressives' ability to win this election, and she should have considered the possible impact...

the right wing has always attacked leftists' patriotism...time and again....and someone whose hubby is runnning on such an agenda should not be so careless


ps: say what you want about cindy....i agree....but that's not the point

the point is: independently of cindy's attacks....a lot of people found michelle's remark offensive.....even when the word 'really' is included

it's given the right wing ammo....that could alienate voters....

anyone who's even remotely followed politics knows the right wing attacks libs as unpatriotic....time and again....whether it's in the context of how to deal with radical fundamentalism, or other issues....they repeat that charge.....

and for broad swathes of the us citizenry, it resonates.....

so this was very unfortunate