Cindy McCain vs Michelle Obama

[LittleMsSunshine]

This is taken from an opinion article (so I also included more sources at the bottom).... but I thought the author made an interesting point.... and I was curious to hear everyone's take on it. (See the statement in bold)

It's a psychedelic experience this week, watching Cindy McCain out on the campaign trail, attacking the opponent's wife. In rally after rally she says, "I've always been proud of my country," a not so subtle jab at Michelle Obama's gaffe earlier about really being proud of America for the first time. But Cindy McCain has one hell of a scandal in her past. In the mid-nineties she was addicted to prescription pain killers. Worse, she was stealing the drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team, a third world relief organization she founded. Like most ridiculously rich people, she didn't have to go to jail for her crimes and was allowed to enter a rehab program rather than face criminal charges. The charity was shut down. So when Cindy McCain says, "All I know is that I've always been proud of my country," take it with a grain of salt. She spent at least three years stoned out of her mind. It's impossible to know what she thought during that time. Was she really proud, or was she just hallucinating? Cindy's addiction has been virtually ignored this election season. As a thought experiment, try to imagine what the reaction would be if Michelle Obama had a history with drug addiction? If Michelle Obama had stolen drugs meant for third world countries to support her own addiction? Of course, we want to leave spouses out of politics. But if Cindy is out attacking Michelle people are going to start throwing rocks back at her glass house. She'd have to be high to think otherwise. -Stephen Elliott

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ite-House.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_w...for_cindy.html


I'm sure they're both nice ladies, I don't really have anything against either. I just think it's funny how Michelle gets so much **** for making a not-so-well-thought-out comment..... and no one seems to care that Cindy is a former drug-addict who stole medicines from the foundation that she started to help people in 3rd-world countries.

[square bear]

I'd take Michelle Obama in a fight any day.

Which is a quality needed in a first lady cuz dang is there an uphill battle ahead for our country.

[Lindsey]

Honestly I think they are both nice people but I think Cindy understands more about us then you give her credit...she's sat there as she watched her son deploy....she's cried for his commrads and she's rejoiced when he returned home....She understands military life...And she HAD an additction...If she overcame it great...We all have skeletons in our closets and we don't know what has gone on in her life....Addiction is a crazy thing and it makes people do crazy things....it's amazing she's gotten her life back together...So what if you think it's swept under the rug bc she's rich....I doubt that's the reason...Clinton smoked pot...I'm sure lots of other presidents have done crazy things too....So yes Michelle is under more scrutiny but that's bc her husband is making history and there is always going to be more pressure and more microscopic analizing when someone is making history than when it's just the same ol same ole...

[flangl18]

I am voting for the candidate, not the wife. I think they are probably both nice ladies and both will do a good job as first lady. I do think that much of what they say is scripted, but I think that has more to do with trying not to put a foot in the mouth with something coming out in the wrong way or words being twisted, as evidenced with the Michelle Obama thing.

[USMCSGTsGirl1239]

They both kind of creep me out... I have issues with them, just as I have issues with both candidates.

It's not the wife that will sway me (that will be the running mate selection) but, I do think about their spouses in the context of the image they will present to the world, because they will undoubtedly be PR ambassadors, regardless of how "involved" they are allowed, or choose to become in the administration level.

[Becca]

Interesting, to say the least. Thanks for sharing. I hope you don't mind, I stole this and posted it in my myspace blog...for all my non SOSer friends to read. I'm sure there will be several who'd love to "discuss" my apparent upcoming treachery toward my political party.

ETA: and I honestly believe that if it had been Michelle Obama with the prior addiction, pulling the same thing, Barack would not have won the democratic nod. Nope. You know Hillary would have exploited the hell out of that.

[LittleMsSunshine]

Originally Posted by Becca Interesting, to say the least. Thanks for sharing. I hope you don't mind, I stole this and posted it in my myspace blog...for all my non SOSer friends to read. I'm sure there will be several who'd love to "discuss" my apparent upcoming treachery toward my political party. ETA: and I honestly believe that if it had been Michelle Obama with the prior addiction, pulling the same thing, Barack would not have won the democratic nod. Nope. You know Hillary would have exploited the hell out of that.

I don't mind at all. And I totally agree with the 2nd paragraph. Although.... Hillary's one to talk... in terms of potential "first ladies" (or first man, as it would've been in her case )

[CocoaGoddess]

There is no way in hell Barack Obama would have won the nomination if Michelle were a former drug addict and thief, are you freaking kidding me? He barely would have become a senator.

The right wing are pissed off that she had a job making $300,000 a year doing "nothing", and making implications that her education is not a result of hardwork, but rather what white America "gave" her. They would be far less forgiving and generous towards a black woman who was a former crackhead, or whatever occupying the white house.


I don't know why we have to sit here and pretend otherwise. Cindy McCain is getting a pass that's afforded to very few.

[Lindsey]

gotta love how you call her a crack head...bc script drugs are definately different....but to each his own...I'm not defending her actions just saying that calling her a crack head is a low blow and uncalled for

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Lindsey gotta love how you call her a crack head...bc script drugs are definately different....but to each his own...I'm not defending her actions just saying that calling her a crack head is a low blow and uncalled for

I didn't read it as calling Cindy a crackhead - I read it as saying that if it were Michelle people were talking about, she'd be referred to as a crackhead.

But I could be wrong.