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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Tennessee Republican Party has set its sights on Michelle Obama – the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
A new web video highlights her controversial comment earlier this year, saying she was proud of America "for the first time in my adult life." Obama later clarified the remark saying she meant she was proud of how Americans were engaging in the political process, and that she was always proud of her country.
Nonetheless, the GOP video replays her remark six times and mixes in commentary by people who live in Tennessee on why they're proud of America. The party says it's always been proud of this country, and it requested that state radio stations play patriotic music in honor of Michelle Obama's visit there yesterday.
The Obama campaign calls the attack "shameful”. It says that the Republican Party's "pathetic" attempts to use similar smear tactics have already failed in elections in Mississippi and Louisiana, and will fail again in November. The campaign calls on the Tennessee Republican Party to address Senator Obama directly next time, instead of going after his family.
Meanwhile, it's not the first time the GOP in Tennessee has made waves. Earlier this year, in a truly low-rent stunt, it used Barack Obama's middle name "Hussein" in a news release questioning his support of Israel and showing a photo of him wearing what it called "Muslim attire." The Republican National Committee denounced that piece of garbage.
Here’s my question to you: Is it a good strategy for Republicans to go after Michelle Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Sean from Frederick, Maryland writes:
The GOP will attack anyone and anything to find any traction they can. Sad to think Michelle would be fair game. But to the GOP, there's no such thing as fair. Now if they can get Rev. Wright to perform a few gay marriages, the GOP fall strategy will be set.
Kyle writes:
It is a Pandora's Box. If they start attacking Michelle, it makes Cindy McCain free game. She is open to criticism in many areas, like supporting companies propping up the Sudanese government, not releasing her tax returns, letting her husband use her private jet to exploit a tax loophole, and her past drug addiction (real family values). The Republicans took aim at Obama's spouse, but they may have bit off more than they can chew.
Karen writes:
I have to say it is a good strategy. It's seemed to work for Obama (and everyone else, including the press) to go after Bill Clinton. I have seen the tapes of Ms. Obama making the "proud" statement and the statement about how mean this country is. Those were her words. And I, as a fairly intelligent person, believe she meant just that!
Mary from Villa Hills, Kentucky writes:
The Republicans don't have much when they have to stoop so low as to go after Obama's wife. For the last 7 1/2 years, I believe most of us would agree with her that we have not been very proud of our country because of the president, who has put us in such a mess internationally and economically.
Davio from Las Vegas writes:
The Republican machine would try to link Michelle and Barack Obama to unicorns if it would scare the American people and lead them back to the White House. First he's Muslim, then he goes to a nutty Christian church, although I don't know how he's both. And now they are going after his wife. Does Obama have a dog? Better keep it on a short leash. Soon they'll say the dog barks in Arabic.