Thursday, December 22, 2011

Jim Sensenbrenner and Michelle Obama's Big Butt

I saw the story about Jim Sensenbrenner's comments regarding Michelle Obama telling Americans what they should and should not eat on Drudge yesterday.

I bookmarked it for later, considering weighing in on Sensenbrenner's alleged remarks about Michelle Obama having a "large posterior."

I checked the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's website, wondering if the story was mentioned. It wasn't. That surprised me, but I was pleased that Sensenbrenner's remarks weren't being splashed as big news.

Given the fact that it's just days before Christmas and, believe it or not, the holiday celebration doesn't just come together magically, I decided to spend my time on preparations rather than commenting online.

For me, this is a holy season. Yes, holy. I celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The bickering and sniping of politics gets in the way of that.

"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

However, now that the Journal Sentinel's "investigative reporter" Dan Bice writes about a "witness" to Sensenbrenner commenting on Michelle Obama's posterior, and the story is receiving such odd attention and being blown out of proportion, becoming "big news," I think some perspective is in order.

First, the story-

From Mediabistro:

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), known for his cantankerous ways and for not speaking to media unless it’s his idea, was overheard at the Delta Crown lounge at Reagan National Airport today talking on his cellphone about an incident he said occurred three weeks ago while at an Episcopal church auction. Please note, a church auction.

Our source, a Democratic operative who heard the whole thing, said he was “very loud”. Sensenbrenner was overheard saying that after buying all their “crap” (his word) a woman approached him and praised first lady Michelle Obama. He told the woman that Michelle should practice what she preaches — “she lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself.”

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Ann Marsh-Meigs has never been a big fan of U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.).

But even Marsh-Meigs, a 72-year-old retiree, was shocked to hear the jowly congressman make a snarky remark about first lady Michelle Obama's "big butt" to a group of church members during a recent Christmas bazaar at St. Aidan's Episcopalian Church in Hartford.

While chatting with five St. Aidan's parishioners on Dec. 10, Sensenbrenner took several swipes at the first lady, Marsh-Meigs said. In one, she said, the congressman claimed Michelle Obama left a recent charitable event when the media did, though Sensenbrenner's handicapped wife continued to work it.

"He then talked about how different first ladies have had different projects - Laura Bush and literacy - and he named two or three others," Marsh-Meigs said in an interview last week. "And then he said, 'And Michelle Obama, her project is obesity. And look at her big butt.'

"That's basically what he said," she continued. "It was a combination of her work on obesity and her shape."

The remark stunned the group, according to Marsh-Meigs, who was the only woman at the table where the conversation occurred.

"I was sitting next to him, and I felt he should be called on it,'" she continued. "I just said, 'I just happen to think Michelle Obama is a beautiful and elegant lady, and I think she dresses beautifully.' And then he said, 'Oh, well, I think she's elegant, too.' He just started back-pedaling.'

Without question, Sensenbrenner was wrong to make a negative remark about the first lady's physical appearance.

It was an inappropriate thing to say.

His point about Michelle Obama telling Americans what to eat and using the power of the White House to pressure private businesses to make marketing decisions that suit her agenda is valid.

Maybe it wouldn't bug me that Sensenbrenner's remarks are being covered by the Wisconsin media, Leftists, if there were some balance in terms of how offensive statements are covered in general.

In short, Democrats get a pass. Sensenbrenner is being tarred and feathered, but the Dems aren't held accountable for their incivility by the mainstream media.

Again, Sensenbrenner made a boorish comment. Pointing out the size of the first lady's posterior was wrong to do. No doubt about it. He's going to apologize to Michelle Obama. An apology is in order. He should not have made that remark.

Meanwhile, you have elected officials, Democrats, routinely spewing ugly remarks about Republicans.

Those cases are ignored.

Double standard.

Business as usual.

I wonder if Ann Marsh-Meigs would have been offended if she heard an elected Democrat make a negative comment about Laura Bush or Tonette Walker.

Would she call the official on the inappropriateness of his or her remark if it had been directed at a political opponent?

I hope Marsh-Meigs' dislike for Sensenbrenner and his politics didn't prompt her decision to criticize him.

I hope Marsh-Meigs has a sense of decency and decorum that's nonpartisan.

We know such a sense of decency and decorum is not exercised by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

________________

UPDATE: Sensenbrenner apologizes to first lady over "big butt" remark
U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) has written a formal apology to first lady Michelle Obama for disparaging her appearance during a recent chat at a Hartford church.

“I regret my inappropriate comment and I have sent a personal note to the First Lady apologizing," Sensenbrenner said in a statement today. His office declined to release the letter.

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