Obamas Share Personal Experiences With Racism In People Magazine

People: Even For Obamas, “Encounters With Racial Prejudice Aren't As Far In The Past As One Might Expect.” In a December 17 interview with People magazine, the Obamas both recounted personal experiences with racism. Michelle Obama recalled a trip to Target as first lady when she was asked to help a woman “take something off a shelf,” and another an episode when Barack was “wearing a tuxedo at a black-tie dinner, and somebody asked him to get coffee,” or times he was mistaken for a valet outside restaurants. Obama noted "[t]he small irritations or indignities that we experience are nothing compared to what a previous generation experienced." [People, 12/17/14]

Right-Wing Media Attack The Obamas' People Interview

Fox's Elisabeth Hasselbeck On Obamas: “Are They Not Making Things Worse?” On the December 18 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck acknowledged that the Obamas may personally feel “as though there has been bias placed upon them” and that “they have a right to express it,” but argued, “As president and first lady, don't they have the responsibility to represent all Americans? Are they not making things worse?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 12/18/14]

Limbaugh Accuses Obamas Of “Going Full-On Victim” To “Diminish This Country.” On the December 17 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Limbaugh said the Obamas were “going full-on victim” in the interview, attempting “to diminish” the U.S.:

LIMBAUGH: So you have the president of the United States and the first lady going full-on victim, 101, six years into their presidency, nevertheless playing the victim card with events that supposedly happened six, seven, eight years ago. What is the point?

[...]

Why does he have to continue to diminish -- with pointed efforts to do so -- this country?

[...]

But anything, anything in the service of diminishing the United States. Anything that serves to illustrate this country as less than perfect, and less than what it should be. They will not miss those opportunities. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 12/17/14]

Laura Ingraham: Interview Reveals Obamas' “Condescending Attitude Toward The Working Person And Toward Americans.” During her December 17 radio show, Laura Ingraham waved off the Obamas' accounts of racism, saying, “Just chalk this up to 'America's a rotten country' category.” According to Ingraham, the interview revealed that the Obamas have “a condescending attitude toward the working person and toward Americans.” [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 12/17/14]

TownHall Editor Tells Obamas To “Stop Scolding A Country That Gave Them So Much.” In a December 17 column, TownHall.com finance editor John Ransom pointed to the People interview to claim, “Michelle Obama wants you to feel bad for her, and for Barack, because they are black,” concluding that the Obamas “have received abundantly from this country because they are black. It's time for them to stop scolding a country that gave them so much.” [TownHall.com, 12/17/14]

The Blaze's Dana Loesch: Helping Others Is Now “A Racist Act.” On December 17, radio host and conservative commentator Dana Loesch scoffed at the Obamas' accounts of their experiences with racism:

The lesson is never ask anyone for help with anything, ever, no matter the need. It may be mentioned in People as a racist act.

-- Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 17, 2014

[Twitter.com, 12/17/14]

Michelle Malkin Starts Hashtag Mocking Michelle Obama's Account Of Racial Bias. On December 17, conservative commentator and columnist Michelle Malkin wrote several tweets mocking an experience in Target Michelle Obama recounted in her People interview:

OMG. Someone asked @FLOTUS to get something off a Target shelf. #RAAAAAAAACISM ! http://t.co/Vg9zc9vmf0 pic.twitter.com/C6VNNmMHXg

-- Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 17, 2014

[Twitter.com, 12/17/14]

#thingsmichelleobamathinksareracist Someone asked me to pass the ketchup.

-- Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 17, 2014

[Twitter.com, 12/17/14]