UnNews:Obama plays down Michelle's 'white mother' gaffe

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25 April 2013

Michelle and Barack in a rare 'black' moment, bumping fists having 'poured one out for the homies'.

President Obama has defended his wife in a television interview after she accidentally described herself as a "busy white mother".

Michelle Obama caused quite a stir with her slip-up during a chat with Vermont CBS affiliate WCAX, and while the First Lady immediately corrected herself, adding, "I mean colored, sorry," video footage of the incident quickly spread over the internet.

She drew considerable criticism from prominent white mothers, including Deborah Harris, president of the White American Mothers Society (WHAMS), who said, "Where does Michelle Obama get off saying she's white? Does she honestly think she's the same as the rest of us, when she can have Beyonce and Jay Z over any time of the week?"

Mr Obama, appearing on NBC's Today Show, described the First Lady's comment as "a slip of the tongue", and added that at times - for instance when he was running for office - Mrs Obama was required to wear business suits with shoulder pads and to speak proper English, and "may have felt like a white woman".

When pressed on his personal feelings during the interview, the President admitted that the comments had been unfortunate, but was protective of his wife. "Now, I know there are lots of real white mothers out there who took offense at Michelle's words. These are hard working women, and I want each and every one of them to know that Michelle wasn't trying to make out she has it just the same as them."

"But at the same time, you have to bear in mind, we are surrounded by white people. We live in a White House for God's sake. After she said it, I was on the couch with her, reassuring her, and I told her, she's a White House wife, but not a white housewife!"

"It was a good pun, but she didn't get it at first. I had to write it down to show her what I meant."

Sources

• Leverage, "Michelle Obama Slips, Says She’s ‘Single Mother’" ABC News, April 25, 2013