Gawker has rolled up their sleeves and aced the story about U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner vs. Michelle Obama. Their image (above) says everything, but (butt?) here’s some of the “back story.” (Ahem…)
Politico explains what Sensenbrenner said:
Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) was overheard talking about the first lady’s healthy food initiative — and her “large posterior†— on Wednesday in the Delta Crown lounge at Reagan National Airport, FishbowlDC reported. The representative was recounting a recent conversation he’d had at a Wisconsin Episcopal church and said loudly on the phone that Obama “lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself,†according to Fishbowl.
On Thursday, Sensenbrenner said in a statement, “I regret my inappropriate comment and I have sent a personal note to the first lady apologizing.â€
Sensenbrenner had made his initial comment about the first lady at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Hartford, Wis. on Dec. 10. Ann Marsh-Meigs, a 72-year-old member of the church, said the congressman sat with her and several other parishioners for some small talk during the church’s Christmas bazaar.
Then, he noticed cards on the table advertising the church’s upcoming food-packing project for Haiti and began speaking about a recent charity event in Washington his wife and Michelle Obama attended. Sensenbrenner commented that the first lady only stayed as long as the photographers were there.
“And then he got on the topic of first ladies and their special interests, and he said most first ladies have serious projects,†Marsh-Meigs said in an interview. “He implied that Michelle Obama being interested in childhood obesity was not serious, he sort of made fun of it and then he made fun of her. He said something like, look at her big butt.â€
Now here’s Gawker, FTW:
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner hates how Michelle Obama is constantly forcing sickening Muslim traditions like “vegetables” and “exercise” on the youth of America—especially when she herself is so disgustingly corpulent, in the butt area. He hates it so much he can’t even keep quiet about it!
…
The thing is? Crypto-racism, misogyny, inaccuracy, and complete and utter point-missing aside, “Michelle Obama is fat even though she forced your kid to see a lettuce” is a favorite trope of the right wing. Remember when The Washington Post published an article called “Michelle Obama orders 1,700-calorie meal at Shake Shack”? It’s because Matt Drudge’s favorite story besides “black teenager fights white teenager” is “Michelle Obama Ate Fast Food,” and the Post want a Drudge Report link.
And you know, you could spend days explaining why “Michelle Obama has a big butt” is not only an entirely incoherent criticism of programs designed to encourage healthy living, it’s also basically racist? But why bother, really?
Image:Â Gawker