Contact Us ·  Jobs ·  Make Us Your Home
Fair
Temp: 84 F (29 C)
Humidity: 70
Heat Index: 90 F
Home  ·   News  ·   Weather  ·   Sports  ·   Politics  ·   Blogs  ·   Web Cams  ·   Sunrise  ·   Lottery  ·   Scam Alert  ·   Entertainment  ·   ECU Sports  ·   Station/Bios
Real Estate · CarSoup · Rental Guide · Experts · Double Dollar Deals · Classifieds · Food · Contests · Community · Carolina Camera · Health · First Alert · HD
WITN Scanners
Carolina Scanner
News from around the state.  All on one convenient page.
Sports Scanner
Conference USA, ACC & national sports headlines from many sources on one page.
National Scanner
Headlines from the nation's top websites.
Entertainment Scanner
Hundreds of entertainment headlines on one page.
MSNBC.com Politics
  • Obama says he regrets abortion answer 
    Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday that he was probably too flip when he said it was "above my pay grade" to answer a question about when is a baby entitled to human rights.
  • Candidates assess Fannie-Freddie rescue

    Sept. 6: Both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain talked about their views on the current loan crisis while on the campaign trail. NBC's Brian Mooar reports. (NBC News Channel)The historic takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could come as soon as this weekend, moved to the forefront of the presidential campaign Saturday.


  • Family's place in Palin's politics

    Sept. 6: Sarah Palin’s position as John McCain’s running mate is turning the spotlight on the man who has been at her side for two decades. NBC’s John Larson reports on the man Alaskans know as the "First Dude.” (Nightly News)From her children's names to her husband's celebrity and role as unofficial adviser, Palin has created a reputation less as a rugged individual than as a maverick with a large family in tow.


WITN.com Features
Lottery
Latest results from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Scam Alert
Protect yourself.
Don't get scammed!
Country Rover
Tom Skinner goes off the beaten path.
On The Road
WITN covers all of Eastern Carolina.
Doppler’s
Doghouse

See Doppler Dog’s pet pals online.
Gas Prices
Search for the area’s best deals.
Hunting & Fishing Forecast
Best time of day to hunt or fish…
Green Guide
Your online resource for "green" living!
WITN Your Way
Carolina Camera
Upload your favorite photos and videos.
WITN2go
WITN News, Weather, Sports and more on your mobile phone – Anytime. Anywhere.
Watch 24//7 Weather
Need the local weather right now? Click here and watch!
First Alert
Instant weather and breaking news on your desktop!
Page may load slowly Carolina Scanner
News from around the state. All on one convenient page.
Tennessee Republicans "Welcome" Michelle Obama Save Email Print
Posted: 10:13 AM May 16, 2008
Last Updated: 10:13 AM May 16, 2008

A | A | A

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Republican Party "welcomed" Michelle Obama's visit for a fundraiser Thursday night with an online video that takes the Democratic presidential front-runner's wife to task for a comment some considered unpatriotic.

Michelle Obama was campaigning in Wisconsin last February for her husband, Barack Obama, when she said: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country."

The four-minute video posted on YouTube is built around the remark, replaying it six times and interspersing it with commentary by Tennesseans, identified mostly by their first names, on why they are proud of America.

Michelle Obama later clarified the remark, saying she meant she was proud of how Americans were engaging in the political process and that she had always been proud of her country.

"The Tennessee Republican Party has always been proud of America," the party said in a news release that included a link to the video. It also urged radio stations to play "patriotic music" during her visit to Nashville on Thursday.

"I'm Bob Pope and I'm proud to be an American because mainly of the First Amendment - the right to worship God anywhere I choose to - and the Second Amendment, I've got the right keep and bear arms," he says, standing in front of a bank of guns mounted on the wall.

Obama's campaign accused the Tennessee GOP of engaging in smear politics and unfairly going after the candidate's family.

"This is a shameful attempt to attack a woman who has repeatedly said she wouldn't be here without the opportunities and blessings of this nation," spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement.

The state GOP was roundly criticized in March, including by likely presidential nominee John McCain, for a news release that used Barack Obama's middle name - Hussein - and showed a photo of him wearing what it said was "Muslim attire."

The release ultimately was removed from the party's Web site at the urging of the state's two Republican senators and Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan, who said he "rejects these kinds of campaign tactics."

The "welcome" video also takes aim at Barack Obama's fiery former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"I'm proud of my country because of the freedom of religion, so if my pastor goes on a wild political tirade I can just walk out," says a man identified as Tate R., a graduate student at Vanderbilt University.

Obama broke with Wright, his longtime pastor, after he repeated incendiary anti-American comments at a news conference last month in Washington.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

More Stories
Palin's Pastor Urges Churchgoers To "Pray For The Press"

Obama Revisiting His Tax Plans

Biden Looking Forward To VP Debate

Is It McCain/Palin Or Palin/McCain?

Obama Hits McCain On Social Security

Palin: More And Less Than She Seems

Government Will Stabilize Fannie, Freddie

Hillary Clinton On Campaign Trail; Dodging Palin Questions

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Links of Local Interest
Candidate Listing

Bertie County Elections
Camden County Board of Elections
Carteret County Board of Elections
Chowan County Board of Elections
County Boards of Elections
County Elections Offices
Craven County Board of Elections
Currituck County Board of Elections
Dare Co. Board of Elections
Duplin County Board of Elections
Edgecombe County Board of Elections
Gates County Board of Elections
Greene County - Elections
Halifax Co. Board Of Elections
Hertford Co. Elections
Hyde County, NC - Board of Elections
Martin County BOE
Nash County Board of Elections
North Carolina State Board of Elections
Northampton County Elections
Onslow County Board of Elections
Pamlico County - Elections
Pasquotank County Board of Elections
Perquimans CountyElections
Pitt County Elections
Washington County Board of Elections
Wayne Co. Board of Elections
Wilson Co. Board Of Elections

Special Sections
CarSoup
Search inventory from local dealers and private sellers.
Rental Guide
Video tours to help you find your next apartment.
Double Dollar Deals
Save 50% from local merchants.
Sylvan Problem Solver
Video tips from Sylvan Learning Center.
Classifieds
THE place to buy and sell items. Most ads free.
Experts
Got a question? Ask Eastern Carolina's Experts.
Local Lookup
Find local businesses online.
Business Break
Two minutes of info from local businesses.
Lawyers On Call
Free legal information on a variety of topics.
Video Home Tours
Tour Eastern Carolina homes from your computer.