56 Comments

• mcsan1942 | Mar 05, 2013, 03:40 PM EST

  Hmmm, some people will do anything to get their name in the paper as if we don't see her monkey face enough. So now, just where is she planning on planting the shamrock at? around or beside the watermellons?

• longislander1940 | Mar 28, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT

  Bush went home, he didnt run around the world unless it was for the countries good. I notice Michele's wardrobe got much more expensive also.

• floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 09:09 AM EDT

  Okay, now it seems the first part of the message is not here so:How embarassing to have such things being said about the First Lady! I first learned of prejudice from my 'Black Irishman' father (McCourt wrote his maternal grandmother called them 'the Spaniards of Galway.')

• floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 09:05 AM EDT

  Continuing my entry: I first saw my father as a human being and not the all-knowing perfect person when he was complaining to a few of his friends (at a party with libations)about a white woman being harassed by two black men. Without repeating his comments, let me tell you this girl of 8 y/o told him he was wrong! That is probably one of the events that led me to help others and try to overcome that kind of thinking. It still does amaze me how something so benign as shamrocks and a black american first lady can be so threatening to others. I cannot displace my anger, frustration on others, because of their race, religion, etc. If I should ever be tempted, I need to stop and take an inventory of what is going on with me---not them. What in me is so threatened? Then my focus is back on myself and what I am doing/can do to improve a situation. Please think before you enter a comment, and please edit it before you press the button. And how would you feel if the same were said about your own family/friends?

• floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 08:36 AM EDT

  How embarassing to have these comments made about anybody! I'm afraid I learned about racism from my father, a 'Black Irishman.' (from McCourt's writings:'Oh, those Spaniards from Galway.)

• seanomelbourne | Mar 16, 2011, 02:53 AM EDT

  Never did pass a bar in Illinois. Educating teahadist is like sucking lemons sour and bitter.

• seanomelbourne | Mar 15, 2011, 10:27 PM EDT

  As a matter of fact, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois Bar. Like Hillary Clinton and a great many other very successful lawyers, business executives and politians, she did not pass on the first try but did on the second - the Illinois Bar, like California and New York, is amongst the toughest in the country and a good many fail several times before success. As for the poster bearing the singularly inappropriate moniker "MotherIrish," if indeed this undisguised and unashamed bigot is a mother then we can only grieve for the misfortune befallen her children.

• McNamara31 | Mar 15, 2011, 10:11 PM EDT

  Carolynirish.. Bush spent 1020 days away from the White House on vacation. You don't think that cost the American people a ton of money for extra protection, transportation etc? Let's be fair now. The party affiliation mentioned was in the context of Bush, not you or your family. So your family has defended our country, as has mine: husband, brother and father. Does that make us more American in your eyes? I am more proud of the American principles they fought to uphold, and the Irish principles my immigrant father taught us about fairness and equality of our fellow man or women. In your eyes Michelle Obama failed. In mine she has succeeded brilliantly. Should I go on to tell you Mrs. Obama was raised by a father in a wheel chair with MS, excelled in school, graduated Harvard(sounds like the American dream to me)… But I have a feeling that won’t make a difference to you.

• Carolynirish | Mar 15, 2011, 09:28 PM EDT

  McNamara31 I have a life, a family and a career. I didn't mention her party afffilation - you did and you seem to assume that I belong to another party--never assume. If you remember Bush went to his own ranch to relax. He did not send his wife and daughter to Paris and a few days follow so the American people had to pay for it twice. This is MY COUNTRY. My family has defendent her , especially in time of war. Can she say that?? You must have missed her comment about being ashamed of the US. You seem to miss my point- she gave up - she FAILED- she didn't try again. Please tell me how she has improved the US.

• seanomelbourne | Mar 15, 2011, 07:13 PM EDT

  Motherf--Irish ignorant and at the same time very sad.Maloney has found a soulmate.They can sit in Maloney's trashy trailer sucking cans of beer watching p--ox television.

• mamaginnty | Mar 15, 2011, 01:12 PM EDT

  MOTHERIRISH, I am actually embarrassed that the likes of you has chosen to call yourself Motherirish. It is quite obvious you do not live in Ireland. Better to be honest and call yourself...the mother of all bigots.

• jamieLM | Mar 15, 2011, 11:03 AM EDT

  MotherIrish - such venom for the First Lady of the United States of America. If Mrs. Obama grew wings and a halo, you'd still hate her. I'd like to see you in her role - being constantly criticized and unable to please people, no matter what you do. What makes you such a fashionista to comment on her clothes? If she wore more expensive clothes, you'd be griping about how much she spent on her wardrobe. So she doesn't know how to garden to your high standards. Give me a break. You don't have to agree with the Obama's politics to be respectful of the role of First Lady that Michelle is trying to fill. Think you could be the PERFECT First Lady with the eyes and the mouths of the world on you every minute. Good Luck. I know I wouldn't last a nanosecond.

• MotherIrish | Mar 15, 2011, 09:37 AM EDT

  IF the woman even knew how to tend a garden - she doesn't - the WH gardners do - she would know that it is not seeds she needs - that is not how they grow - she is only street smart and in the USA we know what that means. SHE PANDERS all the time, she wears frumpy looking clothes to those who think she is a fashion icon (NOT) and she does not really know how to get her hands dirty in a garden by tending it on a daily basis with water, hoeing, deadheading, insect detection and all. All she knows about is cow manure that she and her husband spew. Wait until they come to Ireland and find out how much they will suck out of your fragil ecomony with the huge bunch of hangers on that they bring. You want them? Take them, be my guest and the guest of millions of Americans.

• McNamara31 | Mar 15, 2011, 08:31 AM EDT

  Carolynirish Yes indeed she's self made and so much of your response was based on how much the Obama's love to travel on your "dime". Facts are the Bush family spent 1020 days on "vacation" at Camp David, Crawford and Kennebunkport. So much for that mythological "hard work" ethic the Republicans are supposed to have.

• maireadinmelb | Mar 15, 2011, 04:47 AM EDT

  Carolyn are you jealous of the fact that this woman has had a career and a family and been successful at both? What a load of rubbish!! She has worked hard and continues to work hard to improve her country!

• seanomelbourne | Mar 14, 2011, 11:58 PM EDT

  Carolyna moon singing to the ignorant.

• mamaginnty | Mar 14, 2011, 11:31 PM EDT

  Negative comments...not from Ireland. IRA. and the Obamas associating with them, get a life. There is no IRA. they disarmed during the peace talks that our Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams helped to come about.

• mamaginnty | Mar 14, 2011, 11:19 PM EDT

  Get a life Carolyn, they are barely in the white house, Bush cost you a hellava lot more, not to mention Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Kennedy etc etc etc

• Carolynirish | Mar 14, 2011, 10:33 PM EDT

  Self made???You do realize that she didn't pass the BAR and then gave up!!Who paid for the education? Not a great role model for our children. If you fail, quit. Remember young John Kennedy, the press reported every time he failed but that didn't stop him. He just kept taking it till he passed. Can't be that hard raising children with all the staff she has plus Grandma.Most women hold a job, raise their children without any staff to shop or do their hair,etc. Let us not forget that most woman are responsible for cleaning their houses and doing shoping, driving the kids to activities etc.Who are you kidding. She just loves to travel on your dime. In this economy how many people can travel with their chldren all the places they have been---on your dime. Do you know how much security and fuel alone cost? Let her plant shamrocks as long as she doesn't have to fly to Ireland to get them.

• nicgearailt | Mar 14, 2011, 10:24 PM EDT

  how nice to have a very smart family in the White House. I hope to hear that their future travels will include a trip to Ireland..hopefully towards end of May. Nobody ever came up with the idea of growing shamrock in the gardens of the White House before...superb Michelle...ever the forward thinker. Thank goodness for the upbeat comments ..the negative comments are inevitable..they are likely from those Irish who spend too much time in bars...

• VernonC | Mar 14, 2011, 09:17 PM EDT

  This must confuse the media, yesterday they were condemning Rep. King for his support of the IRA, how is it that the Obamas associating with them is cool?

• McNamara31 | Mar 14, 2011, 07:45 PM EDT

  Obama's Irish ancestry teaches "I Scath a Chéile a Mhaireann Na Daoine" that we "live in each other's shadows." As immigrants the Irish were maligned in much the same manner that Obama is maligned today. Hopefully, as a people we are smarter and more empathetic because of that difficult history.

• Woodkern | Mar 14, 2011, 07:36 PM EDT

  Amazing, isn't it, how something as innocuous as shamrocks in the White House garden can smoke out the acultural rubes and hillbillies that make up for so much of the "Irish"-American Virtual Community who troll this site just by mentioning Mrs. Obama?

• srdools | Mar 14, 2011, 07:34 PM EDT

  She was busy planting potatos (for the irish vote) but someone sat her down and had a chat.

• Searlit | Mar 14, 2011, 07:24 PM EDT

  I think he's the first President to call March Irish Heritage month. I like it. Maybe he will learn some Irish, too. I hope the First Lady finds organic seeds. Everyone who has any Irish DNA should be proud!

• srdools | Mar 14, 2011, 07:10 PM EDT

  The obama presidency is a sham why not grow a sham-rock or should I say a SHAME ROCK.

• olovely | Mar 14, 2011, 06:59 PM EDT

  This is a charming (and flattering) decision by the First Lady to honor the Irish in America. I thank her for her consideration and I disavow the mean-minded bullies that pass themselves off as conservatives these days.

• jamieLM | Mar 14, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT

  It's too bad people can't separate Mrs. Obama, the educated individual-daughter-sister-wife-mother-human being, from her husband and politics. She's criticized no matter what she does by those who hate her husband. I'm with Tom Swinford and seanomelbourne on this one.

• seanomelbourne | Mar 14, 2011, 06:29 PM EDT

  The ignorant cranks come out of the asylum when the OBAMAS are mentioned.

• patriciabruhn | Mar 14, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

  I am truely disappointed in the sub headline of this story. As Journalists and writers, you should know better and be a professional, even if that is your opinion, add it to the comments section. It has nothing to do with the story. Personally I dont know why you included this story, It has nothing to do with Ireland and the news of what is happening in the homeland. Mcnamra13 says it well. as for the comment section, It is a disgrace,the comments are that is , the freedom of speech lives. I am proud to be Irish American.

• mamaginnty | Mar 14, 2011, 06:14 PM EDT

  Any time a post is put up and mentions obama, the americans seem to go nuts, not the irish, and I agree with every word that TomSwinford has said.

• Oonaghx | Mar 14, 2011, 05:58 PM EDT

  Mr. Swinford wrote "The ignorance and bigotry expressed below is truly astonishing" - Mr. Swinford, its also sometimes referred to a an opinion. But it seems to me that if you dont agree with anothers opinion, you turn to insulting them. Shame on you!

• eiriamach | Mar 14, 2011, 03:41 PM EDT

  elainepease has already said it: "Of all people, the Irish should be cognizant of racism and discrimination after all we have endured throughout our history." I'll just add that the anti-Obama personal attacks made below show the anti-progressives at a loss for anything relevant or intelligent to say against the policies of the current administration.

• McNamara31 | Mar 14, 2011, 03:10 PM EDT

  @MotherIrish.. Besides being a self made person in her own right, Michelle Obama is one of the best examples of a great mother the world has today. Everything is about putting her two daughters first and instead of having some "nanny" raise them she moved her own mother into the White House for care when she is away. Michelle Obama is bright articulate and even though she has been continually bashed by the likes of you and others she keeps her head high and is and example of dignity to women worldwide.

• McNamara31 | Mar 14, 2011, 02:30 PM EDT

  The ignorance and bigotry expressed below is truly astonishing - but not all posts. Thank you elainepease and ceiliGoddess. One poster referred to the Obamas as "trashy people" with "no taste." For the record, the broad consensus is that no First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy exhibits such poise, elegance, style, grace and class as Michele Obama. Like her husband, who possesses these same qualities, she is educated, intelligent and deeply committed to worthy causes. She is one of the most admired people in the world. If the poster who called her trashy is looking for trash there is no need to go to Washington. Just go into your bathroom if you have one, look in the mirror if there is one and you will see the personification of trash looking back at you - in all of its ignorance, bigotry and ugliness.

• peterson | Mar 14, 2011, 02:19 PM EDT

  She can fertilize them with all the BS her husband emits !!

• borefield | Mar 14, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT

  I posted a comment, I don't see it in the "21". Do they just post what they choose?.

• jdi2269 | Mar 14, 2011, 12:59 PM EDT

  SHE SHOULD GET GOOD DIRECTION FROM BARRY! HE GREW HIS OWN WEED HERE IN HAWAII WHEN WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER!

• acmelvin | Mar 14, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

  Please use the Irish term for Prime Minister as in "Taoiseach," that way, this community learns about their heritage and the Irish political system. The World is global and it is incumbent upon the press to both educate and inform. As to the first Lady's request....kudos to her!

• antoman | Mar 14, 2011, 12:44 PM EDT

  Instead of a garden gnome to ward off dodgy butterflies and ill winds I bet a Marine is gonna have to stand there amongst the shrubbery all day long.Hell of a duty.

• erininokeechobe | Mar 14, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT

  Right, I`ll agree with someone previously saying its more about growing Irish votes, not happening. GOD, I pray right now that you would send the United States and Ireland the leaders to help direct us on the path we need to go, `cause we ain`t on it.

• cathrynreilly | Mar 14, 2011, 12:25 PM EDT

  Once more, loudly - OH PLEASE!

• elainepease | Mar 14, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT

  I can't believe how mean most of these comments are. Of course President Obama has Irish roots. Anyone who has been alert during the last 4 years knows how proud he is of his mother and her Irish roots. The discrimination shown towards our first family appalls and alarms me. Of all people, the Irish should be cognizant of racism and discrimination after all we have endured throughout our history. I'm proud to be Irish-American and happy that our first family is growing shamrocks. Shame on the bigots!

• CeiliGoddess | Mar 14, 2011, 11:19 AM EDT

  Oh please! "Pandering to the Irish" now? that's what you can come up with??? In 2008, it was "Pandering to Black People." You should be ashamed of yourselves, knowing your own history of discrimination and bigotry! They're Politicians and of course they want votes. I, for one would rather see Ms. Obama plant Shamrocks than "mama grizzlies" Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann give History lessons or represent the USA anytime!

• Laura Wilson | Mar 14, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT

  Yeah righ! too little to late & Who cares

• emcbales | Mar 14, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  All the shamrocks I have were grown from rhizomes, not seeds. I live in Tennessee and have both the white and pink blooming shamrocks. Could some Irish folk tell me whether they are grown from seeds or not?

• Towngate | Mar 14, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

  @mcdolan: you an grow 'The Cow's Breakfast' anywhere - using Hydroponics.

• mcginleynj | Mar 14, 2011, 10:28 AM EDT

  Unbelieveable! I sense the Interest is not about Shamrock growing at the White House but primarily about a Interest in growing the Irish Vote!

• whiteycat | Mar 14, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT

  Where does it say He has irish blood?

• whiteycat | Mar 14, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

  This is just another ploy. She doesn't care a fig about growing a shamrock. Its just her way of getting votes.If a company was presenting a horse to the pres she would say the WH needs a stable of them.They are both phonies.I wouldnt put it past her McDolan.Know any O'Carmans?

• mcdolan | Mar 14, 2011, 09:41 AM EDT

  Hope there's no hidden message here that once the White House can grow its own shamrock it doesn't need a presentation in a bowl from Irish dignitaries!! And BTW it's very difficult to grow, I've tried!

• DLW12183 | Mar 14, 2011, 09:39 AM EDT

  Send her some pot seeds. We would be better for it.

• colkelley | Mar 14, 2011, 09:36 AM EDT

  So her name is actually Michelle Pander Obama?

• chriswalsh | Mar 14, 2011, 09:30 AM EDT

  I cannot believe how they are pandering to the Irish now, when he ran for office he never mentioned his Irish heritage that I heard and I would respect them more if they would not even try to do so now.

• MotherIrish | Mar 14, 2011, 09:15 AM EDT

  This woman will just pander any way she can. Never before has a first lady, not even Mrs. Carter caused me to be embarrassed over her being a resident of the WH. 2012 can not come soon enough to get rid of these trashy people who have no taste, have no idea as to protocol. I can not call them country bumpkins for fear of insulting real country bumpkins who are above these two.

• Towngate | Mar 14, 2011, 08:17 AM EDT

  She may be making a disastrous assumption that she will be there next year to pick it! ~ ~ ~ Btw; has nobody told her that it cannot be eaten by humans? ( just in case she was planning on making 'sHam-burgers'!