The reaction to Michelle Obama’s speech to Democratic delegates has been widely admired.
People admired her style and grace, and for informing the world of something many people did not know - namely that the White House was built by slaves.
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters - two beautiful intelligent black young women - play on the White House lawn,” she said.
Many people praised the First Lady for bringing to public attention, something they said Americans should have learned at school.
Yet Bill O’Reilly, an anchor with Fox News, managed to provide the topic with his own spin. Yes, he conceded to his viewers, the White House may have been built by slaves but they were well fed and cared for.
“Slaves that worked there were well fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government, which stopped hiring slave labour in 1802,” he said.
“However, the feds did not forbid subcontractors from using slave labour. So, Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House, but there were others working as well. Got it all? There will be a quiz.”
Mr O’Reilly’s comments were widely condemned for being tone deaf.
