African Press Speaks About Michelle Obama's Phone Call

Cross-posted by Maggie at Maggie's Notebook

African Press International recently claimed that Michelle Obama telephoned them and made various statements...statements that definitely caught America's attention. If you are not already aware of this story, my advice is, read the following first, and then read the first report that has caused such a firestorm.

The question has been, if Michelle actually did call API, did API record the call? The API article below, published October 17, 2008 (their time) tells us they do have a recording, and their hesitation has been the speculation of a lawsuit against them once the tape is released, as MO was not made aware that the conversation was being recorded. They say they are attempting to give MO time to "come clean" before the release, and they advise her to tell the "American people that she will not discriminate those who are not Obama fanatics if she becomes the first lady."

And...they state why the First-Lady-to-be-maybe, would call API in the first place.

The original API article is quite long, so here are the most compelling alleged quotes from MO, then the latest article:

African press International is supposed to support Africans and African-American view,” and she went to state that, “it is strange that API has chosen to support the racists against my husband. There is no shame in being adopted by a step father. All dirt has been thrown onto my husband’s face and yet he loves this country. My husband and I know that there is no law that will stop him from becoming the president, just because some American white racists are bringing up the issue of my husband’s adoption by His step father. The important thing here is where my husband’s heart is at the moment. I can tell the American people that My husband loves this country and his adoption never changed his love for this country. He was born in Hawaii, yes, and that gives him all the right to be an American citizen even though he was adopted by a foreigner; says Michelle Obama on telefon to API.

...many conservative white people and even some African Americans were against her husband, but that this group of blacks were simply doing so because of envy.

API claimed that she offered an inaugural invitation in exchange for a "good story."

As I said in my initial post, I do not know what is true and what isn't. We'll just have to wait and see.

African Press International
October 17, 2008 (no time stamp)

API is disturbed by the way many have reacted to the story on Mrs Obama’s call. Many have shown us by the way they have behaved towards API that they only think of their own interests because they have demanded that the audio recordings should be released immediately. We understand that the tapes should be released, but those who have demanded the release of the tapes seem not take into account that API may become a suing target.

The Recordings:

API has recordings of the conversation between API and Mrs Obama (Shocking development: Mrs Obama decides enough is enough: “My husband was born in Hawaii and adopted by his step father, does that make him unpatriotic; she asks”, on a direct telephone to API., and we confirm that the audio will be released to the public. In the last 24 hours, API has been consulting legal advisers on the way forward in order to avoid being sued by the Obama camp. API has realised that the contents of the tapes if made public may change the political atmosphere in America for ever, especially in the next few days.

Due to enormous reactions received, API now understands the impact of the statements made by Mrs Obama. The American people have reacted in a way we in API would never have expected.

Many have question why Mrs Obama would choose a little known online media group instead of the American media. API was chosen because of a Nairobi contact that did not like the way API was covering Barack Obama using information collected from American media outlets. The Nairobi contact prevailed upon Mrs Obama to talk to API.

The only thing API may have done wrong is not informing Mrs Obama that the conversation was being recorded. This is why it is taking time to release the recording while consulting a legal team because API wants to be legally safe from any Obama camp law suit.

The US Media Outlets:

Since the release of Mrs Obama story, many US media outlets have insisted that API should release the recordings made when Mrs Obama spoke with API. We understand the importance of the recordings in our possession and yet the first thing we are thinking of is not simply to make them public because groups are pressurising API to do so. The release of the information will be done, because we know we have Mrs Obama on tape, but API must do it in a way that does not put API in an embarrassing legal situation.

Die-hard Obama supporters:

A number of Americans who are die-hard Obama followers have tried their best to intimidate API using all kinds of threatening methods when they call in and when they email us. They are implying that API is planning to destroy Obama’s chances to become the next US President. API does not have a direct interest in the US Presidential elections and we want Obama supporters to understand that. However, when someone who may become the next first lady makes such comments as in the story we have published, the public have the right to know. Intimidation directed to the publishers of the story is not the answer.

The delay to make public the recordings is expected to give time to Mrs Obama to come clean and tell the American people that her comments were not meant to harm anyone, but that she was reacting to the media pressure on her husband. She should also come out and tell the American people that she will not discriminate those who are not Obama fanatics if she becomes the first lady.

There's more. Read it here.

Related:

Michelle Obama to African Press: Bribes? and No Law Will Stop My Husband...

Michelle Obama and African Press Update