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Subscribe to RSSCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For months, Michelle Obama has stood behind podiums at fundraisers and rallies, delivering many of the same lines she offered last night.
On the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., first lady Michelle Obama delivers an impassioned plea to women and disillusioned Democrats that her husband is still the same man he was four years ago. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Famously disciplined and often relating her stump speech nearly line-for-line several times in a day, many of the first lady's biographical stories are well-worn to those who have followed her on the road: her father's pride in paying his bills on time, her husband's frustration at the glass ceiling that loomed above his grandmother, the president's late nights agonizing over the letters from Americans in trouble.
But in front of a national audience and an adoring crowd, new imagery used by the first lady last night - and an implicit plea to voters to remain "in love" with the man they chose four years ago -- offered a personal and deeply emotive pitch that veiled some of her stories' unmistakable contrasts between her husband's personal history and that of the man who wants to replace him.
PhotoBlog: See a 360-degree view of Michelle Obama speaking at the DNC
"We learned about dignity and decency - that how hard you work matters more than how much you make," she told the convention crowd, nudging against the narrative of Mitt Romney's wealth as a measure of his fitness to run the American economy. "Success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square."
Adding to typical references like the student loans that mired the Obamas as a young couple, Mrs. Obama added that her young beau's "proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster," hinting perhaps at an oblique response to Ann Romney's description of the ironing board that served as a dining room table for the newly married Romneys.
David Goldman / AP
First lady Michelle Obama waves after delivering remarks to the Democratic National Convention.
"Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it," she said, repeating an old staple of her stump speech that - if delivered with a hint of indignance - could draw a direct line to the implication that Mitt Romney has not.
But Mrs. Obama's almost prayerful tone at times eliminated the possible sting that her pitch could hold for independent voters. And previously unrecited details, like her husband's obsessive monitoring of her infant daughters' cribs, personalized a man frequently tagged as "aloof."
While much of the first lady's material was familiar, some language - particularly on the issues of abortion rights and gay marriage - was notably more direct than words she typically offers to audiences in Pueblo and Raleigh and Richmond.
VIDEO: Tuesday night's DNC speeches
For example, Mrs. Obama extolled the bravery of "proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love." (She usually praises the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy but steers clear of words like "altar.")
And she won roars of approval in the debate hall for saying bluntly that "women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care."
Like her Republican counterpart Ann Romney, Mrs. Obama uttered the word "love" often -- a total of 15 times in her remarks.
Ultimately, the challenge for the popular first lady will be to convince disenchanted voters that they would consider agreeing with one central sentence in her speech: "I didn't think it was possible" she said of her husband, "but today I love [him] even more than I did four years ago."
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lets face it. This was ( is ) a comparison between our First Lady and the challenger. Yes, I watched them both. If you're honest with yourself, Michelle made Ann look like a school girl trying to impress the teenage boys on the corner. Michelle was head and shoulders above Ann in delivery, content and sincerity.
Agree, Ann's "I love you women" gave me mini mouth pukes!!!!!
Yeah, Paul, but to be fair, Mrs. Obama's experience showed through.
I didn't know the election in November was for First Lady.
Auntie - you realize that Mrs. Romney mostly gives speeches now that their children are grown? She's every bit as much a professional speaker as Mrs. Obama.
The reason I voted for this president is because he really got my attention as the keynote speaker for John Kerry's run. I was listening to the speakers because I was busy getting things ready for going to work the next day. When I heard this great voice speaking, I sat down to watch the TV and wondered "Who is this guy giving such a sensible speech with this great eloquent voice and beautiful smile?" I appreciated him then, and I feel the same now. This couple is a great example for us all, especially to those with children. They are down-to-earth, but they can also rise to the occassion when necessary. They are not phonies. If he wins again, I think the Repubs in congress will settle down stop being the obstructionists they are. Otherwise, they will never have a Repub president again. People have suffered for a very long time due to the past administration's mistakes. Enough is enough!
your kidding, right?
The only thing Txgran may be kidding about is the Republicans settling down and doing something. And, it's "you're", not "your". Grammar isn't one of your parent's female parent!!
Auntie Fascist....
Thank you so much for your contributions with the grammar class! lol
Why didn't she speak about how Obama promised to cut the deficit in half 4 years ago? Talk about how the middle class is shrinking and bringing home less money per year? Why didn't she talk about her husbands spending problem?
It is obvious you have a hard time with reality and facts but you go ahead and correct grammar, mmmmkay!!!! :)
James you wouldn't recognize a fact it it hit you upside the head. You forget and sweep under the rug the past two years of nothing but obstructionism. You think people are stupid and do not realize that some of the things Obama wanted to do couldn't be done when attempting to partner with the party of no. "My mission for the next two years is to make sure that President Obama is a one term president". This said by the Republican "leader" of the senate. Your brand of leadership is not something that this country can handle much more of.
James, I have NO problem with reality and facts. The people who do are the people taking tax hikes off the table while talking about deficit reduction. The people who are anti-union while talking about the decline of the middle class. THESE are the people living in a political and fiscal Disney World!
Amused....
Didn't Obama say priority # 1 is jobs back in 2008? I believe it was and I know you don't want to admit this. What happened to the laser focus on jobs? If this is laser focused then I would hate to see how long it takes if he was to take it slow! :)
You seem to take it personally when someone points out facts about President Obama, why? I have not critized him. I am sure he is a nice guy and so is his family, but COME ON that doesn't fix things he said he would back in 2008.
It's not like Obama was sworn in back in Jan 09 and then someone told him the economy sucks! He made promises and broke them. He campaigned on fixing things. The reality is, he hasn't!
We can arguee about throwing 1.2 trillion dollar stimulas package into the economy and you say it stopped the bleeding. I would whole heartedly disagree with you. We could of thrown 10 Trillion dollars at everything but the economy would of bottomed out somewhere. We might as well arguee if there is a god. Neither can prove one is right or wrong. We could of thrown no money into everything and it still would of bottomed out, but we wouldnt of added more to our debt. 1.2 trillion is with interest the Americans will be paying back, incase someone didnt realize.
Auntie....
Are you refering to the old Bush tax cuts that are now the Obama tax cuts? Remember Obama extended all of them. (which I agree with) But those are now Obama tax cuts. If he didn't want to extend them across the board then why did he?
But even you must know when you talk about any fiscal responsibility, Obama lacks that all around. Remember Obama critizing Bush while campaigning in 08? Remember how Bush was unpatriotic for his spending according to Obama. Obama has failed by his own standards. What is up with the rating yourself incomplete? Seriously, incomplete? :) You would think he would give himself high ratings to help boost his re-election, but so be it.
No, I'm referring to Republican failure to approve tax hikes for the over $250k crowd.
Barack Obama is good for America. And I can assure you the tax-paying public, the middle class, will regret it if Romney is elected. Please bear in mind the fall out at Wall Street, don't forget that Romney represents the rich, who barely pay taxes at all and I can assure you, the elite and the wealthy wants it to remain that way. The regular, hard working people of America is who will feel the pain, if Romney is elected.
Ms. Williams...Let's deal in facts.....
The top 10% of earners in this country pay over 71% of the Federal income taxes. What % did you pay?
Second, did you know that Romney pays on average over $3 million each year in taxes..$3 MILLION.
How much did you pay?
Let's get away from envying other peoples money and focus on the real issues. Getting people back to work.
Would you rather have someone that has ran a business, built businesses, hired people and succeeded at generating profits and jobs or someone who has a community organizer, worked in government their whole life and never turned a profit?
Shepherd - The top 10% of earners also control over 60% of the wealth, isn't it fair that they then pay about the same percentage in taxes?
This isn't about envy, or who can run a business. This is about who can bring prosperity to ALL of this nations citizens, not just the privilaged few who already share his tax bracket. Lets quit with the false equivalency of business accumen equating to good governance. businessmen have never made a successful president as the jobs are vastly different.
You mean someone like Paul Ryan?
You republicans keep saying you want to deal in facts, but you so often use only the ones that are convenient to your argument. Yes Romney ran Bain and ran it well. Yes there were companies like Staples and Sports Authority that thrived after Bain took over. But there were plenty of companies that didn't do well that Romney or you will never bring up. The fact is that the nature of Bain's business was to buy struggling companies, and bet on whether or not they could fix them. Sometimes they succeeded, sometimes they failed.
And as to taxes - so he payed 3 million. Big deal - he kept 87% of his money in his pocket. Most of us (those who make enough to pay Federal taxes) get to keep far less than that in our pockets come April. Do some simple math: if he paid $3 million at a 13% rate, that means he walks away with about $19.5mm every year. Let's say you made $100K last lear. At that number, you're paying 35%, which means you go home with $65K. Whay should the guy who makes so much more than you pay LESS in taxes? Would Romney be devastated financially by going home with $14.6mm, which is what he'd take home at 35%? Wouldn't it make more sense for the guy who makes $100K to go home with $87K and have the guy who'd still walk away with 8 figures pay more???
Don't bring up facts, partner - it just clouds your argument.
Tzalaran - The Federal Government doesn't have the Constitutional authority to directly tax wealth. Property (wealth) taxes are levied at the local and state level.
Shep. -- It would be interesting to know how many and how much in government loans Mr. Romney used in bailing these companys out. also how much of that Government money he kept as his fee. You know : tax-payer money , your money.
the country is sinking like a lead submarine with a screen door but at least the democrats know whats important:
homosexual marriage check
govt funded contraception check
govt funded abortion check
providing illegals with jobs and drivers licenses check
To clwyd...and all others enying other people's money (don't forget there are just as many millionaire/billionaire Democrats too) and spouting about Republican greed.
Romney contributes on average 16% of his earnings in a year to charitable organizations. That is not greed that is charitable humanity.
Obama's contributed less than 1% of their earnings. They are only charitable with someone else's money.
Now tell me once again who is greedy?????
What the hell is enying other people's money mean????
Romney's went to his church and it has to donate his tithe, or he is in bad standing.
And you only know what he did for 1 year, beccause he refused to release any more, so how do you know what he did other years?
J....typo.....envying other people's money.
Our society has become a society of deadbeats who feel they are entitled to a living from the government.
Where do you think the government get's their money? From hard-working taxpayers.......
The government has no money unless they take it from you and I....
Thus when you hear Democrats (liberals) spout off about successful people who pay a disproportionate amount of Federal income taxes should pay more is only class warfare and must be classified what it is........ENVY.....
We in society need to call a spade a spade.....we would be much better off!
Do you call yourself "Shepherd" because of some sick affinity for sheep?
funny how syphoning from the poor and middle class to the wealthy (trickle down economic theory) is 'promoting job creation' and not class warfare, but the poor and middle class sticking up for their fair shake is envy and class warfare.
It isn't envy to want to be able to provide a better life for your children through your hard work. It isn't envy to wake up every morning and go to a job you hate because you have to pay the bills and keep food on the table when there is no opportunity for something better. It isn't envy to expect to be treated with dignity and respect when your bank account never reaches 4 digits because of medical bills and other setbacks.
It is time for us as a society to stop judging our worth as a society based on the excesses of the wealthy, but to judge our society based on how the lowest member in our society is treated. Christ taught to love your neighbor. unconditionally. to turn the other cheek when wronged. He taught that the way to heaven for a rich man is harder than putting a camel through a needle's eye. It is sad that a non-believer like me can live those messages better than those who loudly project their faith into everything political, all the while misisng the entire point of what Christ himself taught...
I'm not a religious person but Tzalaran, Amen to that
...one headline indicates that the democrats hope to gain luster for obama from clinton. all that came to mind was clinton chasing an intern around the oval office and not having sex with her! yep! lots of luster there!
And the first President to establish the "oral office"............
@shepard
Talk about envy. You're just mad because you can't even get your wife to go downtown and he got it from an eager intern. Sure sucks to be you. Stick to your sheep.
Here are the other, more important things we learned on Tuesday:
"As Democratic Convention Opens, National Debt Tops $16 Trillion. The Treasury Department quietly posted it on its website today."
"ISM Index of U.S. Manufacturing in U.S. Shrank in August for Third Month"
"US construction spending fell 0.9 percent in July, biggest drop in 12 months"
"Record 46 Million Americans Are on Food Stamps"
And then there's those $4 gas prices.
How's that "Hope and Change (less)" working for you now?
And of the things you listed, what exactly does the President have to do with it? Congress makes policy not the President, i.e. the debt issue is a shared blame. He does not control gas prices or anything else to do with gas, it is a private business. US construction fell, well yeah there's been some weather and heat going on in July, he can't fix that, not a god. Food stamps and manufacturing are part of the jobs issue, again the President doesn't create jobs, private businesses do. Educate yourself on how the government works.
Gee its absolutely remarkable how "brainwashed" you people are.....you are your own worst enemy. Obama's presidency has been a complete disaster and he has blamed his own ineptitude on George Bush from day one. And, a lovely speech is not going to make that ALL better....I pity this country if that clown is re-elected. He did enough damage in his first term.
Great speech. She's gawky looking? I think she's rather elegant looking. Certainly prefer her to Mrs. Romney, not that appearance is the issue. I don't know how much she helped the cause but if he loses it won't be because of her. It will be because he was unable to turn around the train wreck of 8 years of Bush. I almost wish McCain had won because I don't think anyone could be successful in view of how close to the edge of the abyss we came and the world economy since then.
Voters: Isn't it ironic our federal deficit topped 16 trillion dollars yesterday? I'm afraid for our children and grandchildren. We are in dire straits financially and need jobs. Obama and his people don't have a plan other than more spending to keep jobs for teachers, police and firemen. Their idea for new jobs is Solyndra and the ilks of their cronyism. Our country needs to CREATE jobs. We cannot afford another four more years of this administration.
Please do not buy into the hype like you did in 2008.
Here..here....its exactly the same Bu#$ S&% they were selling in 08....they don't have a plan and all they can do is criticize the Romney/Ryan plan. Its not perfect but (at least) its a plan....pretty speeches and personal attacks on ANYONE who disagrees with them is not getting the job done.
R/R's plan is the same as Bush's was, so yes, that will definitely work better than it did before.
Not a perfect plan? How can you tell if there are no details. He already said he is not going to reveal his plan until he wins!! Do you buy something with no investigation or information? If that's the case it is proof that if he wins, it will be because of the most ignorant electorate in history.
I find it disturbing that any one here is so small minded that the only thing they got out of Mrs. Obama's speech was how he thought her teeth looked. I heard a woman talking about the qualities she sees in her husband. I did not miss the references to the platform of the party, nor did I miss the fact that she is concerned for us as a nation. I watched the RNC convention too and for me the differences were frightening. The crowd at the RNC convention did come across as cold hearted, they cheered at the idea of less for the least of us. They hate the affordable care act when all it is doing is making sure we are all cared for. It is expanding the insurance companies "customer" base, otherwise the plan would be single payer or medicare. It is basically the same benefit that government employees have. I think it is so convoluted that the religious right, the christian element that is so concerned with life and willing to fight for the unborn will not fight for people already born. I saw the young mother tell of her 3 year old and the surgeries that little one has already had and if the affordable care act had not kicked in and the lifetime cap of expenses been abolished that little girl might die or the family financially destroyed to pay medical bills and possibly, both. I wonder too how the tea party is so against government when they use it every day. The roads, schools, the rights at work, and all the amendments in the Constitution that give us the lives we have. It is unbelievable to me that most of you ignore the "We the People" and seem to believe it should be "I, the Individual". If the right is so concerned about religion, live it in every way, not just for the unborn. What happened to charity? Did Jesus not feed the hungry or make a blind man see? Instead of bitching about the people on food stamps or welfare ask these magnanimous "JOB CREATORS" to get busy and create jobs. Do the math, if your income falls, can you pay your bills? Neither can the government. The republicans talk about the "tax and spend" democrats, but the republicans spend and WILL NOT TAX, especially the portion of the population that CAN afford it. I will not be back here, I said my piece. I just want to know how you feel in two years, if Romney wins, and all his policies are put in place and start affecting your life negatively, which they will. Many states already have "electorate remorse" electing a totally republican government, to me the party of "KICK THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOWN". Do yourselves a favor and read the article in Rolling Stone that Matt Taibbi wrote about how Bain Capitol works and you will have the model for the kind of "business experience" Mitt Romney wants to use in governing.
Excellent speech!
The Republicans are only interested in one thing, helping the rich get richer!
Thanks, Michelle for a great speech and your efforts on behalf of military families and veterans. Great thanks, also, to Tammy Duckworth whose inspirational speech could be easily overlooked among a night of great speeches.
I hope she knocks the sh$t outta deadbeat dad Joe Walsh. Of course, all that will be left then are Walsh's clothes and shoes!!
Ahhh....the fact checking begins.....Guess who is not being factual?...
Go to fact check.org for the "democratic disinformation in charlotte" summary.
The link:
from reading some of these whackjob posts i come away with the presidency is a contest about who gives the better speeches never mind that the country is going down the drain as long as the speech is good thats all that matters.
its also funny that the democrats need to tell people they are better off now than 4 years ago they are just too stupid to realize it.
lets not forget using a dead guy to attack your opponent. stay classy democrats.
Michelle is the same as she was four years ago and so is her husband. Nothing has changed for them, and everything has changed for the American Citizens, for worse.
So she just told us that the next four years will be the same, or even worse.
Thanks for the warning !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my 401K is just fine, for example. silly statements like "EVERYTHING has changed for the worst" are, well, silly.
Save your silliness for the people who lost their jobs and had to use their 401K just to survive.
The average American has seen tougher times than you, and they are not as talented as you are at pushing a chain !!!!!
Chief
During the Bush administration my 401K lost half it's value. An awful lot of other people lost even more. Over the last 4 years it has come roaring back and is way ahead of what I could have hoped for. I'm sorry you can't find anything in life to be happy about. I guess you'll just have to stew in your own hateful juices.
my 401k is back, I've paid off my house and my bank account is growing.
so I'm better off
So much talent here, maybe you can start a magic show, using slight of hand !!!!
I thought the first lady's speech was brilliant. It highlighted the American dream and how it can come true for all of us.
Hard work pays off for some.
Listen people, these are the wives of the politicians, what else can they do? They aren't going to come and criticise their husbands, they HAVE to support them. Maybe too, give a thought to the fact that their life ambition was not to give speeches in front of large crowds. Plus, if you know anything about the political BS machine you know that these women do not write their own speeches, the speechwriters fo that. So insulting their clothing, their lack of "elegance", their teeth and of course, their race, is rude and pointless and ignorant.
If passion and enthusiasm at the conventions determined the election, the Dems would win going away.
We hear how Michelle "wowed' the crowd and how Ann fell short... so, what? What does it really mean?
Concern about which dress they each wore and what message is being channeled from that...?
It means nothing! It's stupid, empty rhetoric being spewed from both camps. The last four years and where we are today is a reflection of the actions and inactions of the current administration. Let your votes reflect your sentiments.
I compliment the woman for standing in front of God and Country and not telling the truth that her husband is a flat failure as a Leader. Keep drinking the Kool-aid folkes!!! Just remember to tell your children and grandchildren that you gave them a Socialist Country, so that all people can only strive to be Average at best.
I love how the media and everyone is projecting the winner of the presidential race after a few days at these parties being thrown by the RNC and DNC. Of course everyone in those auditoriums are going to be clapping, shouting and stomping their feet, that is their sole purpose of being there. All of the people in both gatherings is not enough to elect a president. I predict higher voter turnout on this election than we have had in years. The thing determining the outcome is whether people like the last four years of their lives, nothing more. I think the majority of people have already made up their minds on this election and nothing is going to change their mind. It would be nice if all the millions spent on this election was put to better use, instead of throwing parties for the rich people on both sides who could care less about the working class. All the working class means to them, are more tax dollars to spend.
I disagree.
I think voter turn out will be low this time around. Republicans have accepted that Romney is their candidate, but they don't really like him. People are disappointed in Obama because he wasn't a miracle worker that turned the country around in an instant. Most people I speak to about the election say that they are voting against someone rather than for anyone. That is apathy and it means that a lot of these people simply won't make it to the polls. Because they do not really care for the guy that they would vote for if they did go.
Iowa-Guy
Well, I have to agree with a lot of what you said, because I will be voting against someone when I vote. I do not like either candidate. I have heard that around here a lot this summer, coming from both parties. I guess it will come down to who controls congress this time, because without a super majority, no president can do anything these days. I have voted both parties and have never missed voting in an election, but with the way politics have gone the last few years (20 , that seems like a few to me anymore) it is hard to walk into that booth anymore. Sometimes I think that maybe all the candidates wanting to run, be eliminated by process of elimenation by coin toss and the final coin toss decides who gets to be president. The results might be just as good.
Neither of the Obamas has been "disbarred" or surrendered their law license under unfavorable circumstances. Those of you who believe this, go to Snopes and read the truth--if you're interested in the truth.
Didn't Michelle say "the president is just like you". Well he is almost there, but not quite. But come November he'll be just like the 23 million plus Americans that are out of a job, then he'll be just like you. Then he can be part of the Food Stamp party.
What a surprise - a liberal media source supporting a liberal. Her speech was no better than Ann Romney's and yet NBCNEWS trashed Ann's. Fortunately, I and many others can see right through you.