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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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WOW! That woman (Michelle O) is AWSOME!
The lady rocked the house. Those that hate will never see, but for those of who listen, it was a sweet song. A real American success story.
Mrs. Obama gave wonderful speech. I'm happy for her that she is still in love with her husband.
I still want a divorce. President Obama has been weak on deficit management. The ACA is one of the largest partisan tax increases this country has ever seen. President Obama promised bipartisanship; yet called for the Simpson-Bowles commissions and rejects the outcome.
President Obama will not get my vote this time around, even if does produce a detailed plan to "build out the middle-class".
What proof have we that Wallstreet and Detroit were
in danger of collapse, in 2009? Merely the word of
beggars.
Upon the first breath of 2009, from board room to
board room, from bank to mortgage house to credit
company to dealership, the murmurs were spoke that
the Most Junior of Senators, newly promoted, with
the Most Junior of Auditors and Accountants, newly
appointed, were afoot in Washington, with soft hands
at the helm and a soft touch on the purse. All, so
easily moved by a quavering voice, a sad song of woe
and a teary eye, that any CEO so daring, could open
the hand on the purse and be lent moneys by the
buckets full. The word of the fools in the House so
White spread far and wide until the rush on the
treasury, became a stampede.
Now, to defend their treachery, the Keepers of the
Loose Purse parade before us as if heroes who stared
down the wolf at the door, rather than rubes who
fell for the carney at the vault. And where of the
moneys they so readily lent? So desperate were the
beggars of Wallstreet and Detroit that the first
billions paid were not to the wolves at the door,
nor the creditor at the window, but to the manager
on the bonus, and the CEO on the yacht. Our money by
the trillions, cast upon the wind, to no account,
save those of braggerts, eager for another hand in
the till.
Why would the wolves of Wallstreet and Detroit
defend the fools in the Whitehouse? If you had a
Soft Touch in the Oval Office, wouldn't you want him
re-elected?
And of the Most Junior Senator and his most Junior
Accountants, who trumpet themselves the heroes of
Wallstreet and Detroit? They parade before us,
wearing their deceit like medals won on an actual
field of battle! They wave their ignorance like
ribbons before an adoring throng of fools.
Still, I got to give credit where credit is due.
Democrats, and none better than Barack Obama, sell
sh!t for chocolate better than anyone alive. They
can wrap it like candy, I guess it don't hurt to
look at it, and with enough perfume and chemicals,
it probably won't hurt to smell it, but I wouldn't
eat it.
don't let that speech fool you..
her liar husband is out to do great harm to our country..
and she is there encouraging him..
lying for him..
they do not like amerika!
It is very obvious to me that txmom and michael are definite Republicans and responding to their comments would be fruitless .No president is perfect ,they are just people like you and I. They make mistakes and make successes as well.
So lets look at the scorecard:
1)He authorized the killing of the world's top terrorist
2)He saved thousands of automotive jobs thru loans which have been paid back.
3)He authorized health care for those with pre-existing conditions (that insurance companies abandon)
4)He authorized a jobs program that saved several million jobs that otherwise would have been lost.
5)He authorized a broad field of energy development wind ,solar,geothermal,clean coal,natural gas,and yes even oil exploration ,To make our country energy independant.
In summary ,much more work is yet to be done for the currently unemployed ,but we are on the correct path to get there.I believe those making over 1/2 million dollars /year should pay a higher tax rate (not the level Obama is seeking 1/4 million).By just eliminating the Bush tax cuts for those making over 1/2 million dollars.
Remember,it was 2 ongoing wars and big bank failures that got us where we are and it takes time to dig us out of that hole.
I don't think for one minute that Romney's tax cuts or Ryans health care revisions will create one darn job or promote a healthier America.It would just promote more of the same bull that got us here in the first place.
So lets look at the scorecard:
1)He authorized the killing of the world's top terrorist
tiggerooh wouldn't have?
2)He saved thousands of automotive jobs thru loans which have been paid back.
Taxpayers are still into GM for billions
3)He authorized health care for those with pre-existing conditions (that insurance companies abandon)
A good thing if you're willing to the price for it; as well as for no lifetime limits
4)He authorized a jobs program that saved several million jobs that otherwise would have been lost.
How does anyone know that?
5)He authorized a broad field of energy development wind ,solar,geothermal,clean coal,natural gas,and yes even oil exploration ,To make our country energy independant.
The major reason we're not as dependent on oil is that we're in a recession.
What a brilliant and emotional speech by Mrs. Obama. It was a perfect contrast to the GOP's message of divisiveness, greed, and hate, and the Obama's are a perfect contrast to the Romney's. The obama's got where they are through hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. The Romney's got their by accident of birth, and it shows in how out-of-touch they are.
You're so out of touch with reality it would be funny if it weren't sad. The GOP caused the problems that Obama is working to fix, or did you forget the 8 miserable years this country had sandwiched between two great leaders -- Clinton and Obama? Obama was handed the worst economy since the Great Depression, and your boy would have let the automakers fail and put millions out of work. Obama wouldn't do that, because he grew up poor, unlike Romney who hasn't a clue how working people live.
As for stooges, my guess is that you're wearing magic underwear as a stooge of the Mormon cult. Go on with your hatred of women, gays, minorities, the poor, the terminally ill, and the educated. With your social policies, you might as well join the Taliban back in the 8th century. I prefer to move forward into a better world that we can be proud to leave our children. Not one where the environment belongs to corporations, where women can be non-"legitimately" raped, where women can't make their own decisions about their bodies and their health, where the terminally ill have no say in their care, where you get to stuff down everyone's throats your views on marriage and religion, where science is despised, where education isn't a priority, where guns are more important than your fellow citizens, and where your brand of hatred is rampant. No thanks. I'll take Obama's vision ANY DAY!
"but today I love [him] even more than I did four years ago."
You better have plenty for him...he's gonna need it when he realizes he's been terminated from his job for unacceptable performance! Four years ago things were bad...now they're even worse after the failed policies of this administration. By the way, the answer to the question is "YES!" We are worse off today than we were four years ago.
"Success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square." No one has ever said Romney made his money illegally. Nothing is wrong about inherited money, stock market money, CEO money!
"Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it." Romney has lived the American Dream to carry own the American Dream built by his father and mother. The American Dream does not mean only poor people can make it. It means also the richer can keep it. I am glad for the level my parents put me on.
“For Barack, it’s not about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” So why all the shams against Romney about his legal taxes? We have heard about several things a modest Romney has done to help and better people. What is wrong with modesty? Obama’s sustained 8%+ unemployment [overall over 15%] has hurt people. So why the shams? Both have helped people and both have unintentionally hurt people. Haven’t we all?
What do you dumb hick democrats not understand about the GM bailout? Obama did not save the auto industry, he saved the pensions for the UAW, period. The taxpayers foot the bill for the UAW to keep their pensions, even though GM is doing horrible. If GM went through chapter 11 bankruptcy, they could have renegotiated their contracts, and become a healthier company. But the unions did not want that, so obama the "dear ruler" broke the law again, and just bailed out the unions, and did nothing for GM. They will go belly up in a year or less., and we the taxpayer will have lost $59B in the deal. So when you hear the @!$%#s in the DNC convention repeatidly state that obama saved the American auto industry, it is an out and out lie. But you just go ahead and believe what the DNC speakers keep feeding you. Democrats are so gullable and stupid, they lead you around by you nose rings, and the rest of the country pays the price for your assinine policies. F you all.
Hate the Dems? Well, I think the Republican Party consists of religious nuts who want a theocracy, fat cats who want less taxes (definitely not you) and racist uneducated rednecks like you. I do look down my nose at people like you because your one feeling is gut bleeding hate. Get a degree. If anyone were asked who are the hicks in this country, the overwhelming majority would pick dumb Republicans. Europe sees you as a danger to the country.When the leader of your party is Limbaugh and Norquist, your party has a serious problem.
TO TXMOM, despite what Fux told you, Barney Frank did NOT NOT NOT cause the downfall of the market.
READ THIS PLEASE: The repeal of the Glass-Stegall Act, which you know absolutely nothing about, by a veto proof Republican Congress in 1999 removed restraints on Fannie, Freddie, the WHOLE LOT OF THEM. USE GOOGLE. IT CAN BE YOUR FRIEND. My God, I hate stupid people.
Great job First Lady Michelle, you make us proud to be Americans!
Obama-2012 - Not the Creeps that wouldn't know the Truth if it slapped them with a fish!!
rushless
But why did she use a stuttering Tele-Prompter? Were the whispering words smaller than the regular words? I kept coughing from all the smoke being blown up my a$$.
How did you all find out she wore a $3000. dollar dress? But so what if she did, she is the first lady.
She did a great job, what about the remark about telepromter Princess Ann used one also, so what, sometimes you need notes so you don't forget. Talking to as many people as she did,
Go Michelle, great job, well done. Now lets hope you are our first lady 2013. I am hoping so, I will vote for obama
When Bush took office, we were DEBT FREE. It took Bush 8 years to get us into this financial mess - and yes, with the help of Congress. Anyone who thinks that Obama can fix this mess in 3-4 years - without the compromise and commitment to work together from the Republican Congress - is incredibly naive and short sighted. Look at the long time frame - well past the end of your noses.
Get a clue TP Repubs,,,,,
To the Fox News (without a message board) Internet readers, you come here with your drivel because Fox doesn't allow you to post there. The reason they don't allow you to post there is because they don't want opinions other than their minions to post. So you come and poop all over Liberal websites.
Michelle Obama rocks!!! First of all, the love she spoke of was in her eyes; they sparkled! Second, she supports a woman's right to choose! She believes ALL Americans are entitled to quality health care! She believes mankind is free to love whomever they wish! She believes in America; she believes in the middle class. She believes ALL Americans should pay equally! Now, you ask, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Look around you! We have finally seen health care reform! The auto industry is doing the best that it has for some time. Our troops are slowly coming home. The question should not necessarily be are you better off, but merely were you able to survive the Bush/Cheney dictatorship and do you see a light at the end of the tunnel? The answer is "YES." But, none of us, absolutely none of us would have ever survived McCain/Palin and none of us will survive Romney/Ryan. War seems to be the only thing of interest to them, and I do not take lightly the threat Romney made toward Russia and Iran. If you want to rebuild the middle class and do not want to send more of the young people from America into war, the ONLY choice is Obama/Biden!!! You are a jewel Michelle Obama! I salute you, I am proud of you, and your husband definitely has my VOTE!!!!!
CJ-1104507
You must live off the Government & the taxes the rest of us pay in. I would suck up like that too if my handouts depended on it. That much suck a$$ at one time is sickening.
My dear Kevin, I see you like many others are quick to state your uninformed opinions. Unfortunately, like many of the others, you are all wet. I am a business owner and have been for many years. I have worked hard to build my business and have been self sufficient for many years. In my early years, I worked sometimes three jobs and on occasion four. I do not receive hand outs, and I was quite efficient supporting a child as a single mom. Your language merely reflects your intelligence! I am a woman who stands on her two feet, makes her own decisions, has the ability to choose, and for some reason strong women are a threat to people like you. What a pity!!
Protect women's rights!!!
Protect the right to choose your spouse!!!
Destroy my choices for health care!!!
I have a simple question? Why does the First Lady have to defend the President and show that he is a loving husband and caring father? Hasn't the World had a chance to judge for themselves over the last 3 1/2 + years?
Messaging.
Mrs. Obama's heartfelt speech was the delivery system for targeted attacks on Mr. Romney.
Racist President of the Divided States of America. My Great Grand Children will be paying this Moron's debts.
Racist? Really? Divided States? How so? You seem to be the type who makes angry statements without substance. Small mind maybe? As to the debts, they belong to obstructionist people like you!
@Gregoryis
You have to admit, the haters are thick as thieves and more ignorant then usual this morning. They don't even rate as minimally relevant.
This is why their party will not have a seat at the head of the table for quite awhile and the tea party will never have a seat at the table. Irrelevant, that's all they are.
Your great grandchildren will have to pay down Reagan and Bush's debt first....
If congress would actually work with the POTUS, we could begin reducing the national debt today....
Obama has laid out a 4 trillion dollar reduction, and the only argument the GOP has against it is it raises taxes on the wealthy...
The GOP continue to demand yearly increases in defense spending and continued tax cuts for millionaires. Where the hell is the sanity?
It seems you and Rip van Winkle have a lot in common!
Ray in Jax
A $4T reduction? That might be a start. By why raise billions in taxes with the ACA? That spending may choke of spending for education, infrastructure, technology, policmen, green jobs, firemen, alternative energy, teachers; and don't forget deficit reduction.
The speech had no substance. Why do they allow the wife to speak? Too much Hollywood in Politics today and not enough about what really matters. I turned the channel to the US Open.
is this not the woman who hates whites and the united states. wonder how much of the tax payer money she spends to keep that hair looking like white women. looks a little greasy too.
I find it very very sad to live in a country that boasts freedom while there are narrow-minded extremists who simply cannot get the fact that "all men were created equal." Your prejudicial comments with regard to Michelle Obama's color are quite disgusting. Perhaps you would benefit from watching "Remember the Titans," but then again you may simply represent one of those who will never get beyond judging others for their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. That certainly does not say much for your character as an American!
Joe petrovoniclesomlovith.....................................
Do hate to see some that successful that is not White, All American's should have the chance to make their dreams come true. What a hateful remark you show your IQ. We need to move forward not going back to 1950!
Mrs. Obama is a classy lady and she does love her husband.
But she has given this speech before, many times. And she has left some pertinent details out.
When she talks about President Obama giving a tax break to the middle class, what is she talking about? She's talking about the money Obama took from Social Security to give a 2% reduction in payroll taxes to working people for 2011 and 2012. Billions. THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. So when she and the President slam Romney in the debate about Social Security she should mention that her husbands actions have greatly weakened the entire Social Security program.He has a TV ad running that says the same thing.
When Mrs. Obama talked about working for our children, and our childrens' children, she also failed to mention the massive $16 trillion in debt we are heaping onto the next generations. Didn't touch on the debt issue at all. And it IS our biggest problem. Debtor nations cannot sustain leadership roles around the globe. How much is anyonw going to listen to Greece?
Obama had to be greatly restrained in his first term not to spend BILLIONS MORE. It has beena struggle to even keep him from cascading us into even more mountains of debt.
And the end run he did on the entire country with his political maneuver to given illegal immigrants citizenship- JUST BEFORE THE BIG ELECTION. Everyone knows this is a pure political move to gain Hispanic votes.
So everyone is playing politics. But the bottom line is this: Which leader can nurture the economy to produce jobs? Whose agenda will win the jobs race? Whose agenda will sink us into crippling debt for generations?
I beg to differ... by providing a 2% break to SS taxes, the economy has benefited by increasing cash in pocket of working consumers. Increased spending means more jobs, which results in more revenue for SS.
As for Greece, who was listening to them in the first place? The largest portion of our debt was run up by Republicans. Of the 5 trillion run up under Obama, deduct the cost of two wars he didn't start, the lost revenues from a GOP led recession, and Bush tax cuts to the rich.
As for illegal immigrants, the President's executive order does NOT pave a way to citizenship. That is yet another GOP lie. What it does do is not penalize the young that were brought to this country as kids. It affords them the opportunity to stay in the U.S. through the citizen application process.
You go on to ask which candidate will produce jobs, which is a great question. What is Romney's plan? He claims he'll create 12 million jobs in 4 years, but provide zero in details... So do we go forward, with our current monthly increase in new private sector jobs, or do we take a chance on a man that won't release details into his own finances? Do we trust a man that champions the middle class, or the man that promises to give even further tax cuts to the wealthy?
Ray in Jax
Spoken like a true Republican. The problem is that more jobs means more benefits. There's no "mulitplier" effect for SS funding. If anything, the Payroll Tax should be increased, retirement pushed back, and/or means testing.
I missed the first lady's speech. Can anyone tell me if she mentioned that she felt proud to be an American two times in her entire life ? Did Chuck Todd or Rachel Maddow bring this up during their after speech 'analysis' ?
great speech moochelle...no substance.....when is your marxist husband going to start working hard for the american people?.....what the hell is he waiting for if he knows what to do?......is he waiting for feckin christmas?.......obozo is still unqualified to be president despite his four years of on the job training.....he sure hasn't learned to be a leader....of course, leadership really can't be taught....and it is really hard for a rigid ideologue, like obozo, to be a leader....maybe impossible.........
Your name calling makes your ignorance stand out so clearly.
DJIA at end of 2008 was 8,776. It was near 12k when Bush took office.
DJIA today, over 13,000.
It sounds as though the rigid ideologue is you.
really..so if obozo is such a great president what the hell has he been doing the past four years?...now he wants another chance to ruin our nation?......screw him and his gang of petty tyrants....
If you have to ask what the POTUS has done, you are truly ignorant or gleefully oblivious. I'm not going to bother running off a check list, as I'm sure you have no other interest than to troll this story.
yes there is nothing obozo has accomplished other than pitching americans against each other.....when one turns americans against each other for the sake of a few votes, one is playing with fire......when you play with fire, you get burned.....obozo is a liar, a distorter, and a divider and a vote for obozo is a vote for national suicide...
With the DOW soaring, we should have privatized Social Security. President Obama chose to defund Social Security by giving a refund on the middle-class' retirement benefits.
"Wimpy" politics.