In Philadelphia, we were reminded how the Obamas won the presidency–twice. And we’re reminded why people called Michelle the closer. Love her or hate her, Mrs. Obama delivered a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention that doled out not so thinly veiled attacks against Donald Trump and some intransigent factions of the party that are still supporting Sanders.
Obama said that it’s not really about political parties this year, but who will have the power to shape the futures of our children for the next four or eight years of their lives.
She said, of course, that in this election, there is only one person who I trust, and who is qualified: Hillary Clinton.
In a dig towards the Sanders crowd, she said that when her husband defeated Clinton in the 2008 primaries, Clinton was not angry or disillusioned. She didn’t pack up and go home because she knew there was too much at stake. There were moments when Clinton could’ve left the administration. The workload, the media criticisms of her looks, or how she laughs were intense and constant, but Obama noted that Clinton doesn’t buckle under pressure. She has never quit on anything in her life.
Obama said that she wants someone who can persevere, like Clinton, and will take this job seriously, who doesn’t think that all of this can be boiled down to 140 characters. When you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips, you can’t have a thin skin, and you need to be measured and well informed. I’m going to let you guess whom she’s referring to with that line.
Michelle added that she wanted a president with a record of service, who will fight to give everyone a chance at building a better life, and who thinks that everyone in this country matters. Obama said that she knows that’s the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be, which is why she’s with her. She added how Clinton knows that it’s about leaving something better for your kids.
Additionally, Obama mentioned how Clinton’s run for president has shown her daughters, and many others, that it’s possible for a woman to be elected president. Touching upon similar remarks she gave at the commencement ceremony at the City University of New York, the First Lady added that should Hillary become president, she would break a glass ceiling which is indicative of the American Dream—of people fighting for their rights and carving out better futures for their children that drove America forward. It’s that drive that led to Mrs. Obama addressing the DNC tonight–and waking up in the residence of the most powerful political figure in the world that was built by slaves, that was never envisioned originally to be occupied by a black man.
She closed her remarks by saying that Democrats need to pour every last ounce of energy to elect Hillary, so let’s get to work.