After last week’s Republican convention, the opening night of the DNC was a breath of fresh air. It offered a cross section of America, as opposed to a cross section of the country club. It was about people, as opposed to things. It was inclusive, as opposed to exclusive. It related policy to people, as opposed to misrepresenting policy altogether. It embraced Main Street, as opposed to Wall Street. It was exciting, as opposed to droll. It built to a crescendo, leading up to Michelle Obama, who hit it out of the park.
Democrats opened their convention here on Tuesday night with a parade of officials telling voters that Mitt Romney does not get it and with a rousing speech from Michelle Obama making the case that President Obama does.
Mr. Obama’s roster of Democratic promoters spent the first hours detailing a political indictment of Mr. Romney, blistering him as being out of touch with the middle class and intent on taking the country back to the policies that caused the economy’s problems.
But the main attraction of the evening was the appearance of Mr. Obama’s lead character witness: the first lady, who, wearing a pink-and-gold-speckled sleeveless dress, was greeted with chants of “Four more years!” from the excited arena, to which she responded: “With your help.”…
…“He believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you,” Mrs. Obama said, her impassioned delivery drawing the crowd to its feet as it waved red, white and blue “Michelle” placards. “You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Photo credit: Boston Globe
Chris Hayes and Al Sharpton had a few remarks.
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Even the right wing pundits I am hearing, with the exception of those on the Republican Ministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, admit that she and the other speakers positioned the opening night of the DNC head and shoulders above their Republican counterparts.
May the rest of it be as inspiring!
18 Responses to “Michelle Hit It Out of the Park”
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I have always held the opinion that Jackie Kennedy was the classiest first lady we have ever had (although I'd love to have been around when Dolly Madison was FLOTUS) – until now. Michelle Obama adds a whole new dimension to the term classy.
Doesn't she though! Classy, articulate, intelligent — she had the pulse!
John, I have to agree. As much as I loved Jackie, she never engaged as Michelle has.
I didn't see or hear the speech, but I have now read it. Very, very impressive. There were times when I found myself holding my breath as I moved through the thoughts. I can see that it is well written, but more importantly, it is strength, it is vision, it is heartfelt and honest.
I sure someone will compare Ann Romney's speech to Michelle Obama's, not in a blow by blow, but in sincerity, vision and honesty. In my book, there is no comparison.
Your last line is my comment.
You must have watched the MSNBC coverage, too, Tom. I was a little surprised when Rachel Maddow put down Md. Gov. O"Malley's speech. I thought he did one thing very well. He painted a vivid picture of the current republican platform of limiting and preventing opportunity for all in almost every single area of life – with the Democratic platform and long held American tradition of always increasing opportunity for all. And I doubt of the republicans will be able to live that comparison, so clearly made, down.
Did anyone catch Maddow's comments on Gov. O'Malley? He spoke right after Deval Patrick, who was great. Did anyone agree with Maddow? I sure didn't.
My favorites of the evening were Lily Ledbetter and Tammy Duckworth, in addition to the first lady. But everyone was fantastic and all made good cases for voting for the president.
And they were having fun. The Republican convention was like The National Conference of Zombie Undertakers.
I did, Angie, but IU didn't interpret Rachel as you did. To me she was saying that he did an excellent job and had the misfortune to be positioned between two speakers that went beyond excellent.
The League of Zombie Undertaker are suing you.
ROFLMAO.
A sampling of what I consider some of the best Tweets covering the speakers from last night (multiple sources):
Tammy Duckworth lost her legs while piloting a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq. Paul Ryan once drove the Weinermobile.
Tulsi Gabbard (the female Democratic congressional candidate in Hawaii who also served as a Captain in the Army National Guard) has more combat experience than all five Romney boys combined
Kathleen Sibelius: "The only thing missing from Mitt Romney's Medicare plan is Medicare."
Chris Christie is wondering why Julian Castro's keynote speech is not more about Chris Christie.
Wow. I would vote for pretty much anyone who won that lady's love
FLOTUS' account of her and POTUS' early years rings a little more genuine than eating pasta while living off stock options.
The end @MichelleObama's speech drove a higher Tweets-per-minute peak than @MittRomney's – . 28,003 vs. 14,289 for the Gov.
I like to think that Michelle Obama is the type of wife who would say: "Dude, the dog is riding INSIDE the car."
I think you're right. Of those, my favorite was Sibelieus'.
I missed her speech but read it in its entirety. I was very impressed. She spoke from her heart and used her brain. Both of which were not done by Ann Rmoney during her speech.
Amen to that!
"But the main attraction of the evening was the appearance of Mr. Obama’s lead character witness:"
I watched in Awe of a Grad-Slam, out of the park and inspiring speech… What a classy first lady… 🙂
Yes she is!
It was a wonderful experience , and a study in contrasts – between the exclusive barely concealed anger and hate of the RNC- and the open positive tone of the DNC– The crazies have taken control of the RNC
You're right. I felt Michelle talking to me as opposed to Ann Romney trying to talk over me.
:President and Mrs. Obama and President Clinton have one thing going for them that no republican has – they are genuine. It radiates outward and through the audience.
I wish Clinton could run again in 2016.
I think Clinton is likely to run in 2016.