Michelle Obama Fires Up DNC With Political Speech

"You should be able to build a decent life for yourself, and an even better one for your kids and grandkids"

Michelle Obama charged up the DNC crowd with an emotive speech on the first night. As usual for a first lady's speech, she began by humanizing Obama with stories of their loving family and personal struggles. But the second half of the speech was an unusual deviation into explicit politics.

The first half of the speech drew an unspoken contrast between the Obamas and the Romneys. Michelle went into detail on the Obamas' hardscrabble upbringings, and got laughs when she said Obama "was a guy who's proudest possession was a coffee table he found in a dumpster."

The second half was an attempt to connect Obama's personal life to his political actions as president. Obama's family history makes him a more caring president, Michelle suggested, and a better choice to help Americans in tough economic times.

Some of the most-applauded lines tapped into the audience's sense of their own suffering. Michelle told them that the pain of hard economic times is something you do for your kids. And some of the biggest cheers were for the repeated line, "you should be able to build a decent life for yourself, and an even better one for your kids and grandkids."

Highlights below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tYto5PrSOI

Posted Sept 4, 10pm PST.

Did Michelle's speech make you any more likely to vote for Obama?

[MongoAPillager]

this is different... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/michell...

[Fishbone345]

And here I thought Ronnie James Dio had invented it.

[Thumper]

thats some heavy stuff Mono...

[anok]

Actually, the sign that the Obamas, Palin, and Clinton gave were sign language for "I love you".

[Thumper]

Is that how satan says I love you?

[Thumper]

I was watching the three stooges. sorry.

[Thumper]

@BigD1391 no, not as funny as they are. now that's funny rat thar, I dont care who u is.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Just as informative.

[VCP]

@ir0nw0lfe your mistaken, Romney isn't informative at all. In fact what does he stand for? His give America back to Americans was a 1920 KKK slogan. Now that's informative!!

[Bobolinsky]

@VCP-- Really?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/romney/slogan....

[hwyangel]

Still haven't heard anyone on either side say anything about their position on agenda21. Especially since Obama signed us up for it.

[whysomuchcrazy]

BAHAHA! Neither candidate has weighed in on the government sanctioned assassination of JFK and NASA's faked moon landing either. I wonder how I will make an informed decision this election year.*puts tin foil hat on head

[mimi57]

@whysomuchcrazy I like the crown sooo much better, isn't that tin foil hat wearing out? LOL

[whysomuchcrazy]

@mimi57 :) While the crown is more stylish, it simply does not offer the level of protection necessary. Form over function is perilous!

[mimi57]

@whysomuchcrazy You don't duct tape your ears shut at night do you?
Not a good sign...LOL

[whysomuchcrazy]

@mimi57 The only time I apply duct tape to my ears is when I am debating the other side of an issue.

[renee]

Nope! I had my vote sealed for obama regardless, michelle gets 4 more years from me as first lady!!

[ir0nw0lfe]

Well, I for one am shocked. Here I was worried you were a fence sitter!
:)

[KoolD56]

I would not vote for 4 more years of this idiot. Ever. This man is menace to the country. The man is a moron.

[whysomuchcrazy]

I know, right?! Only 1 Harvard Law degree. What a moron.

[Jim49418]

@whysomuchcrazy Do you know that for certain?
His college records have never been released, much like his birth certificate.
He claims to have a degree, but no one has seen it.

[whysomuchcrazy]

@Jim49418 Revealing yourself as a birther, huh? This nonsense is so 2010. You should really consider putting an end to spewing these conspiracy theory distractions and focus on progress. We will all be better off.

[Barb]

NO

[Bobolinsky]

From the Associated Press--

"Speakers at the Democratic National Convention portrayed President Barack Obama's presidency in glowing terms Tuesday evening, but sometimes left out important details or embellished his record."

"Others mischaracterized programs backed by Republican challenger Mitt Romney and GOP running mate Paul Ryan."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CVN...

Would that make Kathleen Sebelius, Julian Castro, Harry Reid, Rahm Emanuel, and Ted Strickland all liars?

http://politix.topix.com/homepage/1945-libera...

[AJR]

It's actually time people are being made aware of all that's been accomplished in this Admin. and what others will try to take away..

[AJR]

Was also nice to hear & see some positive "speeches"....instea d of all the hate & negatives from Repubs.

[Bobolinsky]

@AJR-- You didn't answer my question.

[Bobolinsky]

Here's another opinion...

CNN Fact Check: About those 4.5 million jobs ...

"Conclusion:
The figure of 4.5 million jobs is accurate if you look at the most favorable period and category for the administration. But overall, there are still fewer people working now than when Obama took office at the height of the recession."
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/politics/fact-c...

[Bobolinsky]

And here's Jim Vandehei of Politico talking about his prediction of the mainstream media's reaction to Michelle Obama's speech.

"The Mainstream Media Tends To Be Quite Smitten With The Obamas"
http://www.youtube.com/watch... #!

[CanisCanemEdit]

"Michelle told them that the pain of hard economic times is something you do for your kids. And some of the biggest cheers were for the repeated line, "you should be able to build a decent life for yourself, and an even better one for your kids and grandkids."

Mrs. Obama has a personal staff of 22 plus Mother Robinson and a second Nanny to watch the kiddies.

Mrs. Obama has spent over $33.5 Million on her own little vacations with the girls and her mom and flying her friends around the world for her own reasons in just 3 1/2 years. That is nearly $10 million per year...and that figure doesn't cover her "Official" visits.

Kinda hard to get in touch with the common man when you are living like a Queen.

[AJR]

It's how they grew up ..poor. The better to understand so many in this world today. The Rommey's had it all handed it to them, from the time they were born...I believe Mrs Rommey speaks of all the help she had with her house & kids.
A lot is expected of any "First Lady".....that includes flying around the world & representing the USA Nanny help is included....

[CanisCanemEdit]

@AJR - Obama didn't grow up poor...not once he hit Hawaii at age 10. Grandma and Grampa had plenty of money, kept his pockets full and sent him to private schools.

Michelle Obamas brother went to Princeton and she went to Princeton and Harvard? But she was poor?

Flying around representing the US is a noble venture.

Spending $33.5 million of taxpayers money in 3 1/2 years flying your friends around on private vacations and shutting down beaches, hotels, streets and neighborhoods is an unnecessary luxury.

Especially when viewed by the people that can scarecly afford gas to go to work.

[Kajai]

@CanisCanemEdit did u even listen to her speech?

[AJR]

@CanisCanemEdit Evidently, you didn't hear her or even bothered to trace their history..they got Grants, etc. provided by our Gov. & had to pay them back....IF she hadn't been out "doing her job" as First Lady more would complain...You should look up history of all the others. You think they're not spending money....unfortunately, it comes with politics. IF they'd figure out a way to use ALL the money to pay off debt & help the poor, we'd all be better off.

[whysomuchcrazy]

Mrs. Obama has a personal staff of 22 plus Mother Robinson and a second Nanny to watch the kiddies.[CITATION NEEDED] Mrs. Obama has spent over $33.5 Million on her own little vacations with the girls and her mom and flying her friends around the world for her own reasons in just 3 1/2 years.[CITATION NEEDED] That is nearly $10 million per year...and that figure doesn't cover her "Official" visits. Kinda hard to get in touch with the common man when you are living like a Queen.[IF THE FIGURES ARE TRUE HOW DO THESE NUMBERS COMPARE TO AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON SIMILAR ITEMS FOR THE AVERAGE QUEEN?]

[Capt_Morgan02]

"You should be able to build a decent life for yourself, and an even better one for your kids and grandkids" ....but you can't build it yourself and don't build it to good because then we will tax your @$$ to death!

[AceLuby]

Never mind that taxes are lower now than ever before... doesn't fit well with your rant I guess...

[Capt_Morgan02]

@AceLuby Perhaps you are ignoring the fact that "Obama Care" is a tax. Oh, and don't forget his pledge to raise taxes on the successful, or um....the uh rich. Please don't even try that line on me.

[AceLuby]

@Capt_Morgan02 And Obamacare hasn't gone into effect and the 3% tax increase Obama has asked for is going nowhere. Perhaps you are ignoring that tax receipts as a % of the GDP are the lowest they have ever been and that top tier rates were only lower during Reagan's tenure, who raised them 11 times after, or that Obama actually lowered your taxes.

Ever watch shark tank? How many times do they ever talk about taxes? Zero, and there's a reason for that.

[LGRepublican]

"You should be able to build a decent life for yourself, and an even better one for your kids and grandkids"...... That will be rather hard to do when your hubby is racking up debt faster that s**t thru a goose. Depending on government handouts and government programs IS NOT a better way of life. The best way to ensure a "decent" life for the above mentioned is to cut spending, lower taxes, balance the budget, and decrease the size of government.

[Kajai]

Did any of you haters even bother to watch her speech. I really doubt it from these same ole hateful off topic untrue comments here. Her speech was personal and from her heart. It was a great speech. Way better than the lies from the other side last week.

[wangotango]

You must be a look-aid drinker. It's always hater, bigots, racist with you guys. We just don't like him cause hes a worthless president.

[wangotango]

I meant kool-aid

[Kajai]

@wangotango its amazing that what should be smart educated people let the right wing goofballs convince them that its the democrats that are crazy all while making them guzzle their own crazy flavor of the koolaid.

I guess ignorance is bliss

So did you watch her speech or are you going to just take the rightwings word that it was " koolaid?"

[wangotango]

I did watch most of it. I guess we each drink our own kool-aid. Lol. You know its sad that with all the people with the potential to make a great leader for us we have to choose from the bottom of the barrel. I'm not completely crazy over Romney but I'm that disgusted with Obama.

[Kajai]

@wangotango lol

Yes it is sad. But you just have to listen to both sides, study up yourself on both candidates and form your own opinion and vote for who really has ideas and policy that would benefit you and the people around u the most. And hope and pray that people vote for who is best for them.

It's us swing voters that will make the difference in a race this close.

[ibcingu]

No, because I was already "more likely" to vote for Obama anyways. I mean look at the other choice. Get real.

[Wilberhum]

Both Michelle Obama and Ann Romney made their husbands look better.

[Just_Lisa]

What a wonderful husband and father Michelle has. I truly am glad for her. I am regretful of the rough times they all had growing up as children and young adults. Student loans to pay off. But they had love and laughter. And the means to pay back their debt.

Isn't this EVERY persons childhood? A few didn't have money issues.(But far and between).

How about these past four years? People have not only had it rough, living in two and three rooms. They were tossed out of a job and OUT of there homes! Hows that for the past four years? Future adults will be telling stories of how they had to move into homeless shelters, or in with other family members. Just to survive. And how well a safety net of government handouts made all things better again.

Ok. Good husband. Good father. This does NOT always add up to Good President.
Admitted failure.
NO. SECOND. CHANCE.

[Just_Lisa]

Ohh and about helping others, by reaching back and pulling them thru?
Was she serious!?? I guess that she was. Literally. Hand over fist right off the money tree, and right onto our national debt.

[MongoAPillager]

remember,someone else put that coffee table there

[jdpaul]

she lies more then Barry

[Lbodine K]

Michelle was compelling. Her speech was authentic, moving and memorable. Having her in the White House makes me feel good about the Presidency.

[demx]

Nothing would make me more likely to vote for Obama!!!!!!!!!!

[tomincali]

must be her telling the story obama was talking about. what happened to he deserves to be elected do to having a fake rough childhood?