MICHELLE-O BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press WriterMon Aug 25, 6:56 PM ET

Michelle Obama cast herself and husband Barack as people guided by bedrock American values and a desire to improve the world for their two daughters and all children in her address Monday to the Democratic National Convention.

She was slotted as the showcase speaker on Day One of the convention, and her mission was to help voters get to know the Democratic nominee as a husband and father, as someone who understands the problems that families face every day.

"We want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them," she said in excerpts released in advance of her appearance.

Obama said she and her husband were raised with the values shared by many Americans: "that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."

"Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation," she said.

Voters know the public Barack Obama, the guy on magazine covers and nightly newscasts. His wife hoped to reassure voters that her husband is a lot like they are, despite all the attention given to his African father, his over-the-top minister and his exotic name.

And in an age when candidates' spouses face scrutiny, too, Obama also hoped to send the message that she a true believer in American values. The Obama campaign said Michelle Obama's life adds up to "a great American story: modest means but big dreams — and encouragement from loving parents."

The campaign prepared "South Side Girl," a biographical film narrated by Michelle Obama's mother, to run before her speech. She was being introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson, the head basketball coach at Oregon State University.

After the speech, Barack Obama planned to appear via satellite.

Michelle Obama's mother and brother joined her Monday morning for an inspection of the massive stage where she was to speak later in the day. Daughters Malia and Sasha tagged along, as did Barack Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng.

Seven-year-old Sasha got to peek over the podium and bang the gavel, sending a "thump" echoing across the convention hall. Then her mother did the same.

Obama's speech stresses her role as a mother.

"I come here as a Mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world. They're the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night," she said.

Since Barack Obama launched his campaign more than 18 months ago, his wife has helped humanize him.

She has reminded voters that he can be sloppy. She scolds him for leaving a clogged toilet for her to handle. The couple frequently tell people that her words of inspiration before his big 2004 convention speech were, "Just don't screw it up, buddy."

She also talks about Barack Obama being raised by a single mother who sometimes struggled to make ends meet and she describes their own challenges of juggling the demands of work and children.

But Michelle Obama has also created complications for her husband — most famously, that the campaign had made her proud of America for the first time in her adult life. She later said she meant pride in the political process, not in the country in general.

Critics have dissected everything from her college thesis to a "fist bump" with her husband.

To counter such critics, Obama planned to drive home that her success is the result of hard work by two loving parents — "a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me." They managed to send both children to Ivy League schools.

Fraser Robinson was a Democratic precinct captain who worked swing shifts at the water plant. His wife Marian raised the kids in a one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of her aunt's house, where Michelle and Craig slept in the living room, converted into two tiny bedrooms and a study area.

""To counter such critics, Obama planned to drive home that her success is the result of hard work by two loving parents — "a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me." They managed to send both children to Ivy League schools.

Fraser Robinson was a Democratic precinct captain who worked swing shifts at the water plant. His wife Marian raised the kids in a one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of her aunt's house, where Michelle and Craig slept in the living room, converted into two tiny bedrooms and a study area."

["The couple wanted to step up from their $415,000 condo. They chose a house with six bedrooms, four fireplaces, a four-car garage and 5 1/2 baths, including a double steam shower and a marble powder room. It had a wine cellar, a music room, a library, a solarium, beveled glass doors and a granite-floored kitchen.

The Obamas had no prior relationship with Northern Trust when they applied for the loan. They received an oral commitment on Feb. 4, 2005, and locked in the rate of 5.625 percent, the campaign said. On that date, HSH data show, the average rate in Chicago for a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo loan with no points was about 5.94 percent.

Jumbo loans are for amounts up to $650,000, but the Obamas’ $1.32 million loan was so large that few comparables are available. Mortgage specialists say that many high-end buyers pay cash."]

Words are so meaningless yet ignorant dolts will believe everything she said.  They supposedly believe in working hard to achieve your dreams yet want a socialist nanny state to take care of people literally from cradle to grave.  The actions of the Obamas belie every single thing she said and it is obvious to anyone with even half a brain.  It's too bad most people don't know how to actually think and live their lives based solely on feelings.

ConcernedMom said:

Words are so meaningless yet ignorant dolts will believe everything she said.  They supposedly believe in working hard to achieve your dreams yet want a socialist nanny state to take care of people literally from cradle to grave.  The actions of the Obamas belie every single thing she said and it is obvious to anyone with even half a brain.  It's too bad most people don't know how to actually think and live their lives based solely on feelings.

EXACTLY!, CM.   It was a sales job and nothing more.  I was reminded of the speech given by John Kerry's daughter 4 years ago about how wonderful "my daddy" is.

There is an email making the rounds the last few days about CHANGE.  I do not think I have seen it here of firesociety:

Letter from a Cuban...

REMEMBER YOUR HISTORY

From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 Dear Editor, Times-Dispatch:
'Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I celebrate my independence day, and on July 4 I celebrate America's.

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This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence. 'On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba, and a few months later, I was in the United States to stay.

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That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

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'I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, so when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

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'When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in.

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When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said, 'Praise the Lord.' And when the young leader said, 'I will be for change and I'll bring you change,' everyone yelled, 'Viva Fidel!'

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'But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's guns went silent, the people's guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him.

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By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status.  By the time the change was over, more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans.  

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And now I'm back to the beginning of my story. 'Luckily, we in America would never fall for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America?

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My wife watched last night and kept saying how empty they are. She was practically jumping out her chair in disgust. All symbolism without substance.

And again, to get votes they must make a major shift to the right, however insincere.

Liberalism is completely based on emotion.  That's why this crazy woman's speech only spoke of peace, love, fairness, change, our future, and all the other stupid little words to make your heart go pitter pat. 

She's crazy, he's creepy, and all their friends are the same.  A bunch of emotional idiots that hope to play on the people's heartstrings that are a little bit down and out, or those who think they are, or those who think we should carry them all on our shoulders.

Has anyone seen a specific list of exactly what he plans to change? 

He just seems to spout the same old mantra over and over again ad nauseum (Hope ... Change .. Hope ..... Change .... ) without any specifics -- and the liberals follow zombie-like and drool all over themselves while worshipping his every word!  I wonder when exactly they all had lobotomies?

I like to consider myself intelligent enough to really listen to speeches like last night's and see the forest for the trees...unlike liberals who believe everything they hear from their leftist messiahs and their two-faced wives.  Michelle Obama's speech last night was so sugary you could package it and sell it to people for sweetening their ice tea.  What a fake.  Yet the liberal hoards believe what people like this say and admire them with glazed over eyes. 

The Obama's need to quit politics and move to Hollywood where they can put their superior acting abilities to good use.  

What kind of a mother will allow her children to go to a church that preaches " hate whitey?"   Don't say much for the father either.  Was never proud of the USA that gave her the best America has to offer, until she was forced into saying it during her speech.

As for the slavery issue that we are still being hated for:

Obama ancestors were never slaves, they were Arab slave traders.

Texas Sovereignty said:

I like to consider myself intelligent enough to really listen to speeches like last night's and see the forest for the trees...unlike liberals who believe everything they hear from their leftist messiahs and their two-faced wives.  Michelle Obama's speech last night was so sugary you could package it and sell it to people for sweetening their ice tea.  What a fake.  Yet the liberal hoards believe what people like this say and admire them with glazed over eyes. 

The Obama's need to quit politics and move to Hollywood where they can put their superior acting abilities to good use.  

you could package it and sell it to people for sweetening their ice tea (clear throat) kool-ade.

The Obama's need to quit politics and move to Hollywood where they can put their superior acting abilities to good use.  

And take the Clinton's with them.

Thanks, all, for your comments. 

Michelle entered adulthood with a big chip on her shoulder and never lost it, despite having achieved the American Dream, despite making $300,000/yr, despite being the wife of a successful politician, despite having a life most people can only dream of.  Despite having moved up and "finally getting a piece of the pie."   Now she says she's proud to be an American?   Bull crap!

.. And despite being able to send her daughters to a private school.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=303347424914951

Imafreeagent said:

Thanks, all, for your comments. 

Michelle entered adulthood with a big chip on her shoulder and never lost it, despite having achieved the American Dream, despite making $300,000/yr, despite being the wife of a successful politician, despite having a life most people can only dream of.  Despite having moved up and "finally getting a piece of the pie."   Now she says she's proud to be an American?   Bull crap!

Michelle should have given encouragement to others to achieve.  Condi Rice would have. 

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