Michelle Obama's Speech

Michelle Obama was in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

The theme of her speech to the delegates assembled in Denver, to Americans across the country, and to people all over the world can be summed up in one word: Family.

She talked about her late father, stricken with MS, and her mother, and her older brother, Craig.

Of course, she talked a little bit about her husband Barack. She said they were both from working-class families, struggling to pay the bills, living by working-class values.

Ordinary folks.

That's the message. The Obamas are just like us.

One problem with that: They aren't.

And they aren't blue-collar. Their modest roots belie what they have become and where they are now.

"America should be a place where you can make it if you try."

Note to Michelle and Barack: America IS already a place where you can make it if you try.

They are living proof of that.

Michelle Obama seemed very comfortable making her address. If anything, it seemed like she was reining the passion in a bit, trying to not come off as too slick.

She failed on that count.

When she mentioned Hillary Clinton a roar rose from the convention floor. She quickly shut the cheers down by mentioning good ol' working-class Joe Biden. More cheers for him.

She championed the ordinary folks -- the parents, the troops, young Americans, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama -- all working for the benefit of other ordinary folks.

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack's journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country.

And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much.

"That is why I love this country."

She loves the country because of the simple shared belief that the world as it is just won't do and there are people in the country who fight for the world to be as it should be.

How should it be? Who defines how it should be?

In effect, what Michelle loves about this country is not what it is. It's the possibility to change it.

Like her husband, she didn't come out and explain her exact vision for the ways things should be. She just said there needed to be change.

Not very clear. That was intentional, I'm sure.

This was a different Michelle. This wasn't the angry, not proud of America Michelle. This was a softer, gentler Michelle, the product of an extreme makeover.

In her speech, she touched on specific issues -- Iraq, the economy, health care. That's a little different than convention speeches by other potential first ladies.

Her speech was heavy on abstractions and way too light on the concrete about Obama, the man she believes should be the next president of the United States.

She talked about listening to "our hopes instead of our fears."

There's a shocker!

"So tonight in honor of my father's memory and my daughters' future...let's stand together to elect Barack Obama."

The speech was carefully crafted, not the sort of truth that comes out on the campaign trail. It wasn't the real deal. It was manipulative.

After Michelle finished, she was joined on stage by her two adorable daughters.

Then, Barack Obama was projected on the screen, and spoke to the convention from Kansas City, though he said that he had been watching the speech in St. Louis. (Oops!)

He said, "Michelle, you were unbelievable."

Seven-year-old Sasha asked, "Daddy, what city are you in?"

Obama said, "I'm in Kansas City."

OK. Do we have the location down now?

The girls said, "I love you, Daddy." Michelle chimed in, "Love you."

Barack Obama said, "Love you guys."

The moment certainly didn't seem spontaneous.

I'm sure the love they have for each other as a family is true. I don't doubt that in the least. But it seemed to be exploited for political purposes -- family as a prop.

I'm uncomfortable with that, but I won't be too critical.

It's politics as usual, trot out the kids and the adoring wife.
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Transcript of Michelle Obama's speech
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This is interesting.

From Gateway Pundit: "Michelle Obama quotes lines some radicalFar Left book in her DNC Convention speech."

What to make of Michelle Obama's use the terms, “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be?” From whence do they originate? Try Chapter 2 of Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals.