US First Lady Michelle Obama brought the house down during a deeply personal and moving primetime address to the Democratic National Convention last night.
The first day of the Convention in Philadelphia got off to a rough start, with the Democrats becoming mired in controversy over an email leak that revealed how party officials apparently interfered with the primary selection process to favour Hillary Clinton over her rival, Bernie Sanders.
But Mrs Obama turned things around with an electrifying speech in which she laid into Donald Trump and his candidacy – without ever once mentioning the Republican nominee’s name.
She also heaped praise on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (she will be formally nominated on Thursday night), crediting the former First Lady and Secretary of State with making history already by becoming the first woman to ever lead a party into a presidential election.
https://twitter.com/aterkel/status/757761950524776452
Michelle said:
“…when she did not win the nomination eight years ago, she did not get angry or disillusioned. Hillary did not pack up and go home because … Hillary knows that this is so much bigger than her own disappointment. She proudly stepped up to serve our country once again as secretary of state, traveling the globe to keep our kids safe. There were moments when Hillary could have decided that this work was too hard, that the price of public service was too high, that she was tired of being [torn] apart for how she looked, or how she talked, or even how she laughed.”
Visibly emotional, she added:
“And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all of our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”
However, the line that everyone will be talking about today is one that Obama delivered at the end of her speech. Talking about how America has always embraced progress – however slow – she credited the country and its people with evolving enough to lead to a moment where a black family could occupy the White House.
Michelle Obama: "I Wake Up Every Morning in a House That Was Built by Slaves" #DemsInPhilly https://t.co/xGdP9KVFs1 https://t.co/oKOZAYaVHu
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 26, 2016
She said:
“That is the story of this country. The story that has brought me to the stage tonight. The story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, who kept on striving, and hoping, and doing what needed to be done. So that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters — two beautiful intelligent black young women — play with the dog on the White House lawn.”
Perhaps THE most popular Democrat in the arena tonight. #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/6gA16ASgeN
— Asma Khalid (@asmamk) July 26, 2016
People are raving about Mrs Obama’s words, led by her husband and Clinton herself.
Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn't be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS. I love you, Michelle.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) July 26, 2016
Couldn’t agree more, @POTUS. https://t.co/hvsfWLEqP3
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 26, 2016
STOP THE PRESSES! New front…
THE LADY IS HER CHAMP@FLOTUS speech brings down the house https://t.co/Vs2SmZ9m6z pic.twitter.com/G3VmZzk8Fe— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) July 26, 2016
Michelle Obama was the anti-Trump: She was positive, inclusive, optimistic, a role model: "When they go low, we go high."
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) July 26, 2016
Michelle Obama is giving the speech of her life right now.Regardless of political persuasion- she's definitely delivering a powerful message
— Tom Durian (@TMJ4Tom) July 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/lizmeriwether/status/757760836341563392
You can watch the full 14-minute speech here:
Or Vox has done a transcript if you’d prefer to read it.
Elsewhere last night, Clinton’s rival for the nomination, Bernie Sanders, backed Hillary for the presidency, and urged his supporters to do likewise.
Bernie Sanders: "I am proud to stand with her" https://t.co/VSoWnsbf1h #DemsInPhilly #DNCConvention https://t.co/roBonmLaYP
— CNN (@CNN) July 26, 2016
And he gave a killer response to Trump’s inevitable tweeting about the matter.
Never tweet. https://t.co/DKvAhbDWqe
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 26, 2016
As Michelle Obama said in her recent Carpool Karaoke video:
