Michelle Obama Speech

Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, spoke on opening night of the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado. Her speech had a personal tone, covering her own upbringing, as well as her husband's, and relating how his approach to politics has inspired her. At the end, she was joined onstage by her daughters, Malia and Sasha, as Obama appeared live on a monitor and chatted with them.

• YouTube: Michelle Obama Speech (one) | (two) | (three)

• For background information, see Michelle Obama.
• Note: The following entries are logged according to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

• 8:58: Barack appears live on a Monitor: Now you know why I asked her out so many times... you want a persistent president." Daughters Malia and Sasha appear onstage. A lot of family chat. The girls are hamming it up. That may be a first.
  • Related: Malia Obama, Sasha Obama

• 8:54: She's referring to their humble backgrounds and how this will help them to "build the world as it should be." ... Let's stand together to elect Barack Obama president of the United States of America."
• Ends with Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely."

• 8:50: She's discussing Barack's empathy and dedication. Recalling the birth of their first daughter. He gave her "something he never had, the affirming embrace of a father's love."

• 8:50: "Barack doesn't care where you're from, or what your background is. That's just not how he sees the world."

• 8:49: She mentions the necessity for good health care "including mental health care"

• 8:48: She talks about people's struggles and goodness and says "That is why I love this country." Seems to recall this controversy:
  • HuffingtonPost: Michelle Obama Remarks Stir Controversy (February 19, 2008)

• 8:45: She pays tribute to military families and community workers. and "people like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling.

• 8:43: She's describing Barack's work as a community activist. She recalls how inspired she was by his efforts for "fairness and justice and opportunity."
  • CBS News: Where Obama's Journey Began (April 27, 2007)

• 8:41: On Obama: "even though he had a funny name, his family was just like mine."

• 8:40: She mentions her father, "a blue collar worker," and "our rock." Recalls his battle with illness. She pays tribute to her parents' love and support despite their own struggles.

• 8:37: Michelle enters to a classic Stevie Wonder tune. "For Barack, running for president is nothing compared to [his] first game of basketball with Craig."

• 8:36: Craig analyzes Barack's character based on his basketball style: "He's confident, but not cocky, he's a team player and he won't back down from any challenge."

• 8:31: Craig Robinson is on, her brother. He recalls that she had memorized "every single episode" of The Brady Bunch while growing up. Praises his sister as a "hard working, brilliant woman." He recalls that she has always had compassion for people who have been victimized.
  • Providence Journal: He’s Much More than Obama’s Brother-in-Law (February 15, 2008)

• 8:25: A video on the live of Michelle Obama is being shown—entitled South Side Girl. In the video, she mentions her father Frasier Robinson's battle with multiple sclerosis. Her childhood and professional life are covered.