DNC Diary: Michelle, Michelle, Michelle

Michelle's speech was a home run. Emotional, heartfelt, and very authentic. On a night where Ted Kennedy passed the Democratic Party's moral baton, Michelle picked it up and ran with it -- evoking RFK's famous evocation of George Bernard Shaw ("Some men see things as they are...") by talking about the world as it is vs the world as it should be. The cutest, laden with meta-meaning line of the night, however, came from Michelle's brother who revealed that even though, as children, they were only allowed to watch one hour of television a night Michelle had still managed to memorize every episode of that iconic rendering of American family life, The Brady Bunch. Lucky for Team Obama that the show she memorized wasn't Gilligan's Island or Green Acres. Michelle, Michelle, Michelle...

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Comments

[sadler05]

I too am tired of MSM - perhaps MSNBC is overreacting to the comments from Ed Rendell on their supposed bias against Hillary. But there is really no excuse for harping on the same themes day after day, week after week on the Clinton / Obama drama and on the fact that "Obama needs to define himself to the American people - Americans just don't know him". Perhaps Obama just needs to let MSNBC know who he is. I am talking about MSNBC since they seem so schizophrenic. I heard Jon Stewart say that Fox News was the best since you knew where they were coming from - they made no pretense. This is true - I gave up on CNN a long time ago so as far as MSM MSNBC seems to be the only one left - if it weren't for Keith and now Rachel I would give up on them as well.

[sak]

I changed the channel to CSPAN. I just could not stand the comments from CNN or MSNBC. After Carvelle, my head exploded. Then my brother called, also frustrated by the awful negative comments about the convention and the lack of coverage as they talked over the videos and speeches. He said he changed to CSPAN. No comments. Full coverage. Try it.

[QueenCeleste]

Yes, I switched over earlier in the day when I realized neither CNN nor MSNBC were showing the day's "lesser" speeches. It's refreshing just watching the proceedings, not having anyone tell me how I should feel. I do like Anderson Cooper as he's one of the few with a sense of humor. But the others...

[JeffingtonPost]

Here Here. The gratuitously negative and inane commentary, redundant at the expense of Jimmy Carter and Clare McCaskill, relentlessly upstaged by the humongous boobs in the background (and not the good kind), flailing and floundering for the camera, sent me diving for the Tylenol bottle on my way to CSPAN. What is with these people?!?

[rhettab]

CSPAN is the only way to watch this - these other idiots talk over most of the significant events - blathering about their supposed insight.. I hope Chuck Todd will see to it that NBC/MSNBC actually give us the story - not make it. They even feel the need to "talk over" speakers like Jim Leach (Republican) Claire McCaskill and who knows what other speeches were missed b/c the idiots like to hear themselves talk - and pontificate - and get it soooo wrong most of the time. Thank God for Keith and Rachel and I do think Chuck Todd was horrified by the circus outside. Please Chuck, make your people into professionals!

[sunnyarcher]

I watched on PBS last night, moderated by Lehrer, who always does a great job. They had a group of historians on as well that really added context to what is happening. Much better than CNN or MSNBC (I had tried watching both earlier and switched).

[justaworkinstiff]

I agree with you sunny regarding Lehrer and PBS but I just want to reach out and slap my TV everytime Brooks says Obama must define himself ...no one knows who he is... as if anyone had a clue who John McCain is really. Also, I'm with the other posters who would love to see the MSM put some pressure on Cindy McCain to deliver even an average speech at the GOP convention. I don't believe I've heard her utter five words outside of a controled interview

[DMSmith]

I've decided I know one thing for sure. Whoever the next president is, THIS is the woman I want him to go to bed with, and wake up, and talk with privately.

That would/will make me feel safe and lucky to be an American.

[shockjock]

nice nuanced comment. Sorry, I gotta steal that one.

[Bonsage]

Cindy McCain might object!

[swift goat pet for truth]

Michelle did GREAT. She hit it out of the park. And this from middle aged man (me).

I see now how the Obama's are faced with something I had heard about, but never seen up close before,
that a black man or woman has to be twice as good as a white man to get the same credibility.

Cindy McCain won't HAVE to give this kind of speech. If she just shows up, it will be enough.

[Jahmekyah]

Nail on head

[2farnorth]

Bingo.. But we can't talk about that stuff right?

[MinYee]

I sure would like to see Cindy McCain have to give such a speech. Let's try and build expectations among the MSM that Cindy McCain should try and top this . . .

Michelle's speech blew me away too. and I am a 70 year old guy.

[GreatFutureForAll]

Could not have said it any better.

[hoos30]

Bingo.

[jsinclair]

Actually, Arianna, I think I'd love Michelle a little more if she -had- memorized "Green Acres" instead. But, yes, ... great speech, lovely lady.

[janvoght]

michelle, from and about a family that every family in america can look up to and admire and strive towards. an amazing statement in and of herself, she has remained true to herself in an authentic honesty, seldom seen in the plastic world we have been forced to adjust to. the obama family is blessed in more than "cuter than cuteness", charisma to spare, love, warmth, and faith as well as humility and gratitude, and will make us all as americans a better people, even if just by believing in us!
OBAMA '08

[mesut]

She told their story very well. I loved the part about Sen Obama driving her and their baby home from the hospital. I could almost imagine that scene having taken my daughter home after 67 days in the NICU. Just goes to show...we all have a story in this country and having your patriotism questioned has to be the most insulting criticism a person can endure. Good Job Michelle!!

[MBLADY]

Yes, when Michelle told that story, I too remembered 30 years ago bringing our only child (daughter) home from the hospital. I saw it so clearly, like it was yesterday. Tears came down throughout her speech. I invisioned Barack being the loving and caring husband and father we know him to be. Michelle, a loving and caring mother. Many times "it's the little things we remember."

[cellodon]

I couldn't agree more!! So many tears of joy were shed last night, both at the convention and in homes across the country. I thought Michelle herself was getting tears in her eyes as she recounted the story of Barack bringing them home from the hospital -- how carefully he watched over his family. God Bless our future First Family. What a relief, and what a joy, it will be to have people in the white house who can empathize with the common people who keep this country going. We the people, who work and keep the world turning, we who volunteer and help those less fortunate, we the people who want nothing more than a responsible, trustworthy government that is of us, by us and for us. Just think ... the world might respect us again ... our global standing, restored. GooooooOOO­OOOO'BAMA!

[Fabienne]

This is very shallow, but it will be great to have a first lady who dresses well for the first time since Jacquie Kennedy.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Funny how the Corporate Media was saying Michelle HAD to be the female voice of the Obama campaign.

Is Corporate Media going to say that about their favorites, the McCains.

I don't think so.

[pwt55]

I know this is off topic, but, as I was watching the convention I was reminded by the shots of Marie Shriver that the Republicans should be hit for their own celebrity connections. Ronald Reagan - movie star - elected President, Marie's husband ARNOLD elected Governor, Charelton Heston - President of the NRA. How can the Republicans play the "celebrity card" when McCain has been on Leno and SNL more than any other elected official?

[gracenote]

Michelle was terrific. Wonderful, and touching and let's face it lovely.
What i am wondering is, is Cindy McCain going to be speaking at the GOP convention next week. Does she have to jump through hoops as well? Or is it just the democrats who seem to be required to explain themselves to the American public?

[swift goat pet for truth]

Corporate Media cracked me up. I heard them say that Michelle Obama HAD to become the female voice for the party and her husband.

Will Corporate Media saddle their favorite, the McCains, with that mission, too?

Somehow, I think not.

[Aleka4]

Actually it is just the 0bama's who do. Any white dem would not have to jump through the hoops.

I have watched this now and I am amazed that it really is the damdest thing. Every single little thing about them gets criticized and slammed, no matter what it is they do, it gets spun negative by both the repubs and the MSM.

But CIinton wouldn't have had to jump this many hoops. She had so many skellies in her closets and still everyone was fixated on the -0bamas and completely uninterested in anything she did that was scandalous (outside of bosnia) and i see the same thing with mc0ld now.

ITs like daily, the MSM and pundits do the modern day equivalent of lynching the bIack dude.

[SurrealPumpkin]

And Carville doesn't think the speech is any good as it didn't have any "meat" meaning attack on McCain. Guess he doesnt understand that a hefty dose of "feel goods" is exactly what we need.

[realiybased2]

I am still having a hard time with TV talking heads saying no one know who Obama is and who Michelle is and painting them as someone strange. There is nothing strange about Obama or Michelle. None of these questions were raised when Bill ran for President as far as who him and his family was, why, because they were considered to be "human beings", "white America". This really pisses off because the Republicans and the MSM were ones who made the Obamas strange to regular everyday white people. Because the Obama are educated, intelligent and well spoken, the regular white people thought they were fake, like the fictional family, the HUXTABLES, which Bill Cosby portrayed.

This is America, 2008, but it might as well 1708.

[2farnorth]

I see where you're coming from but that perspective is in my opinion a little to negative. Just the fact that they have made it this far is solid proof that progress has been made in the last half a century. I know that seems like a long time but in the grand scheme it is actually quite remarkable.

More to come as well.

O'biden 08

[Balloonman]

Good point realiybased2. This old white man wondered about that too, that nobody yet knows either one, MICHELLE and BARACK. Bullshit! But maybe it's just me, I'm special? I can read. I can see. Pay more attention than perhaps most folks have the time or take the time to do. But just glimpsing in on what's happening, even broadcast news slants and their rating needs and sponsor angles to create story. The language of actual straighttalk, doesn't that show thru rhetoric? You watch and listen and can't a person tell from old hat, routine platform slogans and bullshit? Just peeking in on the news and seeing bits of this and clips of that, of BARACK OBAMA and his extraordinary wife MICHELLE. Along the way wouldn't a person, even not paying that much attention, pick up on biography, record that reveals genuine CONCERN for people? Treating people fair? Citizens who are confused, in a funk of mystery, my oh my. Like what, who is this person, BARACK OBAMA what is he about here? This man and his wife in front us every day. Parsed by the press, MSM, internet, every day. Folks mystified by the OBAMAS? Paying ANY attention? Or don't want to, don't care because of already fixed notions.

[Brillig]

That is the true definition of PREJUDICE - to PRE JUDGE

Prejudice is when you make up your mind about the person, outcome , situation WITHOUT any previous knowledge of that person, outcome or thing.

[jgalvan]

Michelle did a great job in defining herself as a mother, wife, and daughter. I hope that everyone watch this address by her tonight, she did herself a favor by not stepping in the fray. But what really matter most of all was seeing Senator Obama's reaction with his children over convention floor. lastly I hope the gloves come off tomorrow night.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I'd count on that. When Clinton hits her pace she is an awesome attack dog.