Obama Advisor Jamal Simmons Analyzes Michelle's Speech

Salimah Ebrahim asked Jamal Simmons, Senior Democratic Advisor to Barack Obama, about Michelle Obama's speech on the opening night of the DNC Convention. Calling her both vulnerable and strong, Simmons believes the potential First Lady took Republican criticisms head-on in talking about her experience growing up in Middle America.

She was sensitive and showed some vulnerability... I think that's who she is. What we've been seeing about her over the course of the campaign are snippets -- 30 seconds here, 10 seconds there, Republicans slicing and dicing what she's saying into the smallest 6 seconds. But now we've seen more of the fullness of who she is... She's taking that head on. She talked about why she loves America. That was her taking on all these little snippets about, you know, the first time she was proud of her country. Anybody who was really listening to that and being fair could understand what she was saying, but tonight she really broadened that out and made the case for herself, and people can make the judgment after that...

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Comments

[PathFinder]

"YES WE CAN", no one needs to say more.

[PathFinder]

Not since the 60s (JFL, RFH< MLK, et al) Have I seen, have I heard a speaker with such heart, such patriotism, such fire and fervor as Michelle Obama on Monday Night at the Prelude to the Presidency. She was dynamic, she was intense but, much more important, she was right on target, I have long said that the ONLY thing the Republican Party deserves is a sure and certain death, to join the dinosaur and the Neaderthal on the scrapheap of history.

[blindwilly]

Well put. I am feeling some hope again. We have made some gains since 06.

We may have to fight for this one as the election is ripe for stealing. There is no telling what the next 6 months will look like. If we take to the streets to protest a stolen election Bushco will come down hard. I'm sure he has been preparing for this quite some time.

I love Michelle Obama. She is a Shining Star. The real deal just like her husband. Watching him come up in the primaries and beat the machine was unbelievable. I did not want the old gaurd back in, though I felt good about Clintons handling of economy there were other areas we lost ground. We need to take this country back and now I think we can.

Hell yes we can.

[freeman88]

Mrs Obama will be one of America's FINEST First Ladies. Every time I hear this sweet, intelligent woman speak, I like her more.

This is a woman EVERY American will be able to be proud to have represent our nation. Michelle Obama, IS America at our best. We cannot allow the worst of America to deny us this great family.

There are three words that make me feel my years of service to this nation, happily given when I joined the Navy, really mean something important.

Those words are: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!!!