The 2020 Democratic National Convention began last night. This year’s convention is being held virtually, so speakers get “time slots” and they submit videos to the Biden campaign with their speeches-to-camera. So far, it’s working out sort of well? I mean, I didn’t watch it last night because I went to bed, but I was pleased to see all of the Michelle Obama love on Twitter this morning. Michelle was one of the first-night speakers, and MO wore hoops and a delicate “VOTE” necklace to drag Donald Trump. The necklace is great! It’s a custom piece by Chari Cuthbert, requested by MO’s stylist, costing about $430. Cuthbert has been getting calls nonstop and she’ll be filling orders for months! Anyway, here’s MO’s speech:
MO spoke about being “one of the handful of people living today who have seen firsthand the immense weight and the awesome power of the presidency. Let me again tell you this: The job is hard.” She spoke about how the presidency reveals someone’s character, or in Trump’s case, their lack of character: “Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can: Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.”
There was also this video, of Republicans who are going to vote for Joe Biden, including Meg Whitman, John Kasich and Christine Todd Whitman. There were some concerns that Biden was giving a significant chunk of time to these Republicans for their speeches, but I actually liked how breezy and matter-of-fact this section is (and it’s not even 7 minutes, FWIW). It doesn’t feel like the Democrats are focused so much on converting Republicans, it’s more like “here are some Republicans who see that Trump is a monster, why aren’t more Republicans like this?”
Screencaps from videos.
Omg – her speech was amazing!! When she said trump just can’t do the job and it is what it is – I died!
Thank the universe for Michelle Obama.
The it is what it is was amazing. But I spent most of her speech crying hard. That part was a real zinger, and I laughed, but most of it just tore me up. What a speaker. I think she’s the most real person who will appear at either convention. She’s the realest political figure of my lifetime. Probably because she’s not a politician and is also a very warm, kind person. She just shines.
I cried all through her book, knowing it didn’t have a happy ending (for the country).
ETA: Not sure how I screwed up my name on this post. – bettyrose
Was hoping MO would end her speech w a simultaneous thumbs up, side eye and BE BEST w a wink & audible “ding” sound!!!
Yeah, that bit excerpted above was perfect. I also liked “if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can.” That hit me hard. Great flipping speech.
And then immediately after her clip, I saw the news that the loonies who waved their guns around at those protesters in St. Louis were going to be talking at the RNC. Good luck with that, guys.
I loved her speech, thought Bernie did a great job rallying his base (loved his wall of chopped wood behind him), the women in Texas who lost her father was so moving, pictures of people who have died, Bruce Springsteen song and video montage and the kids singing at the beginning all made me cry. Maybe better in some ways because people probably watched and paid attention instead of the distraction of the convention going on and networks pulling away from speakers all the time. Thumbs up for me.
Cue the president’s Twitter attack on Michelle Obama because he has nothing better to do or focus on right now.
LOL – already happened. Clearly the man cannot help himself. It is like he is a 5 year old on the playground, yet unfortunately for us, he is our God damn President.
UGH!!!!
Yes, he did the toddler-ish “I know you are, but what am I?” saying that MICHELLE is in “over her head.” His mental decline is on full display and no one does anything.
I read in an article today that she left office with an approval rating of 69%, which is high compared to the approval ratings of pretty much any other person in public life who is in the political sphere. But truly what did she do to piss of those 31% who disapprove of her? Try to make their kids eat vegetables?
Michelle was awesome, as usual, and the Orange Stain or whoever is working his Twitter account this morning (complete sentences, smells like Nagini) is having a tantrum this morning.
The GOP is also freaking out over the Republicans for Biden segment but not Kasich. They’re totally freaked about Susan Molinari, screaming that she’s a Russian lobbyist. Molinari, a former rising star in the GOP, gave the keynote speech at the 1996 RNC convention. Originally championed by Gingrich, she and her husband were later pushed out of party leadership when they made a power play and Gingrich decided they were a threat to him. Susan Molinari knows where all the GOP bodies are buried and they’re scared.
I love panic in the morning!
Interesting about Mollinari. Maybe the reckoning is finally at hand. And of course they would claim she is an asset. Projection and gaslighting galore.
Agreed.
I may be in the minority here but I am okay with giving anti-Trump Republicans a little bit of time at the DNC Convention. It shows swing voters and those who voted for Trump in 2016 but are wavering now that – yes – there are Republicans out there who realize what a threat Trump is and want to save this country. It shows people that you can be a Republican and vote for Biden/Harris.
Meanwhile the RNC is going to have the racist St. Louis couple who pointed guns at BLM members and the racist Covington kid give virtual speeches a their convention to whine about what “victims” they are.
I’m OK with it too. I think many thought that Kasich was going to be given a much bigger chunk, but it was a relatively small amount of time for all of them to speak, and it was impactful.
We need those types of votes in this election. Now is not the time for purity tests, perfect candidates, or perfect speakers. We need every vote we can get.
“Meanwhile the RNC is going to have the racist St. Louis couple who pointed guns at BLM members and the racist Covington kid give virtual speeches a their convention to whine about what “victims” they are.”
well, “aggrieved white people” is the GOP brand now, so…makes sense, I guess.
but what about Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato Jr. and the Duck Dynasty guys?! Don’t they rate this year?! LMAO
I’m fine with the DNC reaching out to anti-Trump Republicans. Some of them probably don’t recognize the party they voted for now with how extreme it has gone in both foreign and especially domestic policy. They may also be uncomfortable with how much it has become Trump’s own cult of personality.
Kasich was okay as a speaker. At least he’s consistently a consistent Never Trumper. Whitman has been more of a moderate Republican and clashed with GWB and Cheney during her brief time as the head of EPA.
I would have given the DNC much more of a side eye if people like Paul Ryan and George W. Bush were speakers. Neither of them are Never Trumpers and it would have felt opportunistic on their part.
I’m definitely ok. Fought with people on twitter about it Sunday night and Monday. As I said, it’s going to be 10 minutes and anything that brings in more voters is fine by me. In 2008 there were some prominent gop who came out for Obama after the Palin pick. It’s all good.
The beginning of the DNC was mindblowing………I thought Eva moderated it really well! MO’s speech was wow………Donald should NOT be president of the USA; he should have never been elected to begin with! He doesn’t have the character! he has muddied the highest office of this country with his corruption, racism, lack of empathy, his inability to communicate, his cruelty, his crass……….that the polls are even CLOSE in some districts just show that this country still has a long way to go!
First thing is Donald should go on Nov 3rd, ENOUGH!
A slightly fuller list of his “achievements”….😒
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S1wkqZIJOAQ
I love every word she said but I fear she (and the other speakers) is preaching to the choir. There is a decent sized chunk of the country that is now willing to dismiss, discredit and vilify anyone who speaks out against Trump. MO has been a target of the right for a very long time. They’re as determined to keep Trump in office as we are to get him out.
Yep. But she’s not speaking to them. I felt she was mostly speaking to fed up moderates, and more importantly, our base. She was saying, get out there and vote no matter what. Vote. And do not throw away your vote on someone who has no chance of winning like you did in 16, because I promise you, this can and will get worse. I suspect she was effective. No one can reach the collection of morons and monsters you are speaking of. They’re a write off. We can only beat them.
And progressives who feel Biden isn’t their candidate. Progressives can’t sit this election out or give their vote to a third party. It’s suicide – vote like your life depends on it because it does.
This.
She was clearly targeting non-voters and those who voted third-party in 2016 in large chunks of her speech. Nearly 50% of all registered voters did not vote in 2016. That number is just appalling.
Her speech is getting wide publicity and I really hope it gets wide viewership among those who sat out or stupidly voted third party or wrote in joke choices.
Absolutely agree Darla. It was not a speech made to convert any Trump voters, they are sadly a lost cause. It was a speech to rally the base, and draw in anyone on the fringes, to stress how important it is to actually VOTE and end this horrific administration.
Well said, Darla!
People who express doubts about the two old, racist, intellectually incompetent white men running for President aren’t “morons or monsters” – period.
He is losing college educated whites especially women, so the republicans who spoke and Michelle’s speech will mean something to them.
Michelle’s target was the disenfranchised, those that feel that the effort to vote isn’t worth it as they’re not represented. If they had turned out in 2016 we wouldn’t be here and I think she presented a compelling reason to VOTE
How is that even possible? How can anyone who isn’t a Trump supporter, not want to go out and vote this clown out??
I’m not American and frankly i’m baffled.
@Mrs. Bump. When it comes to voting, Americans constantly do not vote or vote against their own best interests. In 2016, people abdicated their responsibility to vote and were counting on everyone else to vote and do the right thing. And Trump is the consequence of that. Hopefully, people learned a lesson and will get off their asses and vote this time and not think other voters will save us all. You’d be amazed at how ignorant people can be. I had to stop contact with my younger cousin cause I was about to lose it because of the dumb ignorant stuff she was spouting.
@Mrs. Bump, just for a little background for you. There is also many barriers to voting, people are purged from rolls and many polling places in historically less affluent areas are closed or have faulty machines and long lines. In America, we aren’t given the day off to vote, so some people have a hard time getting to the polls, due to work schedules. I hope that many people vote early and by mail and mail it in EARLY.
It’s very easy for someone like me (I live in a vote by mail state where I can drop a ballot at a library 6 blocks from my house) and I get time off from work to vote if I didn’t, it’s not as easy for other people, and if you think your vote won’t count or doesn’t matter, I can see why people wouldn’t make the effort to get there.
I’m hoping this year is different, the stakes are crazy higher than usual… Hope this info helps!
She wasn’t speaking to those people! it is a waste of time to try to get maga fans to vote for Joe Biden! she is looking to energize the base and moderates to vote and vote and vote
Yes, and let’s also include that there are a great many Republican voters who still admire her and her husband. The fact that she spoke and what she said can cross the aisles as she again, is admired and and still holds a great deal of admiration of women, of all colors and classes!
Can we talk about how Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is being given only a minute to speak? At first I interpreted it as out of touch, an insult considering how powerful her voice is, and perhaps that was the intention, but now I think it could actually work out in her favour!
I’ve been wondering what she’s going to do with her time, how creative she’ll have to be, and you know whatever she does will be widely shared.
I’ve spent significantly less time anticipating the rambling Bill Clinton and John Kerry speeches to follow🙄
I follow her on IG and Twitter. She’s impressive and comes across as very genuine. I think she will set fire to those 60 seconds. I made my son listen to her speech on the house floor in response to Rep Yoho.
“having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man.”
I wish people would do some research before criticising.
Alexandria is scheduled for a TWO hour timeframe today.
https://www.demconvention.com/schedule-and-speakers/?_sft_event-day=august-18
AOC retweeted an article that said she had 60 seconds to speak. Why would I fact check her on her own speaking time? I haven’t seen anything else come up about. If she’s speaking longer, awesome! Can’t wait to hear it.
She’s scheduled to speak WITHIN the 2 hour time frame as are most of the people listed on the schedule. It’s been widely reported (possibly incorrectly) that she has been allotted 60 seconds.
Narrator: Ironically, Sierra was the one who had not done the research.
I’ve made mistakes too! It happens.
@Elizabeth,
is it really ironic, though? I find that people who urge everyone to “do your own research” are usually the ones who do the least amount of it.
Great speech and great to call out Trump’s abject failure in leadership directly
Is there anything else than “the economy” Republicans care about (besides making decisions about women’s bodies)?
I fell asleep before she came on unfortunately because she is one of my favorite people in this universe, but the clips I’ve seen have been so moving. “Vote for Joe Biden as if your life depended on it”….that is no $hit people!
Hopefully Michelle’s message reached its intended audience. All those lazy disaffected voters who couldn’t be bothered to vote in 2016. This is no joke and I wish more people would take this seriously. Something has to be done about how we choose Presidents in this country…it should be decided by popular vote and not the electoral college. A few “Swing” states shouldn’t decide the election for everyone else. The majority are held hostage by the minority.
Absolutely.
The electoral college concept is outdated and antiquated. Popular vote and popular vote only should matter.
I agree wholeheartedly! When are we going to revoke it? It’s a disaster as well as the staff that select their final vote of their constituents who consistently do NOT vote in favor of who their constituents voted for! This team should be revoked as well since it gives them a chance to vote personally for a second time, which is illegal! I wish I could remember the name of what this group is.
A moment of hilarity, while MO was making an impassioned case as to why we, as an electorate needed to continue to “ go high when they go low!”
The Lincoln project tweeted “ We go low so you don’t have to!”
😂
The Lincoln Project is feeding into division and chaos in this country. It doesn’t actually serve progressive ideals. And they’re ALL dyed in the wool Republicans. They don’t support reproductive rights or LGBTQ rights. They don’t support minimum wage.
Be careful. Just because they aren’t actual Nazis doesn’t mean you want them running anything.
Their mission is to defeat Donald Trump, period end of….. that’s a mission I can get behind. IMHO part of the divide in our country is viewing anyone/ anything that doesn’t perfectly align with our outlook as the enemy.
There was a time that there were people of principle and morality on both sides of the aisle.
Right now? They’re a necessary evil. You think Republican voters are listening to Democrats? And fast as I change the channel when I so much as THINK that you know who is coming, they do the same but worse. They’re not even listening to news, schools of thought or anything without pictures. We need everything for extraction.
I totally agree that the Lincoln Project is comprised of people whose political convictions are not even remotely aligned to real progressive values. But in times of crisis it can often be the case that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Just as a reminder, the US was aligned with the Soviets against the Nazis during WW2.
I’m cautiously hopeful that the Lincoln Project will help get rid of 45, and at that point we can regroup and refocus on making actual progress, not just stopping the bleeding.
This talking point is so boring and reductive. Of course they’re not Democrats, they’re never trumpers. I don’t care. They want trump out and so do we. They can go back to taking down Democrats once this election is over.
They’ve made no secret that their group is comprised of Republicans against Trump. After nearly 4 years of Republican legislators kowtowing to Trump merely to save their own hides and in spite of the damage he’s doing to the country, it’s nice to see Republicans that are putting principles ahead of politics.
You know sometimes the enemy of my enemy is my friend! this is what is happening here!
Donald needs to GO. I will take a vote for Joe as well as ANY vote AGAINST orange man
Michelle Obama for president!!!!!
She’s just so remarkable and I love listening to her and seeing the wisdom she brings to the table. She was right of course and like others have said, she’s not trying to reach the lost, who will vote Trump/Republican no matter what, She’s attempting to reach the lazy, those who aren’t paying attention and doesn’t know the danger we are in, (yes, there are people like that out there.) She’s trying to motivate those on the edges, who doesn’t normally get involved in politics, but who are scared based on what they’ve seen in the last few years and know that getting Trump out is the only way forward. She’s intelligent enough to know who she can reach in this moment and her speech was focused on them.
Thank you, Michelle Obama! Her speech struck the right tone–very serious but not preachy. I think it will go down as one of the most important speeches given during this long national crisis. I was sad to note, however, just how different this address was from previous ones where Michelle had a light-hearted, happy-warrior attitude. Her demeanor underscored the grave danger of our present situation.
Her speech was amazing. I loved the style of the whole broadcast. I think her speech alone could close in the gap and convince hesitant voters especially conservatives who dont agree with trump. I like the part where she mentions Biden’s experience with grief which is very relevant now particularly to the families of those 170,000+ dead
Every time an Obama post happens, I try to resist because I know how this site is about the Obamas and it makes me itch. Admittedly, Obama’s second term radicalized me and turned me into a Socialist. I just don’t get their lionization.
Nor do I understand their and Democratic Party’s Teflon ability to avoid all blame for how Trump ended up being elected. lol to this day Don’t boo, vote irks my f-ing nerves.
It makes me feel crazy reading these posts.
You don’t need to read them. You literally have to click on a post to open it. Her speech was great. It was pointed, but can’t be painted as “angry.” Obama was human, but he worked hard as president to include ALL Americans. That you dare try to blame the Obamas for the racist backlash that elected trump tells me all I need to know about you. #Don’tBoo–Vote
lol
How compassionate of you – millions sick, hundreds of thousands dying and you’re sh*tting on the Obamas. A current president who is openly racist, deceitful, greedy and criminal is not a good thing no matter how you try to paint over it.
Imagine being able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Imagine being able to see Obama wasn’t just a benign leader with no negative effects on the country or the world but never being held accountable for it AND recognizing Trump is trash. IMAGINE! I know… your mind is blown.
reef – get over yourself.
and imagine trying to understand that NO ONE CARES if Obama’s policy’s “radicalized” you.
imagine trying to hijack the “defeat trump at all costs” with some pointless complaint about not understanding why people like a politician. imagine actually understanding that no one thinks either Obama is perfect (Michelle is pretty close, though) but appreciates how he actually tried to do good for his constituents…ALL of them, even the ones that don’t/didn’t like him. imagine being able to understand that no one is lionizing them, just appreciating what we had.
imagine being able to think critically and not in absolutes. IMAGINE! I know, your mind is blown.
*insert eye roll here*
PS, it might make you itch less if you just, you know, don’t click on the links about the Obamas.
Reef:
Explain in detail what Obama did wrong. We can acknowledge pre-emtively the following two crimes:
1. He was fairly middle of the road, not a raging burn down the system socialist
2. He unleashed a wave of unabashed racism like the U.S. hasn’t seen in decades.
3. Reef will explain
I get that the man wasn’t perfect and neither was his presidency, but I honestly cannot comprehend what your beef with Michelle might be. Yeah, I had problems with some of Obama’s policies, but listening the Michelle Obama talk last night was a breath of fresh air, especially with all the inescapable rhetoric we’ve had to endure the past few years. Do you have a specific critique of her speech? I can’t even imagine what it might be.
The portion of her speech where she acts like, “Gee Wilikers I don’t know why people felt disillusioned about voting in 2016 and didn’t go to the polls. Guys we only lost by 2 votes in some places. Come on, guys!”
As if the writing wasn’t on the wall YEARS before. That people at every local level were begging national leadership to form a counter strategy for the erosion of the VRA years before 2016. That there needed to be significant resource allocation specifically for engaging voters and helping them to get to the polls in key states. My local Dem leaders begged the national and state party for resources and bodies. They stressed that telling people go vote wasn’t enough when the local Repub was organized and had a plan.
But alas our former POTUS and FLOTUS act helpless like they couldn’t do anything and it was out of their hands. They act like “We told y’all to vote what else could we have done?!”
And one more thing the audacity to bring up George Floyd and Breonna when Ferguson and Occupy happened under their watch and as a final FU, her husband signed the Blue Alert law before he left Office. llololol.
Yeah, I didn’t get the “gee wilikers” vibe out of it, but I think it’s extremely helpful to point out how close that election was. I get what you’re saying, but it isn’t as if Obama was the one running in 2016. I, like many, wish the Dems would make a sharp turn to the left because I think that’s what we’re going to need to get out of this mess, but candidate has been chosen. Her job in that speech was to explain why he was the better candidate. I think she effectively accomplished that in a thoughtful way.
reef, you’re a voice of sanity in a sea of…well, folks who believe everything will be all better the minute Blormph leaves the White House.
please. no one thinks that “everything will be all better” once he’s out. he’s done immense damage to this country and our standing in the world. it will take years if not decades to fix.
to boot, what reef is putting forth has zero to do with what people think a post-45 world will look like. reef’s complaint is about how people think of Obama, not about what comes after 45. read for comprehension.
whatWHAT? Thank you. There seems to be a few bitter Bettys here who can’t separate the wheat from the chaff.
@jaded You’re damn right I’m bitter and I’m floored more of you aren’t – especially since the same thing is happening again. *sigh* But great speech, am I right? Oh they’re so in love?! Omg she has a V-O-T-E necklace!
Give it up reef, this is not the right hill to die on.
Reef, despite your bitching, you have not provided a single alternative. WTF are you proposing as to whom to vote for in November? Put up or shut up. Please. Otherwise your commenting is just self absorbed wanting-to-hear-yourself blather.
I’m kind of bummed that Biden’s campaign video played at the beginning of the convention which featured Bruce Springsteen’s song “The Rising” wasn’t part of this post. The Twitterverse noted that when Trump uses popular music the artists send him cease and desist letters but Bruce and his wife, Patti Scialfa, made a cameo in Biden’s video.
Perhaps because Biden’s campaign gets permission first?
So you’re angry with Obama for not arranging transportation to the voting booth? Honestly I’m trying to wrap my mind around the rage you have for these two. Or is this a larger and more nuanced hatred? Pray, what politician is perfect? We can rail about Obama’s use of drones to murder insurgents without first going through trial procedure or not calling the republican governor of Michigan on the mat over the poisoning of innocent children and adults in the city of Flint or dragging his feet over military action in Syria or his rapid eviction of immigrants to the US or choosing to back Hilary over Bernie in 2016. However, none of these problems save one, have their origin in the Obama presidency. He was a democratic president fighting to implement social reforms while brawling with a republican House and Senate. His ACA legislation has saved lives. Mine included. His environmental policies sought to decrease our carbon footprint and improving our water, air and green spaces to ensure a healthier planet for our children and our children’s children. Politics is a dirty business and no one walks away with clean hands but my gosh, you must recognize the absurdity of your argument. Trump and his ilk are beyond dirty. They are cruel monsters who’ve done this country a world of hurt. So no, Obama wasn’t perfect, but he genuinely tried to leave the country in a better place than what he found it.
There are threads on reddit where R’s tell the final straw that made them give up on Trump. So many are now college kids who were raised as Rethugs and once their world got bigger in college they learned empathy. So many talk about that and it gives me hope.
This gives me hope too. I also hope that they ignore their parents pleas (or demands) that they simply must vote for Drump for the next few months. These young adults are still open to impression by their parents.
This speech was phenomenal and expressed so much of how I’m feeling about the past four years. Love Michelle, my forever FLOTUS. She speaks in a way that sound soothing at first, but she makes these direct, assertive points that just land with impact. Truly inspiring. I’ve started listening to her podcast and really liking it.
Her speeches are always great and she’s right. She really needs to be president someday.
Please, please, please stop with the “Michelle for President” stuff. The woman is not running, will never run, has said she won’t run, and even as a wistful dream, I just find it irritating especially as a Black woman. I mean, she’s come back to try to save this country with her efforts here at the conference, one that could decide our fates for generations to come. Can’t that be enough? Black women are so so so so sooooo tired of trying to save this damn country from itself, all while being vilified and abused and disappeared. Let it rest, I beg of you. Be thankful she spoke at all.
This is going to sound reactionary, but I don’t think Michelle is trying to save the country because she is black. Rather, because she was one of the most effective and well-liked FLOTUSES ever. Black women and other WOCS (and I am one) don’t have that responsibility because unfortunately no one listens to us or is thinking “let’s poll WOC, that will turn the tide.” The only thing we can do is vote.
Also, I don’t get the part of your comment quoted below, versions of which I have seen many times. I don’t know if black women are trying to save the country. Or if they can, as a group.
But I have seen so many occasions of them trying to save their children/husbands/family by telling their stories. That works as well as anything can with people who are open hearted and willing to change. The country changed from hearing George Floyd’s. This is not the time to throw up your hands if you want the people you love to be safe/r.
Tell your story. And vote.
—————–
Black women are so so so so sooooo tired of trying to save this damn country from itself, all while being vilified and abused and disappeared. Let it rest, I beg of you. Be thankful she spoke at all.
Love Michelle for life, but what about the orange turd suing states which plan on doing mail-in voting, like New Jersey? He is trying to create chaos, hopelessness and, yes, the very real feeling that your right to vote is under attack. Why can’t the Supreme Court take on this b.s. now? And who is watching that the post office doesn’t throw out mail-in ballots or delay them so they won’t be on time? This fuckery is illegal and a siege on democracy. There should be more Republicans who care about this. Where is George Bush? Where are Republican U.S. Senators and Congressman. Dickless wonders and willing to rule under tyranny, preferring it, probably. So gross. I also think America’s ally countries need to speak out for democracy since it’s under siege everywhere.