The DNC: How Michelle Made Me Feel

My cell phone died mid-way through the convention tonight, so I didn't get to do the play by play for the blog that I had hoped to.  This means you, the reader, now have *heard* on TV or *read* in the newspaper someone else's account of Michelle's speech.  And if you've heard what I've heard then I want to counteract it right now.

To me, Michelle's speech struck the perfect balance of issues and took the perfect tone.  She told stories to illustrate who Barack is and why we should vote for him.  She made him three dimensional, in contrast to the figure who has been on a pedestal for 19 months.  She spoke beautifully, smoothly, thoughtfully with candor and humor, and she told it like it is.  She gave us a clear sense that the "change" the Obamas believe in is deeply rooted in family values born of the struggle they each experienced personally which gives them tremendous authentic compassion for those who struggle.

At one point she talked about driving home from the hospital after Sasha was born, with Barack driving at a snail's pace presumably out of the most over-protective fear new parents have with a newborn.  She said Barack wanted to give Sasha what he never had:  a strong father, and when she said that, the white man next to me wept out loud.  Later I learned that his own parents divorced when he was young, and Michelle's tender statement struck a chord deep within him.

Frequently, I found my hands pressed open-palm against the lower part of my face, holding the emotion in and expressing awe for the woman in front of me.  I wept openly at the sight of a strong black woman addressing a live audience of thousands and a television audience of millions, with a good chance of being the First Lady in a few months.  I wept  for the black children watching tonight, who might as a result of this Obama experience begin to see that they can in fact be anything their little hearts and minds tell them they want to be.  At the end I was overcome with relief and amazement that the future we envision is on its way to being here, and I sobbed out loud against the shirt of the man next to me, so much so that I had to remove my glasses and wipe the water from my face.  It was a cathartic, optimistic, uplifting, transformative speech.

And then Barack came on at the end via live feed from Missouri and addressed us all in the background as he interacted with Michelle, Sasha and little Malia.  And in the less than five-minute glimpse we had into the lives of the Obamas, we saw a man who adores his wife, and a playful, proud, loving father.  Millions of American women do not have the former.  Millions of American children do not have the latter. 

I hate that CNN and NPR are criticizing Michelle's speech.  All I can think is the people they interviewed came with a different perspective and heard different things.  But I'm not sure how anyone could have watched what I watched, and heard what I heard, and not have been transformed.

Michelle redeemed me.  And that is something worth weeping over.

Comments

[Susan]

Maybe there was criticism last night (probably the talking heads), but not today. The only things online this morning are glowing reviews, including those on NPR and CNN's Web sites.

[cynematic]

The moment the Stevie Wonder started, I was a puddle.

[stacy]

I got the same thing you did from that speech. It was well thought out and well spoken. Thanks for sharing your emotional response. I hope a LOT of Americans saw that and felt what you did and have the courage, as Michelle said to vote with our HOPES not our fears.

I'm linking to you constantly over at HerDailyNews.com

Thanks for the updates! Keep 'em coming.

[Nina]

I saw a bit of criticism on PBS too ("a missed opportunity" didn't get to know "barack the man" - seriously???) but that guy was totally overrun by other commentators glowing reviews.

It was an amazing speech. I was sniffling at the end. Even the hardest critic, I think, had to get swept up in that speech at least a little bit.

I also was really impressed with Ted Kennedy, of course, but Jesse Jackson Jr. - awesome, awesome oratory there. I hope he runs for Obama's seat in the senate once he WINS THE PRESIDENCY! :)

Keep up the good work ladies!

[Jill Asher]

Julie,
Thank you so much for sharing... I cried as well! What a loving and touching speech. I pray that she will be our First Lady in a few months!

Jill Asher

[No Obama]

See, again, you're showing me who is playing the race card: Obama. If little black children don't already feel like they can be anything they want with their future, why don't they? Affirmative Action started forty years ago, and a person of color has held offices in the Joint Chiefs, the National Security Advisor, and the Secretary of State (man and woman). Obama, as many people point out, is not exactly black - he's mostly something other than black. It's just sad that people are so focused on his race and what it "means for black people" instead of just looking at him as a person. It's great that he's a loving husband and father. It was sweet that his daughter noticed, for instance, that he said he was in two different places and she was confused (first he said Kansas City, then St. Louis). He certainly is an eloquent man.

Should little girls cry themselves to sleep because of what Obama did to keep women from reaching the highest heights? Should they not feel they can be anything now, because Obama beat Hillary? It's such a double standard, to see the greatness of one achievement in a minority perspective, but not see the wrong done to another.

[Keeping America Honest]

In response to "nobama" at 7:59pm, I understand your pain at not having your dreams of a woman president fulfilled, though I doubt you would've been enthusiastic if that woman was an equally qualified woman of color. As a former Hillary supporter, switching over was a no brainer for me. Choosing Hillary wasn't about fulfiling some secret dream of a white woman president, but the best person for the job. I've now done my homework on Obama and I'm fine with him and encouraged by his fairness throught his campaign. I'm surprised to learn he has more years in elected public office than Hillary does! As a middle aged woman, I never thought Obama ran a sexist campaign against her. The Republican media who was apprehensive about her winning and the MSM media who do not like her for reasons I won't discuss here, went on this campaign.So did Fox and other bigoted media campaigned against Obama. When I first chose Hillary it was bcause of her husband's presidency and I didn't know much about Obama yet. I now admit I was very uncomfortable when Hillary clearly played the "White working middle class" race card to death in her campaign, although I ignored it. Especially when she knowingly & deliberately pandered relentlessly to the white racists of W Virginia who may never vote for a black man, Hillary made sure they never will!Hillary knew that and played a most dangerous game in inciting this polarizing group now she can't calm them down. Those of us who voted unselfishly on the issues don't have a problem converting. We understand it's not about our secret selfish desires for our race and sex. If so, this country belongs to the Indians and none have ever ever served as its President!Obama never once mentioned the Black vote although he received over 90% as so did Bill Clinton, Gore & Kerry.Obama winning the primary shouldn't be an indictment on him.I understand you wanted to see a woman candidate in your lifetime.Unfortunately the presidency isn't about turns.This idea of older white females thinking Obama didn't wait his turn is preposterous. Obama has held elected office much longer than Hillary has! When Bill won at the same age,Blacks didn't say it wasnt Bill's turn. If we must address this issue of turns, then white males have held this office for centuries!How then is that fair? White women have seen presidents that look like members of our immediate family always and our sons take it for granted. Black children have never even dreamt the possibility because they have never come close.Not one president looks like any of their family members. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a Black woman when there's no possibility of a Black woman POTUS ever! This idea of a presumptious black man taking what you assume belongs to you is preposterous and selfish!I no longer have contact with my former Hillraisers from Hillary's website and hope they are thinking more about country & less about their selfish desires!A white female Catholic Clinton supporter recently voiced her resentment that Barack,Michelle and Michelle's brother all going to Ivy League Universities provided 3 less spots white children should've had! Greed is unbecoming, especially resulting from a feeling of entitlement. After all, it was this entitlement that Hillary displayed why she lost. She took it all for granted. I adore Hillary, however this is not her time anymore. This is more about the working class of all colors and less about Hillary's white working class. Because Hillary pandered to one group, she lost all the others.

[Nobama]

Hillary "lost" because she decided to be the bigger person and bow out. No one pressured Obama to bow out, even when Hillary was in the lead in total votes and delegates. Obama won states that Democrats are just going to win, but Hillary won in states that Democrats need to swing in order to win it all. Obama doesn't stand a chance of doing that, and now the media realizes it. The Democrats have really screwed the pooch on this campaign, and I think everyone is realizing it now.