No question that Michelle Obama owned the first night of the Democratic Convention, even though Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders spoke …
C-SPAN
Michelle Obama
Democratic National Convention (7/25/2016)
Thank you all, thank you so much. It is hard to believe that it has been eight years since I first came to this convention to talk with you about why I thought my husband should be president. Remember how I told you about his character and his conviction? His decency and grace? The traits we have seen every day he has served our country in the White House.
I also told you about our daughters, how they are the heart of our hearts, the center of our world, and during our time in the White House we have had the joy of watching them grow from bubbly little girls into poised young women.
A journey that started soon after we arrived in Washington when they set off for the first day at the new school. I will never forget that winter morning as I watched our girls, just 7 and 10 years old, pile into those black SUVs with all those men with guns. And that’s all their little faces pressed up against the window, and the only thing I could think was, What have we done? At that moment, I realized that our time in the White House would form the foundation of who they would become. And how well we manage this experience could truly make or break them.
That is what Barack and I think about every day as he tried to guide and protect our girls from the challenges of this unusual life and the spotlight. How we urged them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith. How we insist that the hateful language they hear from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country. How we explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level. Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.
With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents are the most important role model.
Let me tell you, Barack and I take that same approach to our jobs as president and first lady because we know that our words and actions matter, not just to our girls but the children across this country. [Cheering] Kid who say, “I saw you on TV,” “I wrote the report on you for school.” Kids like the little black boy who looked up at my husband, his eyes wide with hope, and he wondered, Is my hair like yours?
Make no mistake about it, this November, when we get to the polls, that is what we are deciding. Not Democrat or Republican, not left or right. In this election, and every election, it is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives. I am you tonight because in this election, there is only one person who I trust with that responsibility, only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is our friend Hillary Clinton. That is right.
I trust Hillary to lead this country because I have seen her lifelong devotion to our nation’s children. Not just her own daughter, who she has raised to perfection. But every child who needs a champion: kids who take the long way to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who wonder how they will ever afford college. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English, but dream of a better life; who look to us to dream of what they can be.
Hillary has spent decades doing the relentless work to actually make a difference in their lives. [Cheering] Advocating for kids with disabilities as a young lawyer fighting for children’s health care as first lady, and for quality child care in the senate.
And when she did not win the nomination eight years ago, she did not get angry or disillusioned. Hillary did not pack up and go home because … Hillary knows that this is so much bigger than her own disappointment. She proudly stepped up to serve our country once again as secretary of state, traveling the globe to keep our kids safe. There were moments when Hillary could have decided that this work was too hard, that the price of public service was too high, that she was tired of being [torn] apart for how she looked, or how she talked, or even how she laughed.
But here’s the thing: What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure.
She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life. And when I think about the kind of president that I want for my girls and all our children, that is what I want. I want someone with the proven strength to persevere.
Somebody who knows this job and takes it seriously. Somebody who understands that the issues of our nation are not black or white. It cannot be boiled down to 140 characters. Because when you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military in your command, you can’t make snap decisions. You can’t have a thin skin or a tendency to lash out. You need to be steady and measured and well-informed.
I want a president with a record of public service. Someone whose life work shows our children that we don’t chase fame and fortune for ourselves; we fight to give everyone a chance to succeed. [Cheering] And we give back even when we are struggling ourselves because we know that there there is someone worse off. There but for the grace of God, go I. I want a president who will teach our children that everyone in this country matters.
A president that truly believes in the patient that our founders put forth all those years ago that we are all created equal, each a beloved part of the great American story. When crisis hits, we don’t turn against each other, we listen to each other. We lean on each other. We are always stronger together. I am here tonight because I know that that is the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be and that is why in this election, I’m with her.
You see, Hillary understands that the president is about one thing and one thing only. It is about leaving something better for our kids. That is how we have always moved this country forward — by all of us coming together on behalf of our children. Volunteering to coach the team, teach the Sunday school class, because they know it takes a village.
Heroes of every color and creed who wear the uniform and risk their lives to pass on those blessings of liberty, police officers and protesters in Dallas who all that really want to keep our children safe, people who lined up in Orlando to donate blood because it could have been their son, or their daughter in the club.
Leaders like Tim Kaine, who show our kids what decency and devotion look like. Leaders like Hillary Clinton, who have the guts and the grace to keep coming back and putting those cracks in the highest and hardest glass ceiling until they finally break through, lifting all of us along with her.
That is the story of this country. The story that has brought me to the stage tonight. The story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, who kept on striving, and hoping, and doing what needed to be done. So that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters —two beautiful intelligent black young women — played with the dog on the White House lawn.
And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all of our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country is not great. That somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on Earth.
And as my daughters set out on the world, I want a leader who is worthy of that truth, a leader worthy of my girls’ promise and all of our kids’ promise. A leader who will be guided every day by the love and hope and impossibly big dreams that we all have for our children.
In this election, we cannot sit back and hope that everything works out for the best, we cannot afford to be tired or frustrated or cynical. Hear me: Between now and November, we need to do what we did eight years ago and four years ago. We need to knock on every door, we need to get out every vote, we need to pour every last ounce of passion into electing Hillary Clinton as president of the United States of America. Let’s get to work. Thank you all and God bless.
glory, glory hallelujah, her truth is marching on
FLOTUS spoke beautifully while throwing some of the best shade ever at Dumpster Trump.
“When they go low…” “They” being the DNC and Clinton campaign colluding. Is anyone in the DNC also tied to a super-pac?
What about the pay-for-play emails that were leaked? Everyone here OK with that because Hill is xx and not xy?
I laugh when then they try to point fingers and blame the Russians for trying to manipulate our elections. The DNC and the Clinton campaign colluded to try to manipulate the election. The hackers just put a spotlight on it.
More emails to come.
As for last night, Warren and Sanders said we must break up big banks, protect the environment, etc. I laughed. Those are things Clinton was against until pushed to say orherwise. She said there was such a thing as “safe fracking.” No. Everything that Warren and Sanders railed against are thing for which Hill stands.
The Democratic Party no longer exists. Hill and the current DNC have destroyed it. There will be a new party; there will be stronger Libertarian and Green Parties. I guess we can thank Hill for destroying the two-party system.
Bernie owned the room. Hill is owned by Wall Street.
Bernie created that platform. She will only pay it lip service as long as it serves her and her corporate overlords.
It’s sad that they caved to support Hill, a woman who stands for nothing that they do. But, she’s a woman and that’s all that matters, I guess.
Hill is every bit as dangerous as Trump. If it’s not close, I’ll vote Green. If it’s close, I’m with Ping.
solar, I sure hope you were watching the convention yesterday when eva langoria said:
‘I’m from a small town in South Texas. And if you know your history, Texas used to be part of Mexico,’ Longoria, who was born in Corpus Christi, told the crowd.
‘Now, I’m ninth-generation American. My family never crossed a border, the border crossed us. So when Donald Trump calls us criminals or rapists, he’s insulting American families.’
“My family never crossed a border, the border crossed us” was great and hopefully will be on signs every time at every stop where the gopers campaign in texas and points west.
Elizabeth Warren: Donald Trump’s Divisive Tactics Empower Those At The Top from huffpo:
“Where was Donald Trump in all these fights,” she said. “Not once did he lift a finger to help working people. Time after time he preyed on working people, people in debt, people who had fallen on hard times. He’s conned them, he’s defrauded them and he’s ripped them off.”
john oliver does a wrap up of that other convention with ping’s and blueid’s candidate quote: “This is a dictatorship and I’m the dictator. There’s no voting and there’s no jury.”
blueid & ping, vote your conscience (but first be sure to watch above starting at 10:09 minutes)
another wrap-up
now, after the above wrap-ups of last week, we can look at the democratic convention in better perspective.
in the meantime if you’re bored with conventions you may be interested in what Samantha bee had to say about FOX and Friendly Fire
Last night’s Michelle intro video …
from wapo’s editorial board “Putin’s suspected meddling in a U.S. election would be a disturbing first”
The potential benefits Mr. Trump offers to Mr. Putin have been clearly and repeatedly spelled out by the candidate himself. Russia’s most cherished goal is to weaken or destroy NATO; Mr. Trump has called the alliance obsolete. Mr. Putin dreams of reestablishing dominion over the pieces of the Soviet Union; Mr. Trump has said that he might not defend former Soviet republics Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania if Russia invaded, despite their NATO membership. Mr. Putin wants the United States to treat Russia as an equal superpower with its own acknowledged sphere of influence; Mr. Trump has repeatedly praised Mr. Putin and promised to work with him.
This pro-Kremlin tilt is unprecedented in the Republican Party and would represent a radical and dangerous shift in U.S. policy. Whether there are non-political reasons for it is a fair question. Mr. Trump is known to have sought business repeatedly in Russia, and his son Donald Jr. has said that “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets.” Because Mr. Trump will not release his tax returns or business records, the full extent of his financial interests in Russia remains unclear. But at least three of Mr. Trump’s top advisers have profited from business and political connections in Russia, including campaign manager Paul Manafort, who worked for the former pro-Putin president of Ukraine as well as several Russian oligarchs.
I’m pleased by the absence of a wall of Stars and Stripes.
They are as out-of-place as are our military personnel standing at attention midfield at a sporting event as a hate-filled preacher casts stones at every person in the world who is not a member of his sect. The flags have a single purpose–to wrap the those shielded by them in an aura of invincible patriotism. It is bull shit.
Fort McHenry had but one flag. In Vietnam we had no flags as our colors might offend our hosts. I am not a flag-waver. But, I have a 4×6 flag on a pole in our yard. It has solar powered lighting and the colors are changed at least three times a year. It is there as a mark of confidence in our democracy and in our future.
Poor Corey Booker great speech might as well as stayed home
Totally agree that Michelle owned last night. She is the epitome of grace, class, and smarts.
I think the Dems have struck the correct note… stay positive.
Craig… it’s nice to see your passion being sparked again.
AttorneyMaryJane… welcome aboard. Mortonie…. good to see you pop up too. Ping… you’re tooooo funny!
Judging by the reaction to last night, it’s going to be a very slow news week for Team Trump.
I guess Trump can tweet, but really, who cares? Dems. just beginning to peel that onion, Should be fun.
Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gains control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles. – Pat Paulsen
I’m not voting for Secretary Clinton as much as I’m voting for (hopefully) sane, functioning government. And especially for the future faces on the Supreme Court. I’m also supporting, donating to Congressional Candidates who share my outlook on topics. There is no perfect candidate. Never will be – & maybe that’s a good thing. Elections aren’t about me; they’re about us.
Eva Longoria is a great example of why New Mexico could turn blue this year and why sections of TX are getting bluer by the day. Her home town of Corpus Christie TX was named in 1519 but evidence exists that an indigenous settlement was there more than 10,000 years ago. My step grandmother’s family was from Santa Fe NM which has been a settled city since 1608. Families such as the Longorias have been part of the country for 500 years. They don’t take kindly to politicians who denigrate their contributions.
The current Congress Critter for Corpus Christie is Tea Party having defeated a Democrat in 2010 and holding office since. In 2016 he will face Democrat Raul “Roy” Barrera. It’s time that seat went back to the Democrats.
AttorneyMaryJane,
enjoyed your comments. Welcome. Please stop by often.
Jamie,
As glad as I am to be here, I wish was voting in AZ. Anne Kirkpatrick needs my vote there worse than HRC needs my vote here.
Sarah Silverman has it right, Blue. And about Clinton, Bernie disagrees that she is as dangerous as trump, but now that he’s lost I guess what he believes doesn’t matter to you. Voting green is voting red, just understand that, but in Texas, who cares? Bernie’s supporters booing Bernie? Nice. As Bernie said, they don’t apparently understand how governing works, or care.
Alexandra Petri’s take. Not a bad take on it.
Jace
It will be quite a while before AZ turns even pale blue. It is home to a huge retired military contingent originally WW II but now still Korea & Viet Nam. Hard line white male GOP. Kirkpatrick is representing the expanding & changing Demographic, but she will have quite a battle on her hands for that area between Phoenix & Tucson.
James Downie on the difference between the two conventions.
Bernie Sanders this morning, “It’s easy to boo, it’s harder to look your kids in the face if Trump becomes President”
sjwny:
I love that line! It’s definitely something that Trump doesn’t get. Sadly, many people across the country have missed that point about our government too.
The attitude of “my candidate didn’t make the cut so I’m against everybody” is never going to help our country. If you sit in a corner pouting and don’t vote because a candidate isn’t 100% in line with your ideas then you still won’t get a system of your choosing because you’ve left it up to the rest of us. This is a participatory government. Even if you vote for someone just because they are “the lesser of two evils” compared to the other candidate, you’ve still participated! Many of the people I hear who bitch and moan about the government don’t even vote and they think they’re justified in their complaints! I say, if you don’t participate, you don’t have the right to complain about the results!
I do urge everyone to donate to the organizations that are helping to fund the election campaigns of democrats and independents running for Congress. And then, of course, VOTE! The only way to stop the stranglehold that RED has in Congress is to get more people to vote and every dollar helps!
Granny, perfectly put.
Every delegate will be able to cast a vote during the Democratic convention Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton campaign representatives said Monday night and Tuesday morning, quashing speculation that the formal roll call vote would be skipped in an attempt to silence supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“There is going to be a roll call vote,” campaign manager Robby Mook said on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday. “All 57 states and territories are going to cast their vote. All the delegates are going to have their voices heard. And you’re going to see Secretary Clinton win the nomination.”
Mook’s assertion reiterated a statement from Clinton press secretary Brain Fallon the previous day, that Clinton, “welcomed a full roll call vote,” and came after Sanders, in his prime-time speech on the convention’s opening day, preemptively thanked his supporters for casting their votes for him.
As many as 1,900 delegates are expected to vote for Sanders, but with 6,000 delegates and alternates at the convention, Clinton is expected to easily notch the 2,383 needed to formally receive the party’s nomination.
Susan PageVerified account
@SusanPage 2h2 hours agoBernie Sanders tells
@bpolitics breakfast w/reporters he’ll return to the Senate as an Independent, not a Dem: ‘I was elected as an Ind.’Retweets 225
Likes 175
5:35 AM – 26 Jul 2016
225 retweets 175 likes
Hi Granny
Been a while since we’ve seen you. Hope you’ll drop in more often.
politicoL
Asked at a Bloomberg Politics breakfast what his message to delegates would be ahead of Tuesday’s roll call vote on the convention floor, Sanders said they should “vote for me.” He said they should do so even though he plans to remain an independent in the Senate and will not officially change his party affiliation there to the Democratic Party.
“Why would I do that? There’s an election,” Sanders explained. “We’re going to lose, but if you were campaigning for me for six months and I asked who you’re going to vote for, you’d say, ‘I’m going to vote for Bernie Sanders.'”
Sanders said he hoped “our people treat the process with respect, and respect the results.” He said it “may well be the case” that someone at the convention might move to make Clinton’s nomination unanimous once the roll call vote is complete.
Neither Sanders nor his campaign manager Jeff Weaver, who was also at the breakfast, were willing to unequivocally say the booing from the Vermont senator’s diehard supporters would cease Tuesday night. Instead, Sanders would only say, “We will see what happens.”
Hi GrannyMumantoog – good to have you back.
Listening to the radio & hearing people still saying they’ll either vote Green or not vote at all “in protest.” Isn’t doing something you know in the end results in nothing really just surrendering?
Am I thinking too much about this or too little? 😉
Maybe a good time to go make Peanut Butter Cookies. Yum. With Peter Pan Peanut Butter. / If you believe in Peanut Butter clap your hands… clap your hands ….
Jamie
Isn’t he within the 180-day period where he can vote in both states? Or is that just for Republican primaries.
The election is exciting and it’s good to see lots of people chiming in and maybe this a chance to have some good discussions about what the real issues are with trade. The problems with the TPP have very little to do with trade and a lot to do with protecting corporate rights. I’m basically a free trader but I don’t think we should to give up consumer rights or labor rights to be a part of the deal.
Bernie from cnn:
“If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country,”
“If you look at one issue after the other issue in terms of who the candidate is that we need to lead this country, there is no debate,” Sanders said. “The choice in this campaign is very, very clear and I think the overwhelming majority of my supporters will see it that way.”
Dr. Jill Stein not so much
Hellooooo everyone!
What a great last hour to the convention last night! One thing Democrats always forget between conventions is just how contentious primary season always is. Remember Ted Kennedy – Jimmy Carter? (Goes back farther I know). Remember PUMAs? Happens every time. But I thought the last hour took care of all that.
Michelle Obama is amazing. Simply amazing. I’m looking forward to the rest of the convention including the Explainer if Chief tonight. Have a great convention everyone!
I’d vote for stein before I’d vote for the russian-funded klansman. If she’d throw the vicious cheri honkala off her ticket, I’d vote for stein before I’d vote for the New Mexican anarchist – whatzizzname.
Just like to point out that the Bernie signs were handed out by Clinton workers in preparation for his speech. This AM he said he expects that the delegates he earned to vote for him though there might be a call for acclimation once she passes the winning delegate count and that she “Must Become President”. VP Biden said this AM to let the Bernie people enjoy the reward of their hard work. In the end, the majority will vote for Hillary simply because that is what is best for the country.
Welcome home, Tylenol !
Flatus
I’m pretty sure you are only supposed to vote once per election for President, but I won’t tell if you don’t. ?
Booker & Mrs Obama are first rate speakers. They soothed my poor ears, that were savaged by the monotone shrieking of the rip up hatefest. Their vocal variety – pacing, volume, and tone – deserve a shared Nobel Prize for Oratory.
Red- too bad you didn’t stick to your promise of a 2 week hiatus.
KGC, yes, some issues please. Trade is a tough one, so many thorny data points and so much emotion it’s tough to get at the truth.
For example, I was griping to a Virginia friend about the Chinese buying Smithfield (based in VA), which dominates my Safeway’s bacon and ribs sections. Was saying I was going to switch, but my friend pointed out that after they bought the company they dramatically ramped up orders from China and created lots more jobs for Americans. That’s what I mean about trade, so many angles.
A funny thing I’ve noticed lately, on TV ads and more and more packaging: the words “Assembled in the USA” — kinda sad that’s all we do anymore. Nice try, marketeers.
OSH lol
Geeez… I just came down from my studio… must have lost 5 lbs from sweat even with the air conditioner on.
Hey Ty… nice to see our Canadian friend!
I didn’t have a problem with the Bernie people holding up their signs… IMO, this is healthy in a democracy. But the booing and trying to drown out speakers was disrespectful.
Funny how we all couldn’t wait to see what kind of drama the Repub. convention would produce and it was kinda boring. The Dem convention…. gotta love it… never boring.
Whenever I see hundreds of protesters one question always comes to mind: How do they afford it? These people aren’t usually local. They aren’t delegates who might have been paid for by their local groups or fairly well heeled individuals. So who is footing the bill for them to spend hours standing around?
Jace, Ann Kirkpatrick needs your votes. You are probably still registered in AZ, and could vote by absentee ballot. Just don’t vote in Washington too.
craig, yep, too complex for candidates to give simplistic answers… example a little over a year ago, jim webb re trade on dian rehm show:
WEBB I generally support free trade agreements. But it really depends on labor provisions and at this point, I would not yet say I support TPP.
REHM You’re hedging.
WEBB No, I think it’s fair to hedge here. You know, they held the details pretty close, very close to their vests.
The EconomistVerified account
@TheEconomist Jul 23Trump’s royal procession. Can you caption this cartoon?
sounds like a fun contest… flatus? bink? you guys up for it?
“so many thorny data points and so much emotion it’s tough to get at the truth”
If a healthy democracy is predicated on an informed electorate, it’s absurd to believe the average citizen could make a rational and responsible decision concerning who is best to set the policy agenda for such a diverse and unwieldy society.
Churchill expressed that more succinctly than I, but I shouldn’t have to quote him with this crew.
Read some quotes form the disgruntled Bern-coats and tell me we don’t need education reform, yesterday.
…already an inherent commentary in that cartoon, pat. I prefer a rarer medium when I craft, but thanks for thinking of me! Thanks for all your posts, also.
One of the problems with the TPP negotiations is they were in secret
Each country was bound by a secrecy agreement until the process was closed
Poobah, trade is a thorny issue. Here’s what I know about trade: trump’s clothing brands (his and Ivanka’s) are made in China and Indonesia. His goofy caps are made somewhere in the Pacific rim. That’s the disastrous trade he complains about – I’m sure he profits well from it. Said he couldn’t find anyone in the US to make his stupid caps. Took me a 3 second Google search to find Americap. Or Unionwear.Maybe the quality and price weren’t low enough for a billionaire’s campaign.
trump prides himself on owning the franchise to beauty, but last night the dem women (sorry Booker) were drop dead gorgeous. Eva Longoria to Anastasia Somoza…to Michelle Obama. Al Franken already knows the convention drinking game. And old bern forgets it is no longer a primary and the old coot can’t remember where he put the antidote. As for the dishonesty poison, it may cost the dems the election especially when bern & company have a few lies of their own. I find it depressing and a spoiler for me…I take it personally as do many of the women of my generation. A real double standard…women only get one chance. I know, limit my comments.
What should Bill say tonight
I think he should talk about how much he loves her and their marriage and why
what good mom she was/is strictly personal
Next up, the terrible Twins (fdba the original Washington Senators) face the abominable braves/beaneaters. This series is sure to stink like bad Little League.
Anywhat, thank goodness that our long terror is finally over. I hope.
One outcome of Hillary’s loss in 2008 is that it has given the GOP seven plus more years to demonize, lie and drum up phony issues for investigations. This is just a reminder to check the sources, get the context, and for God’s sake don’t believe the exaggerations.
Preacher : “Johnny, can you tell us why Jesus died ?”
Johnny : “Hillary done it.”
Just to be fair tonight, someone should ask Bill Clinton, “Who Are You Wearing”.
patd…with regards to the cartoon they are all following the horse’s ass.
Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii nominating Sanders. Guess he didn’t want the LGBT vote. http://mauitime.com/news/politics/heres-why-the-hawaii-lgbt-caucus-doesnt-support-rep-tulsi-gabbards-reelection-campaign/
bs owns love?
Gabbard is the who writes trumps copy…she is one of the first to criticize Obama for not using the term islamic extremism.
Can’t get much better than John Lewis seconding your nomination … Another barrier broken by a great man.
John Lewis nominating speech now: “We must vote in November, and vote like we’ve never voted before.”
bern’s return to independent
Breaking on Through
Roll call now
NEW THREAD
its really happening- a marvelous day.
bw- i noticed her bringing up the love theme too. oh well, guess she isn’t too worried about being lonely in dc either.
NEW THREAD