Psst... There's Another Obama That Could Run For Office, Easily !!!

[WillyT]

Did you see this on C-Span today ???

Look for this:

Michelle Obama in Plymouth, NH
Michelle Obama in speaks to supporters and workers in the Plymouth, New Hampshire campaign office.
1/6/2008: PLYMOUTH, NH: 1 hr. 10 min.

When ya go here: http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,

Man... is she good!

:wow:

[TheDebbieDee]

1. I caught about 30 minutes of her presentation live on C-Span

earlier today. I'd rather listen to her than listen to him........

[Bluebear]

3. You said it!

[Pirate Smile]

2. She was great in the one below - she was speaking in Grinnell, Iowa.

http://www.c-span.org/rss/video.asp?MediaID=34071

Here was one review:

Michelle Obama Wows the Seniors

Grinnell, Iowa - I'm here at the Mayflower senior center to see Michelle Obama, as part of a few posts I'll do on the spousal effect this cycle. Michelle seems to be the kind of speaker that attracts tons of people -- aren't old ladies supposed to be Hillary voters? Well, they're here en masse -- but no journalists. (A lot of pols have the opposite problem.) Maureen Dowd is here, and a C-SPAN guy, but other than that, no scribes. I guess the spouses that are getting the attention are either the ones that frequently overshadow their mates (Bill, Elizabeth Edwards), or the trainwrecks (Jeri Thompson).

It's too bad, because Michelle is awesome. She is just so incredibly regal -- unbelievably tall, in a bold striped black suit that only makes her seem taller, with pearls and a swept-back hairdo that almost looks 30s-style. ("She is just so TALL!" some ladies are overheard saying as they leave.) She looks like more of a star than her husband. That said, I'm struck that her argument, in an intimate stump speech she gives entirely from memory, was completely different from Obama's. The first half of her address was about growing up in a humble, "tiny" South Side apartment. "My brother and I are products of the ordinary public schools," she stresses. "There was nothing miraculous about my upbringing." This point in contrast to Barack, whose entire life story is some kind of miracle.

She uses the word "ordinary" nine times, by my count, in the speech; she doesn't drop the ubiquitous Obama keywords of "hope" until 20 minutes in, and "change" until 10 minutes after that. It's not radical change, an overhaul of "politics as usual," a huge infusion of new hope that people need, she says. Growing up, "my father didn't want much. People aren't asking for much." Just a "little bit of hope," as she puts it the first time she invokes Obama's signature keyword idea. Public schools a little bit better. Seniors who are a little bit healthier, and able to "give our kids a little extra candy now and then" for a few more years. It's not transformative; it's almost a conservative argument.

Perhaps this is why journalists aren't latching onto Michelle -- it's not as easy to square her argument for Obama with his own as it is to, say, match Elizabeth's gist with John's. That said, she's an incredibly effective speaker, great in her ability to make what could be humdrum points exciting. People seem wowed by her -- "If he wasn't running, I'd vote for her!" was one reaction. So maybe she's a good foil for Obama's soaring, transformative rhetoric.

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2007/12/31/michelle-obama-wows-the-seniors.aspx

[sandnsea]

4. Repeat t 1:15 eastern

I missed Michelle today, just didn't work with my schedule. I hope I can catch the repeat. She's a great speaker too.

[rug]

5. Is she the Hillary of 2016?

[jlake]

6. I am sure it is part of their plan to both have turns at the presidency.

But seriously, I do like the spouses of John and Barack better than the candidates themselves.

[smalll]

7. She can't count on it, the way things are going these days -- just think of it -

Barack wins the White House, wins re-election in 2012, and presides over a prosperous and peaceful America. Then the Dems lose in 2016 (in part because their '16 candidate doesn't run strongly enough on the Obama record.) A Republican takes over -- and turns out to be such a monumentally LOUSY president, that somehow, when Michelle gets to run after him, people will reject her candidacy -- "who wants to go back to an Obama administration?!?! We wan't CHANGE! She's YESTERDAY's news!"

[Captain Hilts]

8. I like her better than all the candidates. nt

[Misterx]

9. Michelle in Plymouth

I never write or subscribe to 'forums', 'blogs' or whatever these things are called, but in this case my wife and I were in Plymouth yesterday and listened to Michelle. I've been to about 3-4 of Michelle's appearances and my wife has attended more.

Being in my mid-50s and surviving a number of administrations, I personally find both Sen. Obama and Michelle as refreshing. I tend to be one of those 'cynical' coots that both Michelle and Sen. Obama have referenced in their speeches. I found Michelle last night (as I have before) to be bright, articulate, able to think on her feet - and gracious. One older gentleman sitting next to me obviously came loaded with questions (he had a sheaf of papers). Michelle patiently listened to what he had to say after her presentation. The thing I find refreshing is that they both say what they consider as true, and don't flip-flop, depending on the crowd.

On the drive home, my wife and I were discussing what type of First Lady Michelle will be when she's in the White House. I wasn't around then, but understand that Eleanor Roosevelt was really engaged in social causes. Some of the more recent First Ladies prefer to not be so public.

I have to admit I'm not dialed into politics as some others. I also know this is completely unscientific, but I usually try to predict who will be the president or party candidate by looking at their package. Funny thing is I've usually been right. I see the Democratic party's candidate as some with the initials BHO. Can I say that?

Anyway, Ciao y'all. Maybe I'll write to another forum in 5-10 years.

[Blarch]

10. Well...Illinois will need a new senator

:toast:

I would vote for her. maybe Alan Keyes can run against her ? :bounce:

[undeterred]

11. I met Michelle Obama collecting signatures for Barack in 1999

when he first ran for Congress in Chicago. She was standing in front of the grocery store in the rain and I talked to her for a few minutes. I had never heard of her husband- she gave me the pitch and I decided both to sign the petition and vote for him right then and there. She was very down to earth and friendly. I found out later she was a corporate lawyer who lived in one of the mansions in Kenwood and a mom with 2 children. She came across as the kind of person you'd trust.