Michelle Obama took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, and rocked the house. Whether you're a fan or not, you'll find her speech was truly inspirational. As former RNC Chair Michael Steele said, "I thought the First Lady gave a hell of a speech. I know I'm supposed to be partisan, but I'm an American."
Here are 8 of her most inspiring quotes:
- If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire ... if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores ... if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote ... if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time ... if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream ... and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love ... then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.
- We learned about gratitude and humility -- that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean ... and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.
- I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are -- it reveals who you are.
- Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys ... Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma’s house ... and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both.
- Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable -- their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.
- [W]hen you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.
- And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage. We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.
- If so many brave men and women could wear our country’s uniform and sacrifice their lives for our most fundamental rights ... then surely we can do our part as citizens of this great democracy to exercise those rights ... surely, we can get to the polls and make our voices heard on Election Day.
More from The Stir: 10 Wise, Witty Betty White Quotes That Prove She Won’t Talk to an Empty Chair at the DNC
Did you watch the First Lady's speech? What did you think of it?
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Comments 65
Emma, you picture of your husband, baby and you is beautiful. Just wanted to say that.
@fleurdelys -- that IS a great article -- thanks for posting!
As for Michelle's speech......it was probably above average, but certainly not great. Yes, I'm sure she had some input, but clearly she is not a speechwriter, so the hard work went to someone else. There was an element of "poor pitiful me" in the speech, and this is from a woman (and her husband) who undoubtedly benefitted from Affirmative Action.
While I have no opinion on Michelle, I do have an opinion on her husband. I was also DISGUSTED that the DNC chose to bring the fat, bloated, woman-murdering Ted Kennedy back to life in their video montage. Kennedy is a disgrace. It's ironic that the Democrats seem to think that Republicans are declaring war on women when they glorify an ACTUAL murderer in Kennedy.