Michelle Obama stands by her man

Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, rouses the Democratic National Convention its first night, mixing their personal lives with a national vision.  “We were so young, so in love, and so in debt,” she began.  When they were dating, Barack’s “only pair of decent shoes was a half size too small,” their student loans and the life they built together.  Making it extremely personal, she gave a lens through which his support for gay marriage, equal opportunity and other issues he championed could be interpreted.  She was his lead character witness, the woman who committed her life to him: “He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids. Barack knows the American dream because he’s lived it, and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.” Her speech tried to remind American voters of his working class roots compared to his rival, Mitt Romney.  “He believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walkded through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you,” said Michelle drawing the crowd to its feet.

Read and watch Michelle Obama’s full speech on Rappler   and read an analysis of its effect on the New York Times