PHILADELPHIA — On a star-studded Monday night at the Democratic National Convention that included Sen. Corey Booker, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sarah Silverman, Eva Longoria, Paul Simon, Boyz II Men and Demi Lovato, it was the first lady, Michelle Obama, who made the most compelling and riveting argument as to why a former first lady should be the next president of the United States.
Obama delivered an electrifying and optimistic speech about Hillary Clinton, imploring to the audience to remember that the election is “about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of our lives,” she said. “And I am here tonight because in this election, there is only one person who I trust with that responsibility: our friend, Hillary Clinton.”
The two-time Ivy League graduate and lawyer also convincingly talked about hope and chasing seemingly impossible dreams, a stark contrast to the dark and angry atmosphere in Cleveland last week.
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my two black, beautiful and intelligent daughters playing with their dogs on the White House lawn,” Obama said. “Because of Hillary, my daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”
“I’m with her,” Obama said, as she praised Secretary Clinton for not giving up after she lost the primaries to Michelle Obama’s husband eight years ago. She said Clinton had “guts and grace to keep coming back to put those cracks in the glass ceiling.”
Obama took several swipes at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump without naming him, saying to great cheers that the world’s problems cannot be solved or summarized in “140 characters,” referencing Trumps love of tweeting insults. But her most effective denunciation of Trump took place near the end when she countered Trump’s statement that the GOP has to make American great again.
“Don’t let someone tell you this country isn’t great — that we need to make it great again,” Obama exclaimed. “Because, right now, this country is the greatest country on Earth.”
Celebrities were awed by Obama’s speech and took to social media to articulate their sentiments. Take a look at what the first lady said, followed by responses from Hollywood.
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Michelle Obama makes me want to be a better man. #DemsInPhilly
— CHRlS ROCK (@chrisrockyoz) July 26, 2016
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Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn’t be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS. I love you, Michelle.
— President Obama (@POTUS) July 26, 2016
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#StrongerTogether #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/K5kp9kQjg7
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2016
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Tears. Chills. @MichelleObama #DNC so honored to be here.
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) July 26, 2016
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God Bless you @FLOTUS!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA ????????????
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) July 26, 2016
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Philly. What a city. End of day 1 #DNC!!! @MichelleObama you blew my mind @CoryBooker what a speaker. The future of America is BRIGHT
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) July 26, 2016
Video: PBS YouTube page