In what history will describe as one of the best political speeches ever delivered, Michelle Obama did the seemingly impossible. She rehabilitated Hillary Clinton, entranced Bernie Sanders’ supporters, shaded Donald Trump without even mentioning his name, and reminded the world she is the best decision President Barack Obama ever made.
Here are the first lady’s best moments:
When she illustrated Beyoncé’s lyrics: “Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper”
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters, two beautiful and intelligent Black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”
When she shaded Donald Trump without even mentioning his name
“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great. Because right now this is the greatest country on Earth. … I want someone who understands that the issues the president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.”
When she rehabilitated Hillary Clinton
“See, I trust Hillary to lead this country because I’ve seen her lifelong devotion to our nation’s children. … Hillary has spent decades doing the relentless, thankless work to actually make a difference in their lives. 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.”
When she dusted off the haters
“How we urge them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith. How we insist that the hateful language that 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.
“No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high.”
When she demonstrated the intersectionality of race and gender
“[Breaking barriers] is the story of this country … the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done.”
Later, she alluded to the message a Black president sent to “the little Black boy who looked up at my husband, his eyes wide with hope, and he wondered, ‘Is my hair like yours?’ ” She then added, with more emotion than we’ve ever seen her display, “Because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”
When POTUS dropped the mic
After Michelle Obama’s final standing ovation, the president tweeted: “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.”
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 (@POTUS44) July 26, 2016
