In her recent appearance in Baltimore at Morgan State University (MSU), First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to an enthusiastic audience that filled the seats of the Murphy Fine Arts Theatre. In an atmosphere that assumed the character of a political rally, supporters touted the success of President Barack Obama and received the First Lady with a rousing standing ovation. Mrs. Obama emphasized that in the November 2012 election, every vote will count, and this election will be closer than the last. She encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
"Don't think because the political process is complex, it cannot be affected by your one vote, because it can," the First Lady stressed.
She quoted statistics revealing that during the 2008 election, in some precincts around the country, the number of votes impacting the election were only in the single and double digits.
Mrs. Obama also asked the audience to get involved in the political process beyond voting. She urged everyone to become campaign volunteers in their respective communities by doing jobs such as working phone banks and making sure people register. Talking to people and explaining what this election means for the future is important, she submitted.
"This journey is going to be hard, and the days are going to be long," Mrs. Obama said. "We have come far, but we still have much farther to go. We will not step back and allow the country to move back into the same policies that got the country in trouble in the first place."
"In this country, we have always moved forward," Mrs. Obama said further, "If not in our own lifetime, in the lifetimes of our children and grandchildren."
According to the First Lady, President Obama is fighting for everyone to achieve the American dream regardless of race, gender, or who they love. He knows the American dream can be achieved because he has lived it. She believes we must maintain hope and give our children solid foundations for their dreams.
Included among the president's accomplishments addressed by Mrs. Obama and other speakers are: thirty consecutive months of job creation with more than four million attributed to private sector growth; the end of the Iraq War; changes in the policies for illegal aliens who came to the U.S. as children; and the repeal of "don't ask don't tell." Additionally, there are reforms in Wall Street business practices, policies affecting student loans, and health care.
Were it not for student loans, the First Lady asserted that she and the President would not have been able to attend college. During the early years of their marriage, their combined student loan payment was more than their mortgage. Because of that firsthand experience, they empathize with students who are in debt because of educational expenses.
As she introduced Mrs. Obama, MSU senior and bone cancer survivor, Charnelle Bacon said with the implementation of health care reform, she no longer has to worry about her pre-existing condition preventing her from obtaining insurance. The education major says that she also benefits from the student loan reforms implemented by the President. Mrs. Obama said she has heard stories like Charnelle's from many people.
The First Lady and President Obama value the institution of family, and both are from families who worked hard to better themselves, and they did it without complaint. They did not take short cuts or try to cheat the system. One of the things she loved about Mr. Obama from the beginning of their relationship was his devotion to family, especially the women in his life. She admired that he fought for others and he has continued to do so during his presidency.
"I've seen up close what it means to make the hard decisions that impact future generations," she said. "As president, you must be willing to work for the benefit of the people you represent."
Mrs. Obama had a special message for the students in the audience. "Value everyone from the teachers to the janitors who keep the building clean. And when you walk through the door of opportunity," she advised, "You don't slam it shut behind you."
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
Other speakers at the event that preceeded Mrs. Obama's address included Congressman Elijah Cummings, Senator Ben Cardin, and Governor Martin O'Malley. In attendance also were MSU president, David Wilson, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Representatives Donna Edwards and John Sarbanes, and Maryland Senator, Barbara Mikulski.
Congressman Elijah Cummings
Congressman Elijah Cummings asserted, "President Obama has accomplished more in three years than some accomplished in eight, and did so with maximum opposition."
Senator Ben Cardin
Senator Ben Cardin maintained, "The rest of the country can learn something from Maryland, a strong democratic state. President Obama has had a partner in the White House who has worked with him to move America forward. We fought for the middle class and expanded funding for military families so that they receive proper health care. Everyone must vote in this election and nothing can be taken for granted. We cannot give into the extreme forces that will cause gridlock in Washington. First Lady Michelle Obama cares deeply for families, and this election is about the future of our youth."
Governor Martin O'Malley
Governor Martin O'Malley suggested, "We need to give President Obama a better Congress to work with. Tea Party Republicans are blocking everything the President is trying to do."
