Source: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Getty
Michelle Sets Michigan Crowd Ablaze With The Stakes Of The 2024 Election: ‘A Vote For Him Is A Vote Against Us!’
Michelle Obama came in for the kill in Kalamazoo with a speech that effortlessly ethered Donald Trump’s infinite “incompetence”: “When the American people fired him from a job that was too big for him… he tried to steal it.” On Oct. 26, the first day of early voting in Michigan, Michelle made it clear she’s fed up with those hesitating to support Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to NPR, her tone was both frustrated and fiery as she called out what she sees as a double standard in this election.
“I’m a little angry,” Michelle admitted to the crowd, said Michelle.
She went on to voice her frustration with those questioning Harris while ignoring Donald Trump’s controversial history. She pointed to a clear reality in this election season: while some voters seem to gloss over Trump’s character flaws, they hold Harris to an almost impossible standard.
With polls showing a close race, Michelle highlighted what’s at stake for women’s rights, calling Trump an “existential threat” to reproductive health. As CNN reports, Michelle’s message was clear: Trump’s policies are a direct “vote against us.”
Michelle’s tone blended hope and fear, describing Harris as brave, compassionate, and fully prepared for the role.
“By every measure, she has demonstrated that she’s ready,” Michelle said, adding, “The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment?”
Trump Gets a Pass; Kamala Gets A Checklist
Michelle made sure to go into depth about Trump’s record. She reminded the crowd of his “gross incompetence” and addressed those giving him a pass, despite his history, which she listed as:
being a “convicted felon”
a “known slum lord”
a “predator found liable for sexual abuse”
Following this list, she underscored the inconsistency in the expectations for Harris compared to her male opponents.
“I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Donald Trump’s gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn,” said Michelle.
Michelle warned voters against falling for Trump’s “antics” again, saying, “That’s exactly how he got elected the first time — folks gave him a pass and rolled the dice betting that he couldn’t possibly be that bad.”
Michelle’s Plea To Men On Reproductive Rights: ‘Take Our Lives Seriously’
Source: JEFF KOWALSKY / Getty
As NPR reports, Michelle’s words weren’t just a critique of Trump’s record; she spoke to the real-life impact that politics can have on women’s lives.
She highlighted the consequences of abortion restrictions, stressing the stakes of a second Trump presidency. The mother of two urged men to consider the significance of women’s health issues in this election. She pleaded to the audience to recognize internal misogyny; this as an issue affecting everyone, not just women.
“I am asking y’all from the core of my being to take our lives seriously — please. Do not put our lives in the hands of politicians — mostly men — who have no clue or do not care about what we, as women, are going through,” she said.
Michelle wasn’t alone in her call to action. Vice President Harris joined her in calling out Trump’s influence over the Supreme Court, citing the justices he appointed as a direct reason for the rollback of Roe v. Wade.
“Remember how we got here. Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade. They did as he intended,” said Harris.
Very fitting for the Harris Team slogan, “Never going back.”
According to CNN, Michelle spoke directly to men, warning of the risks in leaving decisions about women’s health to Trump’s administration.
“Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us,” she said, rallying the crowd to see the real consequences of the election. “Because a vote for him is a vote against us, against our health, against our worth,” said Michelle.
It was a message to all voters: look beyond party lines to the impact on women.
She went even further to paint a vivid picture of the reality of the election results. The assault on reproductive rights threatens beyond abortion access. From high-risk pregnancies to delivery complications and even cancer screenings, lives are on the line.
“If your wife is shivering and bleeding on the operating room table during a routine, the delivery gone bad,” Michelle said, “you’ll be the one pleading for somebody, anybody to do something.”
So let’s do something!
Check out more of Michelle Obama dressing down Donald Trump’s deceptions and her full-length spirited speech after the flip!
Michelle Obama Fact-Checks ‘The Lie That We Don’t Know Kamala’
Source: The Washington Post / Getty
Michelle closed her speech by shutting down doubts about Harris.
“The lie that we do not know who Kamala is or what she stands for,” said Michelle.
She called out the discrepancy and stressed that people do know Kamala — it’s a matter of giving her a fair shot.
Online receivers of Michelle’s messages seem to have mixed reviews.
Michelle’s Closing Question: ‘Why Is This Race Even Close?’
Source: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Getty
Before embracing Harris onstage, Michelle voiced her concerns about the close race, despite Trump’s “horrible behavior” and handling of the pandemic.
“With all that being said, I got to ask myself, ‘Well, why on Earth is this race even close?’”
For Harris, the message was clear as she rallied the crowd in Kalamazoo. She challenged young voters to carry forward the fight for freedom. “Generations of Americans before us led the fight for freedom, and now the baton is in our hands,” she said.
With a rally full of raw critiques and personal pleas, Michelle delivered a message impossible to ignore. She and Harris made it clear that for them, this election is deeply personal.
Watch Michelle Obama’s full-length speech at the Kalamazoo Kamala Harris rally below.
