Two of Barack Obama’s most important allies, his wife Michelle and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, spoke emotionally about his candidacy and his character on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, electrifying delegates with their improbable presence.
Potentially the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama was given an unusually prominent speaking slot, an opportunity she used to tell a series of personal stories about her South Side Chicago upbringing and marriage to the presumptive Democratic nominee. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, cast the Illinois senator as the heir apparent to the legacy of the most famous family in Democratic politics…
So, I’ve crossed my fingers and hoped that the Rovian Republican machine would fail this time. I’d heard that Michelle Obama was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, but I’d never heard her speak before tonight. I thought she gave the best political speech I’ve heard in years. I’ve loved some of Barak Obama’s speeches, but she’s better than he is. Blockbuster human being, just fabulous!
Then I watched Nightline, and heard them talk about the "Hillary Factor." They showed footage of Hillary supporters picketing outside the Convention, saying some pretty nasty things about Obama. It made my blood boil. Then they showed a McCain Ad chiding Obama for not picking her as his running mate and the blood boiling increased. After living through the last eight years of Bush and Cheney, the idea that a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters would protest her Primary loss by voting for McCain was too much for me to take in, so I’ll let it sit until my blood’s temperature is 98.6° again and I can think straight.
Hillary protesters aside, I thought that tonight’s Convention was a great night for women. The speakers were predominantly women – some great women in my estimation. And it was topped off by the surprisingly powerful figure of Michelle Obama. I hope that Hillary Clinton comes close to Michelle when she speaks. It’s not an issue of her bringing Obama her supporters. 
They’ll do what they’re going to do. It’s a question of her losing gracefully [and she did lose]. And it’s a question of her knowing that the stakes in this election are way bigger than her personal ambitions.
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