Michelle O gives an astonishing closing argument for the Biden-Harris ticket in this video that the campaign just dropped. She begins with a continuation of the “Trump’s not up to the job” theme she rolled out so effectively at the DNC but gets even more real about who needs to get off their asses and band together with Democrats to get rid of Trump:
It must have been cut before Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19. But Michelle O didn’t have to go back and re-do the parts about Trump’s idiotic and destructive aversion to masks, politicization of the pandemic, etc., since Trump is incapable of course correction and is doubling down on that this very day.
Michelle O speaks directly to white Rust Belt and rural voters at around the 12:30 mark, talking about how Trump uses white folks’ frustration with being accused of benefiting from a racist system and calls Trump out for using that resentment to divide people for his own ends. She emphasizes that Trump is just using them. She expresses empathy for pissed off downscale whites and asks for it in return for people who look like her, asking them to consider their perspective and not fall for Trump’s divisive tactics.
“We can no longer pretend we don’t know exactly who and what this president stands for. Search your hearts and your conscience. And then vote for Joe Biden like your lives depend on it.”
She talks about the peril of this moment and the necessity of taking action to stop the country from “spiraling out of control.” She acknowledges people’s frustration with lack of progress, and she speaks directly to young people who are disillusioned and may be thinking of not voting, making the case that no progress at all is possible with the corrupt lunatic Trump at the helm. I’m paraphrasing, but she makes this argument explicitly.
Anyhoo, it’s remarkable to see a first lady speaking so frankly about her husband’s successor being a mortal threat to the nation, and that’s what make it so compelling. Unlike a common Beltway hack, Michelle O recognizes the danger and adjusts her reaction and response accordingly. I don’t know what audience a 25-minute pitch will reach, but dog bless her for doing it.
Early Voting In Person Oct 6: CA, IL, IN, ME, MI, MN, NM, OH, SC, SD, VT, VA, WY
Mary G
She’s got her VOTE necklace on!
Suzanne
I adore her so much.
Kay
I voted. Here’s a nice picture of the early voters:
TaMara (HFG)
@Kay: WOOT!!
catclub
from Bloomberg. If he does it make him pay political advertising rates.
Hildebrand
@catclub: If I were the networks, I simply wouldn’t air it. No reason to, it’s not addressing an immediate crisis, it will not contain any news-worthy content. He can peddle his nonsense on Fox and OANN – no reason to inflict his knavery on the rest of the population.
Or if they air it, play Michelle Obama’s piece immediately following as the rebuttal.
aliasofwestgate
Getting ready to head out to get my WI ID card so i can vote early starting on the 20th. I’ve been registered for a bit now, so the ID is the only piece i’m missing. We’re off to the DMV so i can finish that process and be ready. Either way, we’re voting. That’s a given. I’ve done so since i first voted in 1996 for Clinton, and intend to keep doing it as long as i can.
Betty Cracker
@Kay: Wow! Looks like huge turnout!
Sloane Ranger
Don’t know if I’m late to the party, I usually am, but CNN are reporting that almost all of your senior military are quarantining after being exposed to COVID-19.
Been any briefings in the Oval Office recently, I wonder?
rp
I really, really, really hope Trump attacks MO after seeing that video.
germy
Cheryl Rofer
@Sloane Ranger:
zhena gogolia
Amanda Kloots, who lost her husband to Covid after 95 days of agony, has some words for Covita Trump:
Ramiah Ariya
I want to point out something about the Trumps, from a third-world perspective.
In a country like India, “the rule of law” means something different from the way developed countries use it. If you stood at a traffic junction in India, you would see vehicles constantly crossing the red light, while policemen look on. The policemen do not stop these drivers, because some times these people have political connections. Because people with political connections can bypass the law, over time, you just assume that anybody who violates rules and laws MUST have some political pull.
This means that over time, laws do not mean much – in India a traffic light’s purpose is not to stop ALL vehicles from crossing. The light only exists because WITHOUT IT there will be chaos.
That is, it is assumed that the law will apply in different ways to different people – and from there you get to a point where any law or rule is only a guideline.
It is to be noted that this kind of arrangement actually works for a good subset of people – particularly in the short term. Knowing a politician gives you a kind of pass to get away literally with murder.
This kind of constituency also exists in the US – a set of people who benefit from the watering down of rules and laws.
This is core constituency of the Trumps – The administration’s behavior during the pandemic and earlier with repeat violations of the Hatch Act; or violations of pandemic rules in various states – these are meant to signal to a constituency that they can slowly get to a point where the laws do not apply to them. This is the core donor community for the Trumps.
The Trumps have a plan – and they are executing it ably for their donors. If it continues and does not suffer punishment, then you can expect more and more such efforts by the Republican Party both in states and the center.
Adam L Silverman
@Sloane Ranger: The Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard tested positive. There is nothing in the reporting indicating he was in close proximity to the President recently. However, he was at several meetings with the rest of the Joint Chiefs.
Mike in NC
@germy: It’s true that Fat Bastard has neglected his cabinet of Batman villains for the past several months. He needs to bring them all together, along with Mark Meadows and Moscow Mitch, to force them to sing his praises again in a way that would have embarrassed Josef Stalin.
Baud
Thanks for posting, BC. It was great.
germy
patrick II
We know some of the people who were infected at the Rose Garden because they are famous. They refuse to do contact tracing, so we don’t know who else they have carried the disease to — relatives, friends, and work associates because they are not famous. Except for Claudia Conway who is infected and speaking out on TikTok for which her mother is angry with her. I think Claudia’s bravery will keep her sane.
But they are not contact tracing the various groups, four in all, that Trump met with since Wednesday morning. Who among them or their friends and families will be sick? We don’t know that either. They aren’t famous enough and may not want their identities revealed, and may put family and friends at risk.
And besides Herman Caine, who was famous enough, how many people at his rallies or their friends have become anonymously ill? If they aren’t contact tracing the Rose Garden, they aren’t contact tracing any of these.
They were keeping Hope Hicks test result secret before it was leaked and were probably trying to keep Trump’s secret too until Hope’s result came out and he became too sick to hide it anymore.
If they keep it secret and the virus and deaths don’t exist, it’s just like an extra dying off camera — what difference does it make?. Unless you’re the president or one of his friends famous enough that publicity can’t be avoided, don’t let on, don’t wear a mask, pretend the world is a show like the TV one where Donald knows what he is doing.
If a few thousand extras die, Donald can live with that. Maybe.
Barbara
@zhena gogolia: “So long as I’m okay nothing else matters.” Or: “The fact that I beat the China Virus proves how much better I am than ordinary humans.”
Nick Cordero left behind a one year old daughter.
I don’t know how amenable white voters in rust belt states are to Michelle Obama’s message. In any event, there are very few undecideds at this point.
Baud
@germy:
Someone here said the WH Gift shop is not actually associated with the white house.
patrick II
@germy:
They’ll take the money now, but wait a week to see how it actually goes. It truly makes me want to vomit.
germy
Adam L Silverman
@germy: Just a reminder, the White House gift shop is not actually the gift shop at the White House. It is not affiliated with the White House or the Federal government. It’s some asshat in semi-rural Pennsylvania who put up a website, trademarked the name “White House Gift Shop”, and runs the whole scam out of his house.
germy
@Adam L Silverman: I bet he’s making a ton of money, too. A true enterprising spirit.
Aleta
@patrick II: fwiw, it ‘shocked’ me (somehow the value of that word has plummeted) that it appears KAC did not distance from her daughter before tests for both were positive. (I admit that’s going by how the timeline looks on CC’s tiktoc, so who knows.)
patrick II
@Baud:
Like most shops on Government property, it is probably contracted out, but I’m going to guess they don’t sell stuff against the approval of the office holder.
Cheryl Rofer
Also in military covid cases
Betty Cracker
@Ramiah Ariya: Great points.
germy
@patrick II:
Read the Complete Story of the
Only Original Official White House Gift Shop in U.S. History
Established by Permanent Memorandum of President Harry S. Truman, Members of U.S. Secret Service, and Granted Primary & Exclusive Trademark Protections by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
President, White House, Diplomatic, U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division & Military Gifts for 70 Years During all Administrations Since 1946! Located in the White House for Nearly 70 Years, WHGS is Now Privately & Permanently Endowed and Now Operates Independently of the U.S. Government by Official Transfer & Succession Rights from the U.S. Secret Service Benefit UD Fund & Now with Exclusive Trademark Protections Officially Granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
JoyceH
The military aide to the President who just tested positive was Coast Guard. Might she have met with the Vice Commandant? If so, Trump has sidelined his entire military HQ. Vladdy must be so proud of his boy.
catclub
never knew about that attempt.
NotMax
Obama? Obama?
Name vaguely rings a bell. Off to Der Google to check.
:)
germy
Two thumbs up while he refuses to report any symptoms to his doctors.
It’s the power of positive thinking. He’ll will this virus away. You gotta be strong!
germy
Aleta
@patrick II: It’s so depraved it stuns the gods of disbelief.
Soprano2
I know people who think this way!!! They really believe they can “will” themselves to get better from anything.
patrick II
@germy:
That appears to be the key phrase.
Adam L Silverman
@JoyceH: I do not know, but I doubt that the Coast Guard aide on the White House staff is regularly meeting with the Vice Commandant.
Sloane Ranger
@Cheryl Rofer: Sorry for delay in responding, I was having my tea. Thanks. I see there’s now a post on this up.
Adam L Silverman
@patrick II: This is what I was referring to in comment #24. Somehow the trademark was allowed to either fall into disuse or it was never trademarked because everyone thought “it’s the government”. As a result it was bought by some schmuck in semi-rural PA.
Miss Bianca
@Ramiah Ariya: Very astute (and terrifying) observations, thank you for the perspective check.
NotMax
@germy
Epitaph on John Holmes’ tombstone?
Barney
It has been easy to forget that Michelle was a top lawyer. Her biographies seem to say she didn’t work in court that much, but that is a brilliant closing argument to a jury.
Please convict Trump.
germy
@NotMax:
“If your endowment lasts longer than 70 years, consult your physician.”
patrick II
@Adam L Silverman:
Yeah, thanks, your comment is why I updated mine to show that among the longer historical blather I posted earlier, the highlight is that it has been privatized.
germy
@patrick II: They buried that part at the bottom of the web site.
brantl
ANYBODY who thinks that Michelle takes a back seat to Barack, ought to hear this. She is positively kicking ass. I can’t imagine the number of moms, who are saying to themselves, that they can call whoever they want to call the first lady, but this is the first mom, for now, and for a long time. That woman’s got a great heart.