Former First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted the shared foundational values between Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris and herself, despite their mothers having grown up on opposite sides of the world. Both women, she noted, believed deeply in the promise of the United States of America.
Speaking to an energetic audience on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on August 20, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois, Obama noted, “That’s why her mother [Shyamala Gopalan] moved here from India at 19. It’s why she taught Kamala about justice, about the obligation to lift others up, about our responsibility to give more than we take.”
Reflecting on Harris’s upbringing, she shared Harris’s mother often told her, “Don’t sit around and complain about things. Do something.” This invaluable advice, Obama said, motivated Harris to work hard, graduate from an HBCU, and ultimately earn her law degree from a state school.
“From a middle-class household, Kamala worked her way up to become Vice President of the United States of America. My girl, Kamala Harris, is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the Presidency…” added Obama who emphasized the power of “hope” during her speech. “It couldn’t be more obvious. Of the two major candidates in this race, only Kamala Harris truly understands the unseen labor and unwavering commitment that has always made America great.”
Speaking ahead of her husband, former President Barack Obama’s address at the Convention, she praised Harris for her dedication to the nation, not by expressing “anger and bitterness,” but through “a life of service,” and by creating opportunities for others. She underscored that Harris is aware that most people won’t have the luxury of “failing forward.”
She expressed confidence that Harris and Walz will lead the nation “with compassion, inclusion, and grace.” She also acknowledged that they, like everyone else, are human and are bound to make mistakes.
On August 19th, former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential election, remarked, “Wow. There’s a lot of energy in this room, just like there is across the country. Something is happening in America; you can feel it. Something we’ve worked for and dreamed of for a long time…”
Clinton expressed a wish, that had both her mother and Harris’s mother witnessed this moment, they would surely say, “Keep going.”
“So, with faith in each other and joy in our hearts, let’s send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House. Kamala has the character, experience, and vision to lead us forward. I know her heart and her integrity,” added Clinton, who many believed would shatter the glass ceiling by becoming the first female President of the United States in 2016.
Clinton went on to say, she and Harris started their careers as young lawyers advocating for abused and neglected children, a role that left a lasting impression on them. Harris now carries “the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped, every community she served.”
“As a prosecutor, Kamala locked up murderers and drug traffickers. She will never rest in defense of our freedom and safety. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial. And when he woke up, he made his own kind of history—the first person to run for President with 34 felony convictions,” pointed out Clinton. “So as President, she will always have our backs, and she will be a fighter for us. She will fight to lower costs for hardworking families, open the doors wide for good paying jobs. And yes, she will restore abortion rights nationwide.”
“Kamala cares about kids and families, cares about America. Donald only cares about himself,” she stressed urging everyone to support Harris, who will fight for the American people. According to Clinton, this election is not just about choosing a President, but it is about “uplifting our nation,” and expanding America’s promise to include everyone.
Commending President Joe Biden’s legacy and leadership, Clinton conveyed, “He has been democracy’s champion at home and abroad. He brought dignity, decency, and confidence back to the White House, and he showed what it means to be a true patriot,” while thanking President Biden for his lifelong service and leadership to America.
