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Mrs. Obama gives message of hope for many
 Reporting by Heather Scarlett | Photograph by Rachel Kilroy
The gymnasium of Buchtel High School was alight with energy, fueled by spectators eager to hear Michelle Obama reiterate the Democratic Party’s idea of change.
Michelle Obama represented her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, at Friday’s political rally in Akron, OH. Obama’s absence from the political event was so he could make a trip to Hawaii to visit with his ailing grandmother.
Those in attendance at Buchtel High School numbered around 3,000 people a few hundred of which had to stand outside to hear the speech. Many said they hoped to hear Michelle Obama speak about ideas to fix the economy and others wanted to know about Obama’s policies on healthcare and early childhood education.
Crystal Conway is a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and she was there to represent her union, Local 3885 of Akron.
Conway, who is a 47-year-old Akron resident, said she hoped Michelle Obama would address the economy and financial issues for the working class.
“Financial status is the most important thing,” she said. “I want to make sure we can pay our bills and stay above the water.”
“We don’t want anything to be privatized. We want nice health benefits when we get old,” Conway said.
Virginia White, 72-year-old retired government worker of Munroe Falls, OH, said she and her husband, Charlie White, need all the help they can get with their social security.
White said she fears the poor economy will affect the current social security situation, but feels Obama can keep social security stable.
“(We’re) ready for a big change,” she said.
Lindsay Kesselman, 25-year-old classical singer from Akron, said wanted to hear Michelle Obama speak about educational funding for college students.
“Long term financial planning for those younger than me and women’s rights are huge issues for me,” she said, “because equal opportunity needs to be realized.”
Before the crowded gymnasium got to see Michelle Obama a surprise appearance by Jurnee Smollett, an actress know for her part in “The Great Debaters”, came to show her support for Obama.
Michelle Obama reinforced the idea that her husband understands the American people because he has lived through the same challenges as the middle-class.
She said Obama believe this race is not about him it is about Americans and the changes they need to happen in their government.
“This movement is about change,” Mrs. Obama said.
She talked about the economy and how the solution is to provide jobs because when people have jobs they are “proud to work.”
“Our paychecks aren’t going as far as they used too,” Mrs. Obama said. “We feel it at the grocery store, at the gas station and as parents when we tuck our kids in at night.”
She explained that Obama understands that “regardless of race or religion most Americans are decent hardworking people who don’t necessarily want government to fix all their problems.”
“They just want to know that after a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice at the end of their life they can put their feet up and rest,” Mrs. Obama said.
Kenneth Brown, 48-year-old retired Akron resident, said Michelle Obama’s speech was “Dynamite!”
“I like how Barack Obama is for the middle-class people because he was middle-class,” Brown said.
Shirley Simon, a 59-year-old Akron attorney, said she liked hearing Michelle Obama speak because she is “grounded.”
“Barack Obama is the only chance we have for change,” Simon said. |
