Michelle Obama can not only say it, in her speech before the Democratic National Convention she hit the ball out the park, rounded the bases, and crossed home plate bringing the party faithful and the fans to their feet. Without a doubt, she did everything she needed to do in her keynote address.
Her task was not easy. She had to follow a stirring speech by Caroline Kennedy, the remaining royalty of Camalot. Kennedy compared Obama's husband to her slain father ... President John F. Kennedy.
She also had to follow the introduction of a video tribute to the ailing Senator Ted Kennedy, and a rousing appearance by the senior senator from Massachusetts which electrified the crowd in Denver.
Then it was her turn. Michelle Obama formally introduced herself and her husband Senator Barack Obama in an informal manner ... telling the stories of their everyday families, and the success stories of she and her husband.
She thanked those generations of men and women who fought to give present and future generations the rights they now possess. She thanked the military families who sacrifice to give freedom to all Americans. And she thanked her husband's former rival, Senator Hillary Clinton. Obama thanked Clinton for what she said was an effort to make America a better place, and to serve as an inspiration to all women.
Michelle Obama talked of family ... she talked of hope ... she spoke in terms of melding the past with the future to provide a better America. And in speaking of America, she put to rest her infamous statement regarding her pride in America by speaking of the "fight for the world as it should be," and "where the current of history meets the new tide of hope."
On cue following his wife's speech, the soon-to-be Democratic nominee Barack Obama popped up on a television screen within the convention hall to praise the words of his wife. Then -- maybe on cue, maybe not -- his daughters helped him solidify his image as a loving, family man.
Despite all she did with her speech, her stories, and her children, there were still those questions from pundits on the matter of race. Race is still a lightening rod in America. For some the question was "Will America elect an African-American?" For others, it was "Are they black enough?"
This is 2008 ... isn't it time we see skin for what it is -- just the covering of our bodies? The Olympics proved skin comes in various sizes and colors just like clothing, cars, and furniture. And skin makes no difference in what one can dream, and what one can accomplish.
" ... or so this news junkie thinks."
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