Michelle, Maria, Caroline, Oprah: "Four extraordinary women put on best campaign rally in 20 years"

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Editorial Observer
Michelle, Maria, Caroline and Oprah on the Hustings in California
By ANDREW ROSENTHAL
Published: February 4, 2008
Los Angeles

Forty-eight hours before the closest thing America has ever had to a national primary, four extraordinary women put on the best campaign rally I’ve seen in 20 years of covering presidential politics.

The pitch-perfect event in U.C.L.A.’s basketball arena started like every other Barack Obama event — chants of “yes we can” and signs pitching the power of hope. Mr. Obama campaigned on the East Coast Sunday, but by the time this rally ended, Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver had crystallized the challenge Senator Hillary Clinton will face if she wins the Democratic nomination. She will have to figure out how to preserve the energy and excitement that Mr. Obama has stirred in his supporters, especially in once-alienated young voters....

The crowd was screaming with delight when it saw Ms. Kennedy, who brought her uncle Senator Edward Kennedy and now, remarkably, her cousin Ms. Shriver, wife of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, into the Obama campaign. Ms. Kennedy previewed Ms. Shriver’s surprising appearance by urging Democrats to “step out of your lives and into this moment in history.”

Ms. Winfrey — finally — spoke to the most emotionally fraught aspect of this contest. “Now look at this campaign: the two front-runners are a black man and a woman,” she said. “What that says to me is we have won the struggle and we have the right to compete.” Instead of seeing a painful choice, voters, Ms. Winfrey urged, should see a moment when they “are free from the constraints of gender and race.” After watching the candidates struggle with the issue, painfully and awkwardly, in the past month, it was a relief to hear someone finally frame it in a way that celebrated what the Democratic Party has achieved — and then move beyond it.

Ms. Kennedy and Ms. Winfrey have more star power than pretty much anyone in this country. But it was Mrs. Obama who presented the challenge to Mrs. Clinton. Speaking without a script, wandering the stage and pumping her arms, she was intellectually powerful, even fierce at times, in making her political arguments and did not hesitate to jab at the Clintons’ legacy. “In my lifetime,” she said, “through Republican and Democratic administrations, it hasn’t got better for ordinary folks.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04mon4.html?em&ex=1202360400&en=2b69974241588f95&ei=5087%0A

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. And it'll be great when they lose!

[ursi]

6. what a nice, mature comment

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Thanks for posting that. Great report of an awesome event/ We are seeing history. I'm in

50's and I've never seen a primary race like this year.

It's a once in a life time event, a perfect storm so to speak.

GoBama!

[Darth_Kitten]

20. Yeah, never have seen self-righteous celebrities stumping for anyone!!!

I wonder how many middle-income people can just take a few weeks off to fight for "their" candidate?

[EFerrari]

21. A few weeks off? Maria ran there after ferrying her daughter

to a riding lesson. She didn't even change.

What kind of a problem do you have with democracy? Maybe these women should have just stayed home and shut up?

[Darth_Kitten]

23. Wish I could take a day off and spend time with my polo ponies.......

:)

[EFerrari]

24. So, now you are dissing this woman's success?

:)

[Darth_Kitten]

26. I'm bitterly jealous.

Always wanted Arnie for myself. She's a beotch. ;)

[EFerrari]

27. I think I'd rather have the pony.

lol

[TexasObserver]

3. It was a brilliantly conceived and performed event.

It was pure genius, and a real testament to the kind of women who back Barack. Great, noble women who inspire us.

[usregimechange]

4. Kick!

[Joyce78]

5. Does Caroline Kennedy identify herself as Ms Kennedy?

I thought that she was Mrs. Edwin Schlossberg. Also, I believe the first lady of California is not Ms Shriver ... isn't she Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[stahbrett]

22. And I thought that

women were free to choose how to be referred to. They apparently should check with you to see if it's OK to use their maiden names if they choose. ;)

[ursi]

7. Kick and Rank!

[BeyondGeography]

8. That was the most emotionally satisfying and politically effective rally

I've ever seen.

[donheld]

9. I thought it was wonderful.

[earth mom]

10. Let's see: 4 FILTHY RICH women telling the rest of us who to elect.

Sorry, but they are completely OUT OF TOUCH with the rest of America.

I'm sickened to see DU fall for this crap. :argh:

[BeyondGeography]

11. If it's any consolation, a caller on C-Span tonight said they looked "unkempt"

[earth mom]

13. Guess they were trying to keep it "real".

:eyes:

[charlie and algernon]

32. and I guess the Clinton's are your typical middle class family?

LOL LOL LOL

[sandnsea]

12. woman to woman, mother to mother

These women speak to me.

[DebraK]

14. kick

[DebraK]

15. kick

[angie_love]

16. I saw that event, it was beautiful!

[polichick]

17. k&r - It was an incredible event, and Michelle ROCKED!

[Darth_Kitten]

18. So Oprah is making it a racial thing?

Yes, it's okay to admit you are a woman, too, Oprah. :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

19. Yeah! So were Maria and Caroliine!

:sarcasm:

"I am not supporting Obama because he is black. I'm supporting him because he's brilliant." - OW

[psychopomp]

25. I am looking forward to seeing it in its entirety

If anybody finds a link first, please post it here, thanks!

Gobama!

[JNelson6563]

28. I know I will be lambasted for this but

Something about Michelle Obama turns me off.

There, I said it.

Julie

[Tellurian]

31. same here..

and not because of who she's married to.. just her, herself.. she looks like she is afflicted with obsessive/compulsive disorder.

[DebraK]

29. These are great women

[MJPassion]

30. kick