I, like many of you I'm sure, was quite moved by Michelle Obama's keynote speak last night on the opening evening of the Democratic National Convention. But really, did they have to play "Isn't She Lovely?", that sappy Stevie Wonder song after her remarks? They couldn't find "Isn't She Smart?" "Isn't She Brave?" or something like that.

That, and the women is introduced by her brother as "my little sister" and then called "cute" by the candidate after her speech? What the hell, man? Just let her talk. Does she need to be ironed out with condescension too?

Comments

[Carrie]

Agreed! At first, as it was just instrumental, I thought: "is that what they're playing?" Seems a little sexist. Maybe she requested it?

[Daniel R]

I'd say the song was tacky, but not necessarily sexist. The "cute" comment seemed out of place, "kick ass", "fantastic", "powerful" - yes, but "cute"?

As for the "my little sister", I thought it was a ploy to make her "human", so to speak. And maybe the song choice was about that too.

Michelle was great in that speech, but I can see how in prior events some people thought she appeared distant and almost condescending towards Bararck. I think her speech did much to change that image, esp. with the kids in the end.

[Daniel R]

By the way, if you read Maureen Dowd's article on Michelle Obama, you can see how perhaps the Obama team was trying to change that image from the one Dowd writes about to something more palatable to the American Public:

"She's Not Buttering Him Up", Maureen Dowd

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05EFD9143EF936A15757C0A9619C8B63

[Michelle]

Though Michelle is deeply intelligent and highly accomplished, I think the campaign is striving very hard to position her as merely the potential first lady. The emphasis seems to be on how she will continue to focus on raising their daughters and working within her community, without butting in on policy decisions. They seem intent on quelling fears that we'll wind up with a Clintonesque "two for one" proposition (which was of course much derided).