The time of year has arrived when the Republican Party and Democratic Party intensely compete for the opportunity to take the lead in making a better America. Each party has a convention full of loud cheering and support from the many hearts that have been touched by the inspirational speeches given.
Among the speakers at the conventions are the candidates’ wives. This year, Michelle Obama gave a speech for the Democrats, and Ann Romney spoke for fellow Republicans.
Both Mrs.Obama and Mrs.Romney praised the diligence of women and their ability to dedicate their lives to providing better lives for their children. Michelle Obama spoke about her husband’s hard-working grandmother who “hit a glass ceiling” and couldn’t advance because she was a woman. Ann Romney said, “It’s the mothers who really hold this nation together,” and the crowd erupted. Signs reading “Women love Ann Romney” and “I love Michelle Obama” waved proudly at their respective events.
It was very easy for women, even those out of the spotlight, to relate to these speakers. Ann Romney mentioned her five sons and eighteen grandchildren, who followed her story of meeting a tall, funny, and nervous Mitt Romney. Michelle Obama reminisced about soccer games with Malia and Sasha and a date night shortened by the exhaustion of fulfilled motherly duties. Both inspirational figures gave the women of America hope. Unfortunately, they can’t both serve as first lady.
Although both women succeeded in connecting with their female audiences on a personal level, Michelle Obama emphasized that she could connect not only with women but also with other groups that face discrimination and hardships. Obama made it clear the she and her husband have experienced “tough times” themselves and are therefore well-equipped to help those Americans who are reliving what their lives used to be like. Ann Romney, on the other hand, said she has only seen and heard. There is a difference.
Whichever party triumphs, there is no doubt that either Mrs.Obama or Mrs.Romney will do her best to help the women of America.
Michelle Obama’s Speech at The Democratic National Convention:
Ann Romney’s Speech at The Republican National Convention:
Chelsea- you chose an angle to covering the democratic and republican conventions which more directly applied to the Hewitt student body (always our goal on the Hewit-Times!) by concentrating on the Michelle Obama and Anne Romney, as opposed to simply speaking about the conventions in general. You made a point of sharing both what was said by Mrs. Obama/Mrs. Romney (embedding the video clips of their speeches was a nice touch!) and the audience’s reaction, giving the article more depth. Congratulations on your first article of the 2012/2013 school year!
Thank you for this fair and balanced commentary. The sense of shared history for women, despite difference in political views, resonates with me and many of the readers of this publication, I am sure. nice work!