Michelle Obama redefines success

Michelle Obama delivers the keynote speech to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte (AP phot)

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Now that Michelle Obama has delivered her keynote speech at the Democratic convention, KIRO’s Tom Tangney says it’s time to turn all the speech making over to the First Ladies.

“Both Ann Romney and Michele Obama gave knockout speeches. Not surprising that they’re personal but in both cases, so professional, so polished. And also so strategic.” says Tangney.

Emphasis on the strategic. Tangney says Obama did a masterful job of countering last week’s Republican speeches, especially by her counterpart Ann Romney.

Obama’s speech was mostly about her husband’s personal values and how they shape policy, says Tangney.

“For Barack, these issues aren’t political, they’re personal because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. He know what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids. Barack knows the American dream because he’s lived it,” said Obama.

Tangney gives the highest marks in the speech to Obama’s drawing of sharp contrasts between her husband and Mitt Romney, without ever mentioning the Republican challenger by name.

“For Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives,” she said.

Tangney says Obama’s poise and presentation stood out, but did it make a difference?

“I think the point of her speech last night was to establish that personal equals policy,” says Tangney.

“She didn’t flinch from this. She tried to explain health care as a matter of personal values. She did not deal with the economics at all. She explained the personal values behind the policies they are working for.”