Chicago, Mrs. Obama Take Center Stage In Denver

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 26, 2008 3:35PM

As the Democratic National Convention got underway last night, much of focus has been on the ongoing Clinton-Obama struggle and an appearance by stricken Senator Ted Kennedy. But Monday night, with the theme of "One Nation" focusing on Barack's background, featured a plethora of Chicago and Illinois politicians stumping for Candidate Obama, including the ladies of the Obama family. Amongst the Chicago politicians who spoke yesterday (though you wouldn't know it given the way Wolf Blitzer talked incessantly over the speeches - viva la C-SPAN!) was Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who used old-school baseball analogies for Obama and the Clintons:

“Barack Obama has the capacity to hit,” Jackson said a breakfast panel just before the opening of the Democratic National Convention. “But he is in the situation where he can’t hit back, which Jackie Robinson could not do…He had to be able to run the bases, even though the crowd was jeering the first African-American on the field...He has to keep smiling, because no one wants an angry African-American man in the White House.”

Speaking at a panel presented by Yahoo News, Politico and The Denver Post, Jackson added that party skeptics need to have “a Pee Wee Reese moment" — a reference to the Kentucky-born Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop who famously embraced Robinson on the field when the African-American broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

“When they have a camera put in their faces, they will have an opportunity to put their arm around our guy so that he can run the bases,” Jackson said. “Hillary Clinton will have a Pee Wee Reese moment. Bill Clinton will have a Pee Wee Reese moment. [Pennsylvania Gov.] Ed Rendell will have a Pee Wee Reese moment.”

Besides Jackson, other Illinois speakers included Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Comptroller Dan Hynes, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis, and Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle. Citizen Tom Balanoff also spoke. Mayor Daley and Iraq War veteran, former Congressional candidate, and current director of the Illinois Veterans' Affairs Department Tammy Duckworth are scheduled to speak Wednesday. Of course, there is still much amiss in the cabal of Illinois politicians: Governor Blagojevich was not invited to speak and then there's this mess with outgoing State Senate President Emil Jones. Nonetheless, the Land of Lincoln folks tried to put up a unified front, all for the good of Obama.

But it was Barack's wife, Michelle, who had the keynote address on Monday night and made the most of it with a strong, eloquent speech that was reminiscent of her husband.

Michelle has come under attack from the GOP, particularly for some remarks she made earlier this year which conservatives used to show Mrs. Obama as unpatriotic. Those were notions she aimed to quell last night while also shining a light on her husband's commitment.

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won't do — that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.

That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack's journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country.

And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us — no matter what our age or background or walk of life — each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.

It's a belief Barack shares — a belief at the heart of his life's work.

The evening wrapped up with an appearance by Candidate Obama via satellite from Kansas City and some shout-outs from his daughters, Sasha and Malia. Below is the full video of Michelle's speech.