At a time when there is so much doubt about the future and apprehension about the global economy, it is refreshing and reassuring to millions of people across America and throughout the world to witness the steadfastness of leadership that daily exudes from the first lady of the United States of America. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama has evolved into one of the most admired first ladies in the history of America.
When it comes to how the majority of people feel about first lady Michelle Obama, there is no lack of confidence and there is no hesitation to salute her dedication to family, nation and to the uplift of humanity.
As we are about to enter into the heated national political debates and campaigns of the 2012 national election year, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will be under intense pressures to maneuver through what may be one of the most difficult periods of time to maintain resilience and hope.
I am encouraged and optimistic, however, that President Obama will be re-elected if millions of us do what we are supposed to do and that is go out and vote in record numbers 12 months from now. The pivotal role of women who will vote and the critical role of the youth vote will help to determine the outcome of 2012 elections.
Herein is where Mrs. Obama can be and will be an invaluable asset to President Obama’s re-election campaign. Recently, the first lady spoke to grassroots campaign workers at the Obama 2012 National Headquarters in Chicago. It was reported that she was enthusiastically received by the campaign workers not only for her charm and motivational spirit, but also for Mrs. Obama’s grasp of the challenges ahead of campaign.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the first lady “has attended dozens of events with and for veterans and earlier this month announced a program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington to get 100,000 vets hired by American firms.” Michelle Obama continues to be a strong advocate for the support of veterans and their families across the nation. She also is helping to champion passage of the President’s American Jobs Act to put millions of Americans back to work.
“Women for Obama” is an initiative by President Obama’s re-election campaign. The purpose of this initiative is to galvanize millions of female voters to be active in the 2012 elections on behalf of President Obama. The honorary chair of “Women for Obama” is first lady Michelle Obama. In 2008, President Obama received a plurality of votes from the majority of women voters. A CNN exit poll showed that Obama received more than 56 percent of the female vote in 2008. A large percentage of independent swing voters are also women and the calculus of victory in 2012 will hinge on the largest turnout of female voters and young voters in every state.
Michelle Obama is brilliant, determined, caring, effective and very resourceful. All of us should be responding by lending a helping hand, giving of our time, energy and money, and to make our own contributions to push forward for more progress to ensure the re-election of President Obama. Let’s determine the future by how we act today.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is senior advisor to the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and President of Education Online Services Corp. and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).
