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Photo by James Kneblik
Michelle Obama greets members of the CSU community and fellow
Obama supporters after her speech on her husband’s message of
change and hope.

Energized crowd rallies around uplifting message

Mayor Jackson endorses Sen. Barack Obama

By James P. Kneblik
and Mike Soltesz

Michelle Obama reiterated her husband’s message of inspirational hope and change to a packed University Center at Cleveland State on Feb. 21.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, who introduced Michelle Obama, announced his endorsement of Barack Obama.
Jackson, who held off his endorsement until this week, formally pledged his support for Obama. “He understands the issues and he comes from the source of the problem,” said Jackson. “His platform is not hollow in a sense because he will put the resources into rebuilding urban centers, on education and better access to health care.”
Jackson said Barack Obama was committed to working people, urban centers, the foreclosure problem, young people, health care and education.
Plans to unite
“Barack has become one of the most respected politicians in the state of Illinois and in this country because of his values,” said Michelle Obama. “Barack will be one of the most gifted leaders this country will see in a long time.”
Barack Obama can “get the American people more united and proud of their country again,” said Joe Nydle, co-coordinator of Students for Barack Obama at CSU. He said Barack Obama seems sincere. He hasn’t sought this to fulfill an obligation.
Supporters rally crowd
“We’re fired up, we have been on the grind for about two weeks campaigning for Obama,” said Jala Khateeb, CSU student and co-coordinator of the Students for Obama. “We’re pushing people to go out and vote as early as possible.”
“I like his energy,” said Dante Deoples, a sophomore CSU student, referring to Barack Obama. Deoples also likes his ideas of health care. He thought if universal health care was given to everyone, it would become more a welfare.”
Michelle Obama said that people who are down get frustrated over politics.
“The nation becomes guided by fear, it carries on to the next generation,” she said. “We owe our children love, support, and the resources of the entire nation.”

Sacrifice and hard work
Michelle Obama was raised in a working class family on the south side of Chicago. She told the crowd that she had seen sacrifice and hard work first hand.
“My father had multiple sclerosis in his prime,” she said. Her father was happy to help his kids get their education. She referred to herself as a picture of what public education can do.
She emphasized that the country needs “inspiring leadership” not “empty rhetoric.” She also addressed the senator’s lack of experience.
“He says not what people want to hear, but what they have to hear,” she said. “Hope is about action.”
“When you’re given the gift of advocacy you don’t sell it to the highest bidder, you give it to the least of these,” said Michelle Obama, speaking of her husband’s talent, experience and intelligence.
There was at least one student who didn’t want to hear the speech.
Jim Barber thinks it is the same old thing. “One person says something, someone says another. It’s a fight of words.”
The CSU rally was the second in a week, only days after Chelsea Clinton’s visit on Feb. 14. The event was organized by the Student Government and Student Life, said C. Blake Almaguer, student body president.
As of yet, there has been no Republican candidates on campus. “We had invited anybody who wished to come,” said Almaguer.

Anica Robinson and Jayah Watters contributed to this report.