In an impassioned speech in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday, former First Lady Michelle Obama urged men, undecided voters, and those considering sitting out the election to support Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. She warned of the dire consequences of voting for Republican contender Donald Trump, particularly for women’s rights and reproductive health.
Speaking before a large crowd at the Wings Event Center, Ms. Obama highlighted the dangers of stricter abortion laws and reproductive health restrictions that have emerged since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. She addressed men directly, explaining how these policies not only harm women but will impact families, with risks like maternal deaths and undiagnosed cervical cancer affecting mothers, daughters, and sisters.
Trump’s appointment of three Supreme Court justices led to the landmark decision’s reversal, spurring states to limit access not just to abortion, but also to IVF and contraceptives. Ms. Obama cautioned that the fallout from these restrictions will affect men too, urging them to think of their sons and families.
“This will not just affect women; it will affect you and your sons,” Ms. Obama emphasized.
She acknowledged that men might not fully understand the complexities of women’s reproductive health but stressed the importance of supporting policies that protect it. Tearing up, she said, “A vote for him is a vote against us. Against our health, against our worth.”
Ms. Obama also questioned why Ms. Harris was being held to a higher standard than Trump, noting that several of Trump’s former allies, including military generals, have refused to back his 2024 campaign. She expressed frustration with the public’s willingness to overlook Trump’s past, including his sexual abuse conviction and erratic behavior, while scrutinizing Harris’s every move.
“Why are we indifferent to his incompetence while demanding perfection from Kamala?” she asked.
Finally, the former First Lady reminded women in households where their opinions may not be valued that their vote is private: “You get to choose.”
Michigan, a critical battleground state in the upcoming election, was part of the “Blue Wall” that Democrats typically won, but Trump carried it in 2016 before President Joe Biden reclaimed it in 2020.
