Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
(ABC News)

‘We, as women, will become collateral damage to your rage’: Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama appeals to undecided voters

Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama rallied for presidential candidate Kamala Harris, discussing reproductive rights and democracy during a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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The race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is tight. Obama appealed to a variety of voters in her speech, including men, women, the undecided, and third-party voters. The former FLOTUS understands people’s frustration but warned them that their rage has severe consequences. She said, “Your rage does not exist in a vacuum. If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother—we, as women, will become collateral damage to your rage.”

Votes in this election are pivotal. In Obama’s scathing speech, she emphasized that Harris would restore women’s reproductive rights and likened supporting Donald Trump to an assault on the safety of women in the country. The contrast between a possible Harris administration and another Trump term couldn’t be clearer.

Obama did not just address the men. She reminded women that they have voices, too. They can persuade others or simply cast their votes, even if they’re in a household unsupportive of their choices.

A tie-breaking speech

Michelle Obama’s endorsement of Harris may have broken the deadlock between the two candidates. She didn’t just advocate for Harris—she also made it clear why Harris is the only rational choice in this upcoming election.

She expressed her disappointment and anger at the double standards placed on Harris. She pointed out that while Harris is expected to “dazzle” voters, Trump is forgiven for his failings. It’s as if voters expect Harris to have the answers to the secrets of the universe. Meanwhile, Trump is allowed to spew asinine lies about Haitian immigrants and make threatening statements against his political rivals.

She framed Harris in terms of decency and unity. On the other hand, Trump is an increasingly unstable populist who will endanger the lives and rights of all citizens, but especially the most vulnerable. Michelle Obama couldn’t have made the choice simpler. Let’s hope those who were still undecided were listening.


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Vanessa Esguerra
Vanessa Esguerra (She/They) has been a Contributing Writer for The Mary Sue since 2023. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy, she (happily) rejected law school in 2021 and has been a full-time content writer since. Vanessa is currently taking her Master's degree in Japanese Studies in hopes of deepening her understanding of the country's media culture in relation to pop culture, women, and queer people like herself. She speaks three languages but still manages to get lost in the subways of Tokyo with her clunky Japanese. Fueled by iced coffee brewed from local cafés in Metro Manila, she also regularly covers anime and video games while queuing for her next match in League of Legends.