Michelle Obama Rips Trump's 'Birther' Comments Stumping for Clinton
The first lady will make her debut stop for Clinton in swing state of Virginia.
— -- Making her campaign trail debut for Hillary Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama ripped into Donald Trump without directly naming him while also laying out her case for supporting Hillary Clinton as “one of the most qualified people who had ever endeavored to become president."
“No one in our lifetime has ever had as much experience and exposure to the presidency. Not Barack, not Bill, as he would say, nobody, and yes, she happens to be a woman,” the first lady said to a roaring applause at an event in Fairfax, Va.
“So, we can not afford squander this opportunity, particularly given the alternative. Because here is what we know: That being president isn't anything like reality TV. It is not about sending insulting tweets or making fiery speeches,” she continued.
The first lady, previously dubbed “the closer” for her effectiveness as a campaign surrogate during her husband’s presidential campaigns, was at one point interrupted by chants of “four more years” as she talked about the bittersweet feelings she is experiencing as her husband’s final term in office draws to a close.
On a day that has been dominated by Trump saying that he believes President Obama was born in the United States after stoking a conspiracy theory for the past five years that he was possibly born outside the country, the first lady also addressed the so-called “birther” controversy.
"There were those who continued to question for the past eight years up through this very day whether my husband was even born in this country. Well, during his time in office, I think Barack has answered those questions with the example he set by going high when they go low," the first lady said.
Calling for “steady” and “measured” leadership, Mrs. Obama said it’s “excruciatingly clear” that there’s only one person in the race that can be trusted with the keys to the White House.
“If a candidate is erratic and threatening, if a candidate traffics in project, fears, and lies on the trail, if a candidate has no clear plans to implement their goals, if they disrespect their fellow citizens including folks who made extraordinary sacrifices for our country, let me tell you, that is who they are,” she said.
“Hillary is one of the few people on this entire planet, and clearly the only person in this race that has any idea what this job entails,” she added of Clinton.
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