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She pushed a very ambitious progressive agenda at both fundraisers, arguing that university-trained professionals in government should protect people from corporate executives and from their own mistakes in the free market.
“We know that in this country we rise and we fall together. … We know that if we make the right choices, if we have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone — everyone — gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead,” she told her Sarasota audience.
The Palm Beach event was held at the $40 million Palm Beach home of Howard and Michele Kessler, who are major contributors to Democratic causes.
The Sarasota event was held at the ocean-view home of Richard and Caren Lobo. He’s a former chairman of the Florida Public Broadcasting Service and CEO of the PBS station that serves Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.
She told similar stories about President Obama to both audiences.
“Barack has a memory like a steel trap. … If he’s had a few minutes with you and a decent conversation, he might not remember your name but he will never forget your story. … That is where Barack gets his passion. That is where he gets his toughness and his fight.”
She also tried out a few cautious jokes, telling her Sarasota audience that “we all know that this isn’t just about one extraordinary man — although I admit I’m a little biased. I think he’s kind of cute.”
But at both events, she amped up her appeal for support and help.
“We don’t have time,” she told the Palm Beach audience of 140 donors. “We need you fired up and ready to go and ready to make it happen. … So I am counting on seeing all of you out there, doing whatever it is you do best — taking your neighbors and shaking them a little bit. (Laughter.) Going to church and making sure people are registered to vote. Yelling from the rooftops. Pulling women aside — just shaking them. (Laughter.) We need you.”
That’s a much stronger appeal than what she offered donors at a Pasadena mansion last June. “I hope that you all are ready to go — (applause) — because it is going to take all of our energy to keep moving towards the future,” she told the wealthy California audience.
It was also stronger than her September pitch to a lunchtime fundraiser in Cape Elizabeth, Maine: “We are going to work our butts off to make this right. So we need you behind us. Thank you so much, Maine. Thank you. Let’s get going! Let’s get to work!”
The Palm Beach audience got the same urgent appeal as the Sarasota donors, some 10 months before her husband stands for re-election amid economic uncertainty and a growing portfolio of White House scandals.
“This is going to be hard,” Mrs. Obama said. “We can’t take anything for granted and we need everyone — every single one of you — to be laser-focused, creating those smart women. Right? (Applause.) Building up that base. Telling people the truth of who this president is and what he’s done for so many across the country and around the world. … We have to get it done.”
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