Chanting “Four More Years,” hundreds of Pennsylvanians came out to support first lady Michelle Obama as she campaigned for the president’s re-election. The rally, which was called “It Takes One,” was held at the Bobby Morgan Arena on the campus of the University of the Sciences. The rally was her first stop in Pennsylvania on Thursday. She also spoke at Upper Dublin High School in Montgomery County and Moravian College in Bethlehem.
“It takes one voice to change a rule, city, state and a nation,” Obama said. “This journey is going to be long and it’s going to be hard, but that is how change always happens. We have come too far to be defeated now. We can no longer look back, but only look forward. We have a lot of choices to make this upcoming election. It will be another close race, but we will prevail.”
The Obama administration is continuing to push for a new tax rule called the “Buffett Rule,” named for billionaire Warren Buffett, who has criticized the current tax code that allows him to pay a lower rate than his secretary. The plan would essentially close tax loopholes for the rich, and require a 30 percent mandatory tax rate on millionaires.
“Teachers and firefighters should not pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires,” she said. “All of our kids deserve an excellent education, where they won’t have to later pay back outstanding loans. If you work hard, you should not have to go bankrupt. You should be able to retire and enjoy the fruits from your labor. This is the foundation we were built on. These are basic American values, which all of us take pride in.”
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aimed primarily at decreasing the number of uninsured Americans and reducing the overall costs of health care. It provides a number of incentives, including subsidies, tax credits and fees, to employers and uninsured individuals in order to increase insurance coverage. In June, the Supreme Court upheld the act.
“The fight for Obamacare was based on the people we encountered over the years,” the first lady told the enthusiastic crowd. “The grandparents who couldn’t afford their medication, the families who are going broke because their child got sick, and the woman who is dying from cancer because her insurance will no longer cover the costs. That act was for Americans who have struggled for years to pay medical bills. No one should be denied treatment because of your insurance. Everyone has the right to have quality healthcare.”
In addition to the Buffett Rule and Obamacare, the first lady also addressed other key issues including the economy and war. She ended her speech by encouraging supporters to vote in November.
“Barack Obama knows what it means to struggle,” she said. “He knows what it means to work hard because he wants something better for his kids. He knows the American dream because he lived it. We are here to support that dream. This election, I encourage all of you to vote. We will need you now more than ever.”
Contact staff writer Chanel Hill at (215) 893-5716 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
