First Lady's Listening Tour is Brilliant ((more pics from today))

[rvablue]

It seems to be after the first two events of the First Lady's listening tour that it's an excellent idea, IMO.

I think for many years, a lot of these professional, experts and civil service workers were not allowed to work at full capacity due to the ideological strigency of the Bush Administration.

This listening tour is a great way for these folks to know that their hard work, dedication and voices are going to count again.

When Mrs. Obama took the stage, someone in the crowd shouted, "We love you!" To which she responded, "I love you too, that's why I wanted to be here."

Dressed in a gray skirt suit and pearls, she spoke for about seven minutes before working the ropeline, shaking hands and smiling for pictures.

HUD employees learned of the visit mid-morning and some started lining up as much as two hours before the speech. Joy Melnick could not recall a first lady visiting HUD in the more than 40 years she's worked for the agency.

"I think both of them want the people to know they're for them," Melnick said. "They just know how to draw people to them."



Here are some great pics from today at the Department of Housing and Urban development:




?

Oy! This one just, just...oh....:cry: :cry: :cry: ...just touches the heart!














ed:typo

[BeyondGeography]

1. Great to see our new First Lady connecting with folks like we knew she would

[skeewee08]

2. Just beautiful:-)

[avaistheone1]

3. First lady Michelle, please hear me now.

It's time for single-payer universal health coverage.

[EFerrari]

4. I like Michelle Obama. What a talented beautiful lady.

No matter how much I disagree with the administration, the Obamas are going to be so good for this country. They're exactly what we needed after eight years of torture. They're probably the most truly likable couple to occupy the White House in my lifetime.

[Terran]

5. That's the new HUD Secretary, Shaun Donovan, in the 4th pic...

standing behind Michelle. As someone whose work life revolves around HUD's universe, I'm very glad to see him in charge. And I think it's utterly amazing that Michelle would make a visit like that. It's got to boost morale at an agency that's had serious problems (including the last HUD Secretary *and* Deputy Secretary engaging in illegal activities).

[rvablue]

7. Good to hear such a nice endorsement from someone with an insider's perspective

gives me hope that things WILL improve.

Thanks for the professional opinon!

[JayMusgrove]

6. She is quite the First Lady! I love what she is doing already.

And she can actually get on her feet, go out, meet, greet, listen to and respond to those working at all levels of our Federal Government. I hope she decides to run for President in 2016.

[ashrob123]

8. I was there

and it was great. That older woman that she is hugging has been with the federal government 67 years! She's an attorney and sharp as a tack.

[rvablue]

9. ashrob123, what excellent details, if you don't mind

I'm going to update my OP with your insider details.

Did you get any pics? You should post them. Nonetheless, it's cool that you got to see the First Lady up close and personal!

Oh well, looks like I'm too late to edit .... maybe you should do an OP, it's a good dete.!

[ashrob123]

11. My pics suck

but others have some pretty good ones that have been filtering through HUD slowly but surely. I'll update tonight.

[Cha]

10. Rec'd~ Thanks, rvablue..

These are awe inspiring pics.

[FloridaJudy]

12. Coolest First lady since Eleanor Roosevelt!

I'm not knocking Hillary - she was a class act as well. But she always seemed a little aloof and reserved. Michelle is not only smart as hell she shows the same ability to connect with people from all walks of life that Eleanor had.

[jgraz]

13. Every time I read "First Lady" it takes me a moment to realize it's Michelle and not Pickles

And that realization is very nice.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. I couldn't make it over because I had a meeting!

:cry::cry:

[HOLOS]

15. k&r nt

[firedupdem]

16. My girl! Go first lady Michelle! She won't stay stuck behind

the whitehouse walls...she'll be out and about amongst the people!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. It's nice to know someone's listening.

[MadMaddie]

18. Fantastic! I think a lot of Government Organizations need

these kind of events with Michelle.

Lifting moral and letting these employees know that they will be participating in fixing them is absolutely necessary.