Michelle Obama says voting is the “solemn responsibility” of African American citizens

During a conference call held to kickoff the Obama campaign's nationwide voter registration efforts in African American communities, Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois), talked about the importance of voting in African American communities. She explained that over 26 million African Americans are eligible to vote, yet 32 percent, about eight million of them, are not registered.

Mrs. Obama said that her father loved educating people on the rights and responsibilities of voting, and she is very grateful to him for teaching her the value of voting at a young age. Mrs. Obama explained that the American people are finally challenging one another to talk about the world and they are finally realizing the opportunities and possibilities of the future. She said she loves seeing the "outpouring of new voters," and is urging everyone across the country to register and vote this coming November. Mrs. Obama said she is "voting for her daughters," to "honor her father's past," and "for future generations."

Mrs. Obama explained that throughout the primary season, the Obama campaign registered more than half a million voters. She encouraged all Americans to “cast their ballots for change” in the spirit of Barack Obama’s vision to “narrow the gap between the world as it is, and the world as it should be.”