Often praised for her poise, and with years of campaign experience, Michelle Obama apparently still isn’t used to confrontation.
At a private D.C. fundraiser for the DNC on Tuesday evening, Mrs. Obama’s speech was interrupted by a gay-rights activist who demanded that the president sign an executive order to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The first lady responded to the outburst by saying, “One of the things I don’t do well is this,” before she stepped away from the lectern to address the protester directly. Mrs. Obama reportedly told the heckler that she could “listen to me, or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice.”
The protester, a member of the advocacy organization GetEQUAL, told the Huffington Post that she confronted the first lady because she is “tired” of the LGBT community “being told, directly and indirectly, that they’re second-class citizens.” She explained that she “can’t be quiet any longer” if Congress and the president ignore the bill that would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Neither the activist’s comments nor Mrs. Obama’s responses were included in the official White House transcript:
[MRS. OBAMA:] So here’s the thing — we cannot wait for the next presidential election to get fired up and ready to go. We cannot wait. Right now, today, we have an obligation to stand up for those kids. And I don’t care what you believe in, we don’t —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
MRS. OBAMA: Wait, wait, wait. One of the things —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
MRS. OBAMA: One of the things that I don’t do well is this. (Applause.) Do you understand? (Applause.) One of the things — now —
(Inaudible audience interruption.)
MRS. OBAMA: So let me make the point that I was making before: We are here for our kids. (Applause.) So we must recapture that passion, that same urgency and energy that we felt back in 2008 and 2012. Understand this. This is what I want you all to understand, this is not about us — no one back here. It’s not about you or you, or your issue or your thing. This is about our children. (Applause.)
Following the outburst, Sturtz was escorted from the building and the first lady finished her speech, which encouraged Democrats to stay engaged for the sake of the next generation.