Michelle Obama has released a star-studded video urging Americans to get ready to vote.
The former First Lady enlisted celebrity friends Steph Curry and Kerry Washington to explain the concept’s importance, along with others like Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, and Chris Paul.
Country singer Reyna Roberts also made an appearance, as did Filipino-American beauty influencer Bretman Rock. All urged onlookers to start thinking about their preferred candidate ahead of the US election, at the behest of When We All Vote.
Obama launched the nonpartisan firm in 2018 to increase voter participation. The video comes days after she and Barack declared their allegiance to Kamala Harris.
The begins with the stars receiving a sudden phone call from the former first lady, who sternly asks each one of them, ‘Are you voting this year?’
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Rapinoe, an outspoken Democrat who has openly criticized Donald Trump, was first to respond.
‘Yeah, absolutely,’ the retired USWNT player answers proudly, as a split-screen shows her and her fellow progressive.
‘Of course I am!’ prominent TV producer Rhimes at this point chimes in.
‘One hundred-percent yes!’ Roberts, a black woman who has advocated for inclusivity in the music industry since surfacing in 2020, then exclaims.
‘Obviously!’ adds Washington, as all are seen answering Obama’s figurative and literal call.
‘You already know,’ adds San Antonio Spurs point guard Chris Paul – seen taking alongside his 15-year-old son, Chris Jr.
After his snippet, Obama again appears on the screen, this time telling viewers, ‘Now, it’s your turn to answer the call’ – before issuing a reminder that the election is ‘just 100 days away.’
Within that span, Democrats will have to come up with a concrete candidate in the wake of Joe Biden’s last-minute reversal – after which his VP Harris has surfaced as the heir apparent.
Biden himself took 23 minutes to issue an endorsement for his old running mate before announcing his decision to drop out on July 21 – while the Obamas took the better part of an entire week.
The video shared Sunday, a week later, issued no such endorsement, but with the cast of characters at play, it seemed to not be leaning toward any conservatives.
Obama, 60, seemed to erase all doubt when she specifically cited issues like ‘reproductive rights [and] the environment’ – touted as ‘our future’, set to be decided ‘on the ballot’.
‘So, are you voting this year?’ the Chicago native goes on to ask – a question then echoed times by Rhimes, Paul, and Rock, respectively.
‘Join Me,’ Roberts then says.
‘Join Me,’ adds Curry – before a collective ‘Join us’, with Obama finishing, ‘by getting registered and ready to vote with When We All Vote today.
‘Text “Join” to 56005,’ the message concludes, putting an end to an advert full of outspoken progressives.
All aside from Roberts serve as chairs on the supposedly nonpartisan initiative, which is also run by celebs like Tom Hanks and Selena Gomez.
Jennifer Lopez and Lin Manuel Miranda also serve as chairs, as does actress Rita Wilson.
Paul was a staunch Obama supporter and even a minor member of the president’s administration, as was the case with Curry.
Rapinoe and Rimes are also outspoken Democrats, with both at points panning former president Trump.
Rock, a gay man, and Roberts, a devout Christian, have been less vocal with their views, but both have fought for more representation for disenfranchised peoples in media, particularly from their respective races and/or gender identity.
Such causes, while important, are viewed by Republicans as not so much as a priority but talking points for the left – a side that currently is in the midst of some chaos as an official candidate remains up in the air.
Referencing video released by the Harris team showing how Michelle and Barack delivered their endorsement to her over the phone, a Democratic official told DailyMail.com that the former president wanted to do something ‘more than a statement.’
Asking to remain unnamed, the official added the announcement was held off as to not overshadow President Joe Biden ‘s Oval Office address Wednesday night.
‘I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl Kamala, I am proud of you,’ Michelle is heard telling Harris in the snippet. ‘This is going to be historic.’
‘We called to say, Michelle and I, couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,’ the former president at this point chimes in.
Ahead of the endorsement announcement, the Trump campaign issued its own statement, one that indicated Trump would not finalize a debate schedule until ‘Democrats formally decide on their nominee.’
‘There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party – namely Barack Hussein Obama – that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone ‘better,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung Thursday night.
Harris, meanwhile, thanked both Obamas before she got off the phone in the video Wednesday .
‘I just want to tell you that the words you have spoken and the friendship that you have given over all these years mean more than I can express,’ she said. ‘So thank you both, it means so much.
‘And we’re going to have some fun with it too, aren’t we?’ she went on to ask.
To that, Michelle replied, ‘Indeed!’, as the former president added, ‘Well … look, you’re a happy warrior.’
‘And the country needs a happy warrior,’ Michelle in turn declared, as the Democratic nomination process, set to be held virtually ahead of the Chicago convention, is poised to wrap by August 7.
By then, a candidate will be declared.