Michelle Obama launches "exit the vote" effort, insists she is "non-partisan"

First, former President Barack Obama broke with tradition to criticize his successor. Now, his wife, Michelle, is talking to a crowd in Las Vegas on Sunday night, she is "frustrated" by the current political scene.

"Believe me, I'm frustrated too," she said. "I'm fed up with all the chaos and nastiness of our politics – it's exhausting."

The public appearance of Obama is his first since his departure from the White House almost two years ago. She appeared on behalf of the non-profit organization When We All Vote that she launched in July.

The former first wife says her goal is to increase voter turnout and she is non-partisan. Critics say it is inaccurate, calling the group's rallies a little more than a voter registration operation.

"We get the leaders we vote for, we get the policies we vote for, and when we do not vote, it's when we end up with the government, by and for others," he said. she declared to the crowd. "Because you can not vote some of the time and then sit down, you know we've seen it happen, we've had it, we've had a great president."

But she said she did not care who people voted for – as long as they voted.

The group has scheduled 25 events this week, many in key states with tight elections, such as Florida, Arizona, California and Tennessee. All celebrities invited are Democrats, such as actors Tom Hanks and Lin Manuel Miranda of the Hamilton play, NBA star Chris Paul and the self-timer Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, also a former supporter of the United States. ; Obama.

Obama said that she was trying to increase participation. Compared to other democracies, America is weak. In the last presidential elections, about half of the voters eligible to vote actually voted. In the last mid-term elections in 2014, only 36% of eligible voters cast their vote, which was the lowest turnout in 70 years.

"You may not like to live with the consequences of other people's choices, but that's what happens when you stay at home, you essentially put your future in the hands of others," he said. Obama in Las Vegas.

When We All Vote has a paid staff of 10 people, most of whom are former assistants to Obama. While the group claims to support the resignation efforts of voting for all demographics, the organization admits that it pays special attention to African-Americans, Hispanics and young people, all of whom disproportionately vote on behalf of Democrats .

Republicans say Obama's efforts to get the vote are a veiled attempt to rally Democratic voters.

"While Democrats parachute Michelle Obama into battle states a little over a month after the end of the term, Republicans have remained engaged in a permanent program of registration," said Steve Guest, door of the Republican National Committee. in the cycle, Democrats do not have enough time or money to make up for what Republicans have done this whole cycle.

Kyle Lierman, an Obama administration official who is currently working with the former first lady, told The Washington Post that while targeting specific groups, voter registration efforts are likely to have a negative impact on the voters. address to all.

"We can make sure we double our efforts and reach them," he said, "but we are really trying to reach all Americans."