Michelle Obama raps Trump for vulgar remarks about women

First Lady Michelle Obama has added her voice to the growing condemnation of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump over his lewd remarks about kissing and groping women.

Hers was a royal rebuke. Speaking in Manchester, New Hampshire as she drummed up support for Democratic Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton, Obama said that she found it unbelievable that a US presidential candidate had boasted about ‘sexual assault’.

“Last week we saw this candidate actually bragging about sexually assaulting women. I can’t believe I’m saying that a candidate for president of the United States has bragged about sexually assaulting women,” Obama said, adding that the comments had shaken her to her core.

Last week, the Washington Post published Access Hollywood 2005 video that recorded the GOP candidate and TV host, Bill Bush, discussing a purported attempt to seduce a married woman.

In the infamous conversation – which the presidential candidate’s son, Eric Trump, wrote off as ‘locker room banter’ – the tycoon-turned-politician gloats that fame accords a man unfettered access to women, adding that one can get away with grabbing women by their privates.

But in an eloquent and moving rebuttal to Trump junior’s assessment of the explosive video, the US First Lady warned that the Republican presidential hopeful had crossed the line.

“This was not just a lewd conversation; this wasn’t just locker room banter. This was a powerful individual speaking freely and openly about sexually predatory behavior and actually bragging about kissing and groping women using language so obscene that many of us worried about our children hearing it when we turn on the TV,” she said as her voice quivered.

Six days after the video went public, several women have come forward to report that Trump had made unwarranted sexual advances towards them – reports that the Obama referred to in her remarks that have since gone viral.

“And to make matters worse, it now seems very clear that this isn’t an isolated incident — it’s one of countless examples of how he has treated women his whole life,” The first Lady said.

She likened Trump’s remarks to the sexual harassment that women come across in day-to-day life.

“It’s like that sick, sinking feeling you get when you’re walking down the street minding your own business and some guy yells out vulgar words about your body. Or when you see that guy at work that stands just a little too close, stares a little too long, and makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin,” she said amidst cheers from the crowd, adding: “It’s that feeling of terror and violation that too many women have felt when someone has grabbed them, or forced himself on them and they’ve said no but he didn’t listen — something that we know happens on college campuses and countless other places every single day.”

Responses to Obama’s remarks flowed thick and fast, with social media users commending her hard tackle.

That Michelle Obama speech put a lump in my throat and tremendous pride in my heart both times I watched it. Brava, madame First Lady.

#enoughisenough @MichelleObama has called out the immorality of Trumps sexism and lack of values. She is my hero.

— Eric Fishman (@efriedfish) October 14, 2016

I'd assumed @MichelleObama's DNC speech was best political speech of the year. Today she topped that speech with her Trump takedown in NH.

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 14, 2016

Even Hillary Clinton was “awed” by the Obama’s address.

.@FLOTUS, I'm in awe. Thanks for putting into words what's in so many of our hearts. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 13, 2016

To those who might be quick to write off her speech as a perfectly-timed assault on Trump’s candidacy, Obama had this to say: “I know it’s a campaign, but this isn’t about politics. It’s about basic human decency. It’s about right and wrong.”