Michelle Obama Claims Speech Was Non-Partisan

"Believe me, I am frustrated, too," she said. "I am sick of all the chaos and the nastiness of our politics. It's exhausting."Show more

Obama's public appearance is her first since leaving the White House almost two years ago. She appeared on behalf of the non-profit, When We All Vote, she launched in July.

The former first lady claims its goal is to increase voter turnout and says it is non-partisan. Critics say that's inaccurate, calling the group's rallies little more than a voter registration drive.

"We get the leaders we vote for, we get the policies we vote for, and when we don't vote, that's when we wind up with government of, by and for other people," she told the adoring crowd. "Because you can't vote some of the time and then sit out. You know we saw that happen. We experienced that. We had a great president."

But she said she didn’t care who people voted for – as long as they cast a ballot.