The new First Lady made her White House speaking debut Thursday for a cause and celebration close to her heart. Michelle Obama warmly welcomed an overjoyed crowd invited to the White House for her husband's first bill-signing - a law designed to assure equal pay for women. "As I told guests, feel free, walk around, touch some stuff," an inviting Obama said to laughter as she welcomed the 150 or so guests, including Secretary of State Clinton, in the White House's State Dining Room. "Just don't break anything. It's what I try to tell my kids. The "don't break anything" line was a reprise of President Obama's gentle reminder last week to a visiting group. Thursday's gathering came hours after the President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, named after the Alabama granny who took her pay dispute against the Goodyear Tire Co. all the way to the Supreme Court. "She knew unfairness when she saw it and was willing to do something about it because it was the right thing to do, plain and simple," the First Lady said as guests sipped orange juice and noshed on apricot coffee cake, orange scones, apple muffins and fruit salad. Displaying her own lawyerly credentials, Michelle Obama added, "This legislation is an important step forward, particularly at a time when so many families are facing economic insecurity and instability."
Source: Reuters
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