Michelle Obama in Charlotte Live-Blog

CNN is carrying a live-stream of this round table in Charlotte.

I missed the first part, but the discussion right now is about seniors who aren't able to retire because of the economy. One of Obama's proposals is for seniors making $50,000 or less do not pay taxes. McCain wants to give this tax break to the wealthiest. Michelle explains that this is one approach - the trickle down approach - but we're just not feeling it trickle down according to Barack. Michelle says we've given it 8 years and it's just not working.

One of the panelists (Betsy Oelinger?....I didn't get the last name.) is explaining her situation now. She's a consultant, her husband lost his job, her mother retired at 72 and then found out she had stage 4 lung cancer, her kids are in school and she's not sleeping at night. She's a business and college choice consultant and her clients are scared - scared they won't have a job, scared they won't have a retirement, scared they can't afford to send their kids to college.

Michelle brings in universal healthcare. Entrepreneurial spirit is being impeded by lack of universal healthcare because people can't afford to quit their job with a big corporation to live their dream of owning their own business.

If you're in between jobs just don't get sick because you'll never get or find it hard to get insurance again.

She's encouraging people to look at the plans and see what they agree with. Ask what's best for me. She's not selling Barack's plan, she's encouraging people to look at both candidates and choose what is best for you and vote that way.

Update 1
Panelist - Stacy Manning, I think

Has MS, two mortgages (not by design) and is a special education teacher. She's with a state insurance plan but she realizes she has a scarlet letter branded on her and under this current administration she would never be able to have private insurance. She likes Barack's education, healthcare and alternative energy plans.

Michelle points out that Stacy is Teacher of the Year in North Carolina. We need more teachers and we need to reward them.

She points out that these are people who are hurting and they are doing everything right. They aren't trying to buy yachts and third homes....everyone laughs and she catches herself and said..."Now...I didn't mean that. There's nothing wrong with owning a lot of homes, but these people are just trying to hold on to one." Everyone is laughing. nice moment.

She describes how her Dad provided for her mom. lived a good life and when he died he was able to leave a little so her mom's life would be good. Michelle says,"but that was a generation ago and we need to get back on track."