Live from Denver: the LGBT luncheon with Michelle Obama...

I'm sitting here on a platform in the back of the ballroom at the Sheraton staring at some woman's dessert at the LGBT caucus luncheon. I haven't eaten lunch and watching these folks chow down is enough to make a hungry grown man cry. Barney Frank is up front speaking right now (not the easiest man to understand with that accent). The rumor is that Michelle Obama might show up so I'm gonna stick it out rather than run out of here and to the nearest hot dog stand.

I chatted up Barney when I got here as well as the tall, handsome and smart Chip Arndt. Will share those when I get a chance. Barney just said that a vote for John McCain is a disaster because "he has never voted for anything that would advance our equality...electing Barack Obama is essential."

More in a bit...

Rep. Tammy Baldwiin, another openly gay member of congress just said: "Elections have consequences. ... I truly view this election as the opportunity to transform hope into action...we come here filled with hope....The stakes have never been higher for our community."

Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese is now speaking. He said the first political campaign he ever worked on was Barney Frank's and he is honored to be sharing the stage with him. I'm bored now. Let's hope it gets better.

Okay, is Michelle Obama gonna show up or not? I'm gonna snag a dinner roll or something off a table in a minute. These are desperate times.

Joe, still talking. I'm nearly comatose.

OK, Barney just said Michelle Obama is gonna be here and no matter what they are doing, when she arrives, they are gonna put her right up there on stage. I'm gonna listen to her remarks then bolt straight to Subway for a footlong.

Some other dude is up there yammering. I didn't get his name. So, as I wait, I'm gonna post video of Michelle Obama's speech at the convention last night to get us in the mood.

1:55 p.m.: Still waiting for Michelle Obama to arrive at the Sheraton. I'm feeling more patient because some cute guy at a table near my platform took pity on me and gave me a roll from his bread basket. It. Is. Delicious.

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2 p.m. Michelle Obama is here! Barney Frank introduced her to a raucous reception, a prolonged standing ovation. Just wild.

"I am honored and thrilled. what a welcome. I should stay here all afternoon."

A man interrupts when he yells out: "Great speech!" (last night). People started applauding all over again.

NOTE: This is not a complete transcript of her remarks. It's bits and pieces...

"I'm pleased to be here today with another public servant i admire Tammy Baldwin." She also thanked: Joe Solmonese and Chuck Wolfe from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund."

"Thanks you for your vision, thank you for your leadership..it means so much to me and to Barack."

We'e here celebrating this wonderful party , Our country and the better future we can build together....and to restore a sense of fairness and opportunity for every single American."

"Although we have a lot of work to do, this week we are going to celebrate how far we've come. Hasn't this just been an amazing year or 19 months or however long it's been? Thiis campaign 2008 has just been amazing. We have seen people who have never talked about politics before -ever. ...They're writing checks and knocking on doors."

She then paid tribute to the woman who had been her husband's rival for the Democratic nomination: "Hillary Clinton's historic candidacy banished forever the notion that a woman could not be president (huge applause). "I got those two lijttle girls, you saw them, they're cute. Because of the work this year that Sen. Clinton has done....little girls like mine and other little girls around the country can dream a little bigger."

"In just two days, we are going to make history again by nominating this guy that I'm married to. In the words of my husband, we are fired up and ready to go. I know that Barack is going to be an extraordinary president. I know that with every fiber of my body."

"Most of all, I'm here as a mother, no matter how many titles or caractures that they make, iI'm a mom first. It's the first thing I think about every day....these arent politicial issues for me, these are all personal."

More on Barack: "I've lived with this man for 20 years and i've said this many times, he has not let me down once.... Wherever he has the chance, he's used his God given talents to move that bar."

She called for the repeal of Don't Ask, Dont tell: and said the real money quote: "Discrimination has no place for a nation founded on the promise of equality."

Mrs. Obama also called for protection against hate crimes and workplace discrimination. I didn't hear anything about gay marriage.

"We all know our country's journey toward equality is not finished yet," she said. "We've got work to do."