As I watched Michelle Obama give her convention speech, full of the gusto her husband’s speech was missing two days later, I felt a pang of disappointment. I wanted to feel hopeful. “Ah, can’t you just shut up and enjoy an easily digestible form of women’s empowerment, you miserable feminist? It’s good for you!” I told myself.

But it isn’t good for us.

The problem with the reception of Michelle Obama’s speech and all of the fake discussion of a presidential run is that actual female politicians could have spoken in place of wives, relatives and actresses. Women who are better positioned to run for president.

It is interesting who, out of all of the inspiring women serving in Congress, were chosen to speak at the most widely viewed convention spots.

Sandra Fluke, reproductive health advocate, Tammy Duckworth, a Congressional candidate, Elizabeth Warren, a Senate candidate and Jennifer Granholm, who left her office as Governor of Michigan, were effective speakers but none of them are currently holding office.

Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria spoke briefly, but again, none of them are holding political office nor is it likely they will seek a political future. Jill Biden spoke as Joe Biden’s wife.

Caroline Kennedy, the most boring orator of the convention, was given a prominent spot.

That leaves some of the better speaking opportunities to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic National Committee chair, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and junior U.S. Senator of North Carolina, Kay Hagan. Wasserman Schultz clearly has ambition but her political future is very uncertain, according to sources close to her. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has reached the pinnacle of her career. Hagan was chosen to woo North Carolinians, not to give a long substantive speech on Democratic values.

For that job, the DNC picked mostly men as their fresh faces, including the man labeled the next Obama, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

The younger women of the Democratic Party, however, were not given the same opportunities. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand did not receive a spot at the convention. She has attracted press attention, made the rounds at late night shows, and proven she is willing to fight hard for women’s and veterans’ issues, two topics Democrats have embraced this election season.

The DNC has provided viewers with the appearance of women’s empowerment without actually having to make the tough choices needed to propel the careers of Democratic women. The Republican Party may have ignored the existence of single childless women but the Democratic Party ignored many of its female political stars.