Stephen A. Smith’s Critique of Michelle Obama’s Comments on Women in Leadership
Stephen A. Smith, a well-known sports commentator, recently criticized former First Lady Michelle Obama for her remarks that America “has a lot of growing up to do” before it could elect a woman as president. His comments came in response to Obama’s statements made earlier this month in Brooklyn, where she blamed men for not wanting to be led by a woman.
Smith, speaking on his SiriusXM show, posed a rhetorical question: “If men, any man, generalized that way about the female populace, what would happen to us to generalize like that?” He argued that such generalizations are unfair and unproductive. Smith also highlighted the success of Democrats in recent elections, pointing out that two women—Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger—won governorships in New Jersey and Virginia with large margins.
He further noted that Hillary Clinton technically received more votes than Donald Trump in the 2016 election, despite losing the Electoral College. “What do you mean we weren’t ready? What do you mean we weren’t ready?” he questioned. Smith pointed out that white women, Black voters, and Hispanic voters all supported Clinton, suggesting that the issue was not a lack of readiness but rather poor campaign strategy.
Smith also addressed Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential run, arguing that it was not decided by sexism. He asked, “How about 2024 when Kamala Harris was running as the Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States of America? Yes, she did only have 107 days to do it. But whose fault was that?”
He criticized Democrats for clinging to Joe Biden for too long, even after evidence suggested he was not ready for the role. Smith also accused Harris of being hesitant to conduct interviews and distance herself from the Biden administration’s decisions.
Despite his criticism, Smith emphasized that he was not attacking Obama personally. In fact, he argued that she could easily win a presidential bid. “You are not just beloved, you are revered, you are sensational in so many ways. I’ve been on the record on this show and many others stating: ‘Had you run for president, you would have beat Trump.’ I still believe that.”
Smith believed that Obama would dominate the Democratic primary against candidates like Andy Beshear, Josh Shapiro, and Gavin Newsom, and would likely defeat JD Vance in a general election. “So if Michelle Obama is really really serious about what she’s saying, she’s also arguably seriously false because I believe she cakewalked to the Democratic nomination and I believe she could win it all,” he said.
He added that if Obama truly wanted to run, she should do so, but if not, she should stop blaming others. “Run, Michelle, run. But if you don’t, could you please stop blaming us?”
Michelle Obama has consistently maintained that Americans, particularly men, are not ready to elect a woman as president. She has stated that she would not be able to overcome the bias among voters if she were to run for office. “That’s why I’m like, ‘Don’t even look at me about running, because cause you all are lying,’” she said. “You’re not ready for a woman. You are not. So don’t waste my time.”
During a live sit-down in November, Obama expressed disappointment over the prevailing attitude among some Americans, stating, “We got a lot of growing up to do, and there are still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it.”
Public polling suggests that there remains a significant barrier for women seeking the highest office. A poll conducted by American University found that four in 10 Americans know someone who would not vote for a woman to become president. The poll also highlighted a “youth paradox,” where younger voters, while generally supportive of women in office, are less open to electing a female president.
Despite her fans in the Democratic Party urging her to run, Obama has consistently refused. She has repeatedly stated that politics is not her passion, citing her desire to serve in other ways. Even after delivering speeches attacking Trump during the 2024 election, she has remained steadfast in her decision to avoid a presidential bid.
Could Michelle Obama shatter expectations and finally make a run for president, or is America simply not ready to embrace a woman leader? Her stance on the issue continues to spark debate, and whether she will ever take the plunge remains uncertain.
