Prominent ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has publicly challenged Michelle Obama's recent comments that the United States must 'do a lot of growing up' before it can elect a woman as president.
A Clash of Perspectives on Gender and Leadership
The fiery debate was ignited during a live event in Brooklyn earlier this month, where the former First Lady suggested that a significant barrier remains for women seeking the highest office. Michelle Obama, 61, stated that 'there are still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman,' pointing to Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election as evidence.
Smith, hosting his SiriusXM show, responded with a pointed rebuttal. He questioned the logic of generalising about an entire gender, asking what the consequence would be if a man made a similar sweeping statement about women.
Examining the Electoral Evidence
The sports commentator then presented a series of counter-arguments rooted in recent electoral history. He highlighted that Hillary Clinton secured more popular votes than Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race, despite ultimately losing the Electoral College.
'What do you mean we weren't ready? What do you mean we weren't ready?' Smith demanded. He further noted that support for Clinton crossed demographic lines, asking, 'Weren't there white women who voted for Donald Trump? Not just white men. Didn't the blacks show up for Hillary Rodham Clinton? Didn't Hispanics show up for Hillary Rodham Clinton?'
Smith also pointed to the successful gubernatorial campaigns of Democrats Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, who both won by large margins just two weeks prior, as evidence of voters' readiness to elect women.
The 2024 Election and a Potential Obama Candidacy
Turning to the most recent election, Smith addressed Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential bid. He argued that her loss could not be simply attributed to sexism, noting she had only 107 days as the Democratic nominee after the party held on to Joe Biden 'for dear life until July of that summer.'
He was critical of Harris's campaign strategy, saying she was 'hesitant to do interviews, hesitant to answer questions and you were hesitant to separate yourself from the Biden administration.'
In a surprising twist, Smith suggested that Michelle Obama herself could be the one to break the glass ceiling. He lavished praise on her, stating, 'You are not just beloved, you are revered, you are sensational in so many ways.' He revealed his long-held belief that had she run for president, she would have defeated Trump.
Smith believes she would 'easily' defeat prominent Democrats like Andy Beshear, Josh Shapiro, and Gavin Newsom in a primary, and would triumph over Republican JD Vance in a general election. His concluding challenge to the former First Lady was direct: 'Run, Michelle, run. But if you don't, could you please stop blaming us?'
This exchange underscores the ongoing and complex conversation about gender, electability, and leadership in American politics, a debate that continues to resonate on both sides of the Atlantic.
