Former First Lady Michelle Obama's assertion that the US isn't ready for a female president has sparked intense criticism from comedian Bill Maher and ex-DNC chair Donna Brazile.
Maher called out Obama's claim as "bulls-t," arguing that it was based on a logical fallacy. He pointed out that just because past candidates, like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, lost to male opponents in the 2016 and 2024 elections, respectively, didn't mean the country wasn't ready for a female president.
"This is just logic 101," Maher said during his "Real Time" season finale. "Just because we weren't ready or didn't like the candidates doesn't mean we are not ready for a woman."
Former Democratic National Committee chair Brazile took umbrage with Obama's statement, declaring that Americans are more than ready for a female leader. She cited the fact that in both the 2016 and 2024 elections, Clinton received more popular votes than her male opponents, and Harris won the most votes as vice president in 2024.
"Maybe we should stop talking about it and just do it," Brazile said, emphasizing the country's readiness for a female president. She also pointed out that eight percent of Americans still believe the US isn't ready for a woman in office.
In a separate jab at Obama's claim, Maher invoked his friend former President Barack Obama, suggesting that the nation may not have been ready for his presidency back in 2008 either.
While Maher did express support for progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential candidate, he warned that she would need to undergo "deprogramming" to resonate with voters outside of her liberal base.
Obama's statement has reignited the debate about women's representation in politics and whether there is still work to be done to address the lingering biases and obstacles that prevent more women from holding public office.
Maher called out Obama's claim as "bulls-t," arguing that it was based on a logical fallacy. He pointed out that just because past candidates, like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, lost to male opponents in the 2016 and 2024 elections, respectively, didn't mean the country wasn't ready for a female president.
"This is just logic 101," Maher said during his "Real Time" season finale. "Just because we weren't ready or didn't like the candidates doesn't mean we are not ready for a woman."
Former Democratic National Committee chair Brazile took umbrage with Obama's statement, declaring that Americans are more than ready for a female leader. She cited the fact that in both the 2016 and 2024 elections, Clinton received more popular votes than her male opponents, and Harris won the most votes as vice president in 2024.
"Maybe we should stop talking about it and just do it," Brazile said, emphasizing the country's readiness for a female president. She also pointed out that eight percent of Americans still believe the US isn't ready for a woman in office.
In a separate jab at Obama's claim, Maher invoked his friend former President Barack Obama, suggesting that the nation may not have been ready for his presidency back in 2008 either.
While Maher did express support for progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential candidate, he warned that she would need to undergo "deprogramming" to resonate with voters outside of her liberal base.
Obama's statement has reignited the debate about women's representation in politics and whether there is still work to be done to address the lingering biases and obstacles that prevent more women from holding public office.
. Michelle Obama's comment just seems like a bunch of old-school thinking, you know? Like, we've come so far since 2016 and 2024, it's crazy to think that the US isn't ready for a female president yet! 
I mean, have you seen the numbers on Kamala Harris in 2024? She totally killed it as VP! 
And let's not forget about all those women who are already crushing it in politics and other fields... like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez! 
It's time to stop making excuses and just do it, you know? 
. But they still lost 
.
Michelle Obama thinks we're not ready for a female president 
. But Donna Brazile is like "Uh, no way! We've been voting for women in all these elections and it just didn't work out" 
. Just because we haven't had a female president yet doesn't mean we're not ready 
.
. I get what she's trying to say, but maybe she should've phrased it differently 
, but Donna Brazile is right too 
. We do need to address those biases and obstacles, for women's sake and the country's 
. Maybe instead of debating whether we're ready or not, we should focus on supporting more women in politics and creating a level playing field 
.