Former U.S. President Barack Obama gave a speech in Singapore where he praised women leaders. He said that the world is in a better place because there are a lot of women taking charge.
His statement, however, received some flack from netizens who accused the former president of pandering to women. Many of Obama's critics reminded him that when he ran for president in 2009, he beat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
Some netizens told Obama that if he really believed what he said then he should have stepped aside and the former First Lady run for the highest position in America. He should have stepped down as the Democratic nominee and let Clinton take the position.
Other netizens also criticized the former president for his statement as a whole. One netizen from Britain said that they had two female Prime Ministers who didn't work out quite well for their country. There are those who also read too much into Obama's statement. Was he hinting that the Democrats not vote for Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden in the 2020 election and pick a woman instead?
Rumors are swirling that Obama's wife, Michelle, will soon throw her hat into the presidential race. However, in March 2019, his wife categorically denied the rumors saying that she has no interest in the highest office.
Speaking with late night host Conan O'Brien on his podcast show, the former First Lady said that she didn't have a normal life in the White House when her husband was president for eight years. She thinks that these years are enough and it's time for new people with new ideas to run the country.
Michelle has said time and again that politics doesn't interest her. She also doesn't like the division between parties like Republicans or Democrats as she thinks it's alienating to people.
Obama's better half said that her goal is to be able to touch and reach as many people as possible. She won't be able to do that if she is aligned with the Democrats when she is also friends with some Republicans, like the Bush family.
Meanwhile, Barack and Michelle are currently enjoying their new life together as empty-nesters. Their two daughters are off to college thus giving the couple more time to rediscover each other after two decades of focusing on raising a family and their different careers. The Obamas recently celebrated their 27 years of marriage.
