OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former first lady Michelle Obama is furious with a Democrat candidate for mayor of Philadelphia that appears to imply that she made an endorsement. The ad shows the former first lady praising Jeff Brown, who owns a chain of grocery stores, and is campaigning to be the mayor of Philadelphia.
“I think Jeff Brown put it best when he said we’re not gonna be on the sidelines. We’re gonna be right with our communities,” the former first lady said in the ad that also shows a photo of Brown with former President Obama.
Michelle Obama’s office voiced concerns about the ad and called the Brown campaign about it. But a spokesperson for Brown said that the footage of Michelle Obama’s comments was “public domain.”
“It included comments that former First Lady Obama made about Jeff Brown’s work on developing solutions to the national food desert crisis. The ad producers did not reach out because the comments were in the public domain,” they said.
The office for the candidate said the ad had stopped airing because it was done, but it also happened after Michelle Obama’s office contacted the campaign.
“They didn’t tell us to take the ad down, but it could be implied,” the spokesperson said.
Michelle Obama’s office said that the former first lady tends to not involve herself in primaries and is not making an endorsement in this campaign.
“Mrs. Obama doesn’t typically endorse in primaries and isn’t supporting a candidate in this race,” the spokesperson said to The Daily Beast.
According to Brown’s campaign spokesperson, the ad has not been running since the MLK weekend due to it “completing its cycle.” However, in something of a coincidence perhaps, that was the same time that Mrs Obama’s camp got in touch and “implied” that they didn’t want the ad to continue running.
The Michelle Obama ad is not the only misstep Brown has made in his effort to reach Black Philadelphia voters.
A recent social media campaign video that has now been removed from Brown’s official Instagram page featured the ShopRite store owner being praised by Black residents—even comparing him to God and “Big Ma.”
In December, Michelle Obama made a stunning admission about her thoughts on her husband, former President Obama., saying in an interview that she could not stand him for around a decade, Fox News reported.
“People think I’m being catty for saying this: it’s like, there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband,” she said in the interview. “And guess when it happened? When those kids were little. For 10 years while we’re trying to build our careers and worrying about school and who’s doing what and what, I was like, ‘Argh, this isn’t even!’ And guess what? Marriage isn’t 50/50, ever. Ever. There are times I’m 70, he’s 30. There are times he’s 60, 40. But guess what? Ten years. We’ve been married 30. I would take 10 bad years over 30 — it’s just how you look at it. People give up — ‘Five years; I can’t take it.’”
“Do you like him? I mean, you could be mad at him, but do you still look at him and go, ‘I’m not happy with you, but I respect you. I don’t agree with you, but you’re still a kind, smart person,'” she said.
In the massive $1.7 trillion spending package introduced by the Democrats, there is a provision involving Michelle Obama that has caught the ire of Republicans.
In the legislation lies $3.6 million to fund the “Michelle Obama Trail—PATH Trail Project.”
“The Democrats’ reckless omnibus bill spends YOUR money on a ‘Michelle Obama Trail,’ a ‘Ukraine Independence Park’ in DC, and a ‘Speaker Pelosi Federal Building’ in San Francisco. Are you ok with all of this?” Republican Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs said.
The Democrats' reckless omnibus bill spends YOUR money on a "Michelle Obama Trail," a "Ukraine Independence Park" in DC, and a "Speaker Pelosi Federal Building" in San Francisco.
Are you ok with all of this?
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 20, 2022
Here are just a handful of the many earmarks in the bill, including $3.6 million for the "Michelle Obama Trail." pic.twitter.com/OdZnlWSqLV
— Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) December 20, 2022
“Here are just a handful of the many earmarks in the bill, including $3.6 million for the ‘Michelle Obama Trail,’” Rep. Dan Bishop said.