As election day approaches, Donald Trump is still terrified to talk about Michelle Obama
Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump doesn't have a problem insulting people...
Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump doesn’t have a problem insulting people.
Most recently, it’s been the women accusing him of sexual assault.
Throughout his campaign it’s obviously and overwhelmingly been Hillary Clinton.
John McCain? “Not a war hero.” Mocking a reporter with disability? Yep, he did that. Muslims all over the world? Ban them. Mexican immigrants? He called them rapists and criminals.
Without basis in fact, he questioned President Obama’s American citizenship, claimed he was secretly Muslim and labeled him the “most ignorant president” in American history.
In fact, Trump has such a cozy relationship with insults the New York Times keeps tabs on the ones he’s posted on his Twitter account. The grand total is 274.
But it appears the man referred to as “Super Trump” has a kryptonite: Michelle Obama.
This week, FLOTUS delivered her most impassioned takedown of Trump yet without even mentioning his name. She addressed the candidate’s cruel rhetoric toward women and growing allegations of his inappropriate advances toward women:
Because let’s be very clear: Strong men — men who are truly role models — don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful. People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together. And that is what we need in our next President.
From Trump, there’s been nothing but crickets.
And this is far from the first time the Democratic party has rolled out its most popular and effective Clinton surrogate.
*FLOTUS Makes Surprise Appearance at Howard, Students Lose Their Minds
At the DNC in August, she gave what the Washington Post described as the “best speech” of the convention:
I want someone with the proven strength to persevere. Someone who knows this job and takes it seriously. Someone who understands that the issues a President faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.
Trump, who spends a great deal of time broadcasting his contempt on social media has yet to really address Michelle Obama’s comments or criticisms.
Trump did however compliment the first lady’s DNC speech. He told The Hollywood Reporter Michelle she did a “very good job” and “liked” the address. He called her delivery “excellent.”
*Michelle Obama Owned the DNC While Making the Best Case for Hillary
No insults, no attacks. A compliment.
The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake points out that he offered similar praise following Michelle’s DNC speech in 2012:
Very good speech by @MichelleObama–and under great pressure–Dems should be proud!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2012
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Eric Shultz seemed to be testing Trump, daring and almost baiting him to respond to the first lady on any number of issues.
Michelle Obama has been called everything in the book since the Obamas took office in 2009. Some tried to paint her with militant and angry stereotypes, accused her of being un-American and mocked her appearance with vile ape-like imagery.
But the approval ratings an FLOTUS’ popularity doesn’t lie.
Those numbers have remained high even while her husbands fell. According to a recent Gallup poll, Michelle Obama has a 64 percent approval rating. President Obama’s is 53 percent. Gallup says she is also more popular than Bill Clinton.
*Michelle Obama’s Birthday Message for Barack is Adorable
Her “when they go low, we go high” line has become a rallying call for the Clinton campaign – to stay above the fray and not engage in the way Trump probably would like his opponent to.
The Republican presidential nominee has had a rollercoaster week after the Washington Post leaked a damaging video of him bragging about sexual assault back in 2005. And if that wasn’t enough, an increasing number of women are alleging he made inappropriate and unwanted advances to them.
Trump has denied all of the women’s allegations against him.
He’s talked about his accusers. He’s responded to beauty queens, journalists and high-ranking politicians online and at his rallies.
But there’s still one name he won’t touch: Michelle Obama.
Ashantai Hathaway is a reporter at theGrio. Keep up with her on Twitter @ashantaih83
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