Michelle Obama Stings Divorced Dads [OPINION]

The woman who once proclaimed that the election of her husband made her "really proud" of her country for the first time in her adult life has now lashed out at divorced dads. And no one has even bothered to ask why.

Appearing on Stephen Colbert's late-night TV program, Obama—sometimes mentioned as a possible Democrat presidential contender—took a poke at President Trump by sucker-punching divorced fathers.

“Sometimes you spend the weekend with a divorced dad," she said. "That feels like fun but then you get sick. That is what America is going through. We’re kind of living with a divorced dad.”

Say what?

Not only did Obama just perpetuate a sexist stereotype by dissing divorced men and suggesting that only women can properly raise the kids, but she has also offended every man who has been forced into virtual exile from their children's lives.

I was fortunate to have been raised in a fairly stable environment that consisted of both of my birth parents, but not every kid was that lucky. Many children are raised in divided households and split their time between parents with generally most of their waking hours under the supervision of their mother. Dads often get to keep their kids for a weekend here and there. I could not imagine what it must be like watching your kids being raised from a distance.

Have you ever talked to a dad who has been separated from his children? You ought to. The pain, anguish, and guilt associated with not being able to see their kids all of the time or to be a part of their daily lives are more than many can take. It's heart-wrenching.

Keep in mind not all of the divorced dads are the reason the relationship fell apart, yet they usually pay the price when a family is divided up by the courts.

Michelle Obama should be more sensitive to the issue of divorced dads, given that more than seven out of 10 children in the African-American community are raised without a father.

To make light of the situation is unkind at best. It is also ill-advised, since divorced dads vote too and would likely not look kindly upon their portrayal by the likes of Michelle Obama, already one of the more divisive figures on the political scene.

Divorced dads deserve compassion and not ridicule.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.