Michelle Obama Flubs Candidate’s Name and Fibs About His Background

Bruce’s last name is not Bailey. But Michelle Obama said it was. Over and over again while speaking in Iowa. Bruce is not a Marine Corps veteran. But Michelle Obama said he was. In fact, Michelle Obama didn’t correct Bruce’s last name until well into her speech after an attendee in the audience corrected her by shouting it out. Then and only then did Michelle Obama restore his name.

Hint: Campaign Signs Prove It’s Not Bailey

Yet FLOTUS offered a backhanded apology that fell flat with most attendees, not to mention her critics, and resembles a larger Obama family trait aka “shifting the blame.” She didn’t exactly take personal responsibility for her on-camera bloopers, but instead blamed her errors on her dizzying travel schedule (which really boils down to her staffers). Really? How many political surrogates get their candidates’ names wrong? None. And what would traveling have to do with proper pronunciation and relaying one’s background accurately? Nothing. So in essence FLOTUS is not only blaming staffers she employs (your tax moolah at work), but is unprepared and inadequate to be a political surrogate. She proved she doesn’t have the backbone or finesse to apologize and own up to her own flubs. And lucky for us, this one was caught on camera.

He’s Not a Veteran (But His Opponent Is)

And Bruce? Well let’s just say he won’t be hiring FLOTUS to stump his campaign any time soon. After all, he wouldn’t want her to continue butchering “Braley” or pitch him as a reservist when he never served our country. His dad served at Iwo Jima but he’s not running.

And how did the competition deal with this? Very well, as you’ll see on the next page. It didn’t take long for Republicans to seize this godsend dropped in their lap and pounce. An online site went up rather quickly: voteBruceBailey.com directs visitors to his opponent, incumbent Republican Joni Ernst. And Ernst’ background? She was elected to the Iowa senate in 2014, and served our country in uniform as lt. colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard.

So did Michelle harm Braley’s chance at winning? Absolutely. Suffice it to say her on-camera hit-and-run of his last name and faux service only helped Ernst. Former Republican Iowa state senator Chuck Larson was available for comment and did not miss a beat when analyzing Michelle’s hatchet job of her party’s senatorial candidate. “Doesn’t surprise me at all,” Larson said. “It’s inexcusable and just speaks to her character and that of the President to come off so lame and ill-prepared.”

Jen­nifer Hanin is an award-winning writer, influ­en­tial blog­ger and social media maven, and co-founder and for­mer Exec­u­tive Edi­tor of Act For Israel. She is co-author of the critically-acclaimed What to Do When You Can’t Get Preg­nant: the Com­plete Guide to All the Options for Cou­ples Fac­ing Fer­til­ity Issues (Da Capo, 2013; 2005) and Becom­ing Jew­ish: The Chal­lenges, Rewards and Paths to Judaism.