Michelle Obama has come to the defensive of Dr. Jill Biden after professor Joshua Epstein wrote an offensive op-ed about the incoming First Lady. Within the op-ed, Epstein advised Biden against using the title of doctor despite the fact she earned a doctorate from the University of Delaware.
"Madame First Lady—Mrs. Biden—Jill—kiddo: a bit of advice on what may seem like a small but I think is a not unimportant matter. Any chance you might drop the 'Dr.' before your name?" Epstein asked.
"'Dr. Jill Biden' sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic. Your degree is, I believe, an Ed.D., a doctor of education, earned at the University of Delaware through a dissertation with the unpromising title 'Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students' Needs.' A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child. Think about it, Dr. Jill, and forthwith drop the doc."
Epstein caught criticism from across the board for the use of the word "kiddo" along with his overall message for Dr. Biden. After learning of the op-ed, Michelle Obama joined in as many across social media criticized Epstein for his work.
"For eight years, I saw Dr. Jill Biden do what a lot of professional women do—successfully manage more than one responsibility at a time, from her teaching duties to her official obligations in the White House to her roles as a mother, wife, and friend. And right now, we’re all seeing what also happens to so many professional women, whether their titles are Dr., Ms., Mrs., or even First Lady. All too often, our accomplishments are met with skepticism, even derision," Obama wrote on Instagram.
"Is this really the example we want to set for the next generation? Dr. Biden gives us a better example. And this is why I feel so strongly that we could not ask for a better First Lady. She will be a terrific role model not just for young girls but for all of us, wearing her accomplishments with grace, good humor, and yes, pride."
Instead of pulling the op-ed from the site, editor Paul Gigot defended his decision to publish Epstein's work.
“Why go to such lengths to highlight a single op-ed on a relatively minor issue? My guess is that the Biden team concluded it was a chance to use the big gun of identity politics to send a message to critics as it prepares to take power. There’s nothing like playing the race or gender card to stifle criticism. It’s the left’s version of Donald Trump’s ‘enemy of the people’ tweets,” he wrote.
“The difference is that when Mr. Trump rants against the press, the press mobilizes in opposition. In this case, the Biden team was able to mobilize almost all of the press to join in denouncing Mr. Epstein and the Journal. Nearly every publication wrote about the Biden response, reinforcing the Biden-New York Times line: ‘An Opinion Writer Argued Jill Biden Should Drop the Dr."
As it stands, the piece remains published in the popular publication.
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