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First lady: Anti-obesity effort not about government telling ‘people what to do’
The Hill ^ | March 12, 2012 | Alicia M. Cohn

Posted on 03/12/2012 1:59:35 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

In a new interview made available Monday, first lady Michelle Obama defended her “Let’s Move!” anti-obesity program against critics who call it a government intrusion.

“‘Let’s Move!’ is not about having government tell people what to do, because government doesn't have all the answers,” Mrs. Obama said in an interview with Topanga Sena, age 11, a reporter for Scholastic News in Florida. “A problem that's this big and affects so many people requires everyone to step up. So we're asking everyone to step up.”

Obama has toured the country for the second anniversary of her anti-obesity initiative, leading school groups in jumping jacks, hula-hooping and a round of the dance known as the “Dougie,” as well as challenging talk show host Ellen DeGeneres to beat her in a push-up contest (Obama won) and ribbing late-night hosts Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon over nutrition.

She concluded the tour with a stop at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Some of Obama’s “Let’s Move!” critics have warned the program could increase discrimination based on body weight, while others have linked the administration-backed initiative to increased government intrusion into public schools, for instance warning that schools should not have oversight over kids’ homemade lunches.

“I don't believe in absolute 'no's to anything, because that wouldn't make life fun,” Obama told Scholastic News. “What would life be without the bake sale, right?”

She added that she loves french fries. “I wish I could eat french fries every single day,” she said. Some conservative pundits have specifically singled out french fries as a food they say Obama’s nutrition campaign would ban.

One of the accomplishments Obama celebrated with her second anniversary tour was the USDA’s new school meal regulations, implemented in January 2012, which seek to ensure public schools serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less sodium, saturated fat and trans fats. According to the White House, the new mandatory standards for federally subsidized school lunch programs are the first major changes in school meal regulations in over 15 years. Republicans in Congress recently pushed back against the new regulations by attempting to drop them from a 2012 spending bill.

The first lady explained that the “Let’s Move!” program is an attempt to make sure government does “its part" to support others' choices.

“Parents have to make some changes at home, you know, but they need the information to be able to make those choices, and they have to have access to affordable foods in their communities, fresh and healthy foods. We need government to do its part, but we need businesses to do their part as well,” she explained. “If we're going to solve this problem, we need everyone to step up. And there's no one solution. … People have to figure out what works best for their family, their budget, their lifestyle, their community.“

The first lady launched the anti-obesity initiative in February 2010. In the interview, she touted the support she’s seen from community centers such as the YMCA and YWCAs, Girl Scouts, childcare facilities, the video game industry and faith communities.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: children; flotusmichelle; foodpolice; health; letsmove; michelleobama; nannystate; nutrition; schoollunch; usda; voteyourrace
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
... but we need businesses to do their part...

It's actually worse.

One suspects that it's about telling BUSINESSES what to do, (in order to control your behavior.)

When looking for a true objective, it really appears all about controlling the means of distribution of food and food commerce, and using "healthy [sic] foods" as a prop and a scare tactic in order to accomplish the real goal.

.

21 posted on 03/12/2012 2:20:24 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Why doesn't Michelle Obama tell men to settle down and make homes for the kids they are bringing into the world? Why doesn't Michelle Obama tell young women to demand that the men they sleep with take responsibility for the kids that result?

You almost never hear a liberal black activist address this issue.

22 posted on 03/12/2012 2:22:15 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“...because government doesn't have all the answers,”

Okay that is as far as I got before I had to post. Actually, I already had that vomit/burp taste in my mouth just thinking about reading the thread but I must, I must!

She's trying to reinvent/backtack things here. No, she wasn't doing what she was doing. We tooo stooopid.

Is she really going on Letterman tonight?

23 posted on 03/12/2012 2:22:40 PM PDT by hummingbird
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To: Bryanw92
The problem? parents are all to quick to hand over thier responsibility and the government is all to quick to snatch it up, rework it to the extreme and then demand you follow. Once they get control they dictate. Like the small banks, the auto industry, energy, and healthcare providers the present criminal minds first convince you they have you and your families best interest in mind while it dictates rules and regulations to producers of whatever it may be, follow these ridiculous guidelines which will eventually put you out of business or we will put you out of business now. This is the transformation. Government friendly companies will replace the ones put out of business and owe an eternal vig to the criminal organization this being the progressive democratic socialist party of America
24 posted on 03/12/2012 2:22:40 PM PDT by ronnie raygun (B B)
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To: Las Vegas Ron

Good God! Yet another photo of the screamin’ banshee!!


25 posted on 03/12/2012 2:23:08 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Obama does seem to have a real hate for potatoes


26 posted on 03/12/2012 2:23:36 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: TexasCajun
I mean, a problem that’s this big

One assumes she was sitting on that problem while speaking.

27 posted on 03/12/2012 2:24:52 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Myth Romney: All that hair is really just a Whig.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

She needs to start with FOOD STAMPS and Welfare recipients...then MAYBE someone would listen. Let’s see her get implemented rigid rules about just what you can buy with food stamps....ONLY rice, beans, veggies, and chicken. Not doing that? She can take her fat arse elsewhere...


28 posted on 03/12/2012 2:24:56 PM PDT by goodnesswins (2012..."We mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor")
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“What would life be without the bake sale, right?”


Wow, what a slice of Americana!

Aren’t kids being shut down when they try to have bake sales?


29 posted on 03/12/2012 2:30:18 PM PDT by hummingbird
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
They "aren't going to tell us what to do", they are just going to do their d@mndest to make sure there are no other alternatives.

It's the Chicago WayTM

30 posted on 03/12/2012 2:30:56 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If what she said was true, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. The government is supposed to PROMOTE - not provide for - the general welfare. But she’s not telling the truth and she knows it.


31 posted on 03/12/2012 2:33:55 PM PDT by Da Bilge Troll (Defeatism is not a winning strategy!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; FrankR

32 posted on 03/12/2012 2:34:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

She is right. It’s the gubmint.


33 posted on 03/12/2012 2:35:22 PM PDT by Toespi
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The home girl lies just like her gangsta husband. Of course, she wants to tell us all what to eat. She’s getting ready for the day her old man becomes dictator. She probably fancies herself as the next Eva Peron.


34 posted on 03/12/2012 2:36:28 PM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

35 posted on 03/12/2012 2:44:40 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit ;-{)
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To: trailhkr1

These weight charts are as old as the hills - made up when people were smoking like fiends to keep their weight down, popping barbis, etc., dying from cancer, but they looked nice and thin in the coffin,so it was worth it. Baloney. I am healthier than a lot of skinny bones working out every day, blowing their knees and their hips...but hey, you’re thin, so who cares! Everyone get off my back for being a chub. Do you think it should be a condition of employment to be thin? That’s where this is all going, and it stinks!!!!


36 posted on 03/12/2012 2:45:59 PM PDT by Sioux-san
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

How about this, Michele?


You MOVE by packing boxes with the family’s belongings.

You STEP UP putting the boxes in U-Hauls.

You HULA HOOP your ass back to Chicago and spend other people’s $$$


37 posted on 03/12/2012 2:45:59 PM PDT by hummingbird
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I wouldn’t think poorly about the First Lady’s crusade against childhood obesity if it didn’t come with regulations, legislation, and tax dollars spent.


38 posted on 03/12/2012 2:53:12 PM PDT by BfloGuy (The final outcome of the credit expansion is general impoverishment.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“Parents have to make some changes at home, you know, but they need the information to be able to make those choices, and they have to have access to affordable foods in their communities, fresh and healthy foods. We need government to do its part, but we need businesses to do their part as well,” she explained. “If we're going to solve this problem, we need everyone to step up.“

Spoken like a true fascist.

39 posted on 03/12/2012 2:55:16 PM PDT by Semper Mark (Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?)
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To: hummingbird

I ve said this a few times already about her. Fwiw i,m saving cardboard boxes for her. Where should i send them.


40 posted on 03/12/2012 2:57:11 PM PDT by Daffynition (On Andrew Breitbart: In his honor, I'll fight harder...He'll be back and he'll be millions.)
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