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.
Nanny State PING!
” Anti-obesity effort not about government telling ‘people what to do’ “
No, it’s about Michelle telling people what to do, and government making damn-sure we do it...
It’s good to be queen...
he he he....we’ve hit a nerve and she has reacted.
Keep hitting it. We can send both she and Barack into total meltdown mode before the election if we keep it up. The two of them have been SO sheltered.
Yeah right. I am so buying into that message. Not.
How do you respond to critics who say the government should not be telling people how to eat or to stay active?
MICHELLE OBAMA:
You know, that’s absolutely right—and Let’s Move! doesn’t do that. Let’s Move! is not about having government telling people what to do, because government doesn’t have all the answers. I mean, a problem that’s this big and affects so many people requires everyone to step up. So we’re asking everyone to do their part. Parents have to make some changes at home, 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, right? We need government to do its part, but we need businesses to do their part, as well
I wish the Obamas would take “Let’s Move” to heart and MOVE out of our White House, and out of our country.
I am going to chow on fatty pork ribs yelling allah akaba or what ever. Pass the BBQ sauce!
She can't because The Mooch has to alternate every other day with lobster & cracked crab with drawn butter...and a magnum of champagne.
Why would you go to anything call WIDE WORLD to promote getting thinner?
Well not yet but she is taking baby steps to get to more of a nanny state. Obesity is a major problem but I don't want the gov't to get involved because everyone loses rights, the fit and the fat both.
I work out 6-7 days per week 1-2 hours every day and eat a super clean diet. No junk food etc but I do wish the private sector would get more involved through rewarding fat people to change their way just as the company I work for is doing. They pay for gym memberships and have other programs to help people lose weight and get fit, stop smoking etc and it has helped them tremendously to lower claims over the last 3 years. We have actually had a rate decrease on the amount of premium we have to pay out of pocket.
She should have taken a few hints from previous First Ladies:
-Dress to the occasion;
-Take up libraries or somesuch as a cause; and
-Shut up, because nobody really wants to hear what you say anyway.
Or what Shelly?
More bullsh!t from Moochelle. Thanks Tolerance Sucks Rocks.
She’s never had a thought as deep as her footprints.
Also, both Moocher and Obummer are terribly thin-skinned. They become enraged in response to even mild criticism.
It’s about the unelected and unaccountable Moochelle telling people what to do.
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