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Sarah Palin vs. Michelle Obama: Obesity and the Dessert Wars
Palin vs Obama on obesity
We know that Sarah Palin likes to take shots at Michelle Obama’s campaign to fight childhood obesity. In an interview on the Laura Ingraham’s radio show last month, Palin ranted that Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative was another example of the government getting in our business, and that Obama should get off “her anti-obesity thing she’s on.”
Now Palin’s back to giving dessert props — making statements about how nanny-like it is that Obama and health officials are trying to promote healthy eating. Remember last month when she brought cookies to a Pennsylvania school that was considering a ban on sweets at school parties?
This week on her TV show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, she chided the first lady’s healthy eating initiative by asking for s’mores ingredients and then saying the following:
“This is in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert.”
Obama actually didn’t say that. At a recent speaking engagement she said: ”The problem is when things get out of balance. When dessert is practically a food group.”
Palin’s point is that government shouldn’t meddle in personal issues like diet — that’s the parent’s domain. One conservative commentator likened Obama’s initiative to the government starting an “early bedtime” campaign. In other words, let families take care of developing healthy habits.
But here’s why that doesn’t make any sense: Government policies have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the first place, so how would we possibly combat it without change at the government level? Part of the reason childhood obesity has tripled since the 1980s is that the supposedly “free choices” conservatives talk about are not free. The playing field is not level. Subsidies make for artificially cheap (and artificially flavor-boosted) processed food, and as we learned last month, government entities like the USDA are involved in the creation and marketing of heart-stoppers like double-cheese Domino’s pizza.
Sounds like Mike Huckabee agrees — he weighed in on the debate today and sided with Obama.
So I’m all for desserts — as a family, we’ll be eating plenty over the holidays. But if you really want to give parents free choices when it comes to foods, then apples and asparagus have to be on a level playing field with preservative-filled, processed frozen dinners — equally economical and with the nutritional content clearly labeled. Then let us make the choice.
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[...] heart diseases, etc. You didn't see the democrats slamming Laura Bush when she pushed …Sarah Palin Vs Michelle Obama: Obesity and the Dessert WarsBabble (blog)Dear Michelle Obama, The Anti-Obesity Crusade Needs To Be Fought GingerlyForbes [...]
On fat, Huckabee vs. Palin vs. Palin – Politico (blog) commented on Dec 23 10 at 10:07 amLaure68 commented on Dec 22 10 at 1:01 pmI can’t believe some people still listen to Sarah Palin. I thought Michelle Obama’s main goal was to have more choices. (That is, to make healthy choices just as available and non-healthy choices.) Nobody would object to that, but Palin is trying to make it something it is not.
Andrea commented on Dec 22 10 at 1:58 pmI don’t want to seem like the crazy liberal, here, but it seems like personal choice only factors into the republicans rhetoric when it’s convenient for THEM!
Dee commented on Dec 22 10 at 3:29 pmIt’s obvious what Sarah Palin is doing: recruiting Big Food to finance her run for presidency. She’s dropping her breadcrumbs only to gather them when when she makes her big announcement. She’s absolutely the most despicable person in recent years. If she thinks she’s going to run for president on the backs of our children’s health, she’s not just despicable – she’s also evil.
Amanda commented on Dec 22 10 at 3:42 pmThere is NO reason that the federal government should be involved in school lunches. It should be left to states and localities to make these decisions.
Tina Mayor commented on Dec 22 10 at 4:22 pmPalin has never made any meaniful contributing to the growht and developement of this nation.She always opens her snut to contradict herself so mercilessly.I have a simple question for her? Why is she not fat!
hawkmom commented on Dec 22 10 at 5:35 pmIf Sarah Palin believes that the government shouldn’t tell us how to eat, then she should also believe in a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage. Obviously she would find that just ridiculous.
tvollmers commented on Dec 22 10 at 6:01 pm“Protecting good health is largely a matter of personal responsibility, but government policy can help. Our new Alaska Health Care Commission will recommend changes that affect the well-being of Alaskans far into the future.” ~Gov. Sarah Palin
Source: Alaska 2009 State of the State Address Jan 22, 2009”
Emily commented on Dec 22 10 at 7:13 pmMichelle Obama can’t make legislation. Any legislation that is made regarding school lunches goes through congress like everything else. And if the federal gov’t is handing monies out to schools (NCLB) then they can have a say in what is served. Ultimately it should be state and local, but ever since the civil war the national government has been expanding into those territories. It is the way it is. Luckily we all have voices and a vote.
Where was this vocal outrage at Laura Bush’s literacy agenda? Or Nancy Reagan’s Just Say No Campaign? Those are both personal choices that should be left up to the families! Encouraging my child to learn to read? NANNY STATE!!!!! (eye roll.)
Angela commented on Dec 22 10 at 10:12 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong but has Ms Obama actually proposed a law that would forbid parents to feed their children whatever they like? From what I’ve seen of the Let’s Move campaign it’s mostly focused on educating families so that they CAN make informed decision. True there was that bill about improving the quality of school lunches, but if you don’t like what the school serves you have every right to pack lunches yourself. I’m really missing how the Obamas are taking over our kitchens with this one.
cordellia commented on Dec 23 10 at 1:31 amThanks for many good points here.
Trina McCarty commented on Dec 23 10 at 9:27 amI see both sides. The Government has put their hands in too much or our personal lives…and the states. The Government has gotten way too far away from our roots. BUT…changing the diets at public schools on a daily bases…that could be good. I like what one foundation is trying to do with making organic meals. Leave the treats for school parties alone. They have to be store bought now days anyway for safety. The kids these days to do not get to know the specail treats that I knew as a kid.
Willie G commented on Dec 23 10 at 2:40 pmIt’s one thing to advocate for healthy choices. Sarah Palin has done that herself. Hell, she talks about her healthy organic diet on almost every episode of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.”
HOWEVER, Michelle Obama was out there shilling for the “Food Safety Bill” which passed.
Remember, the episode of SPAK was filmed in the summer.
The “Food Safety Bill” is a SERIOUS power grab by Big Government which gives Big Government the ability to stop farmers from growing food. Even people who have a small back yard garden, and grow food for their consumption only. It’s as un-American as it gets.
This was the Obama regime’s giveaway to Big Food.
The government has NO RIGHT to force people to eat what they say, or stop people from growing food in their own back yard for their own consumption.
All of this is nothing less than an all out assault on personal Freedom and Liberty. It stands in the way of our God-given right to self determination that our Constitution was written to protect.
Unlike deranged liberals who are totalitarian by nature, Sarah Palin believes in protecting Liberty and Freedom. (even of children who haven’t been born yet) She believes in the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Something foreign to the far left radicals who populate the democrat party.
The fact is, the federal government should not have anything at all to do with public education. The Constitution was designed to protect the rights of the states to be in charge of that, and many more issues.
It was Jimmy Carter, our second worst President in history (Obama being the worst) who created the Department of Education, and education has gone to hell since.
Government overreach should be feared, and must be stopped. You already have government telling you what kind of light bulbs you must have, and trying to tell you what kind of car to drive.
The FCC has now decided it will regulate the internet, even though the courts and Congress have told them they have no jurisdiction to do so! That is runaway government on steroids.
If people don’t wake up we are going to find ourselves living in a country where we will need permission from government to go to the bathroom! Oh, that’s right, government already regulates our toilets and showerheads.
Our Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves.
After the Constitution was written, as Ben Franklin was leaving the great hall, a lady stopped and asked him “What sort of government have you given us?” Franklin replied: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Sadly, these days people are too uneducated to understand what that means. Most people have never read the Constitution to understand what a magnificent document it is, and just how many times our federal government has usurped it over the years.
Today Ben Franklin would just walk away in disgust, knowing people are just too dumb to protect the republican form of government he and his peers took such care to create for us.
Thank God Sarah Palin gets it.
LeeVon commented on Dec 23 10 at 3:28 pmA friend sent me this comment:
“It’s one thing to advocate for healthy choices. Sarah Palin has done that
herself. Hell, she talks about her healthy organic diet on almost every
episode of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.”HOWEVER, Michelle Obama was out there shilling for the “Food Safety
Bill” which passed.Remember, the episode of SPAK was filmed in the summer.
The “Food Safety Bill” is a SERIOUS power grab by Big Government which
gives Big Government the ability to stop farmers from growing food. Even
people who have a small back yard garden, and grow food for their
consumption only. It’s as un-American as it gets.This was the Obama regime’s giveaway to Big Food.
The government has NO RIGHT to force people to eat what they say, or
stop people from growing food in their own back yard for their own
consumption.All of this is nothing less than an all out assault on personal Freedom and
Liberty. It stands in the way of our God-given right to self determination
that our Constitution was written to protect.Unlike deranged liberals who are totalitarian by nature, Sarah Palin believes
in protecting Liberty and Freedom. (even of children who haven’t been born
yet) She believes in the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Something
foreign to the far left radicals who populate the democrat party.The fact is, the federal government should not have anything at all to do
with public education. The Constitution was designed to protect the rights of
the states to be in charge of that, and many more issues.It was Jimmy Carter, our second worst President in history (Obama being
the worst) who created the Department of Education, and education has
gone to hell since.Government overreach should be feared, and must be stopped. You
already have government telling you what kind of light bulbs you must
have, and trying to tell you what kind of car to drive.The FCC has now decided it will regulate the internet, even though the
courts and Congress have told them they have no jurisdiction to do so!That is runaway government on steroids.
If people don’t wake up we are going to find ourselves living in a country
where we will need permission from government to go to the bathroom! Oh,
that’s right, government already regulates our toilets and showerheads.Our Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves.
After the Constitution was written, as Ben Franklin was leaving the great
hall, a lady stopped and asked him “What sort of government have you
given us?” Franklin replied: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Sadly, these days people are too uneducated to understand what that
means. Most people have never read the Constitution to understand what
a magnificent document it is, and just how many times our federal
government has usurped it over the years.Today Ben Franklin would just walk away in disgust, knowing people are just too dumb to protect the republican form of government he and his peers took such care to create for us.
Thank God Sarah Palin gets it.
April commented on Dec 23 10 at 6:23 pmI have to say I am with Sarah Palin on this. First of all I do agree with Michelle that school lunches should be healthier and that kids should exercise and kids need to not be overweight. Absolutely. However she is taking it too far. As Democrats are known to do.
No sweets at all in school?! Stupid. Michelle is not super thin herself. She has quite a large butt in her own pants. Maybe before she criticizes others she should lose all her excess weight. Secondly, it is up to the PARENTS to make the call on what their kids eat. I feel they want to control everything including not letting me pack what I want for my kids to eat in the lunchboxes. If I want to pack a cookie for my child’s lunch, that is MY business. My kids are in a healthy weight range and eat healthy. They have never even tasted soda so right there they are already miles ahead of other kids their age. But I do let them have desserts once to twice a day like a lollipop, pudding, cookie, etc. Just cause some other kid in their class can’t stop at one cookie is not my kids problem.
The whole telling farmers what to grow is also stupid and wrong. It is THEIR land, they can grow whatever the heck they want. None of the government’s business. I am all for social programs that encourage healthy habits, but that is all you can do. Encourage. You cannot control, you cannot force and you should not even try. That is when government goes too far.
Charlie commented on Dec 23 10 at 8:43 pmThe issue is simple. This administration has overstepped its authority once again. And they have stepped in it big time.
Take a good look at both MO and Gov. Palin from the rear, and it will be obvious who knows what they are talking about when it comes to healthy eating.
Merry Christmas Americans.
Charlie commented on Dec 24 10 at 1:44 amThis administration will have overstepped its authority once again if they attempt to regulate the eating habits of Americans.While her intentions may be good, when one compares Michelle Obama and Gov. Palin, it is obvious who knows what they are talking about when it comes to healthy eating. The healthiest foods are those obtained closest to their source.
KDanagger commented on Dec 26 10 at 8:39 amYes, we have a food emergency here in America. The government needs to take control! Never mind that decades of government policy’s created the problem. Never mind that decades of collusion with giant agri-corporations caused the problem. Now, we’ll take the next step by passing new laws to restrict the local production of healthier and higher quality foods.
The government wants to restrict your freedom to choose what you eat. It’s all to protect you and keep you safe after-all. We’re from the government – we’re here to help.The path on the left leads to Socialism. The path on the (new) right leads to Fascism. We are being told to choose between the two as if there is no third choice. The path to freedom exists. But it has successfully been hidden from most of us.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety and will lose both. – Ben Franklin
Every collectivist revolution rides in on a Trojan horse of ‘emergency’. It was the tactic of Lenin, Hitler, and Mussolini… – Herbert Hoover
Michael McCauley commented on Dec 27 10 at 1:12 pmI am contantly baffled by Palin’s ability to stick her foot in her mouth. How can encouraging people to eat healthy be perceived as anything but good? She must be in another universe. We at Vitaerobics wholeheartedly support the first lady in her quest to focus the country on reducing childhood obesity. This is likely one of the most pressing challenges of our time! Kudos to the first lady!
Rachel commented on Dec 29 10 at 12:35 amif only there was a easy sollution for obesity. I would be the first to try
Dearlylovedaimee commented on Jan 01 11 at 11:02 pmFor the life of me I’ll never understand why people are still listening to Sarah Palin. I wish the media would quit giving her attention. Perhaps then we could get rid of her. And I’m not sure I feel any differently about Michelle Obama.
Kudos to the first lady for promoting a healthy lifestyle. But it’s not the government’s job to tell people how they should live their lives. Just like they have no business telling people they can’t get married, denying Americans health care, or taking away a woman’s right to choose.
I hate to break it to the government, but people know exactly what makes you fat. That’s why it’s a parent’s job to educate their children. But this day and age we are relying far to heavily on other people to raise our kids. It breaks my heart that the world thinks it’s more important to hurry then to be there for your family. That is if you are even allowed to have a family.
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