Michelle Obama on child nutrition: ‘We can’t just leave it up to the parents'

Original Post: Examiner

First Lady Michelle Obama is on a crusade to end child obesity - a worthwhile goal in and of itself. But in remarks at Monday's signing of the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act", she seemed to denigrate the role of the parent.

In deciding what children ought to eat, she said, "We can’t just leave it up to the parents." We can't just leave it up to the parent's to raise a child, we need the federal government to do so. It it any wonder that some of us think the Obama's are authoritarians.

She added:

I think that parents have a right to expect that their efforts at home won’t be undone each day in the school cafeteria or in the vending machine in the hallway. I think that our parents have a right to expect that their kids will be served fresh, healthy food that meets high nutritional standards.

The bill signed by President Obama regulates what children can eat before, during, and after school. It also regulates diets during summer vacations in school programs funded by the federal government.

The bill passed the House 264 - 157 on December 2. Idaho's Walt Minnick voted for the measure, while Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) did not vote - along with 12 others.

For the first time, the federal government has the authority to regulate all food at schools - including food found in vending machines.

In her remarks, the First Lady even went so far as to tie childhood obesity to national security:

“And from military leaders who tell us that when more than one in four young people are unqualified for military service because of their weight, childhood obesity isn’t just a public health threat, it’s not just an economic threat, it’s a national security threat as well. These folks come at this issue from all different angles. But they’ve come together to support this bill because they know that it’s the right thing to do for our kids. And they know that in the long run, it won’t just save money, it will save lives.”

Politico reports that former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee supports the measure. Frist reportedly said:

“I join President Obama and the first lady in celebrating the signing of ... this bipartisan legislation. ... As a physician, I know smart nutrition leads to healthy and productive lives."


Huckabee, who ran for the GOP Presidential nomination in 2008 said:
“Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic in a single generation — as first lady Michelle Obama has called upon our nation to do — won’t be easy. ... The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act makes great strides toward eliminating this threat to our children's health.”

But the bill may not sit well with those who already see the government as being far too intrusive in individual's lives.

According to a report at CNS News, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called it the “nanny state run amok.”

The President joked that if he had not signed the bill, he would "be sleeping on the couch." Does anyone really think he was joking? Given Michelle's very dominant personality and Obama's willingness to bow before secretaries, I'm pretty darn sure that this is how our policies are being made. I'm sure Michelle told Barack to sign this bill and he cow toed to her.