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."
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."
Update: Lawsuit targets toys in Happy Meals - woman claims McDonalds "interferes" with her family.
Comments
Ma'm... Keep your nose OUT of my children and grandchildrens menus.....thank you... focus your attention on getting your husband to quit smoking, for starters....
I think that if you start requiring that kids eat their healthy food at school by mandate, the home is becoming even less responsible for the outcomes of their own children. The food stamp program can be eliminated for all school aged children. Why Not? Keep the WIC program for children unable to fend for themselves or go to school and eliminate the food stamps for older children and their parents.
I do not need you to hold my hand and tell me how to feed my children. This is the United States, which the last I checked was a free society, but it looks like the Obamas would like that changed.
It has long been the First LAdy's job to look into programs and bills that benefit schools and the health of Americans.
Check out the past First Ladies, and their contributions.
Thank you, Michelle, for speaking out against the terrible state of food and food production in this country, and starting with what our children are fed in school!
Wow, way to read this out of context. She wasn't saying that parents should be told what to feed their kids, but that the schools should be more receptive to parents wanting their kids to eat healthy. But by all means, misread it so you can attack her without cause.
Exactly. Too many people speaking out before they understand what the person said.
KUDOs to Michelle! Finally, someone trying to regulate the terrible lunches in many schools across this nation!
I am a grandmother of four, and two of those kids have food allergies which mean half the time they only eat bread and apples....until they get near the junk food.
I have no idea what they eat at school, but I do know that too many people feed their kids McDonalds-like junk, and it is not taking anything away from the parents who don't, by trying to stop the terrible influx of junk and over-processed food that inundates our next generation.
Thank you, Mrs. Obama!
i agree with "anonymous"....i'm not even a huge Obama fan, however as a parent of two (one being in school) i know my wife and i make an effort to feed our children healthy food...its nice to know that it's a possiblility that our healthy habits will continue at school. MJH...Obama hasn't smoked in 9 months...don't you read the news?
michelle obama needs to worry about her own children and not pass a law on what parent's can feed their children. yes alot of children are over weight. but she is not god. next she'll be telling parents how to pottie train their children. when to nap and sleep. when they can crap! they want to take all of our freedom away!
I just have to laugh. You aren't reading what the bill is about. I have seen first-hand, children who eat nothing but junk food in the schools. High-sugar drinks, high-fat and over-processed junk food.
Many of these kids think french fries are a vegetable.
But by all means, feed your kids crap at home, and hopefully in school they will get healthy food that they need to grow and to learn better nutrition.
To the soon be one-term first lady:
Your Freudian slip of "We can't just leave it up to the parents", shows your contempt for the citizens who elected your husband to office. If I could rescind my vote of two years ago, I would.
Keep your hands off my kids.
yeah i know
This is is not good at all
NOT GOOD
i like icecream Do you?
That stupid broad needs to focus on her own children, not everybody elses. I am so sick of that uncle Tom and his masculine looking wife. Can't wait until his term as president is over!
While I support the 'common sense' parts of ths bill any attempt to usurp our authority as parents is yet another infringement upon our rights and liberties.
Recently a student at my son's school was told that that he must throw away a soda he brought in his lunch from home or face a referral. A school administrator said that it was a 'secret rule' and was not in the policy handbook. I'm wondering how the school has the authority to override this parents decision.