Michelle Obama tells Grocery Manufacturers Association to ‘Step it Up’

Money talks.
Just fork over some of the taxpayer’s money. She has $10billion to play with.

Michelle is worried about the future of our children.
OMG!!
Then stop spending our money, stop piling up debt on the backs of our kids.
The rate we are going there won’t be much of a future for our kids.

Mrs. Obama said she wants a fundamental shift on the products these companies are making and the information they offer with it.
Really? Well, I’d like to see a ‘fundamental’ shift in the COST of healthier food products. You pay almost double for the ‘good’ stuff, meaning many people can’t afford to eat well, they must eat what they can AFFORD. Any suggestions, Michelle?

When Michelle convinces her husband to stop smoking then she may have a right to tell people not to eat to excess.

No way will I be told how to raise my kids. I guess the progressives nuts need advice on what to feed their kids and how to live their lives, but not me.
And, really a big yellow bow ROFL

My goodness so much of vitriol…..
Facts:
She is not raising your kids.
She is not feeding your kids.
She is not managing your grocery.
She is not making any policy decisions.
She is doing advocacy at best.
She is telling you to open your eyes and see what your kids look like and what they might look like 10 years from now, if they continue to eat junk and not move enough.
Do you even have any idea what all goes in the most simple of junk food like McD’s Chicken nuggets ? 30 different ingredients to make it tastier, juicier, fattier and appear very good.
Do you all want the future generation of this country to be on disability as soon as they hit thier 40s ? If so, you can kiss the Medicare / Medicaid / social security good-bye right now.

Posted by: Anup | Mar 16, 2010 4:36:52 PM
“She is not raising your kids”
No – But she is spending my tax dollars. $10 BILLION for this program.
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“Do you all want the future generation of this country to be on disability as soon as they hit thier 40s ? If so, you can kiss the Medicare / Medicaid / social security good-bye right now.”
Does it really matter at this point? These three programs are headed towards insolvency and the funds won’t be there to provide pay-outs to everyone anyway. Thanks, Progressives!!!
“Do you even have any idea what all goes in the most simple of junk food like McD’s Chicken nuggets ? 30 different ingredients to make it tastier, juicier, fattier and appear very good.”
Unlike Progressives, most Americans know there is no such thing as a “free lunch.” If it tastes good, it’s probably not good for you. Do we really need Michelle and the government to tell us to be responsible and not eat deep-dish pizza and Big Macs every meal?

Posted by: A_R_Med | Mar 16, 2010 4:53:57 PM
Your fine suggestion would be labeled as discrimination by our moral superiors in D.C.

The future for our kids if Obama, Pelosi, Reid have their way?
Poor and dependent on the government cradle to grave.
One thing is likely–their kids are set for life.

The future for our kids if Obama, Pelosi, Reid have their way?
Poor and dependent on the government cradle to grave.
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Nonsense. The $10 Trillion dollar deficit at the end of the Bush Republican administration ‘enslaved’ your children as much as the economic collapse on Bush’s watch – almost threw you and your kids into the new Great Depression.
And we’re not out of it yet – that is why there has been deficit financing, stimulus programs and tax cuts. To try to keep the whole deal afloat after it almost sunk under the economic collapse under the Bush administration.
You seem to forget all that – kind of convenient for your Republican right wing cause.

“that is why there has been deficit financing, stimulus programs and tax cuts. To try to keep the whole deal afloat after it almost sunk under the economic collapse under the Bush administration.”
So, Ms. Professor, care to explain why we now have projected TRILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL DEFICITS as far as the eye can see under your genius leftist president?
BTW – Bush’s annual deficits NEVER exceeded $500 million. The “Bush Did It” playing card has expired.

“that is why there has been deficit financing, stimulus programs and tax cuts. To try to keep the whole deal afloat after it almost sunk under the economic collapse under the Bush administration.”
So, Ms. Professor, care to explain why we now have projected TRILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL DEFICITS as far as the eye can see under your genius leftist president?
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I know its better for your argument if it’s not mentioned Bush left a $10 trillion dollar national debt for this President.
I know its better for your argument if you forget Bush left a built-in deficit for this President.
I know its better for your argument if you ignore the massive economic collapse on the Republican Bush watch – the largest since the Great Depression – which he left for this President.
I know its better for your argument if you ignore the effect a massive economic collapse has on deficits and budgets.
Sorry, in the real world of economic none of those things can be ignored.

“Sorry, in the real world of economic none of those things can be ignored.”
TRILLION DOLLAR ANNUAL DEFICITS UNDER OBAMA.
THE U.S. IS ON THE VERGE OF LOSING IT’S TRIPLE-A RATING (I do not expect you to understand the impact of this).
Sorry, in the real world of economics, this cannot be ignored.
Bush = Bad
Obama = DISASTROUS

“Like the people marketing and selling all the junk food? They surely don’t need any guidance do they? Like the schools putting Coke machines in their cafeterias? No guidance needed there.”
Why is it the Leftists want so badly to take away choices from Americans? Why are they so quick to subvert themselves to the will of the government?
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Oh, so educating children is ‘taking away their choices’?
That is just plain dumb.

Posted by: Cryos | Mar 16, 2010 5:51:28 PM
Try not to be afraid of information and education – it’s part of American life. Knowledge is power.

“Again tjp, your dumbly ignore the massive economic collapse under the Bush administration”
The corner on “dumbly” is already occupied…
So you are OK with the TRILLION dollar deficits as far as the eye can see under Obama? Blame Bush all you want but (a.) Bush NEVER came close to this level of deficit spending, and (b.) Obama was elected to “fix” the problem. Perhaps he is not up to the task?

Control their diets, control their education, control their college loans, control their minds.

BTW, not that it matters, but according to the Kaiser Family Foundation the highest obesity rates by race in the U.S. are Black (69.9%) and Hispanics (62.1%)
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1) 25% of all white children overweight 2001, 2) 33% African American and Hispanic children overweight 2001 . . .
Not much difference, it’s a major problem and will impact on the health care system in the future if its not addressed.
All power to the First Lady for putting this on the agenda.

Democrats in February 2008 were still trying to lower loan standards for Fannie and Freddie
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Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities
Date: Monday, July 1 2002
“President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.
“The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . .
“Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts . . .”

Democrats in February 2008 were still trying to lower loan standards for Fannie and Freddie
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Bush homeownership plan aims at $5.5 million lift for minorities
Date: Monday, July 1 2002
“President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.
“The plan would provide down payment assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . .
“Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s efforts . . .”
Posted by: tierra | Mar 16, 2010 6:10:36 PM
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This was in 2002. After 2002 no less than a dozen times republicans brought up paring back FF because it was too exposed and being overused.
But your 2002 article trumps it all I guess.

Posted by: Cryos | Mar 16, 2010 6:09:55 PM
Don’t be afraid of education and information – it’s part of American life.
Your concerns seem misplaced. You would be smarter to be addressing the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns from junk food dealers – who deal their ‘dope’ right in our schools – rather than worrying about a public information campaign against obesity.

“You would be smarter to be addressing the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns from junk food dealers – who deal their ‘dope’ right in our schools – rather than worrying about a public information campaign against obesity.”
If they can’t buy it or if it is not available at home, they can’t eat it!
Why is this so difficult for you to understand?
Why do Progressives/Leftists believe the government should assume the roles and responsibilities of parents? Is it because they are poor parents themselves and realize they need “help”?

More Nanny State BS so Big Sister can diaper the butts of every living human being in this country! Go away, CONTROL FREAK! Teach PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY in school along with good nutrition and then back the hell off. If stupid parents allow their kids to gorge themselves on sugar, they will pay the price. If kids continue after learning the consequences of bad choices, they will pay the price. So be it. This is AMERICA and we still enjoy FREEDOM to choose our own path and we should NOT have to pay for the stupidity of others!!

“New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
By STEPHEN LABATON
Published: September 11, 2003
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In 2003, the Republican held the presidency and the congress, but were unable to deliver any reform? Sounds to me like incompetence or the inability to compromise.
“The president spent years pushing a recalcitrant Congress to toughen regulation of the companies, but was unwilling to compromise when his former Treasury secretary wanted to cut a deal. And the regulator Mr. Bush chose to oversee them — an old prep school buddy — pronounced the companies sound even as they headed toward insolvency.”

“Not at all, but we do believe in education and information in schools – not junk food dealers. It’s not that difficult to figure out.”
IF.YOU.DO.NOT.WANT.YOUR.KIDS.TO.EAT.JUNK.FOOD.AT.SCHOOL.DO.NOT.GIVE.THEM.MONEY.TO.BUY.IT.
It’s that simple. No education needed. It’s the same way my parents taught most of us.
The root cause of obesity is lack of responsible parenting and self-discipline, not due to the “evil GMA”. Government cannont fix this problem (at least without coming into our homes and interfering with our lifes…which is what the Progressives ultimately want).

“New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
By STEPHEN LABATON
Published: September 11, 2003
__________________________________
In 2003, the Republican held the presidency and the congress, but were unable to deliver any reform? Sounds to me like incompetence or the inability to compromise.
“The president spent years pushing a recalcitrant Congress to toughen regulation of the companies, but was unwilling to compromise when his former Treasury secretary wanted to cut a deal. And the regulator Mr. Bush chose to oversee them — an old prep school buddy — pronounced the companies sound even as they headed toward insolvency.”
Sorry, the facts bother you so much Cyros. You seem unable to accept the fact Bush instituted a major program to provide DOWN PAYMENTS to mortagages from the tax payers’ money to try to get housing for 40,000 minority homebuyers EACH YEAR.
And you seem unable to accept the fact Republicans held the presidency and the congress 2002-2007 and accomplished nothing in terms of Freddie and Fannie reform.

I think if we listen to Michelle, we can reduce obesity 3000%, just as her husband states that premiums paid by employers could drop 3000%!
(in other words, insurers will pay employers to buy their products – what a country!)
ObamaMath

Millions of Americans are jobless, homeless, eating at soup kitchens, stretching their budgets as far as they will go.
And FLOTUS gets a budget of $10 BILLION taxpayer dollars to fight obesity!!
Why in God’s name is that important when America is about to go bankrupt?
Put a sock in it Michelle until your husband stops spending like our hard earned money is Monopoly money.
Totally tone-deaf and out of touch with everyday struggling people.

“Why in God’s name is that important when America is about to go bankrupt?”
Because obese kids today with be taxpayer health costs tomorrow.
I realize right wingers are incredibly short sighted but try and think beyond tomorrow and beyond yourself for a change.

Honestly is it really the job of the government to determine what we should eat? Seriousley? Lets face it the majority of Americans like sugary and greasey foods I myself like a good balance between tasty greasey and healthy food and I should be able to enjoy a greasey burger as much as a healthy salad. Companies are profit driven they produce what sells Period!

“And yet I meet tons of obese faux conservatives and Republicans. Tons. Go figure.”
And how is this your business? Is it not their (regardless of ideology) choice if they are obese? Who are you to dictate the ideal body shapes of your fellow Americans (BTW – I’m not obese – not even close – but I will defend the “rights” of those who are, even if I disagree with their lifestyle choices).
Very, very partisan of you.
BTW, not that it matters, but according to the Kaiser Family Foundation the highest obesity rates by race in the U.S. are Black (69.9%) and Hispanics (62.1%), two voting blocks who consistently support Democratic candidates.
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 16, 2010 5:55:44 PM
Hmmm… are you serious? You indicated that lefties can’t figure out how not to be obese without the government telling them how– right? We can’t think, you said? We need instruction, you said– guidance.
Given that, forgive me if I laugh out loud when you hypocritically say “Very, very partisan of you.”
For one thing, so what? Everybody by now knows that I think the GOP is an outdated, backwards, fearmongering party and that I can’t fathom why anyone would vote for them.
My point was in relation to your point was this:a lot of overweight and out of shape people are conservative, too. Tons. And they come in all the time with all kinds of excuses and rather clueless, needing “help”–just like the overweight people on the left. They want exercise programs, menus, wake up calls and, frankly, babysitters. Not all– but enough. The Right has NOTHING on the left in that department.
Btw, its my business cuz its my business. LOL. I own a gym. I have a close friend who owns an organic farm. My husband owns a deli and has a line of health food. I think Michelle Obama is doing public health a great service. Obesity is a very serious public health issue.
And it does effect all of us whether we’re obese ourselves or not, as all public health issues do.
But I don’t want junk food and pop outlawed. I want it taxed heavily alongside legalized pot.

Because obese kids today with be taxpayer health costs tomorrow.
I realize right wingers are incredibly short sighted but try and think beyond tomorrow and beyond yourself for a change.
Posted by: Ryan C | Mar 16, 2010 8:03:57 PM
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I think you’re being too sensible. These folks are freaking out because Michelle Obama is highlighting a huge public health problem that Health Affairs dedicated its entire March issue to. Common sense has nothing to do with their objections and crazy talk.
Personally, I think its related to the big freak out now that health care reform legislation is likely to pass.

Companies are profit driven they produce what sells Period!
Posted by: Missy | Mar 16, 2010 8:16:32 PM
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Same with crystal meth dealers.
Posted by: tierra | Mar 16, 2010 8:26:03 PM
Excellent point. How much money do we spend on the War on Drugs again?

“If there is anyone who can sell food to our kids, it’s you.” Michelle Obama -last time I checked, its the parents who buy the food. What the heck is going on in our country? Nobody wants to take responsibility for anything. If your kid is raiding the pantry and eating tons of snacks, stop buying the stuff. It’s like the mother wringing her hands over her 700 pound, bedridden son whom she feeds like a waitress. C’mon America, are we ready to give up our freedom to choose because we are too weak to make the choices ourselves? What’s next? A ban on cartoons because we can’t tell junior to turn the TV off?

I have never seen so many idiots fight so hard for the status quo. You talk about your right to eat whatever you want. Well eating junk is what’s killing Americans!
We have bigger problems with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer than any other country.
Talk about survival of the fittest – this country is literally killing itself. The shortsighted, uninformed, morons who don’t get that combatting health care costs and living longer and high quality lives is dependant on our environment and what we eat. But leave it to the crazy conservatives to yell and fight to live in polluted environments with their call for de-regulations over air or water safety. They are foaming at the mouth to hold on to their soda pop, potato chips, fast foods, and processed foods, with no regard to chemicals that go into manufactured and processed foods.
Humans were not built by God to be able to withstand eating all these chemicals in our foods. Numerous studies have been done to show the linkage between what we eat and cancer. I don’t understand why people are foaming at the mouth and a COMMONSENSE and important mission the First Lady is taking on!
We don’t have to worry about Iran setting off a nuclear bomb, heck Americans are eating themselves to death!
Posted by: Susan | Mar 16, 2010 8:41:23 PM
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As I mentioned previously, the March issue of Health Affairs is dedicated to obesity as a serious public health issue.
“…the estimated annual cost of treating obesity-related illness in adults reached $147 billion in 2009. With child obesity growing three times faster than adult obesity, Martin-J. Sepulveda and colleagues cite data showing that the average claims cost of children with type II diabetes, at $10,789, exceeds the $8,844 average claims cost of adults with the same condition. Other research shows that overweight and obese children are more likely than others to repeat a grade in school or to miss more than two weeks of school in a year. Employers, write Sepulveda and colleagues, “are at risk of inheriting a future workforce” in which many are obese and have costly chronic illness.
The solution, as Jonathan D. Klein and William Dietz write, is a broad-based set of interventions comparable in scope to the four-decade assault on smoking. Since “default” conditions in this country now predispose many to obesity, the goal should be defaults that predispose everyone to better health, urge Kelly D. Brownell and coauthors. This means taking action in agriculture, food labeling and marketing, education, transportation, parks and recreation, and health care. A strong federal role is key, but much will also fall to the states, which face big differences in obesity rates relative to each other and within their borders.” (Susan Denzer, Editor-in-Chief, Health Affairs)

Humans were not built by God to be able to withstand eating all these chemicals in our foods. Numerous studies have been done to show the linkage between what we eat and cancer. I don’t understand why people are foaming at the mouth and a COMMONSENSE and important mission the First Lady is taking on!
We don’t have to worry about Iran setting off a nuclear bomb, heck Americans are eating themselves to death!
Posted by: Susan | Mar 16, 2010 8:41:23 PM
Excellent post, Susan.
I’m a proponent of the Slowfood and Local food movements, and they support Michelle Obama’s efforts 100%. The following information was posted on the Slow Food International blog in January:
“Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have pointed the finger at America’s large-scale food production and distribution system as a cause of the nation’s child obesity epidemic. The current approach to food production means children — especially those in lower income families — are surrounded by high-calorie products, and the solution lies in local food production and consumption, the group has concluded.
In a situation where 90 percent of the country’s food is processed, only one to two percent of all food is locally produced, and the price of healthy food has risen more quickly than the price of unhealthy food in the last several decades, childhood obesity has become a major public-health problem. ‘The problem lies not just in a child, but the whole environment around a child,’ said Dr. Tenley Albright, director of MIT’s Collaborative Initiatives program. ‘To end obesity, we need to produce healthier, more accessible, more affordable food.’
The solution, the researchers say, is for each metropolitan area to obtain most of its necessary food from its own “foodshed,” a term similar to “watershed” that signifies the area that naturally supplies its kitchens. Furthermore, these local efforts should form a larger “Integrated Regional Foodshed” system, with the overall goal of lowering the price and caloric content of food by decreasing transport distances between farms and consumers.”
People who think its simply a parenting issue have shut their eyes to another chronic problem.

She’s barking up the wrong tree.. if you take away their snacks at home, they just start grazing at the nearest quick service trough.

Remember folks, if you are trying to lose weight, it isn’t only how much or what you are eating, it is your activity level. Studies have shown, even working out an hour a day won’t help as much if you are sedentary the rest of the day. The experts recommend pacing while talking on the phone, not sitting longer than an hour at a time without moving a bit and you will keep your metabolism burning calories at a much fast pace all day. Fidgeting turns out to be good for us!
Weight training, as simple as push-ups and curls for your arms, by increasing your muscle mass even slightly will also burn more calories all day long, as muscle burns more calories than fat. Good luck to all those trying to lose a little or a lot. Little changes in diet and lifestyle work best, and add up quickly.

The Citizens of the United States still have “Free Well”
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There’s no free “well.” But there is a cheap well of highly processed calorie-laden non-foods.
I prefer real food, and think Michelle Obama has every right to focus on what she wishes to focus on. Good for her for addressing a HUGE problem.

Michelle & the Grocery Manufacturers Association do not belong in my shopping cart. I feed my family the way I want to. I don’t need them telling me what to do for my family. I am fairly intelligent and make good choices for food consumption. Snacks? Soft drinks? Yes, there is a place for them in my family’s eating/drinking habits. But that’s my business!

“Mrs. Obama called on the GMA to help in that goal, telling them while parents, teachers and government officials bear much of the responsibility for the one in three children now obese or overweight, they too have a duty to “step it up.”” – ABC News
This is plain wrong and misguided.
This type of social thinking is flawed and has no place in America.
Michelle should have edited out teachers and government officials.
They are not responsible for children’s eating habits.
The responsibility falls squarely on the parents and that’s it.
Michelle should redirect her message to parents if she wants to be effective.

Michele Obama preaching to the large food manufacturers to care about nutrition is the equivalent of her husband preaching to the defense industry to care about peace. She is on the wrong stage. Who is she kidding? Of course they will applaud, the First Lady is empowering them to stay in control and continue to shamelessly market armful food to our kids.

OBAMA = CHANGE = NOPE … PROPAGANDA !
HOPE = NOBAMA = AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!
Education reform bill is not about education, it is about POWER GRAB.
Health Care reform is not about health care, it is about POWER GRAB.
CHANGE IS ALL ABOUT POWER GRAB.