Sarah Palin Jabs Michelle Obama's Anti-Obesity Campaign With S'mores

Sarah Palin took a shot at Michelle Obama during Sunday's episode of her reality TV show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," jabbing the first lady's anti-obesity campaign for attempting to deprive Americans of dessert.

While searching for s'mores ingredients on a family camping trip, Palin remarked:

"Where are the s'mores ingredients? This is in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert."

Michelle Obama has been a key proponent of an initiative to improve children's health by encouraging better diets and sufficient exercise. In May she announced her "Let's Move" program, which promoted dessert alternatives, among other dietary suggestions.

The Associated Press reported at the time:

One in 3 American children is overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses. Obesity is even more prevalent among black and Hispanic children. Some public health experts say today's children are on track to live shorter lives than their parents.

But Palin has maintained that Obama's effort to combat child obesity -- which was recently aided by the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act -- is one that seeks to take away "God-given rights to make our own decisions." Some have since slammed that comment as Palin's demanding that Americans cling to their "God-Given right to be fat."

During an appearance on Laura Ingraham's radio program last month, Palin complained:

"Instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician's wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back."

And CNN relays another incident in Pennsylvania last month, in which the former Alaska governor sought to criticize the first lady's health plan:

Palin also hand-delivered cookies to a Pennsylvania school last month before delivering a speech there, saying: "Who should be deciding what I eat? Should it be government or should it be parents? It should be the parents."

WATCH (via Politico):

Comments

[collegebasketballer18]

04:19 PM on 02/01/2011

She's only making fun of it because her daughter's huge. Everybody got mad at Kathy Griffin when she said that Bristol Palin had to be the only DWTS contestant who gained weight during the competition. She meant it as a joke, but it's really concerning. And instead of dealing with what's really going on, Sarah Palin makes fun of the very person trying to help. That's the only way she can feel better about that. She's an old and whiny high school girl. Sarah Palin is a middle-aged child with nothing important to say.

[Julia Fancher]

11:35 AM on 01/04/2011

Palin dismissively refers to First Lady Obama as a "politician's wife," naively insinuating that Michelle Obama is not, in fact, a self made woman who attended two of the most prestigious universities in our country (Princeton and Harvard Law), and independently earned a hefty six figure salary before retiring her position to be able to support a campaign that would allow her and her husband to further their positive influences our country. May we also remember that this snide comment about our First Lady drips from the mouth of a former local news network anchor and beauty queen before she was just a politician...

[illmoocow]

01:22 AM on 01/20/2011

Preach. So Damn True..

[beccane]

10:55 AM on 01/04/2011

Sarah Palin is offended by anti obesity efforts and doesn't want the government (i.e. Michelle Obama) telling parents what to feed their kids. How does she feel about having local government force parents to accept lunch ingredients in their schools like crappy prison-quality-reject ground beef, government-ration cheez, french fries as a vegetable, and the pepsi and candy machines? Who's "forcing" who to eat what?

[steelej]

03:04 AM on 01/20/2011

She feels just fine about it.

[Glen Harris]

03:06 PM on 12/29/2010

Really? This has got to be the most simple mind woman in America! Why do people keep paying so much attention. She is a true example of what America's ranking in the global education system lacks greatly!

[Velma McKenzie]

10:33 AM on 12/28/2010

Sarah Palin's assertion that Michelle Obama's healthier families, "anti-obesity", campaign is the government's attempt, through a political wife, to dictate what Americans feed their families is just too ridiculous to comment on. A better use of this comment space is to give Mrs. Obama's Let's Move website, http://www.letsmove.gov/ so that readers can determine for themselves what she is doing to encourage healthier children and families.

[bobbybob]

09:52 AM on 12/28/2010

Its obvious that this is all Obama's fault. If it wasn't for Obama, none of this would be happening.

[Pinwheel]

05:10 PM on 12/27/2010

It appears that Sarah has missed the point once again and/or is just using her view to further her status as the conduit through which her "base" can be easily emotionally manipulated.

There are no such things as "God-given rights," only ideals, laws, constitutions of countries and consensus thinking that is constantly open to interpretation, circumstance and status. Take a polarizing political figure that believes he or she has the "one true" God in (only) their corner, and the slope becomes even more slippery. Which God gave what to whom? Where's her receipt?

[anti Obama]

11:57 AM on 12/29/2010

Being that this country was founded on Christianity i would have to say that the God of that religion would be the one she is speaking of. The slippery slope we continue to walk down is one where we have forgotten what this country was built on. The "slope" gets even more slippery every time an immigrant comes to this country wanting all that America has to offer; freedom from religious persecution, the laws and rights bestowed on us by the costitution and bill of rights, etc.
The problem with the USA today is that we allow consensus thinking that is constantly open to interpreta­tion. All of these people come here with different ideas and views than were meant for this country and try to change it. Obama and his wife can keep the change and leave me, my GOD, and my country out of any interpretation they may have for my life. This country was once defined as "a city on a hill", and people like the Obamas have destroyed that. Oh and the receipt you asked for is in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.

[Educated111]

01:57 PM on 12/29/2010

Is this meant to be satirical? Surely you can't be serious. By the way, you should probably actually read books and other publications actually written by the founders. Perhaps you should also read about Deism. I would point that the word "creator" is used in the Declaration of Independence rather than God, which is Deist language. A majority of the founders were Deists. Also, please note that in any case, the Declaration of Independence is a political document, while the Constitution is a legal document. And the words "God" and "Christianity" appear nowhere in that LEGAL document. Finally, the Constitution bars a religious test or oath for holding public office. A country founded on God indeed. Speaking of deeds, when has this country behaved in a remotely Christian manner?

By stealing the land and committing genocide against the people already living here? Or was it when Africans were brought over in chains to be slaves? Was it when we grabbed Texas and the southwest from Mexico? Was it when we napalmed babies in Vietnam? Just tell me when we have ever followed the teachings of Jesus as a country. There is and never has been a "Christian" nation simply because it is impossible for a legal entity created by man - the Kingdom of Man - to be the Kingdom of God.

Sincerely,

A Christian who doesn't confuse love of country with nationalistic idolatry

[progressiveana]

04:19 PM on 02/09/2011

Are you purposely ignoring the Constitution or are you unaware of the 1st Amendment? Or perhaps you find it "open to interpretation"?

[Carstonio]

03:12 PM on 12/26/2010

I suspect that most Palin supporters know damn well that the government isn't planning to ban all junk food or (as I heard one supporter put it) to make it illegal to be fat. All she is doing is using things that feel true to resentful people to manipulate them emotionally, giving them convenient targets for their resentment. In Michelle Obama's case, it's probably somewhat about her ethnicity and mostly about her education. Similarly, most of the "Barack is a Muslim" crowd probably doesn't literally believe that the President is lying about being a Christian. "Muslim" in this case is likely a metaphor for his ethnicity, his "otherness."

[Imaliberal67]

03:10 AM on 12/26/2010

One must wonder how she would have lampooned Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign if it had come from Obama.

[mogens]

12:42 PM on 12/25/2010

Go Sarah Go. My shares in the insuline producing medical firms will go right thru the ceiling.

[Alex Zhang]

08:22 AM on 12/25/2010

At some point, America should reconsider its obstinate commitment to free speech. I think someone in Palin's shoes - with media attention and political sway (at least to some extent) - should be required to demonstrate some level of basic intelligence, and she doesn't. She, along with many other politicians, are essentially misguiding the American public into believing lots of fantastical things. Here, the crux of the problem is that she is manipulating people into thinking that the question of health is a question of our rights, when in reality, it should be a question of facts and intentions. We all clearly intend to live longer and healthier lives and it is a fact that of the generation of children born after 2000, one in three kids will develop diabetes. If, under the banner of free speech, we keep allowing people like Palin to equate education and awareness with a violation of our rights, then we as a nation will be locked in a stalemate between those who are misinformed by people like Palin and those who are not. Democracy should be something we as a people earn. Instead, our democracy is quickly becoming a means to bring America down.

[collprof]

07:20 PM on 12/25/2010

Freedom means we get to choose whether we listen to a half wit or not. Apparently in the beginning of 2010 Palin was 70% positive. Now she can't sell her new book and her negative ratings have soared.

America ain't dumb. We're just slow.

[amd02148]

10:18 PM on 01/03/2011

fanned collprof

[Alex Zhang]

09:28 AM on 12/26/2010

@Imaliberal67:

I wasn’t advocating for silencing Sarah Palin before giving her the right to talk. However, I do call for “litmus tests” for our politicians because I think many of them do not demonstrate the basic skills a politician should have to enter into debates of such huge magnitude and influence. I may not have these skills myself but I damn well can tell if they don’t have it either.

While I don’t presume to have the “right answer” on this topic, I do think the U.S. government can consider convening an independent council that functions like a supreme court. It will comprise individuals who have been elected for their clarity of judgment, logic, political neutrality (as much as possible), and willingness and patience to analyze lots of documentation of a politician’s activity. They are to arrive, by majority vote, on whether any given politician demonstrates BASIC SKILLS that a politician should have: 1) a sense of priority that places the American people’s well-being – and especially their physical well-being – at the top of their agenda; 2) basic listening skills (the ability and willingness to understand all points made against them and to not falsely represent these points); 3) the ability to produce logically sound arguments. The definition of “logic” should be up to this council to decide. Acting as a guide to the American people, this council, rather than censoring politicians, will introduce a much needed level of clarity and objectivity to political debates.

[Mary Handy Moore]

11:19 PM on 12/24/2010

If ever there was a child who throws temper-tantrums because adults act like adults and do adult things, Sarah Palin is one. There are those who do not want to do right, but do not want anyone else to do right either. There is a story about Sarah Palin and her "Go Sarah" DEVOTEES: They are told that won't go in the light, but they try to keep anyone else from approaching it. Or the jealous, self-centered ones won't eat the veggies that could possibly keep them healthy, but will do everything they can to keep another from eating them.

It is a type of, "I'm miserable, but I don't want to be miserable alone." "Help me make it through the misery." Misery loves company it is said. If all Sarah's kids had weight problems instead of the majority of at-risk minority kids, she and others of her mindset would be at the doctor's office pronto, demanding an audience and some "pills." She demonstrates her unconcern for anyone but her preferences, which are not those who need it.

It is very honorable that Mr. Huckabee advocated for our youth's health, thus endorsing the First Lady's concern and work on their behalf. If we don't do our best to take care of ALL our young now, we cannot claim to be responsible or compassionate adults who care for America's children, not just our own little personal ones.

Imagine Sarah Palin as president. Go Sarah.

[Leftofmao01]

02:42 PM on 12/24/2010

garbage in garbage out.

[Andrew Burgess]

02:13 PM on 12/24/2010

Why does every Republican play the "god given rights" card? The US Constitution declares 3 innate, in other words "god given," rights: LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS! Get with the program Palin- know your legislation before you try and seek authority through it!

[Azumaguy]

06:44 PM on 12/24/2010

Why do blacks and Mexicans always play the race card?

[Andrew Burgess]

08:18 PM on 12/24/2010

Touche

[Krystina]

10:23 PM on 12/24/2010

not every black or Latino plays the race card. that said, with a culture that has the us/them mentality so deeply ingrained it wouldn't surprise me that so many of these heinous and inconsiderate remarks stem in some way from an inherent fear of the 'other' (read: non-whites) ...

just saying

[tekno2600]

12:38 PM on 12/24/2010

Since when is a voluntary health and fitness program promoted by the first lady a "big government take over?" The President's Council on Physical Fitness was founded in 1956 by...guess who...Republican Dwight Eisenhower.