Washington – First Lady Applauds NYC Plan To Ban Sugary Drinks

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    First lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Newseum in Washington, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, where she joined the Walt Disney Company to announce that Disney will become the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)Washington – First lady Michelle Obama says banning big servings of sugary drinks isn’t anything she’d want to do at the federal level but she offered some kind words for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s effort to do just that.

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    Shortly after saying that Tuesday, the first lady issued a statement backing away from taking a stand on New York’s controversial proposed ban.

    It was a telling example of the fine line the first lady walks as she tries to improve Americans’ health and eating habits without provoking complaints that she’s part of any “nanny state” telling people how to eat or raise their children.

    In an interview with The Associated Press, Mrs. Obama said there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution for the country’s health challenges. Asked specifically about Bloomberg’s proposal, she said, “We applaud anyone who’s stepping up to think about what changes work in their communities. New York is one example.”

    And asked whether the nation’s obesity epidemic warrants taking a more aggressive approach, such as Bloomberg’s, she said, “There are people like Mayor Bloomberg who are, and that is perfectly fine.”

    In a statement later, Mrs. Obama said she hadn’t intended to weigh in on the Bloomberg plan “one way or the other.”

    “I was trying to make the point that every community is different and every solution is different and that I applaud local leaders including mayors, business leaders, parents, etc., who are taking this issue seriously and working towards solving this problem.”

    “But this is not something the administration is pursuing at a federal level and not something I’m specifically endorsing or condemning,” she said.

    In the interview, Mrs. Obama said she’s “trying to create a big tent for people. Our motto is everyone has a role to play in this and I think it’s up to communities and families to figure out what role they can play, what role they should play.”

    Last week, Bloomberg proposed limiting portion sizes of sugary drinks to 16 ounces at the city’s restaurants, delis, food trucks, movie theaters and sporting arenas. Regular soda and sports drinks would be affected, while diet sodas wouldn’t.

    The ban has been denounced by the soft-drink industry and critics who accuse the mayor of trying to institute a “nanny state” rather than allowing individuals to make their own choices. It’s expected to win the approval of the Bloomberg-appointed Board of Health and take effect as early as March.


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    20 Comments
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    sholkramer
    sholkramer
    11 years ago

    No its not a fine line say it as it is she is a socialist and believes in the nanny state. She has,to behave in the hope that her husband gets reelected

    Member
    11 years ago

    I’m thirsty. I’m going to a public event. I’m going to be there a while and I can bring a drink. Maybe I am going to share that drink. I believe we should have a liberty to decide for ourselves how large we are going to consume. Does anyone consume one of these every day of their life? Surely of course no. This is much ado about nothing and if you want to be healthy, lets emphasize a physicians appoitment at least once a year over the idea of a nanny state that wants to discipline our heart felt enjoyment by their taxation and their regulations.

    curious
    curious
    11 years ago

    Of course she is a communist like her husband.

    sasregener
    sasregener
    11 years ago

    tell her to mind her own business. and tell her husband that their are more important things to worry about…it’s the economy stupid

    11 years ago

    who cares what she says –

    yehudis
    yehudis
    11 years ago

    are you so desperate for news items that you have to quote that farce of a “first lady”? the one who is only proud to be an american if her husband (if that’s wht he is) is in the white house. for that matter any jew who votes for him is a soineh yisroel – a self hating Jew. because this so called president would be the happiest to see us gone

    BLONDI
    BLONDI
    11 years ago

    who asked for her opinion?!?!?!?

    Mark Levin
    Mark Levin
    11 years ago

    Typical stuck up uber socialist pig!

    iamoverhere
    iamoverhere
    11 years ago

    coming soon to ny,
    only 1 slice of pizza,
    going to essen- only can have a have of sandwich,
    dunkin donuts- only can have the wholes in the middle
    but you can smoke pot, go figure

    Worker
    Worker
    11 years ago

    First tell your husband to stop smoking…

    OscarMadison
    OscarMadison
    11 years ago

    This is a form of class warfare. The powerful imposing arbitrary decrees upon the sheep just to annoy us and make our lives a little more miserable. The Orwellian police state is fully operational. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your bourgeois elite.

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    11 years ago

    And if you drink diet soda you get cancer so you have only water!! Is cancer BETTER???

    11 years ago

    she has nothing to say. this is her way of getting in the news because she likes the power. shallow and useless.
    however, the cause of cutting out sugar soda is GREAT.
    Try Zevia (www.zevia.com) its kosher and fully natural!

    11 years ago

    She should set an example herself . She has quite the spare tire.

    cent_cent
    cent_cent
    11 years ago

    Maybe she could convince her husband to quit puffing away all day.
    Maybe a rule to outlaw smoking on the white house grounds.