People have been talking about Michelle's figure since early in the 2008 campaign days, from her supposedly too muscular arms to her outfits that were too form-fitting. This is really nothing new, but now she's apparently "no swimsuit model" and therefore can't encourage healthy living. And while we're on the subject of Michelle's physique, let's do a little comparison:
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| Official White House photo, Feb. 2009 |
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| Speaking about Let's Move's partnership with Wal-Mart, Jan. 2011 |
Well, I do understand part of what Limbaugh, Palin, Bachmann and others are trying to suggest. For Michelle to spearhead a campaign like Let's Move!, which promotes healthy eating and regular physical activity, it's important that she walk the walk. Yet, does eating some ribs qualify as not walking the walk? Since when is a healthy lifestyle and an occasional rib or burger mutually exclusive? As the Let's Move! campaign advocates, a good combination of healthier eating and exercise makes for a healthier lifestyle, as opposed to a primarily non-nutritional, sedentary one.
All this talk about Michelle being a hypocrite, then, comes off as more of the anything-anti-Obama-is-right mantra that has been circling around since day one. While the argument regarding Michelle's eating could have some merit, it's predicated on the idea that she should eat like a rabbit all the time. That wouldn't necessarily make her lifestyle a healthier one, and it wouldn't take into account an exercise routine. Then again, I guess it's not like a hater to be logical.
I see what gets under your skin
ReplyDeleteAlthough I pretty much ignore anything the crazies on the right say these days, I did hear about this and I think you address it very well. Really, attacking the First Lady is probably more about obfuscating the public's attention away from the Right's true agenda. But then, I'm a leftie communist now, so don't trust what I say. ;)
ReplyDelete@ Daniel: What's that?
ReplyDelete@ Dr. A.Mo: You're probably right. What do you think is their true agenda, you leftie communist? Lol.
Ugh. Sigh. Rush Limbaugh gives me heartburn. I have never understood the concept that you must be skinny to offer health advice. I suppose it disrupts ethos if the advisor is not a toothpick, but come on. I've been overweight and struggling with eating and exercise my entire life. Guess what I know SUPER well? How to lose weight! Just because a person might struggle with maintaining a lifestyle or living up to some disgusting standard, that does not mean that that person is incapable of campaigning for healthy lifestyles. I may never get to a healthy weight; I'm sure as hell going to try, but I may fail. Does that mean I'm going to give up on my kids and let them lead sedentary lives? Absolutely not. Does that mean my kids shouldn't listen to me because I'm not a toothpick? Hell no!
ReplyDeleteI, for one, am continually inspired by our First Lady. She is a healthy weight, a healthy shape; she looks beautiful. Maybe through her we'll actually start to refigure out concept of beauty.
Well said and not littered with the profanity I am tempted to use on these occassions. I just heard an excellent point made by a member of the "liberal media." O'Donnell argues that Rush has too much competition these days (Beck, Palin, Bachman, et. al.) so he has to go there to get a reaction. I am reminded of my children when they were small - acting out to get a reaction. Your reaction is right on target. To end on a positive note, I think our First Lady is one classy and amazing woman! Rush isn't even close to her league AND I bet she could beat him in an arm wrestling match.
ReplyDeleteBTW - the "Elizabeth" of the above posting is Libby :-)
ReplyDeleteI say, if you can eat a few ribs every blue moon and still look good, go for it. If you know it will go straight to your hips and thighs, lay off. That simple. As for her being a hypocrite, I agree with you, Mokers. Haterism never dies.
ReplyDeleteLimbaugh is just ridiculous. Personally, I love her platform--it's a message that I wish they'd taught when we were younger. She's all about moderation, and she's made the point a few times that it's important to indulge now and then so that you don't feel deprived, which falls in with most doctors' recommendations. Irritating man. And he lost weight recently--good for him. I know he's putting it on calorie reduction; I really want to know if, in a year and a half, he never had a cookie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, forget when I'm 40--I would love to have her shape NOW. I saw this story earlier and just dismissed the picture as normal fluctuations that most women have. Limbaugh needs to chill and stop equating health with "Sports Illustrated" models. That particular piece of crazy person logic might be my favorite part of his whole rant.