Gov. Chris Christie is trying to take Iowa by storm by doing his usual flip-flop on a position he once gave his support to - Michelle Obama's healthy school lunch programs. Originally he gave the first lady major props for trying to help kids eat better, but now?
Chris Christie's Beef With Michelle Obama's Healthy Eating Initiative
If Chris Christie becomes the next president schools probably won't be required or even encouraged to serve lunches filled with fruits and vegetables.
That's because Christie said he doesn't believe the president should have a say in school lunches. Those, he told voters in Council Bluffs, Iowa should be up to the parents.
"Doesn't the president of the United States have anything better to do than to worry about what you are having for lunch? Let me tell you this, I don't care," Christie said Monday when 11-year-old Jacob Royal, who traveled from Nebraska to hear Christie speak, asked the New Jersey governor what he would do to make the lunches better.
Christie said Michelle Obama has "no business" trying to determine what kids should be eating at school.
"If she wants to give her opinions about what people should have for breakfast or lunch or dinner, she is like any other American, she can give her opinion. But using the government to mandate her point of view on what people should be eating everyday is none of her business," Christie said.
"I think that this intervention into our school system is just another example of how the Obamas believe that they've got a better answer for everything than you do," he added.
Usually a first lady will find an issue they believe in and then lend their political weight to it.
Remember Laura Bush?
During her first term as first lady, Laura Bush continued to lend support to education, childhood development and teacher training. In January 2002, she testified before the Senate Committee on Education, calling for higher teachers' salaries and better training for Head Start programs. She created a national initiative called "Ready to Read * Ready to Learn" to promote reading at an early age. Additionally, she lobbied to continue work on saving America's national treasure.
Michelle Obama looked at America's obesity problem and tried to do something about it.
Here's the video of Gov. Chris Christie defending Michelle Obama's school lunch plans back in 2011 on Face The Nation.
BOB SCHIEFFER: All right. Let me-- let me ask you this. Some of the people on the right have sort of poked fun and made fun of Michelle Obama, because she’s been trying to get people to eat better. I know that you have done dieting. You have worked on your weight and so forth. You described yourself as portly. Do you think-- what do you think about this criticism coming from the right of Michelle Obama, because she’s trying to get people to eat better.
GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE: Well, I think it’s unnecessary. I think it’s a really good goal to encourage kids to eat better. You know, I’ve-- I’ve struggled with my weight for thirty years and it’s a struggle. And if a kid can avoid that in his adult years or her adult years, more power to them. And I think the first lady is speaking out well.
I mean, I don’t want the government deciding what you can and what you can’t eat. I still think that’s your choice. But I think Mrs. Obama being out there encouraging people in a positive way to eat well and to exercise and to be healthy, I don’t have a problem with that.
I guess his response is like always, he's evolved to a new position.
