Michelle Obama is too fat to fight childhood obesity.

This is the sentiment of US radio show host, Rush Limbaugh (who is overweight himself). He thinks that Michelle Obama shouldn’t be rolling out the Let’s Move! healthy eating campaign in America because she doesn’t look like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. And also? Because she once ate ribs on holidays. Says Mr Limbaugh:

I’m trying to say that our First Lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you. I mean, women are under constant pressure to look lithe, and Michelle My Belle is out there saying if you eat the roots and tree bark and the berries and all this cardboard stuff you will live longer, be healthier and you won’t be obese. Okay, fine, show us.”

Superb. So now, the physical ideal for a 47 year old lawyer and mother of two is a 25 year old swimsuit model who looks suspiciously like she’s had a boob job? What a great day for women.

You may be thinking who is this Rush Limbaugh guy anyway? Well, he does have far reaching influence and audience in the United States, his radio show is aired throughout the country and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United States. Limbaugh signed an 8 year, $400 million contract extension with Clear Channel in 2008 that pays him $50 million a year. So he has both power and influence. Ugh.

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When previously pushed on the subject of unhealthy food, particularly the 2011 Superbowl menu at the Whitehouse, which consisted of burgers and hotdogs Michelle Obama said:

“I like to talk about my obsession with French fries because I don’t want people to think that “Let’s Move” is about complete, utter deprivation. It is about moderation and real life changes and ideas that really work for families, today’s families too.”

“I think I’ve always been very consistent on that front because that’s how I live my life. “I mean, It’s about balance. It’s always about balance. I felt As a mother if somebody came and said ‘you can never have a hot dog’ or serve your child a slice of pizza, we’d never get a handle on this issue cause I think that’s sometimes how people feel, that’s it’s all or nothing.”

And here is a reminder of just how fabulous Michelle Obama is and looks.

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