First lady continues school meals campaign at fundraiser
July 28, 2014 | 11:43 AM
In a continuing sign that Democrats believe healthier school meals have political appeal, First Lady Michelle Obama mentioned Republican opposition to healthier school meals as one reason people should give money to Democrats during the congressional election season during a little-noticed campaign event in Chicago on Thursday.
According to a transcript of her remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Chicago, the first lady cited improvements in children’s health and nutrition as one of the accomplishments of the Obama administration.
“I’ve seen children getting better nutrition and growing up healthier,” she said.
Other accomplishments she cited included recovery from the recession, bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice, passage of the Affordable Care Act, the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military, more jobs for veterans and more young people from poor communities going to college.
She also noted that now children take it “for granted that a black person or a woman can be president of the United States.”
In discussing the Republican-led House, she used language she has also used at least one other fundraiser.
“It's gotten so bad, they’re even trying to block the work that I do on childhood obesity. And that’s really saying something,” the first lady said.
“I mean, for most folks in this country, making sure our kids get decent nutrition shouldn’t be that controversial. That’s why back in 2010, we passed legislation to ensure that our school lunches meet modern nutrition standards set by experts, based on science.
“But as you know, believe it or not, there are folks in Congress actually working to repeal these standards. And that’s simply not acceptable. It’s just not.”
“We deserve leaders who believe like we do that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise,” the first lady continued.
“They should have every opportunity to get a good education, build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids. That’s the American Dream we all believe in. And that’s what these midterm elections are all about."
After pointing out that the Democrats “are just 17 seats away from taking back the House, but we’re just six seats away from losing the Senate,” she urged the attendees “to write the biggest, fattest check that you can possibly write.”
According to a transcript of her remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Chicago, the first lady cited improvements in children’s health and nutrition as one of the accomplishments of the Obama administration.
“I’ve seen children getting better nutrition and growing up healthier,” she said.
Other accomplishments she cited included recovery from the recession, bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice, passage of the Affordable Care Act, the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military, more jobs for veterans and more young people from poor communities going to college.
She also noted that now children take it “for granted that a black person or a woman can be president of the United States.”
In discussing the Republican-led House, she used language she has also used at least one other fundraiser.
“It's gotten so bad, they’re even trying to block the work that I do on childhood obesity. And that’s really saying something,” the first lady said.
“I mean, for most folks in this country, making sure our kids get decent nutrition shouldn’t be that controversial. That’s why back in 2010, we passed legislation to ensure that our school lunches meet modern nutrition standards set by experts, based on science.
“But as you know, believe it or not, there are folks in Congress actually working to repeal these standards. And that’s simply not acceptable. It’s just not.”
“We deserve leaders who believe like we do that no matter how our kids start out in life, if they’re willing to work for it, they should have every opportunity to fulfill their boundless promise,” the first lady continued.
“They should have every opportunity to get a good education, build a decent life for themselves and an even better life for their own kids. That’s the American Dream we all believe in. And that’s what these midterm elections are all about."
After pointing out that the Democrats “are just 17 seats away from taking back the House, but we’re just six seats away from losing the Senate,” she urged the attendees “to write the biggest, fattest check that you can possibly write.”
