New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie slammed Michelle Obama during a campaign stop in Iowa Monday, accusing the first lady of using the government to mandate her own opinions about healthy eating.
“The first lady has no business being involved in this,” the Republican presidential candidate said during a town hall at the Village Inn diner in Council Bluffs, The Hill reported.
“If she wants to give her her opinions on what people should eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner, that’s fine. She can give her opinion,” Mr. Christie said. “But using the government to mandate her point of view on what people should be eating every day, is none of her business.”
His remarks came in response to a question from Jacob Loyal, a Nebraska fifth-grader who said he used to eat crispitos and “square pizza” before Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move!” nutrition and exercise initiative launched six years ago.
“What are you going to do about the lunches?” the 11-year-old asked.
“I try to eat more healthy,” Mr. Christie said. “We all should be trying to do that. But in the end, it’s your choice.”
The first lady’s initiative was “just another example of how the Obamas believe they have better answers for everything than you do … on everything from energy to defense, for God’s sake, to school lunch,” Mr. Christie argued, NJ.com reported. “Doesn’t the president have anything better to do than to worry about what you’re eating for lunch at school?”
“I’ll take care of my kids, you let your mom and dad take care of you,” he added. “And let’s let the government take care of national security, protecting us from terrorism and not worry about what the heck we’re doing with you eating lunch at school.”
Jacob later told an NJ.com reporter that he was satisfied with the governor’s answers, and confident that if elected president, Mr. Christie could bring crispitos back to his school.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.