First Lady Michelle Obama, infamous for her much-maligned school lunch program, inadvertently let a tidbit of truth slip out during a panel discussion this week with actress Charlize Theron and others about the important of girls' education. The Panel Discussion at The Apollo Theater in New York on September 29th included the First Lady, Former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, Actress Charlize Theron, and 'Nurfahada' the 'Girl Project Ambassador on the Importance of Girls' Education.'
Update: It turns out that Michelle Obama made the exact same comment in August 2014, in a conversation with Laura Bush. These comments might seem like not a big deal, and they wouldn't be, except for the fact that this woman purports to have the best interest of what children eat in government schools nationwide, and dictates what these disgusting meals are comprised of. Kids across the nation have reported that they find these meals vile and revolting, not to mention unhealthy. If someone cares about food, nutrition and health, if she really cared about what kids eat, she wouldn't constantly proclaim that she doesn't care what anyone eats.:
The first lady's comments are posted on the White House website. Excerpts:
MS. LEIVE: And you mentioned the 62 Million Girls campaign, which I know I've seen all over social media for the last few days, and I know you're responsible for that. What are you asking people in this room to do?
MRS. OBAMA: Well, I know you guys got cards and everybody listening in -- we're trying to raise awareness about the plight of these 62 million girls. And again, we want to use this message to inspire our kids here at home to take advantage of their education. So what we are asking everybody to do is to take a photo -- this is where Instagram and tweeting -- I love it, right, because I want you all to be tweeting and Instagramming something other than your shoes and your food, okay? (Laughter.) My kids do the same. I'm like, who cares what you're eating? I don't care. (Laughter.) But we all should care about this.
So you take a photo of yourself, you upload it, and you answer this one question: What I learned in school is blank. And then you send it to everyone you know. And we've got so many people this weekend -- we've got Leo DiCaprio who tweeted it out. I know Charlize is going to do it. Kerry Washington, she's going to do it. We've got everybody -- Beyoncé tweeted out. (Applause.) It's very exciting. So we want you to be a part of it. We're creating a photo album of all the images and the photos and the messages -- why is school important to you? And we're going to spread that all over the country. And go back to your schools and your communities and get everyone you know to do the same thing. We're going to make this go viral. That's something, right? (Applause.)
Here are Michelle's comments from 2014: MRS. OBAMA: "We do, we do. But when you listen to just the opening speakers, when you think about social media -- I mean, just listening to the hashtags and the Twitter accounts -- I mean, that was a little nutty. (Laughter.) But it’s how you continue the conversation. And globalize it. And young people are just more adept at that. And they can -- as I tease my kids, I tell them I want them to use Instagram to take a picture of something really important rather than their food. (Laughter.) But young people can be a support to us. I mean, no one really cares what you had for lunch. (Laughter.)" [LINK: A Conversation Between First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Laura Bush Moderated by Cokie Roberts at "Investing in our Future," a Symposium for Spouses on Advancements for Women and Girls in Africa The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. - August 06, 2014]
USDA.gov notes: "Nutrition Standards for School Meals - Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by the First Lady and signed by President Obama, USDA made the first major changes in school meals in 15 years, which will help us raise a healthier generation of children. The new standards align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools. These responsible reforms do what’s right for children’s health in a way that’s achievable in schools across the Nation."