The New York Times has a roundup of one of the most contentious issues facing Republicans in the buildup to the 2012 campaign: Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign. Sarah Palin has tried to frame it as another case of government intrusion into the personal lives of Americans. On the Sunday news shows yesterday, two Republicans who have had very public battles with weightâNew Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabeeâhave defended the first lady:
âI think itâs a really good goal to encourage kids to eat better,â Mr. Christie said on âFace the Nation,â on CBS. âYou know, Iâve struggled with my weight for 30 years, and itâs 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 ladyâs speaking out well.â [...A]ppearing on âFox News Sunday,â Mr. Huckabee, who once shed more than 100 pounds, said that in fact Mrs. Obama was calling attention to a serious problem, not calling for government intrusion.
Asked about the criticism of Mrs. Obama, Mr. Christie said, âI think itâs unnecessary,â and he made a point of saying that he did not want the government telling people what to eat.
Is this going to turn into a major Republican discussion during the 2012 campaign? Because that could actually make their debates into something interesting and useful.