February 22, 2011 12:34 PM

Rush Limbaugh: Michelle Obama's a hypocrite for eating ribs

By
David Riedel
Topics
News

First lady Michelle Obama speaks on Jan. 20, 2011.

(Credit: Getty)

(CBS) Proving that there's nothing in the United States that can't become a partisan issue, radio host Rush Limbaugh attacked first lady Michelle Obama over a meal she ate recently in Vail, Colo.

PICTURES: Michelle Obama
PICTURES: Michelle Obama's Asian Style
PICTURES: Obama Family Vacation

The Vail Daily reports that Mrs. Obama, who was in Vail with her daughters and some friends for President's Day weekend, "dined at Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail Village Saturday night, enjoying a pickled pumpkin salad with arugula and a braised ancho-chile short rib with hominy wild mushrooms and sauteed kale."

The short ribs are the thing that have Limbaugh going bananas. "I'm sure you're aware nutritionist-at-large Michelle Obama is urging, demanding, advocating, requiring what everybody can and can't eat," said Limbaugh on his show. "She's demanding that everyone basically eat cardboard and tofu. No calories, no fat, no nothing, gotta stop obesity."

He called Obama a hypocrite, saying the ribs were 1575 calories per serving and 141 grams of fat per serving.

The Vail Daily reports, "A braised short rib is a relatively lean cut of beef, braised with most of the fat cooked off. The 5-ounce serving runs about 600 calories." The paper got the figures from Kelly Liken.

If Liken's calorie estimation is correct, Limbaugh's count is off by 975 calories. And Limbaugh's account of the first lady's Let's Move campaign is reductive.

Mrs. Obama has addressed criticism that her calls for healthy eating don't seem to translate to her personal choices. She told Matt Lauer on "Today," "I've always talked about balance in this campaign."

She was defending the Super Bowl party menu that had some wholly unhealthy foods. "I do talk openly about my obsession with french fries. ... Life is about good food, at least in America."

Listen to Limbaugh's rant here.


Add a Comment See all 143 Comments
by atomant59 February 23, 2011 8:23 PM EST
Shut-up you Self-righteous,Oxycintin poping, gluttonous, hypocritical, pin-head!!!
Reply to this comment
by skyk2012 February 23, 2011 11:26 AM EST
She (Michelle Obama) noted that one soldier she sat with had a plate of ribs (Like she had) and then stated that clearly not a "green" (green being healthy) choice.
Reply to this comment
by skyk2012 February 23, 2011 10:31 AM EST
Obama toured the mess hall during lunch and sat with soldiers while they ate. In an interview afterward, she said she was particularly impressed with how the program allows soldiers to make choices, building personal responsibility for their health and performance. She noted that one soldier she sat with had a plate of ribs clearly not a "green" choice.

Now what was that about being a Hypocrite? Liberals?
Reply to this comment
by actornaught February 23, 2011 11:07 AM EST
You make no sensible case that Michelle is a hypocrite, or even that you read the article.

And what does "green" have to do with anything?
by skyk2012 February 23, 2011 11:25 AM EST
I have no idea what gree has to do with it, her words not mine.
See all 4 Replies
by san850 February 23, 2011 9:34 AM EST
Say what you will Rush, but Mrs. Obama's detractors don't have a legitimate argument...you just love twisting the truth until it's totally unrecognizable. She's never told people to cut out junk food; she's suggested they eat junk less often and exercise more. "I like to talk about my obsession with french fries because I don't want people to think that 'Let's Move' " - her anti-obesity campaign - "is about complete, utter deprivation," she told reporters over a recent lunch. "It is about moderation."

Now Rush, would you please tell us how you feel about First Lady Laura Bush encouraging our children to read, or Nancy Reagan encouraging them to "say no to drugs" ...oh, wait....since you're such a drug addict you likely choose to ignore that last one.

I applaud all the First Ladies who care enough to present positive encouragement for our youth. Rush, it seems you should have paid more attention to the ones about drugs and healthy eating....and maybe even the "reading" one since you don't seem to be too bright.
Reply to this comment
by skyk2012 February 23, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Nancy Reagan encouraging them to "say no to drugs" ...oh, wait....since you're such a drug addict.

Your logic is all wrong. If Nancy said "say no to drugs" and then smoked pot she would be a hypocrite. Get it?
by san850 February 23, 2011 2:44 PM EST
sky...you apparently have big problems with reading comprehension skills. The point I was making is that it's strange that Rush Limbaugh, being the moron that he is, has such problems with our current First Lady and the causes that she champions, yet likely had no problem at all with the Reagan or Bush causes....only because he hates the Obamas. Understand now?? Perhaps it's logic that you have a problem with?
by olbabee February 23, 2011 7:56 AM EST
Who in the Governement is not a hypocrite? Please, please name one.
Times up! There is no one & never has been.
Reply to this comment
by actornaught February 23, 2011 8:08 AM EST
What office does Michelle hold? By the way, on this issue, Michelle is not a hypocrite. Did you read the article?
by san850 February 23, 2011 7:16 AM EST
Rush, would you please tell us how you feel about First Lady Laura Bush encouraging our children to read, or Nancy Reagan encouraging them to "say no to drugs" ...oh, wait....since you're such a drug addict you likely choose to ignore that last one.

I applaud all the First Ladies who care enough to present positive encouragement for our youth. Rush, it seems you should have paid more attention to the ones about drugs and healthy eating....and maybe even the "reading" one since you don't seem to be too bright.
Reply to this comment
by PrideInCountry February 22, 2011 9:57 PM EST
In all of our First Lady's comments about nutrition, I cannot find the passage Ru$h refers to. Cardboard and tofu? I also don't see the passage where she is "ordering" or "telling us" what we should eat.

As a human likeness of the Poppin Fresh Dough Boy (minus the sex appeal!), Ru$h should shut his yap and listen to what our First Lady says about nutrition. What she says makes sense.

First Lady Obama has always acknowledged that the occasional indulgence isn't harmful ... but making your entire daily diet that way, IS!

Ru$h, if you'd pull your head out from under $arah's skirt, you might learn something.
Reply to this comment
by kingdom red February 22, 2011 9:02 PM EST
She only met to do things in moderation. Of course, I am not sure the conservative audience gets that. Nit pick their way back into power is the only objective for the right at this time. Balance is a struggle so another lame Washington style attack gets publicity by someone unable to come up with something intelligent to base his argument on.
Reply to this comment
by fedup12 February 22, 2011 8:23 PM EST
Rush who.

I saw this on the news and even one of Rush's entourage questioned him on this. His answer was like the idiot savant. uhh um well um ah eee.

Like when Katie asked Palin about stuff she reads. uhh um well um ah eee.
Reply to this comment
by DashRipRock2012 February 22, 2011 8:16 PM EST
Obama toured the mess hall during lunch and sat with soldiers while they ate. In an interview afterward, she said she was particularly impressed with how the program allows soldiers to make choices, building personal responsibility for their health and performance. She noted that one soldier she sat with had a plate of ribs clearly not a "green" choice.

Now what was that about being a Hypocrite? Liberals?
Reply to this comment
by san850 February 23, 2011 9:43 AM EST
Oh, there are so many facts and direct quotes which dispute your argument but there's not enough room to print them all. Mrs. Obama's detractors don't have a legitimate argument...you just love twisting the truth until it's totally unrecognizable...just to try to discredit the President and Michelle.

She's never told people to cut out junk food; she's suggested they eat junk less often and exercise more.

Quote: "I like to talk about my obsession with french fries because I don't want people to think that 'Let's Move' " - her anti-obesity campaign - "is about complete, utter deprivation," she told reporters over a recent lunch. "It is about moderation."
See all 143 Comments
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