Federal Breastfeeding Ads Toned Down

The Skinny: House Panel Probes Baby Formula Lobby's Reported Role In Softening Ad Campaign

(CBS)  The Skinny is Keach Hagey's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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Remember former Surgeon General Richard Carmona's testimony last month that the Bush administration repeatedly allowed political considerations to interfered with this efforts to promote public health? The Washington Post has a doozy of an investigative story this morning that adds a heap of fuel to that political bonfire.

Apparently, the powerful infant formula lobby didn't like the public service ad campaign that the Health and Human Services Department designed a few years ago to try to bring up America's notoriously low breastfeeding rate.

So lobbyists for the formula makers - mostly divisions of large pharmaceutical companies - launched a "full court press to reach top political appointees at HHS, using influential former government officials, now working for the industry, to act as go-between," the Post reports.

It worked.

Babies who aren't breast fed are several times more likely to suffer diabetes and respiratory diseases. To bring home this message to expectant mothers, the orginal ads featured striking photos of insulin syringes and asthma inhalers topped with rubber nipples.

The revised ads showed a dandelion and a milder, more positive message that breastfeeding reduces risks for those illnesses.

The mellower ads had "no discernable impact" on the nation's breastfeeding rate, which lags behind that of many European countries, the Post reported. In fact, the U.S. breastfeeding rate actually plunged from 70 percent in 2002 to 63.6 percent in 2006. The ads ran from 2003-05.

Congressman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., heads a committee that is investigating allegations that then-Surgeon General Carmona was blocked from participating in the breastfeeding advocacy effort, and that those designing the ads were overruled by their superiors at the formula industry's insistence.

Rupert's Wall Street Journal

Some might argue that the first evidence of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's influence over his new prize appeared the day Paris Hilton's face graced the pages of the Wall Street Journal. But it can also be argued that the downslide began today - the day the Journal gets its top story from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Ostensibly, the story's about how Fidel Castro appears to be killed off almost daily lately in the rumor mills of Miami's Cuban community and the blog run by Cuban-American Hilton (whose real name is Mario Lavandeira). But much of the front-page real estate is taken up by descriptions of the peculiar mechanics of Hilton's wildly popular blog. (For the uninitiated, he posts photos of celebrities and then usually draws naughty scribbles over them.)

It's meant to be one of those zany middle box stories (before the size changed) to send us off into a holiday weekend, but it cuts just a little to close to fears for the paper. Rumors of Castro's death may be greatly exaggerated -- but what about rumors of the Journals'?

Coral Gables Man Sues For Right To Park His Truck

For years, beautifully manicured Coral Gables, Fla., kept itself that way with strict zoning rules, including one banning the overnight parking of pickup trucks in driveways or streets. Now, the New York Times reports, at least that last rule will no longer fly, having been struck down last week by a state appeals court.

The law will change because an aspiring lawyer with a Ford F150 sued for the right to park his truck outside. Lowell Kuvin said complained that Florida was one of the most culturally diverse areas in the entire United States, "and yet Coral Gables is telling certain people they can't act out their cultural values."

Naturally the recent law school grad, who is waiting to hear whether he passed the bar, is thrilled about his court victory, and plans to keep his truck "forever" for sentimental reasons. However, the town residents "can send me a station wagon if they'd like."

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[justfacts2]

You know, now I know how smokers feel. Every woman has the right to choose to breastfeed or not. This should not be dictated by the federal government. I am getting so sick and tired of this I could scream!

[funkiwiteboy]

How $tupid i$ thi$?

[flreason]

First of all--who the bloody h*ll proofread this article? Shame on you Hagey-to let something so unprofessional be published on-line with your by-line! Journalism used to be the gold standard for grammar. The first paragraph of this article is a disgrace!!!!! If you''re that illiterate, use your friggin'' spell/grammar check.

As for the rest of it--more proof of the current administration putting corporate interests above public health interests. Bush & Co. have no concept of public service or citizenship.

The dumbing down of the WSJ begins. What a shame that Murdoch has to downgrade journalism to a tabloid level. I say get your stock and financial info on-line. Who needs his schlock?!

[jenpaddie]

Does anyone think about the women who can''t breastfeed, how this makes them feel? I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 19, and because of complications from that, I was not physically able to breastfeed. I''m tired of reading articles everywhere that make me feel like a horrible mother because I didn''t breastfeed.

[infidel_us]

Dang! I was hoping to see Nancy Pelosi star in one! I could develop stretch marks on my cheeks from trying to deal with hers!!!! :)

[macusweil]

Typical GOP = Greed over Principle

Putting the profits of BIG business ahead of the health and wellbeing of our citizens.

[drivelphobe]

Bush didn''t get enough nipple from Mom when he was put on formula. What''s a president to do? He says he likes breastfeeding and blames the formula for his impaired grammar and chimp-like gait. He remembers being breastfed by a Mexican nanny in secret when he was 16 or 17.

[kommoncents-2009]

Hey jenpaddie, use your common sense, if you have any. NO ONE condems a woman for not breast feeding if there is a good reason, i.e. cancer or any other physical reason. But women who can and don''t breast feed knowing that babies who are breast fed are healthier are just selfish. And if you''re that selfish then don''t have a baby.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II has decided that the breast feeding of infants is immoral (also that it also hurts the infant formula lobby) and that mothers should not breast feed their newborn children. Instead they are to feed their children infant formula made in China (and containing God knows what!) so that infant formula companies may make a substantial profit and may make substantial contributions to the Emperor''s favorite charity, the GOP!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[neitherone]

The reason why american women don''t breastfeed as often as the women in Europe: they work too much. Duh! In most European countries women get close to a year off after giving birth. In America - they get 3 months. In many cases, breastfeeding vs. formula comes down to this simple fact. Try to breasfeed as you sit in-front of your computer at work.

What''s interesting here though, is how the "pro-family" Adminstration caved in to "pro-business" interests. Figures!

[inventagod]

"Dang! I was hoping to see Nancy Pelosi star in one! I could develop stretch marks on my cheeks from trying to deal with hers!!!! :)
Posted by infidel_us at 11:16 AM : Aug 31, 2007"

It''s the sexually confused Republicons like this guy, who get a hardon from watching a nursing mom, who enacts laws against breastfeeding.

What is normal and life-giving can be turned into a fantasy of undiagnosed idiocy and corporate greed by these ''men''.

A selective die-off is required before breastfeeding is seen as normal and good...

[l8c6]

Corruption in the United States will end up like third world latin american countries if the electronic monetary world of artificial wealth doesn''t undergo an intervention. Horrible destructive conflicts of interest exist in the system. Ronald Reagan, your nazis'' love you but may you and your sinister cohorts who have supported you and the fascist ideology rest in he*ll and go to he*ll for what you have done to this country and the countries affected.

Real wealth is health, leisure, reasonable work, opportunity. The electronic money hoes are ever more severely replacing real wealth with this paper money game. This unregulated sick socioeconomic playing field will end in disaster far worse than the simple end of a board game of Monopoly.

[sandy19731]

British Researcher Alan Lucas established in 1998 conclusively with a large study involving 424 infants randomly assigned to breast feeding or formula feeding that formula feeding lowers IQ scores.

1998!

[boldwin223]

"What''''s interesting here though, is how the "pro-family" Adminstration caved in to "pro-business" interests. Figures!"

What would happen to the companies that make formula if all woman started breast feeding their babies?

We know that the "Bush administration" would work to pass a law making breast feeding a crime.

[prairiefox1]

THIS IS RIDICULOUS ! BREAST FEEDING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BABYS IMMUNE SYSTEM!
I AM A 68 YEAR OLD FATHER OF 2 AND THEY WERE BREAST FED AND HEALTHY TODAY!
WHEN IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO STOP BUTT KISSING BIG BUSINESS AND BE OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE AGAIN?
CHANGE IS NEEDED NOW AND THE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY ONES TO DO SO!

[redhoffer]

Going against the grain....

The breast feeding ads were misleading and over the top, and I would argue that the breast feeding lobby (i.e. lactation consultants, etc.) should be regulated as they have been dishonest.

I''ve worked in the medical field, and I must say I have never experienced medical providers so unwilling as to provide accurate information as lactation consultants. Their goal is to get you to breast feed, even if it not in your best interests or your baby or you.

You can blame the baby food industry, but the truth is these ads were way over the top and wrong. Breast feeding supporters got so wrapped up in getting people to breast feed that they stopped caring about giving accurate information.

Yes, breast feeding is usually better than formula, but the lactation consultant industry is one of deceivers who won''t give any pros and cons. I know many mothers that warn mothers-to-be about the gross missbehavior of the lactation consultant they will see at a hospital before/after giving birth. I warn the readers here about it; don''t believe for a sec you are getting balanced info.

There are challenges to breast feeding, and sometimes it is in the best interest of the baby and/or a parent to supplement with formula or even use it outright. You won''t hear any lactation consultant or breast feeding supporter give that kind of honest answer.
I hate that I am agreeing with the repub posters, oh well.

[prairiefox1]

OK! WE NOW KNOW WHERE THERE INTEREST LIES!
SO IN ANSWER TO THERE UNDERHANDED EFFORT TO MAKE MONEY, DO BREAST FEED YOUR BABY AND MAKE BABYFOOD YOURSELF!
IT WILL BE AS FRESH AS IT CAN AND YOU WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RECALLS!

[prairiefox1]

IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE BABY FORMULA REMEMBER DO NOT---REPEAT DO NOT USE HONEY! HONEY CONTAINS BOTULISM IN A WEAK FORM! AN ADULT CAN USE IT BECAUSE THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN COPE WITH IT, BUT A BABY,S IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT DEVELOPED AND IT COULD KILL THE BABY!!

[prairiefox1]

THE CORRECT SPELLING FOR THESE CREEPS IS
RE-PUBIC-ANS!

[grammawhamma]

Posted by redhoffer at 04:11 PM : Aug 31, 2007

You are so correct. I also worked in the medical field. We all know that breast milk is best for the child but there are many cases when it is not. Many of those in the la leche league are fanatical in their beliefs....they kind of remind me of the PETA people...they support a good cause but carry it to bizzare extremes.