For those in the right wing, freedom is just another word for the ability to stuff as much grease laden crap down your gullet as is humanly possible, praise Jesus. I mention Jesus because evangelicals believe that any government attempt to promote healthy eating is not only a plot by commie-pinko Obama - but part of the war on Christians and we all know that Jesus said blessed are the Krispy Kreme eaters (who might see God but not their shoes!).  And while childhood obesity is at record level, these same patriots resent any attempt to create better food choices for those attending evil government schools because that's, well, part of a plot by commie-pinko Obama. Fox & Friends feeds (pun intended) this meme by attacking any plans to encourage better nutrition for children as part of the nanny state's "food police." In January, Fox & Friends actually tried to make the case that better school nutrition is part of the "trouble with schools." As the Gretchen Carlson SNL character, who "loves fatties" said, "When there are no fat kids who's gonna play the comic relief in Disney movies." Obviously kids whose parents watch Fox & Friends.

While those in the science based reality based community realize that childhood obesity is not only a problem for the child but for the health care system which will eventually have to pick up the cost for the consequences of unhealthy eating, Fox & Friends promotes the awesomeness of foods high in sugar and fats. Last spring, when some schools stopped providing flavored milk, Steve Doocy and Fox's Dr. Mark Siegel pimped a study, by the dairy industry, that claimed if kids can't get sugared milk, they won't get enough calcium because they won't drink the milk. Dave Briggs challenged the Los Angeles school superintendent about why they were "banning" chocolate milk. Brian Kilmeade and evangelical Christian "mommy blogger" mocked the new, healthier food choices for Los Angeles schools. Any attempts, by McDonald's, to make their happy meals healthier was seen as a treasonous intrusion by the "food police."

On January 14, Steve Doocy spoke with the new Fox & Friends education consultant for the Fox & Friends partisan and very biased series, the "trouble with schools" which is essentially a platform for whatever right wing propaganda needs promoting. Their point person for these attacks on public schools is Kyle Olson, whose organization, "The Education Action Group" is "opposed to teachers unions and committed to privatizing public education." Doocy burbled "call it the world's most expensive weight loss program" and reported that the president "is pushing for an overhaul of nutrition regulations that would put more salads into our schools lunches." He noted that the "fresh stuff" is very expensive and claimed that there is "no way" for the Obama administration to pay for it. (I don't recall if Doocy asked how we could pay for the Bush tax cuts.)

Olson immediately began the agitprop: "This is just another example of the federal power grab that we're seeing in education." Implying that Merkin kids won't eat healthy, the chyron read "Feeding Kids or Garbage Cans." He claimed that kids and parents are revolting against the mandates and "kids are eating worse." Doocy chimed in that in Los Angeles they have healthy elitist stuff like butternut squash and kids aren't eating it. His evidence? Brian Kilmeade's "mommy blogger" guest. Doocy then claimed that Chicago has a "requirement" that kids can't bring in junk food because of the food police. As explained by Olson, it was a school (not the city school system) that banned home packed lunches. What he didn't mention was that it was because of the crap that parents were packing.  He brayed about "continuous dictates" from the government and how education should be left to the states so as to contain costs.

So instead of interviewing a school nutritionist or somebody from the Dept. of Agriculture, we have the usual partisan screed meant to bash Obama. What neither Olson nor Doocy mentioned was that the higher local costs will be offset by higher reimbursements. There was no mention of the health costs of childhood obesity estimated at $3 billion. No mention that the American Frozen Food Institute praised the program. No mention that school districts have seen weight loss in kids who eat better food. But hey, thanks to a GOP congress, pizza is a vegetable so it's all good....