the third terminator

Even the First Lady Won’t Endorse NYC’s Soda Ban

NEW YORK - MAY 18: First lady Michelle Obama (R), New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially re-open the Charles Engelhard Court, centerpiece of the newly renovated American Wing, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 18, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michelle Obama;Michael R. Bloomberg;Kirsten Gillibrand
Let’s just stick to gardening. Photo: Neilson Barnard/2009 Getty Images

You’d think that Mayor Bloomberg would have an ally in Michelle Obama, possibly the only person who’s faced more “nanny state” accusations than he has. Yet the fellow obesity fighter was cautious when asked about the mayor’s proposed ban on large sodas in an interview on Tuesday. “We applaud anyone who’s stepping up to think about what changes work in their communities. New York is one example,” Obama told the Associated Press, adding that his aggressive approach is “perfectly fine.”

It seems even that was too strong an endorsement, as later in the day, Obama issued a statement saying she didn’t intend to weigh in on the soda proposal “one way or the other” and “this is not something the administration is pursuing at a federal level and not something I’m specifically endorsing or condemning.” The Obamas have enough to deal with — don’t drag them into Bloomberg’s battle over sugar water.

Even the First Lady Won’t Endorse NYC’s Soda Ban