I call bullshit! If people want to criticize Michelle Obama there is plenty of opportunity in her handling of nutrition and thinking government has the right to control what children eat by way of expensive programs to restrict and control menus in our school system. If they want to criticize her extravagant vacations on the tax payers dime, go for it.Plenty to go around in criticizing the First Lady and her husband's agendas.
But this?
The Governors Highway Safety Association says pedestrian deaths increased in the first half of 2010 and the First Lady's program to get Americans to be more active could be partly responsible.
Governors Highway Safety Administration spokesman Jonathan Adkins told 630 WMAL that Michelle Obama is "trying to get us to walk to work and exercise a little bit more. While that's good, it also increases our exposure to risk."
After four straight years of steady declines, pedestrian deaths were up during the first six months of 2010, the latest figures available to be studied.
Other factors include distracted drivers, distracted pedestrians and what Adkins calls "aggressive pedestrians."
"People who are not crossing where they are supposed to. They're running in front of cars. We've even had examples of pedestrians getting out on the interstate," said Adkins.
Alcohol is also factor in increased pedestrian deaths.
"We've done a good job of getting people, after a night out of partying, to leave their keys behind. But just because you are walking does not mean you are not at risk," said Adkins.
The "Let's Move" effort is a program to encourage people to get up and get moving, eat better, exercise more for better fitness and the encouragement to exercise portion of the program is the least intrusive of what the Obama's have urged to date.
The Governors Highway Safety Association was way out of line here to publicly link Michelle Obama with the deaths of more pedestrians especially when they also make statements showing that unsafe habits and carelessness on the part of drivers and pedestrians factor in more than simple encouragement to exercise does.
The Washington Examiner reports that GHSA executive director Barbara Harsha admits the linking Michelle Obama to the deaths is "speculative" and that there is no scientific evidence whatsoever connecting the deaths to the Let's Move program. So why the hell would they do it?
"There’s an emphasis these days to getting fit, and I think people doing that are more exposed to risk [of getting hit by a vehicle]," said Harsha, who conceded to having no scientific evidence that the Let’s Move campaign has led to an increase in walkers and runners, or deaths.
"This is all speculative," Harsha said. "Obviously, further study is needed."
Ya think?
Anyone that reads this blog knows I am no fan of Barack Obama nor his wife Michelle, but I call bullshit on this.
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