Rush Limbaugh criticizes First Lady Michelle Obama's weight, nutritional campaign [Updated]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Rush Limbaugh is talking smack about First Lady Michelle Obama's weight? Rush Limbaugh? And Michelle "you-can-cut-glass-with-my-chiseled-biceps" Obama?

As you well know, Michelle Obama has been taking plenty of criticism from the right for her nutritional campaign to encourage kids to move more and eat healthier fare. Joining her in the campaign is retail giant Wal-Mart, which recently announced it would begin reducing the sodium and fat in many of its prepared foods.

Listen to the audio, above, as Limbaugh ridicules Michelle Obama's healthy-eating campaign, flat out calls her a "hypocrite." On one hand, Limbaugh said, she is encouraging children to get healthy and eat "roots, berries, and tree bark" but was recently seen enjoying a high-calorie meal of fatty ribs.

The conservative radio talk show host took it further when he wondered whether Michelle Obama was even following her own words of wisdom, and remarked that she couldn't stack up against the women in the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

"The problem is, and dare I say this, it doesn't look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice...I'm trying to say that our First Lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you."

So, what do you think? I especially want to hear from the dittoheads (are they still called that?). Do you think Limbaugh went too far with his comments? Or do you chalk this up to the liberal media's favorite pastime: Criticizing Rush.

But more importantly, do you think Michelle Obama is a hypocrite?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. And then, let's wait for the next turn in this story: The media peppering President Obama for his reaction. (Should the president challenge Limbaugh to join him on the White House lawn for a fist fight to defend his wife's honor.)

[Updated at 10:02 a.m.: Limbaugh defends his attack on Michelle Obama as "highly civil", via Media Matters]

Want to read more on this? Here are a few more stories you'll find on the Web:

--Eater: Rush Limbaugh calls Michelle Obama a big, fat hypocrite

--CNN: Rush Limbaugh takes aim at Michelle Obama's waistline

--Huffington Post: Rush Limbaugh: Michelle Obama 'doesn't look like' she eats healthy foods

--Rene Lynch
twitter.com/renelynch

Video via Media Matters

Comments

[One Brooks]

Rush Limbaugh has offended black women throughout the United States,
not just the 1st Lady who just so happens to be black.

[Lucky Lucy]

Rush is a Jerk!

[One Brooks]

I think the President of the United States should stand up to any man who degrades, offends and disrespects his wife. I think the president should challenge Rush Limbaugh to a public duel. The knock out should sound loud and clear "Don't mess with my wife"!

[Lucy]

Of course it is hypocritical...Maybe Barack had a cig after the meal...At least Bush was honest about not liking broccoli..And Clinton was true blue with his appetites...

[lesley]

I am a ditto head (yes, that's what we are still called). I think Rush used Mrs. Obama as an example. For her to be pushing for healthy eating and activity for kids, she has to exemplify her requests with the way she conducts herself. I want my son to respect animals but if he sees me kicking the dog or throwing the cat out the front door that doesn't really give him a good example to follow. Rush is an entertainer, first and foremost. He knows how to get a rise out of the media and liberals. He uses in your face tactics for exact reasons like this. Ratings.

[Brittany]

First of all, she's encouraging kids to eat healthy by eating vegetables and fruit, which ALL Americans should be eating. Next, not every woman's body is meant to look like a model's. The First Lady looks amazing and I think Rush should lay off the cheeseburgers...

[mary stuart]

Michelle is a hypocrite! "Do as I say and not as I do...." sound familiar.

[skraf]

This coming from the king of hypocrits.. Rush "all drug addicts should be mandatorally sentenced to life in prison, but my abuse of OxyContins don't mean I'm a drug addict" Limbaugh.

So tell us Rush... how much time did you spend behind bars for your 30,000 OxyContins?

[Chris]

It's much healthier to be a few pounds over weight, especially if your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are within range, than being a Opiate addict. Weight is an indicator or health that's all. i'm not happy with her food program either, not nearly or any stress on Organics. This is just his way of attacking women, and he's even more excited that he gets to attack a black woman. it's his whole game.

[John McDonald]

looks like role reversal is called for to me. the Pres should be talking diet and Mrs. O'Bama smoking cessation

[Charlie]

Is the swimsuit remark misogynistic, or hypocritical? Rush should know about do as I say, not as I do, because he is so busy with the frequent errs of his misguided conservatives.. Can he find anything good to say about kid's health, or is he just anti Obama? Is this a subtle attack on Obama's health care. Will this cost jobs because of profit losses for compliance, or create healthier future workers? I'm just trying to say Rush is full of it. Who really cares about his follies.

[mc]

Childood obesity is a real problem. If somebody doesn't do something to try to encourage more helathy lifetsyles, we could end up with an entire nation of fat, pill-popping, radio hosts. the last thing we need is rush limbaughs. ditto.

[Janice Westbrook]

I would give anything to have a body like Michell Obama. She is doing a great job trying to help America.
Rush Limberger" should take a good look at himself.
And shut up ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[Chauncey]

Rush
What if Michelle doesn't measure up to a Sports Ill model you can't be compared to a model int Undertakers Weekly

c.cooper

[jeff]

God help me, I will never understand how blowhards like Limbaugh and O'Reilly become influential figures with loyal followings. They're surely intelligent, but it takes far more than that to do their jobs well, and intelligence is not a scarce commodity. They are rude, insensitive and thin-skinned. And actually it's not even their fault. We deserve the celebrites we get because we create them.

I can only surmise that a lot of people appreciate drama and entertainment more than they appreciate thoughtful debate.

This article in itself is a bit idiotic, asking if we think M/O is a hypocrite. A woman in great shape can't have a dessert? I haven't heard her tell anyone never to have a junk food snack, just to look at their eating habits. And if anyone can't figure that out......Limbaugh's biggest problem is the fat between his ears.....

[Marie]

I think it is interesting that all the comments I have read criticizing Rush for saying Michelle is fat are calling him things like "pill popper," "yabba the hut," "slob," "drug hog," "draft dodger," which is far more demeaning than being called "fat." Who is the hypocrite? You can't get mad at someone for saying some one is fat, and then call him something worse. And if you don't understand why people don't want ANY government person telling me what to eat, I suggest you check your liberties at the door, sit down and shut up!

[Shane Harris]

No, Michelle is not a hypocrite. Everyone who *Should* eat healthier has comfort food from time to time. Yes, Limbaugh overstepped, like always and I'd like to take this opportunity to avoid the obvious obesity points that must arise when Limbaugh opens his fat mouth.

[Carie]

Michelle Obama looks healthy and any man that thinks that a swimsuit model's body is normal should seek therapy. Thank god the rest of the world doesn't see through his twisted eyes: foodiegossip.blogspot.com/2011/02/michelle-obama-fighting-fastfood-like.html

[theescapee]

Whats the problem she is fat and a hypocrite. She's telling us to eat our vegetables while she's porking out! Maybe she should be eating vegetables from here White House garden.

[Adam]

If you're going to preach nutrition and fitness then you should be an example for that lifestyle. Just like an alcoholic or a junkie shouldn't preach to kids about saying no to drugs and alcohol.

I'm not saying she's fat. Frankly I don't care, but I'm just saying, if you're going to say that kids should be fit and healthy then you should exemplify that lifestyle or not promote it.

[Mike]

We all stive to eat better foods. Once in a while we have a bit of fun. Did the first lady said never eat anything except roots and berries? She indicated that we should eat these foods as well as eating ribs. A diet must be balanced.

[Ray Pereira]

I think Rush is correct in pointing out the hypocrisy of the Obama's as well as of those on the left.

"We have Democrat politicians cowardly fleeing their state to short-circuit elections and votes and democracy. We have a president who actively works to create class warfare and civil unrest. We have a president who is promoting the unethical behavior of these doctors, a president who is encouraging the cowardly fleeing of Democrat senators. We have a president who is encouraging the intimidating, lawless behavior of public sector union leaders. We have, with all of this, a State-Controlled Media."

[Twinkletoes]

Not a fan of Michelle's but Rush was totally out of line. Pill-popping Rush...like you're NO angel!

[Gigi]

Ever notice how the worst looking men are always the ones who have the audacity to comment on a woman’s looks? Rush looks like Yabba the hut (and that's even after the weight loss, give em a year and he'll be a slob again, Imus looks like the crypt keeper.
He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.
Just saying

[scott lail]

rush has a 300 million dollar contract you are not going to sell that many commercials on his show but he is being paid to push the agenda of the ruling class and everything he does and says is done with the superwealthy agenda in mind so if you listen to rush just remember that he is at work for the few against the peasants as they call us please keep this in mind if you listen to his show

[J]

Rush is a troll who likes to hear himself talk. Sadly, his ill-informed diatribe is eaten up by his followers like, well, Rush at an all night buffet.

Like so many he points fingers at, he doesn't follow the rules he sets forth for everyone else. Someday, when his pudgy fingers let go of the pill bottle and fork long enough, he'll be able to use his hands to pull his head out of his behind and make an intelligent sentence backed-up with real facts.

One person once wrote: "Do you know what the easiest job in the world is? Rush Limbaugh's fact checker."

[G Miller]

I think Rush Limbaugh is taking too many pills. It has affected social behavior, sanity, and has only added way too many pounds. It's too bad that pill junkies will have much shorter lives that those who avoid too many pills. Someone should arrest his pill pusher, and I think he owes the first lady an apology.

[Philip Lester]

Not at all, Michelle knew when she took the job that she was going to be a target. Look what Laura Bush went through. Look at Palin, she even had a powerful magazine put on their cover a VERY unflattering picture of her. Was all that OK?

Why should Michelle get a hands off policy when the media took petty shots a laura bush all the time?

[Michelle]

i think its funny.. go Rush! and Right side

[Mercfan]

Since when is being a swimsuit model a prerequisite for being first lady. Barbara Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, please. What is it about conservatives that they have to point out the smallest little details and yell hypocrite? Michelle never claimed to be a swimsuit model. Yes, she promotes eating the right foods, growing the garden on the White House lawn, being a good example most of the time. But does that mean she has to eat well 100% of her meals? Does ANYONE? Even people with very strict diets will have a piece of cake at a wedding once in awhile. If she had ribs once or twice a year, that doesn't make her a hypocrite? I don’t think so. Of all the people in the media, Rush is the last one to talk about eating right.

[LINDA MCCREADY]

Mr. Limbaugh needs to research the term "steatopygia". Many Africans from south of the Sahara have a body type which favors depositing extra fat on the hips, thighs and buttocks. This is not a disease or "condition" any more than green eyes, red hair, epicanthic eyefolds, or exceptional height are conditions. Anthropoligists theorize that this trait evolved as a result of the extreme drought conditions of the Kalahari desert and other very dry environments. A woman who could warehouse extra calories during periods of plenty was much more likely to survive and reproduce.
Ignorance, Mr. Limbaugh, is no excuse for insults.

[Matt Porter]

First of all I am a conservative thru and thru. Rush I am not a big fan of. I think he is running out of things to say. NEXT YOU TALK ABOUT RUSH, BECK, HANNITY, ORIELLY TALKING BAD ALWAYS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT. THINK ABOUT ALL THE RETORIC THAT WAS USED TO BASH B PRES.BUSH BY ALL YOU TREE HUGGIN BABY KILLIN BIG GOVERNMENT LIBERALS. CARMA MY FRIEND

[Tommy Todd]

Rush is 100 percent correct this woman is nothing but a hypocrite. This woman is a poor excuse.She is the first lady only by name,she is a disgrace,She has not done anything positive for this countryjust remember she has always been ashamed of this country untill recently. what a joke she cant compare to any first lady not even carter.And everyone said she was the next jackie o. YEAH RIGHT

[JRun]

I don't need this sasquatch telling me or my kids what to eat. Rush is right on the money.

[Texas Dave]

Pretty typical of the Cali Liberal way of looking at things. Truth is she is a fat pig under that smile----just wait a few more years she will be large. Nothing wrong with that but with all Liberal Whack Jobs it is do as I say not as I do.

There is a reason why Liberalism is on the decline----it is killing the country. Just look at your state -- people are leaving in droves. Do you ever stop and wonder why????? The sad thing is it will not stop which means a further lowering of the tax base. Any of you Liberals think about what will happen in the next 3 or 4 years?? Without a Federal bailout which will not happen the land of fruits and nuts will be just that because there will be no public infrastructure any longer. Have fun beating up the normal people in the world because Libs are on the way out except in your whack job state.

Liberalism is a disease and a terminal one at that --- just look around Cali debt is rated Junk so guess what is going to happen?

[Miranda]

Yes, when I am looking for an opinion on the first lady's health, I first turn to the drug-addled hog who is Rush Limbaugh.

[John Ruder]

This coming from an overweight, drug addicted wind bag. Hey Rush, he who lives in glass houses...

[myron hecker]

Give it a rest. Interesting, how the Obamas always have their lap dogs in the
media who rush to their defense at the slightest provocation. This is one of
the reasons that the vast majority of Americans hold the media in very low
esteem, comparable to elected officials. Why ? Simple : incredible hypocrisy !!
It's become far too obvious. In other words, more and more people see the
double standard: If it's a liberal Democrat saying the vilest things about a
conservative, say Rush Limbaugh as an example, well that's just fine. If the
attacker happens to be non-white, even better and even more exempt from
the normal criticism a white person would receive. This is why FOX news grows
bigger and bigger ( "fair and balanced.") while the "mainstream" shrinks.

[monday]

Here are some pictures of the MALE SWIM SUIT model lush limpbag

http://www.allstarpics.net/0027321/013750897/rush-limbaugh-pic.html

[Carissa]

I am honestly astounded sometimes that this man still has sponsors...much less a job. I don't care if he is overweight or if he's done drugs, he's racist, sexist, devisive, and ignorant. These are things that cannot be fixed by a diet or by entering a drug rehabilitation program. These are fundamental, inherent character flaws. I don't care about his political standpoint, either. I do care that he is sending the wrong messages to millions of people every day and working like a dog to do nothing more than undo any progress anyone has ever made in the fights against racism and sexism..and being paid millions for it.

Why is it that men only have to be "not fat" to avoid harsh criticism, but women are supposed to attain an ideal set by gender-biased, wealthy, bottom-feeding men at Sports Illustrated who use unhealthy and underweight women as models, an unrealistic ideal for any woman over 25 with children and a healthy lifestyle? Even most women under 25 without children would find it unrealistic to set that as a goal.

No one ever said that occasionally enjoying good food in moderation and in combination with a healthy diet and exercise plan suddenly means you're a hypocrite. The childhood obesity epidemic, particularly among young people of color, is a health crisis (which could lead to a whole discussion of systems of oppression that have, in the long term, not sufficiently provided available health care or health education for minorities, but I digress). I am proud of our First Lady, who is a lovely woman with a healthy body type, for addressing this issue. And never, not even for a minute, would I expect only a Sports Illustrated model to have the right to address anything related to HEALTH.

[This is Now]

Who hasn't this miserable waste of energy Critized??? Mr. Misery! So done with his negative way of life!!! All of his negativty - he sickens me! Is it the Meds? No, no excuse for him! Miserable wasted space on this planet! GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT!!!!!!!!

[donna]

I think Rush just calls it like it is. Sometimes he's a little too harsh but give him credit for his honesty. As for Michelle....I thinks every first lady tries to come up with some kind of campaign that they will hopefully be remembered for.. It's definitely not her passion, its more about what she leaves behind and frankly I'm not buying it.

[Terry]

Something to think about: All of these garbage spewers have a following. Even if they have 10-20- thirty million followers, they never think about the fact that the other 275 million people in this country couldn't care less what they say, or simply never agree with them. It is a sobering fact, which they all conveniently ignore. So, if you don't mind, I will criticize Limbaugh, Hannity et al, every chance I get. The fact that Rush would never agree with me does not bother me in the least. Limbaugh will always be the draft dodging, anti-American that he always is. I just will never understand his appeal.

[Chris Devon]

I don't know why everyone is so upset over this. What if a democratic personality like Olbermann made this obvious observation? Forget for a moment Rush said it. The fact is she's not in great shape at all and there are pictures and TV footage to show this. Rush is in terrible shape. I agree with that. Unlike the First Lady, he is not on a crusade to fight obesity and to tell American's they should eat healthy. If that were the case, then I would see why people would take exception. If Michelle actually practiced what she preached, ate healthy, and whittled some girth from her considerable behind, then I am sure the "evil republicans" would move away from this topic. Sorry folks, but if you champion something, you should set an example.

[Bubba]

She reminds me more of a Wookie than a woman.

[alvin]

this id iot has nothing else to talk about. this piece of crap wouldn't say nothing like this if Nancy Reagan asked America to eat healthier or Jackie Kennedy. This "Pig" haven't gotten over losing the 2010 elections, just like the other so-called conservative/ republican hateful jerks. GOD have pity on this country if it falls into the hands of trash such as this. these are rantings of a childish obese immature kid. In other words a foolish racist pig. those comments needs no response. i'm only responding because I have a morbit disdane for stupidity.

[ween]

So what exactly has Mr. Limbaugh, who apparently owns a trick mirror full of distortion, consumed in the last week? The content of his brain is completely disproportionate to the size of his own waistline. I too find the fact that people actually believe any of this drivel very disconcerting. And find comfort in the fact the given my family history, its unlikely I will live far into old age and have to experience much of the "Fox News" concepts for a better America.

[Jackson Blackson]

The ditto heads are responding but hypocritical LA LA Land Times won't post them. I've read at least three different posts from leftys who call Rush a "fat ass" and LA LA has no problem posting it. Then I send one saying the same about "shelabama" and they don't post it. Look at a shot of her nether regions and compare them to Limbaugh and you'll see who really does have the fat a**. Now let's see if this makes it in.

[Karen Alexander]

Rush Limbaugh needs too look in the mirror and keep his coments too himself!!!!
Does he not have anything else to make coments on ...... look at what is going on in the world today !!! GET A LIFE LIMBAUGH !!!

[Robert Tamasy]

Criticizing Michelle Obama for eating fatty ribs? I doubt that Limbaugh has seen his own fatty ribs in decades! As an open-heart surgery survivor, I've learned that moderation is the key - occasional eating of "non-healthy" food is acceptable, as long as you follow a healthy diet the vast majority of the time, coupled with exercise and medication if needed. I'm not a Democrat, but I applaud Mrs. Obama for keeping at the forefront a key issue in America - poor health brought on by a typical lifestyle of fast food, sweets, junk food, etc. As for Limbaugh, as the Bible says, before trying to extract a splinter from someone else's eye, first remove the wooden plank from your own.