Politicsarcade fireMichele BachmannSarah Palin

Late Returns: Palin Reverses Support Of Breastfeeding After She Finds Out That A Democrat Also Supports It

Sarah Palin went rogue on Woodbury, Long Island today, where -- at an event hosted by the Long Island Association -- she "flirted openly with running for president." While she was there, Palin took a moment to ridicule First Lady Michelle Obama's recent push to promote breastfeeding. As it turns out, it's a flip-flop!
Jason Linkins
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Eat The Press Editor, HuffPost

WASHINGTON -- Sarah Palin went rogue on Woodbury, Long Island today, where -- at an event hosted by the Long Island Association -- she "flirted openly with running for president." While she was there, Palin took a moment to ridicule First Lady Michelle Obama's recent push to promote breastfeeding.

As it turns out, it's a flip-flop! Per Sarah Pavlus at MediaMatters' County Fair blog:

The perceived dig is quite a turnaround from the position Palin had as governor of Alaska, when she declared October 2007 "Breastfeeding Awareness Month" and issued a proclamation that said, "government and community organizations have a vested interest in protecting and promoting breastfeeding as a means of preventing infant malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality."

Michelle Obama:

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures mothers can take to protect their children's and their own health. Breastfeeding helps reduce children's risk of acute and chronic diseases like ear infections, asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, rare but serious diseases like childhood leukemia, and even sudden infant death syndrome, thanks to antibodies, cells, and immunologic components uniquely available in mothers' milk. Breastfeeding also protects nursing mothers against diseases like type 2 diabetes and breast and ovarian cancers.

Governor Palin, circa 2007:

WHEREAS, throughout their lives, breastfeeding can offer children protection against serious health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Breastfeeding also saves lives by reducing the incidence of life-threatening cancers in women and preventing premature death in infants.

[...]

WHEREAS, government and community organizations have a vested interest in protecting and promoting breastfeeding as a means of preventing infant malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality.

And that's today's lesson in the absurdity of tribal politics. [County Fair]

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