Home > Opinion > Mary M. Shaffrey > Michelle Obama, Bachmann, and Palin All Get the Breast-Feeding Issue Wrong

Michelle Obama, Bachmann, and Palin All Get the Breast-Feeding Issue Wrong

Reader Comments
Back to blog

... of the emerging Know-Nothing wing of the GOP. They're comparable to the ayatollahs in the Islamic world that want nothing to do with learning and education, and would rather turn the clock back a few centuries. It's just sad.

The Gipper of CA 8:05PM March 06, 2011

Michelle Obama got it wrong? How's that? How does taking up a cause for health become "wrong"? Like countless First Ladies before her, Michelle Obama has a cause and she choose health.
Come on people, lets call a spade a spade, the only reason why this topic turned political was because Bachmann & Palin made it political. They made breast feeding about taxes and accused the First Lady of doing such.
Michelle Obama stated that she wanted to promote "baby friendly" hospitals and made no mention of "buying breastpumps" for poor black moms. That topic came up by the wiles of Sandra Rios, Palin and Bachmann.
If any one has it wrong, it's those three.

Political Boobs of IA 10:07AM February 28, 2011

Help and support should be made easily accessible to ALL women who want to breastfeed their babies. How sad that Ms. Shaffrey did not have the help and support she required AND deserved as a new mother. Her breastfeeding challenge could have been very easily resolved with the help of a Lactation Consultant. I provide help virtually via SKYPE for this very reason - middle of the night problems. WWW.VirtualBreastfeedingHelp.com

Laurie Haessly, MA, RD, IBCLC of CA 6:56PM February 26, 2011

Tax subsidized breast pumps are but a nickle's worth of the cost of pre-emptive health care, and disagreeing with the idea solely because one is unable to (or unwilling to) breast feed is a ridiculous argument. So is the notion that this discriminates against bottle-fed babies. Breast feeding is a natural and far more wholesome way to feed one's infant and should be encouraged. I'm sorry you were unable to breast feed. Some women can't, for various reasons. That doesn't mean you get to say breast pumps are a luxury item, sorry. Food stamps cover baby formula, and many food pantries hand it out. By your reasoning, doesn't that discriminate against breast fed babies?
Let's not extend this debate any farther into incredulity. The Palin/Bachmans of the world can discourage breast feeding all they want - they tend not to "believe" in real science, anyway, so why should we take what they say as anything but statements meant to turn people against the Obamas? Michele Obama is concerned about childhood obesity and uses breast feeding as an example of nutritious, free food. Obama's plan to help the working mothers of this country with this and other aspects of his health care reform should be encouraged, not used to scream discrimination by insecure mothers who can't breast feed.

Katie of ME 3:29PM February 26, 2011

Nice Article. I just now got Coupons of my Favorite Brands at "Printapons" search online and start saving now

gretaoshiro of TX 5:12AM February 26, 2011

There is a very good book called Food and Healing which graphically shows that human breast milk is specially designed by nature to be the 'perfect food' for babies. Cow's milk is designed by nature to make very large animals in a relatively short amount of time and so is not a good food for babies.
My wife breast fed our children and they grew up very healthy. So far as I know, they have no allergies. I was not breast fed as an infant due to my mother's poor health at the time and have lots of allergies. It's difficult to say if that is due to my genetics or the breast milk, but substantive studies indicate that breast milk is the best and can help to prevent allergies.
I do have empathy for women who have difficulty breast feeding. Wish I had a solution for that :)

Tim B of WA 9:07PM February 25, 2011

Sarah Palin is comparing cow milk with breast milk. This is as upsetting as Dan Quayle putting an e on the end of potato.

Sasha of CA 7:13PM February 25, 2011

I put quotes on my comments before paragraph beginning "As governor"

Bill Hedges of MO 6:04PM February 25, 2011

You are taking a obvious joke to stupidity. Was sarcasm to the state our economy is in.
"Like Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin once encouraged breast-feeding, even though the former Alaska governor made fun of the first lady’s push during her Thursday appearance on Long Island."
"After saying the Barack Obama’s policies were leading to inflation, especially with food, Palin joked, “No wonder Michelle Obama is telling everybody ‘you’d better breastfeed your baby.’ Yeah, you'd better, because the price of milk is so high right now.”
"Your article fell apart after this disclosure. So obvious. How could you miss it was after saying the Barack Obama’s policies were leading to inflation, especially with food, Palin joked, “No wonder Michelle Obama is telling everybody ‘you’d better breastfeed your baby.’ Yeah, you'd better, because the price of milk is so high right now.”
"As governor though, Palin declared October 2007 “Breastfeeding Awareness Month.”
"Her proclamation, dug up by the liberal siteMedia Matters, is below."
"WHEREAS, breastfeeding is recognized as an unequalled means of providing food for infants.
"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, breastfeeding forms the most basic bond between mother and baby and is a foundation for lifelong health and wellness."
"WHEREAS, government and community organizations have a vested interest in protecting and promoting breastfeeding as a means of preventing infant malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality."
"WHEREAS, during October, organizations throughout our state will promote the importance of breastfeeding. This year, in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week - October 1 through October 7 - the State of Alaska will support networks that encourage and promote breastfeeding in all communities."
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim October 2007 as:"
"Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Alaska, and encourage all residents to recognize and support the important contributions breastfeeding makes in improving the quality of life for all Alaskans."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49835.html#ixzz1F0r7IZHE
At most, Sarah was unhappy about the price of milk now. So am I...

Bill Hedges of MO 5:58PM February 25, 2011