Michelle Obama says school lunch program critics are 'celebrating' kids 'eating crap

Michelle Obama defended her school lunches program by accusing those criticizing of it of "celebrating" children having to "eat crap." She made the comments while being interviewed at a summit about childhood obesity sponsored by "Partnership for a Healthier America," in Washington D.C.

"We gotta make sure we don't let anybody take us back," the former first lady said. "The question is, 'where are we going back to?' You know, what is it that people. This is where you really have to look at motives. I mean you have to stop and think why don't you want our kids to have good food at school?

"What is wrong with you?" she asked rhetorically, to great applause.

"And why is that a partisan issue?" she continued. "Why would that be political? What is going on? You know, now that's up to moms. Moms, think about this. I don't care what state you live in. Take me out of the equation, like me, don't like me, but think about why someone is OK with your kids eatin' crap."

"Why you would celebrate that?" she asked. "Why would you sit idly and be OK with that?"

"Cuz here's the secret: if somebody is doing that, they don't care about your kid," Obama added. "And we need to demand everyone care deeply about our kids. That's all we have."

"So we should be driving this," she concluded. "And every elected official on this planet should understand don't play with our children. Don't do it."

Michelle with a 🔥 defense of her healthy school lunches: "Why don't you want our kids to have good food at school? What is wrong with you?" pic.twitter.com/5IIL7xvKCE

— David Mack (@davidmackau) May 12, 2017

The former first lady had advocated for more healthy school lunches during her husband's tenure, but was criticized heavily by conservatives characterizing the programs as top-down government intrusion. The Department of Agriculture under President Trump changed the National School Lunch Program in order to roll back much of the Obamas' influence.