Obama May Take Softer Approach on Kids'
Obesity
Campaign Trail: Policy Director Says Curbs on Ads Have
Not Been Discussed
Ira
Teinowitz
AdAge
August 25, 2008
DENVER (AdAge.com) -- The Obama campaign's senior
director of domestic policy spent nearly an hour on
Monday talking about plans for attacking childhood
obesity. Absent from the discussion was mention of any
advertising or marketing restrictions on "junk food."
Though congressional Democrats have frequently
complained about such ads -- and have warned about the
potential of advertising regulation if marketers don't
act -- Melody Barnes instead suggested that an Obama
administration would take a holistic approach toward
childhood obesity that includes the possibility of
greater federal funding for physical education, new
programs to encourage health insurance companies to
pay for preventative health care, more education about
food choices and better school menus.
Ms. Barnes and Karen Kornbluh, principal author of the
2008 Democratic Party Platform -- a platform that
mentions obesity as an issue -- spoke at a forum of
The Obesity Society at the Democratic National
Convention. After the forum, Ms. Barnes said she
wouldn't rule out restrictions on marketing but said
the subject of them had never come up in discussions
on obesity. "We haven't talked about that."
She said the campaign has also not talked specifically
about expanding federal advertising intended to
promote a healthier lifestyle or healthy food choices
to kids but said that doing so would be consistent
with the campaign's view that the president could be
making more use of the "bully pulpit."
Ms. Barnes said Mr. Obama does have "a real
commitment" to attacking childhood obesity and is
"looking at various ways to drive home the message."
Ms. Kornbluh said the obesity issue was mentioned in
the platform because of real concerns and the effort
is a part of the Democratic Party's attempt to
demonstrate that it is focusing on "family values."
The Obesity Society is pushing both political parties
to include obesity in their platforms. Monday's event
at the Democratic convention will be followed next
week by one at the GOP convention.