Newsweek’s got an interesting but thoroughly unpersuasive analysis of Jamie Oliver and Michelle Obama’s efforts to improve Americans’ food choices. The article argues that people will tune out Oliver because:
He’s not only a rich guy, he’s a rich British guy, thumbing his nose at our good, old-fashioned American preservatives.
Likewise, the article claims:
Michelle Obama’s mission to fight childhood obesity is a noble one, but our first lady may be too well -off and sophisticated to carry the healthful eating message to people who don’t feel like she understands their lives.
And, finally:
In order to make real inroads with obesity, we have to first consider that perhaps it’s one of the few social causes that doesn’t benefit from a celebrity endorsement.
Unfortunately, the article doesn’t offer any evidence to back up its assertions. Is it really reasonable to argue that people of Oliver and Obama’s stature won’t be able to budge the eating habits of millions of Americans? That’s an extraordinarily claim—for which Newsweek offers not a whiff of proof. (Via Starkman.) Link.
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