NOTE: This entry has been updated HERE.
I usually enjoy the New York Times, but their latest article about Michelle Obama’s promotion of breastfeeding is absolutely ridiculous.
In general, the right-wing outcry against what the First Lady is doing is ludicrous on its own. It should be heralded as such and Michelle Obama’s effort to promote the health of babies and mothers should be heralded as the Good Thing that it is. But the New York Times decided to find some Republicans who agreed with the FLOTUS (that had to have been pretty easy), and, more ridiculously, a Democrat that agrees with Bachmann.
While few if any of those who offered comments were against breast-feeding, many noted that some women were unable to breast-feed for medical reasons. Others said that many women without offices or flexible work hours were not offered the time or a place to use breast pumps.“Holy mackerel, I might have to agree with Michele Bachmann on this one!” noted one person on a blog.
Word of advice to any aspiring journalists: if you are reduced to citing “one person on a blog” as your source, it’s probably time to find another occupation.
Buried in the middle of the piece is the part that should have been the real headline:
Ms. Bachmann was wrong that Mrs. Obama wants the government to pay for breast pumps; the I.R.S. would simply allow people to deduct breast-feeding expenses if they itemize, or use the pre-tax dollars in their medical savings accounts to pay for pumps.
And neither of these things was what “one person on a blog” was referencing. Really, really shabby journalism.
At any rate, what Michelle Obama is doing is awesome and news and worthy. What Michele Bachmann is doing is insulting and idiotic and worthy of nothing but ridicule. The New York Times blew it on this one.
UPDATE: Welcome to all the Huffington Post readers who landed here through Jason Linkins’ piece at HuffPo.
I’m just sayin’…
