Not Getting It

I read the Politico every day. It is an excellent political journal with outstanding writers.

One story posted a while ago caught my interest. It was about Michelle Kwan and controversy she encountered when she did a commercial for Coke and the hypocrisy of her serving on President Obama’s Council on Fitness, Nutrition and Sports.

Ms. Kwan was harshly criticized by some association I have never heard of and does not deserve a mention in this piece. Yes, this sounds cynical, but sometimes I think third tier no name associations make such ridiculous charges against a celebrity to gain their (undeserved) 15 minutes of fame.  And by raising the organization’s profile, also raise funds. 

Now I do not get it.  Ms. Kwan is a talented athlete and intelligent lady. For her to endorse Coca-Cola and also serve on a fitness and nutrition council does not raise any red flags to me.  Ms. Kwan is not saying drink a 12 pack of Coke every day. 

Have we become so inflexible that you must agree entirely with an organization?  Not getting it. I cannot get my family to agree with me on 100 percent of everything I know is right, so why would I expect it from anyone else.  And yes, I do know what is right.

Frankly, in debate we called this a red herring. You have nothing else to say, so attack something so insignificant and try to blow it out of proportion. Put the other side on the defensive.  Or in this case, put Ms. Kwan on the defensive. 

My suggested response for Ms. Kwan, “I apologize, now who did you say is criticizing me for my commercial and public service activities?”  She is told the name of the organization. And her response is “Never heard of it.”

From the Politico

MICHELLE KWAN SKATES INTO HEALTH CARE CONTROVERSY — The former figure-skating champion is being criticized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for promoting Coca-Cola for the Sochi Olympics while at the same time serving on the President’s Council on Fitness, Nutrition and Sports. Kwan is pictured on Coca-Cola’s website holding a bottle of non-diet Coke. It’s “unacceptable” to allow makers of junk foods to “rent Michelle Kwan or other council members,” according to CSPI. But the National Center for Public Policy Research quickly defended Kwan, calling CSPI the “food police.” “This absolutist view is not only absurd, it undermines public health by suggesting that people who enjoy an occasional sugary beverage cannot be active, athletic and healthy,” NCPPR said. CSPI’s release