Big Bird teams up with first lady Michelle Obama to promote kids' health
He's back: The huge yellow bird that stole the spotlight in the final yards of the 2012 presidential race is back to ruffling policy feathers.
For the third anniversary of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign this week, Big Bird has teamed up with the first lady in two new public service announcements that encourage kids to exercise and eat better. Mrs. Obama's initiative hopes to "ensure that all our children grow up healthy and reach their full potential."
In one video, Big Bird is seen trotting behind the first lady in the White House's East Room as she describes the importance of staying active.
"Look, Mrs. Obama - I'm moving right now by jogging!" Big Bird says. "Now I'm jumping to get moving... and now, I'm dancing!" The first lady rewards him with a hearty, "Good for you, Big Bird!"
The other video takes place in the White House kitchen, where Mrs. Obama promotes "healthy, colorful snacks like juicy fruits and crunchy vegetables." Big Bird marvels: "Gee, I bet you could get just everything you want in this kitchen."
It's not the first political rodeo for the "Sesame Street" star. Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney during an Oct. 3 debate against President Obama explained one of his favorite budget measures from his stump speech: Cutting federal funding to PBS, which has been airing "Sesame Street" since 1969.
"I'm gonna stop the subsidy to PBS," Romney said to moderator Jim Lehrer, whose NewsHour program has aired on PBS since 1975. "I like PBS, I like Big Bird; I actually like you too." However, in Romney's vision, they are considered non-essential elements of the federal budget and should not be publically funded.
Romney's comment fed Mr. Obama's reelection efforts for weeks, inspiring a satirical attack ad that deemed the puppet "big, yellow; a menace to our economy," and even led to a Big Bird guest appearance on "Saturday Night Live."
