You know you’re dealing with the “progressives” when you see moonbattery such as this. In a nutshell (NOT a coincidental term, is it?), a group is threatening to sue McDonalds for selling Happy Meals.
(CNSNews.com) — The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a liberal consumer advocacy organization, has announced it will sue McDonald’s unless the fast-food franchise stops using toys to market its “Happy Meals” to children.
“This morning, CSPI notified McDonald’s that we will file a lawsuit against the company unless it stops using toys to beguile young children,” said Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D., at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
“We contend that tempting kids with toys is unfair and deceptive both to kids who don’t understand the concept of advertising and to their parents who have to put up with their nagging children,” he said.
CNSNews.com asked attorney Stephen Gardner, the director of litigation at CSPI who wrote the letter to McDonald’s threatening the lawsuit, why his group is not targeting Wendy’s, Burger King and others.
“I learned a long time ago as a consumer advocate that the way to affect behavior is to go after the market leader, not the leader edge if possible, and certainly not the trailing edge or the small outfit,” said Gardner.
“McDonald’s is as Mike [Jacobson] said, the ‘Big Kahuna’–it’s the bully on the playground here,” said Gardner. “So, we go after the big guys.”
When asked if parents should be able to choose what to allow their children to eat, Garder said McDonald’s as a corporation has their own responsibility.
“There is a matter of corporate responsibility as well as personal responsibility,” he said. “Parents have a responsibility. This is an instance where this corporation has decided to try to go around the parents and market straight to the kids to bribe the kids to come.”
“They’re deliberately trying to supplant parental authority and parental responsibility by turning these kids into little screaming viral marketers sitting in the backseat demanding to go to McDonald’s to get some cheap piece of plastic,” Gardner said.
“I will note that the law does not make it illegal for a parent not to be able to control every aspect of their kids’ eating,” he said.
Now, besides the obvious nanny state, elitist, “we know better than you” syndrome that ordinarily oozes from the “progressives.” There is something very ironic here. Let’s take a second look at this…
“They’re deliberately trying to supplant parental authority and parental responsibility by turning these kids into little screaming viral marketers sitting in the backseat demanding to go to McDonald’s to get some cheap piece of plastic,” Gardner said.
Now, a “progressive” nanny group is decrying the loss of parental authority? Under most circumstances, the “progressives” actively seek to undermine parental authority. It’s one of the primary functions of the public schools, for goodness sakes! I mean, it’s OK to give condoms to elementary students, and it’s OK to take kids for abortions, or have them draw ejaculating penises, but a Happy Meal…OMG!!!
I wonder if this group will decry those blatant attacks on parental authority?
I won’t hold my breath.
Image H/T: Sacred Disorder
Matt
I believe that future generations should have the same opportunities that myself, and those that came before me, had. My parents taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. I don’t want to have to tell my daughter, “You can do whatever the government tells you to do.” We are at a crossroads in this country; are we going to be free, or are we going to be slaves to the nanny state. I choose freedom.
What ever happened to parents saying “no” to their kids?
I dunno. My wife and I tell our kiddo that all the time.
“Now, a “progressive” nanny group is decrying the loss of parental authority? Under most circumstances, the “progressives” actively seek to undermine parental authority.”
Exactly, ask these ratbags if they’d like parents to decide if their children can get abortions and you’ll see their concern for parental authority suddenly evaporate.
I hope Maccas sues them back for wasting their time.
You nailed it MK. They are using nice terms to convince people, but they could really give a rat’s a** if parent’s authority is undermined. Actually, “progressives” desire to undermine parental authority. It interferes with their power.
Great picture! I wanted to do something on this story yesterday, but didn’t get to it. I got a kick out of that line about parental authority also. When have the left EVER cared about parental authority? These people must not have anything better to do. Imagine telling a business what they can and cannot sell.
Government has been interfering in the market forever. It’s all about power.
I would like to file a protest. You should have a “head banging against a wall” smiley. Where is that thing when we need it?
Honestly, this kind of thing is totally ridiculous. As you said, since when do they care about parental authority? I am of the opinion that we have entirely too many consumer advocates. They need to go find themselves a real job.
I’ll try to find a smilie plugin.
If they found a real job, they’d actually have to produce!
I’m not a big McDonald’s fan but next time I get the chance, I’ll get something there.
I know what you mean. Sadly, my job changed has increased my McDonald’s consumption. I really don’t like it all that much, but it’s quick and there.
I suppose the progressives are not happy with any marketing tool unless its one that helps their agenda and thats the bottom line here Matt! They alone know what good for all of us!
That is the way of the statist. We unwashed masses must be lead, told what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, how to drive. You name it, we’re obviously too stupid to do it on our own.
All these progressive tards are a cheezburger short of a happy meal!
What idiocy. They allow all the other horrors you outline above, and get their
shorts in a wad over this! The inmates have taken over the asylum, Matt.
The inmates have taken over, that’s for sure.
As a kid I knew that I could ask my mom for McD’s once per outing. Once. If she said no, I knew to just shut up after that, lest the Rod of Correction be applied to my Seat of Understanding.
“lest the Rod of Correction be applied to my Seat of Understanding.”
That is priceless sir. Well said.
If I could stand the food, I’d support McDonald’s.
I do. More than I’d like, but I do.
Here’s a thought– how about just NOT taking your kids there and feeding them that crap?
That would represent a free choice, Karen. “Progressives” don’t like that.
Perhaps they are just plants from Burger king.
Confirmed!
Once again the progressives feel the need to think for the masses.
The government needs to stay out of my GI tract. That’s all there is to it.
Matt, your right. It is all about power. Libs only like parental authority when it furthers their own agenda. Nothing like using the kids to promote their lib propaganda. Despicable.
You said it, Teresa. It’s power for the sake of power.
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