Outspoken Russian party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a regular critic of America, wants to talk school lunches and childhood nutrition with first lady Michelle Obama.
Zhirinovsky, a political gadfly who leads the nation’s Liberal Democratic Party, told a Moscow radio station on Sunday that he has sent an invitation to Obama for a meeting to talk shop. It seems that he believes she can help his party implement a campaign to fight childhood obesity.
“We in the Liberal Democratic Party have spoken about this frequently for several years now. But, unfortunately, we don’t have enough powers or potential [to implement our own programs.] It is up to the health minister, the education minister, and the deputy minister for social issues. We need to introduce a corresponding menu in [educational] institutions. And we should start with elementary schools. This should be supported, all the country’s leaders should do this,” he told Govorit Moskva (Moscow Speaks), according to a report in the Moscow Times.
According to the newspaper, the political leader knows how to make news. “Zhirinovsky has repeatedly grabbed the headlines with his well-intentioned health tips — ranging from having less sex, to abstaining from alcohol and tobacco and eating less meat,” it reported.
He is also a vodka maker.
But maybe there’s a reason why the White House hasn’t responded. Earlier this year, he recommended that President Obama divorce his wife so that he could be more effective, arguing that world leaders should remain celibate and focus only on their job.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
