Statement of Jeffrey Mazzella, CFIF Executive Director, on Morgan Spurlock's Appearance at Case Western Reserve University

Statement of Jeffrey Mazzella, CFIF Executive Director, on Morgan Spurlock's Appearance at Case Western Reserve University

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock will visit the campus of Case Western Reserve University today speaking at the Fat Food Nation event. In response, Jeffrey Mazzella, Executive Director for the Center for Individual Freedom made this statement:

"It's important for Case Western Reserve University students to hear both sides of the story when it comes to Morgan Spurlock and his film Super Size Me. Morgan Spurlock's 30 day eating binge managed only to prove the obvious -- that irresponsible behavior has negative consequences.

"Mr. Spurlock's film is not a documentary. It's a caricature. Instead of promoting responsible eating and demonstrating healthy habits, the film endorses irresponsible behavior and a view that the consequences of our reckless actions are someone else's fault.

"In this case, Spurlock would like us to believe that his weight gain and poor health was McDonald's fault, when in reality, the only person Spurlock can blame is himself.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Spurlock's documentary serves a greater purpose. By promoting a 'blame everyone else' attitude, Spurlock provides fodder for greedy trial lawyers who want to take advantage of our lawsuit lottery culture and make the fast food industry their next targets for jackpot lawsuits.

"If we choose to overeat and reject exercise, we have no one to blame but ourselves. And Mr. Spurlock has become the poster child for irresponsibility.

"We can't sue our way to a slimmer waist or a healthier diet. We have to be responsible for our actions, eat right, and make smart choices. We have to exercise the kind of common sense that Mr. Spurlock rejects in his so-called documentary. And we ought to reject the 'do whatever, then sue' attitude that this film seems to promote.

"And here's a question that Spurlock should have to answer: others have tried similar 30-day all-McDonald's diet and lost weight by exercising responsibility and self-control. They've released detailed diaries showing what they ate and when they ate it. You've said that you kept a similar diary, but you refuse to release it. Mr. Spurlock, what are you hiding?"

The Center for Individual Freedom (http://www.cfif.org/) is a non-profit constitutional advocacy organization dedicated to protecting individual rights and individual freedom. To see a side-by-side comparison of Spurlock's film and a documentary by Soso Whaley based on a similar concept which yielded very different results: http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/super_size_me_do wn_size_me.htm

Source: Center for Individual Freedom

CONTACT: Jeffrey Mazzella of Center for Individual Freedom,
+1-703-535-5836

Web site: http://www.cfif.org/

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