Whatever Else You Might Say About Ronald McDonald, He's Not a Child Molester

Chef, TV personality and author Anthony Bourdain is always entertaining and provocative, but his approach to turning his two-and-a-half year-old daughter off McDonald's and other fast food is both ethically dubious (unless you're an ends-justifies-any-means kind of person) and, I suspect, strategically unsound.

As part of a campaign to discredit Ronald McDonald, Bourdain and his wife stand outside their daughter's room and whisper loudly about the fast food chain icon's alleged involvement in the disappearance of small children. "Stepped inside to get some fries and a Happy Meal and hasn't been seen since... of course, they're focusing on Ronald again." He also tells her that Ronald "smells bad."

His explanation: "As I see it, nothing less than the heart, mind, soul and physical health of my adored only child. I am determined that the Evil Empire shall not have her, and to that end I am prepared to use what Malcolm X called 'any means necessary'.... I want my little girl to see fast-food culture as I do. As the enemy."

Should McDonald's be worried? My guess is, not particularly. I suspect Bourdain misunderstands child psychology. At some point, his daughter is going to discover she was lied to--Ronald McDonald, whatever else you think of him, is no child molester--and at that point she's probably going to trust her father even less than she trusts the fast food industry.