The first rule of political pandering: Know what you’re talking about.
The classic example: In 2004, Sen. John Kerry, trying to bolster his regular guy image, spoke of Green Bay’s hallowed “;Lambert Field.” It’s Lambeau Field. Ten dork points for Kerry.
This week, Michelle Obama walked into a culinary version of the Lambert gaffe.
In an e-mail congratulating Charlotte, N.C., on being named host city for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Obama mentioned that Charlotte has “great barbecue.” As someone who grew up an hour from Charlotte, I can tell you that few natives would say that. Nobody travels to Charlotte for the barbecue. It might have a good barbecue restaurant or two, but the really good stuff is outside of the city.
Obama’s been mocked for the obvious pander, as she should have been. But to me the offense wasn’t her ignorance of North Carolina’s barbecue geography. It was her blatant violation of the second rule of political pandering: Don’t pretend to like something you don’t.
Michelle Obama is America’s No. 1 Food Nanny. Her top priority as First Lady is to end “the epidemic of childhood obesity in America.” When she launched that initiative a year ago this month, she announced the creation of letsmove.gov, which provides tips to parents and community leaders on making kids healthier. One recommendation to municipal officials is: “Create a healthy food promotional campaign, and offer a ‘healthy eating’ designation to restaurants who offer healthier food and beverages and reasonably-sized portions.”
There isn’t a self-respecting barbecue joint in the South that could win that designation. North Carolina barbecue joints sell hush puppies (fried cornmeal) and sweet tea that’s close to equal parts tea and sugar. And you don’t want to think about the calorie count in a single slice of pie or dollop of banana pudding.
Read More: By Andrew Cline, American Spectator
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Clearly you have never been to Charlotte. Spoon's Barbeque is fantastic. And everyone knows that as long as you are eating barbeque every day, it can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Grow up and whine about something that actually matters.
As long as you are NOT eating bbq ever day…is what I think you meant and if so you're right but then you don't need big government telling you that do you? So tell Michelle to feed her own face and get out ours. Nuff said.
I don't get it, they got Barbecue everywhere and depending on your tastes, it could be some Barbecue in the state of Ohio or anywhere. What if a person from South Carolina made some Barbecue in Spokane WA. What would we call that Barbecue I think we should leave the relatives of the President alone and focus on Barry's and two different identities in his life. Why oh why won't the media talk about that, the subject is know and it has some huge holes in it that need filling. I like Barbecue where ever I visit.
And if you find good barbecue in Spokane, please let me know so I can go–though I'm far more partial to Kansas City or Texas-style than Carolina-style barbecue.
This Is An Example Of Drinking Obamacare New Kool-Aid And Smoking Whacky Tobacco!!Yikeess, God Bless America And Lt Col Lakins Chi-Town Style Kangaroo Court Martial Without Discovery, Yikeess, NO MORE RED INK, Buckwheat.