Latest right-wing-lunatic smear about Obama: Dijongate

[Dominus Atheos]

Media Matters

Following President Obama's May 5 visit to Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Virginia, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Rush Limbaugh Show guest host Mark Steyn criticized Obama as an elitist because he ordered a burger with "spicy mustard" or "Dijon mustard." Hannity claimed that Obama ordered a "fancy burger" with a "very special condiment," while Steyn asserted Obama is trying "to enlighten us" through his order. Ingraham asked of Obama: "What kind of man orders a cheeseburger without ketchup but Dijon mustard? ... The guy orders a cheeseburger without ketchup? What is that?" In their discussions of Obama's burger order, Hannity, Ingraham, and Steyn all referenced a Grey Poupon commercial featuring actors portraying wealthy British men expressing desire for the mustard.

During the May 6 edition of his Fox News program, Hannity said: "[A]s you all know, President Obama is a real man of the people. And yesterday he dropped by a popular Virginia restaurant to grab a burger with his pal [Vice President] Joe [Biden]. Now, the Gateway Pundit blog pointed out that plain old ketchup, well, it didn't quite cut it for the president. Now take a look at him ordering his burger with a very special condiment. ... Dijon mustard? I think the president watched just a little bit too much television as a kid." Hannity then played a portion of a Grey Poupon commercial and commented, "I hope you enjoyed that fancy burger, Mr. President." In the May 5 post Hannity referenced, the Gateway Pundit wrote of Obama and Biden: "They're just two ordinary metrosexual guys going out for a burger ... Obama and Biden, two ordinary guys, go out for a sandwich and Obama asks for Dijon mustard at Joe's Hell Burger." The blog added: "I hear it's delish with arugula lettuce. Yum-Yum."

During the May 6 edition of her radio show, Ingraham said of Obama: "I don't even like the way the man orders a hamburger. ... What kind of man orders a cheeseburger without ketchup but Dijon mustard?" She later added of Obama: "See, he was trying to do this whole thing with Biden -- 'We're like the regular people, we're like every other guy, you know, with our -- on our lunch break, we're going to go grab a burger, two guys, two bros.' " Like Hannity, Ingraham played a clip from a Grey Poupon commercial in which an actor asked, "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?" Ingraham then remarked: "That would have been more appropriate." Ingraham's remarks were highlighted by The Fox Nation on May 7:



On the May 7 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Steyn said of Obama's condiment selection: "He's amazing, Obama. This coverage -- he's a regular guy. He eats a hamburger with Dijon mustard -- Dijon mustard. John Kerry couldn't get away with that stuff, but he makes it seem like just like a regular thing to do. Now there's -- I see that some of the left-wing commentators are saying, 'Why are people making a fuss about the Dijon mustard?' but that's just an example of the way Obama is able to enlighten us." Later in the program, Steyn stated: "I deeply resent Barack Obama crashing in as the Grey Poupon spokesperson, because that has been the lifesaver for non-American voiceover artists in this country for years -- getting the gig doing the Grey Poupon voiceover." He added: "f you can't outsource Grey Poupon to foreigners, what can you outsource? And instead now he's apparently the big Grey Poupon spokesperson, putting it all -- putting it all over his hamburger. Barack Obama -- that was -- what was that? That was yesterday, Barack Obama had a hamburger. I don't know what he may do today to prove -- to pass for human."

From the May 6 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: And finally tonight, as you all know, President Obama is a real man of the people. And yesterday he dropped by a popular Virginia restaurant to grab a burger with his pal Joe. Now, the Gateway Pundit blog pointed out that plain old ketchup, well, it didn't quite cut it for the president. Now take a look at him ordering his burger with a very special condiment.

OBAMA [video clip]: All right. I'm going to have a -- just your basic cheddar cheeseburger, medium well. I just want mustard, no ketchup. If you've got like a spicy mustard or something like that, or a Dijon mustard, something like that.

HANNITY: All right, Dijon mustard? I think the president watched just a little bit too much television as a kid:

[begin video clip]

IAN RICHARDSON (actor): Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?

PAUL EDDINGTON (actor): You mean the mustard?

RICHARDSON: Yes, would you have any?

EDDINGTON: Would I, or do I?

RICHARDSON: Both, actually.

[end video clip]

HANNITY: All right, I hope you enjoyed that fancy burger, Mr. President.

From the May 6 edition of Talk Radio Network's The Laura Ingraham Show:

ANDREA MITCHELL (MSNBC correspondent) [audio clip]: And this just in: What you're watching is two guys going out for lunch. It's Ray's burgers, which is an institution in Arlington, Virginia, and the president, the vice president, I gather, they paid -- each paid for their own and also chipped in and bought for the press pool, the small group that accompanied them.

INGRAHAM: Cheap dates.

OBAMA [audio clip]: I'm going to have a -- just your basic cheddar cheeseburger, medium well. I just want mustard, no ketchup.

INGRAHAM: What?

OBAMA [audio clip]: If you've got like a spicy mustard or something like that, or a Dijon mustard, something like that.

RICHARDSON [audio clip]: Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?

INGRAHAM: I don't even like the way the man orders a hamburger. You're listening to The Laura Ingraham Show. What kind of man orders a cheeseburger without ketchup but Dijon mustard? See, he was trying to do this whole thing with Biden -- "We're like the regular people, we're like every other guy, you know, with our -- on our lunch break, we're going to go grab a burger, two guys, two bros." No --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And a bottled water, what?

INGRAHAM: Well, we're gonna -- we're two bros hanging out together all right, man? How was your day? I love you, man. I love you. The guy orders a cheeseburger without ketchup? What is that?

OBAMA [audio clip]: I mean, that's nice.

INGRAHAM: What? I'm watching this, and I think, OK, the press corps is so easily bought off. You just buy them a couple of dirty old burgers and they're fine. "Oh, did you know the president treated?" First of all, journalistic ethics -- are we supposed to be treated by the president and the vice president?

And does this question ever pop into your minds like it did mine yesterday? Do these men not have anything better to do than go on a road trip to Arlington for a photo-op -- which is done for one reason and one reason only. You know why it's done? Check out this last line of The Washington Post piece: "Bonnie Cosby, 51, a technology consultant who picked up burgers on her way home from work, opined: 'It shows that he's in touch with the people, and that he's not up in the ivory tower. He's a real person -- with a burger.' " No, the --

RICHARDSON [audio clip]: Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?

INGRAHAM: That would have been more appropriate, would not have -- of him to go right through the drive-through? Took him a while to figure out what he was going to order. Didn't he seem to hesitate a while? It's just like when he was trying to find the church, buy the puppy, figure out if -- when life begins with the Rick Warren question?

I would laugh if the woman said, "Sir, what would you like?" and he said, "Oh, that's above my pay grade. I can't, I can't -- well, I'll get back to you on that. I gotta talk to Michelle first."

From the May 7 edition of broadcast of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:

STEYN: It was wonderful watching the coverage of the hamburger visit. He's amazing, Obama. This coverage -- he's a regular guy. He eats a hamburger with Dijon mustard -- Dijon mustard. John Kerry couldn't get away with that stuff, but he makes it seem like just like a regular thing to do. Now there's -- I see that some of the left-wing commentators are saying, "Why are people making a fuss about the Dijon mustard?" but that's just an example of the way Obama is able to enlighten us.

[...]

STEYN: But people were talking a lot about the Obama hamburger and this business of him ordering the Dijon mustard, and ordering the Grey Poupon. And I have to say, speaking as a foreigner, that I deeply resent Barack Obama crashing in as the Grey Poupon spokesperson, because that has been the lifesaver for non-American voiceover artists in this country for years -- getting the gig doing the Grey Poupon voiceover.

You know, you do the, "Try the new Grey Poupon squeeze, one of life's simpler pleasures." And the idea that Barack Obama now is going to be collaring -- it's in-sourcing, in effect. This is nothing like -- the Grey Poupon endorsement is something -- if you can't endorse -- if you can't outsource Grey Poupon to foreigners, what can you outsource? And instead now he's apparently the big Grey Poupon spokesperson, putting it all -- putting it all over his hamburger. Barack Obama -- that was -- what was that? That was yesterday, Barack Obama had a hamburger. I don't know what he may do today to prove -- to pass for human.

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[Nephtys]

My goodness. The President wants DIJON MUSTARD!

Quick, to the scandal mobile! How elitist that he enjoys MUSTARD THAT IS SPICY AND POSSIBLY NAME BRAND.

This is so comical when combined with that recent 'Limbuagh vs Powell' stuff. The Right in America is showing just how godawful crazy they are. Next, they'll mention that the president buys extra-fancy ketchup, when normal-fancy ketchup is clearly sufficient.

[Samuel]

Obviously the president doesn't want to appear to show any favoritism towards Kerry

[Patrick Degan]

My goodness. The President wants DIJON MUSTARD!

Quick, to the scandal mobile! How elitist that he enjoys MUSTARD THAT IS SPICY AND POSSIBLY NAME BRAND.

This is so comical when combined with that recent 'Limbuagh vs Powell' stuff. The Right in America is showing just how godawful crazy they are. Next, they'll mention that the president buys extra-fancy ketchup, when normal-fancy ketchup is clearly sufficient.

The Right are down to picking gnatshit out of pepper. They just become more and more cartoonish with each passing day now.

[Rogue 9]

What the flying fuck? Though I detest mustard, the rest of my family will not touch yellow mustard, and always has a ready supply of spicy brown mustard on hand for this reason; since when is this elitist?

[wautd]

I double checked to see if this wasn't a Onion article. How retarted are these people?

[CaptainChewbacca]

Dude, you've GOT to have the spicy mustard. Tasty stuff, that is.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Because there really are mouth breathing retards who actually see anything other than French's yellow American hot dog mustard as being a sign that you support Europe and sending babies to hell.... ...

....It's named FRENCH'S, people. Laugh at the irony.

[The Romulan Republic]

Next time the GOP accuses the Democrats of being fascist, they should run an add pointing out that the Republicans want to tell Americans what kind of fucking mustard to eat on their burger.

[Raw Shark]

I love eating my burgers with spicy brown mustard and no ketchup. It tastes awesome and is necessary for my repeat business.

[Vendetta]

A good strong mustard is so much better on a burger than ketchup.

I do prefer yellow mustard to dijon, but if dijon's what's going that's cool.

[fgalkin]

To be honest, I prefer Steyn talking about mustard than about Muslims.
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Chardok]

This is insane to me - I happen to like dijon mustard, but not so much classic american yellow mustard. When I could eat burgers, I never thought to put dijon on it but, it sounds pretty good. HOW IS THIS FRONT PAGE STUFF?!

I'm sure glad there's not an economic crisis or two wars going on or some other ridiculousness pundits could be commenting on. Honestly, I think it's telling how the right are going batsh*% over this; as it indicates that they either think or at least acknowledge that President Obama is doing such a ridiculously stellar job that this is all they can come up with!


EDIT_________________
Also - an everyman...BAH. There was a comedian, I forget which one it was that said something to the effect of "Gerorge Bush is an every day guy, that's why people like him, because he's just like me. Well, I don't want my president to be just like me, I want him to be BETTER then me in every way. which is why whenever I see the "Oh, he's not an everyman!" or, "He's an elitist!", I actually think to myself "Good, this is how it should be."

[hongi]

To be honest, I prefer Steyn talking about mustard than about Muslims.
Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

I'm sure he'll flip back to railing against that other brown threat to the West after he gets bored of this...ridiculousness.

[Siege]

He likes mustard on his burger? Really? They've got to be pretty desperate if this is the best they can come up with in terms of criticizing -if you can even call it that- Obama.

[Rye]

That Hannity clip is actually hilarious. It's essentially:

"Enjoy your fancy-schmancy burger, "Mr." "President"."

It's so weak, petty and puerile. I mean, how low do you have to be to criticise the sauces someone likes? I mean, I can believe that lots of Americans are stupid and bigoted, but to the extent that they'd dis someone for sauce-burger decisions? In a society and culture where the right tout consumer freedom of choice uber alles, why are they trying to paint a mustardised burger as "elitist" or "decadent" either beyond the reach of the common man, or as if the common man would never try such a thing? It is fucking nuts.

[Coyote]

Wow. This is all they have. What a sad, pathetic shadow of a political party they have become. And more and more of them are lining up behind Rush Limbaugh (the latest to join the Dittohead Brigade-- Dick Cheney).

Please, by all means-- take another swirl around the bowl. It's like they are trying to make themselves irrelevant.

[KrauserKrauser]

What's funny is that they were going on and on about how the Cult of Obama was latching on to everything about him and glorifying it. And then they turn around and critically anaylze his choice of mustard.

I think he is having his kids right the topics for the day. Next I expect them to bash him on the fact that he might eat a vegetable at some point instead of an all American Beef sandwich.

Think of the uproar that would have occurred if he had asked for a veggie burger.

OH THE HUMANITY!

[SCRawl]

I've read a few articles -- mostly posted through here -- and I have to say that with respect to the whole right/left adversarial relationship I've lost my ability to detect irony. I mean, I want to believe that these people are subtly poking fun at themselves, rather than genuinely criticizing the president's choice of condiments. They aren't idiots, after all, for the most part, though I believe that they are largely misguided. I've met idiots. These people are not idiots. And yet, for them to take this tack, the only other reasonable explanation I can come up with is that it was a slow news day, and they have 24 hours of dead air to fill.

For the record, a good spicy or whole-grain mustard beats the chemical stuff every day. One more reason to like Obama.

[SirNitram]

Pulling from the depths of the past, a conversation on national news during the primaries.

SHUSTER: Well, here's the other thing that we saw on the tape, Chris, is that, when Obama went in, he was offered coffee, and he said, "I'll have orange juice."

MATTHEWS: (Shocked) No.

SHUSTER: He did.

And it's just one of those sort of weird things. You know, when the owner of the diner says, "Here, have some coffee," you say, "Yes, thank you," and, "Oh, can I also please have some orange juice, in addition to this?" You don't just say, "No, I'll take orange juice," and then turn away and start shaking hands. That's what happens [unintelligible] --

MATTHEWS: You don't ask for a substitute on the menu.

SHUSTER: Exactly.

First off, what shitty diner do they eat at? The ones I've been at are all too eager to make changes. Must be a salad bar at Applebees moment of the Beltway elite trying to pretend they know the first thing about anyone else.

Second... Duh. Wussy, whiny Democrat-Loser Elitist stereotype. It's been in play. It's always in play.

[Rogue 9]

Pulling from the depths of the past, a conversation on national news during the primaries.

SHUSTER: Well, here's the other thing that we saw on the tape, Chris, is that, when Obama went in, he was offered coffee, and he said, "I'll have orange juice."

MATTHEWS: (Shocked) No.

SHUSTER: He did.

And it's just one of those sort of weird things. You know, when the owner of the diner says, "Here, have some coffee," you say, "Yes, thank you," and, "Oh, can I also please have some orange juice, in addition to this?" You don't just say, "No, I'll take orange juice," and then turn away and start shaking hands. That's what happens [unintelligible] --

MATTHEWS: You don't ask for a substitute on the menu.

SHUSTER: Exactly.

First off, what shitty diner do they eat at? The ones I've been at are all too eager to make changes.

Must be an expensive one. I've noticed that the more high-class a restaurant deems itself to be, the less they like making changes to menu items. Mind, I don't go into many high-end restaurants simply because I can't afford to, so I have a small sample size, but so far that's the trend I've noticed.

So much for elitism.

[Ghost Rider]

So wait...he goes to a burger dive(and let's make no mistake the place serves a good burger but is a dive), and because he wants Dijion mustard, this rates?! Holy shit, even some of my more...devout Republicans aren't this batshit insane, and if they are? They hide it because in mixed crowd this is the easiest way of looking like a complete dumbfuck to anyone above third grade mentality.

Jesus fucking Christ, I will have something to needle the lunch crowd for weeks. Keep it up with on the spot investigative journalism, guys! Make sure no Obama transgression falls through the cracks and that every possible flaw is found!! Ketchup for life!!!

[Yogi]

It's so weak, petty and puerile. I mean, how low do you have to be to criticise the sauces someone likes? I mean, I can believe that lots of Americans are stupid and bigoted, but to the extent that they'd dis someone for sauce-burger decisions? In a society and culture where the right tout consumer freedom of choice uber alles, why are they trying to paint a mustardised burger as "elitist" or "decadent" either beyond the reach of the common man, or as if the common man would never try such a thing? It is fucking nuts.

Be prepared to adjust your opinion of American intelligence downwards. Again.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01392.html

Me? I Vote For the Cheez Whiz

By Chris Cillizza
Sunday, September 3, 2006; Page B05

Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman found himself stuck between a pork chop and a hard place.

It was the summer of 2002, and Lieberman was campaigning at the Iowa State Fair in advance of the 2004 presidential campaign when he came to a tent sponsored by the state's pork producers. As a Jew who keeps kosher, Lieberman was prohibited from eating the proffered pork on a stick. As a politician stumping for votes in the Iowa presidential caucuses, passing on the pork could carry repercussions in the polls.

David Yepsen, the state's legendary political reporter, watched as a compromise was struck: Lieberman passed on the pork chop but worked the tent -- meeting and greeting the meat men who form one of the pillars of Iowa's economy.

Empathy is everything in modern politics, and there is no better way for a politician to show it than fluency in the language of local food. "A premium is placed on authenticity and, short of being born and raised in a state or area within a state, demonstrating a taste -- literally or metaphorically -- for local cuisine is one of the best short cuts for connecting with voters," says Thomas Schaller, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland.

In other words, you are what you eat.

Modern presidential politics is littered with candidates who committed fatal food faux pas. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's request for Swiss cheese rather than Cheez Whiz on his cheese steak at a stop in Philadelphia during the 2004 campaign cemented the public's view of him as an out-of-touch Brahmin.

During his 1976 primary race against Ronald Reagan, President Gerald R. Ford was offered a tamale at a campaign stop in Texas. He ate it corn husk and all -- a cultural and culinary no-no.

Or how about Sargent Shriver? While he was the Democratic party's 1972 vice presidential candidate, Shriver wandered into a bar in New Hampshire and said: "Beer for the boys, and I'll have a Courvoisier."

Food can humanize as well as dehumanize. Witness Bill Clinton's habit during the 1992 presidential campaign of making unscheduled visits to McDonald's for a Big Mac and fries. Clinton's weakness for fried food and the yo-yo-ing waistline that went with it helped the average voter identify with him. "It said to voters, 'He's just like me even though he's the governor or the president,' " says Arthur English, an Arkansas political scientist.

And so, although the rise of e-mail, television and blogs has altered (and depersonalized) the way politics is performed, the simple act of sharing a meal retains a literal and figurative importance not to be understated.

Put another way, a candidate's willingness to eat a fried Snickers bar (soak in vegetable oil, fry, then douse in powdered sugar for a mere 444 calories per bar) or a stack of hot cakes (preferably at the Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester if you're trying to win the New Hampshire primary), says more about a campaign's chances of winning than a pile of worthy position papers.

Take the variety of food-centered political gatherings staged annually around the country -- all of which serve to test the food bona fides of aspiring candidates.

At Virginia's Shad Planking every April, politicians and the press trek down to a patch of piney woods in Wakefield to eat bony fish, drink cold beer and listen to political stem-winders. The J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake -- honoring the state's 54th governor -- is held in August on a smoking piece of asphalt on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Arkansas has the Coon Supper -- yes, that is the official name -- where raccoon and beer are on the menu along with politics each January. Attendees (who have included Clinton as well as former Democratic Sens. David Pryor and Dale Bumpers) collectively consume between 600 and 800 pounds of raccoon meat in the small town of Gillett in eastern Arkansas.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) has attended plenty of Coon Suppers, but it's what he hasn't eaten that has fueled his rise to prominence. A few years ago, Huckabee was an obscure Southern governor who topped the scales at nearly 300 pounds. Now 110 pounds lighter and preparing to compete in his fourth marathon, Huckabee is considered a viable presidential candidate in 2008.

Huckabee's ascent may rewrite the history books when it comes to food and politics. It may yet turn out that skinny is the new skinny, at least when it comes to getting elected.

chris.cillizza@washingtonpost.com

In order words, yes the American people ARE stupid and petty enough to judge someone for eating the wrong type of food.

[Mr. Coffee]

See, I don't get why y'all are so up in arms over this hurr nonsense. It's pretty damn clear to any GAWD fearin' 'Merican what's goin' on hurr. See, it's like dis hurr, see... Dijon mustard is french, ya hurr. And everyone knows that the Frnch are nuthin' but a pack of cheese eatin' surrender monkies, and by eatin' their food that feller' Obama is sayin' he wants to weaken our country so we can get took over by them damn Frenchies! I mean, Dijon mustard is French, the French is SOCIALISTS, so it's obvious that Obama wants us to be socialists too!

Why do y'all hate freedom so much? I bet y'all like puttin' dijon mustard on your burgers along with a shitload of mayonnaise... Damned commies...

[mr friendly guy]

Food can humanize as well as dehumanize. Witness Bill Clinton's habit during the 1992 presidential campaign of making unscheduled visits to McDonald's for a Big Mac and fries. Clinton's weakness for fried food and the yo-yo-ing waistline that went with it helped the average voter identify with him. "It said to voters, 'He's just like me even though he's the governor or the president,' " says Arthur English, an Arkansas political scientist.

Except when Clinton's arteries clog up from all that fatty food, he gets to have bypass surgery. Given the way the US health system works, whats the bettign that the average voter will get the same treatment? So he isn't just like you. He is still alive and while you die from eating yourself to death.