[HoqCBYMl]

Obama Burger Firestorm Still Raging




Fallout over President Obama's burger outing continues. Freedom-fry loving conservatives are venting over the president's choice of Dijon mustard, while foodies of all political stripes are mortified by the omnivore-in-chief's preference to have his burger cooked - gasp! - medium well.

Taking the lead for the right, Sean Hannity railed against the cheeseburger blasphemy on his Fox News show last night, rallying his many incensed followers to accuse MSNBC, and Andrea Mitchell in particular, of waging a "cover-up" of Obama's Dijon mustard eating ways during the cable network's coverage of the burger outing.
Cornell law school professor William Jacobson has been obsessively chronicling what he has dubbed "dijongate" on his blog. "Obama ordered his burger with DIJON MUSTARD! Bet he had to seek John Kerry's counsel on that," writes Jacobson.

He, too, notes the alleged cover-up by the mainstream media, noting that Mitchell "didn't mention one arugula-like fact" - which was that Obama had the gall to ask for Dijon mustard. "You couldn't hear it on the MSNBC video because Andrea and her correspondent Kelly O'Donnel (they needed two people to cover this story) were talking so much," says Jacobson.
And don't even get the foodies started.

As Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema can attest, the very first question he was asked Wednesday during a regular online chat was about the president and Vice President Joe Biden's trip to the now and forever famous Ray's Hell Burger across the river in Arlington, Va.
"How could our fearless leader go to Ray's Hell-Burger and order his burger 'medium well,'" the first questioner asked, adding, "Sacrilege. Everyone knows the only way to eat one of those burgers is medium (at most) or medium rare. He and Biden both ordered their burgers medium well (yes, I'm one of the idiots who watched him do so on Youtube). I have lost faith in Obama's judgment. "

Sietsema answered, "I was surprised they got their burgers so thoroughly cooked, too! Oh, well, at least the two are getting out and exploring the city and its environs. That's what pleases me most. "
But that did little to quell the outrage. Another questioner and apparent Obama fan wrote, "Oh, the humanity! The President likes his burgers MEDIUM WELL. I'd rather eat shoe leather myself. What can we as Americans do to correct this disaster? As for no ketchup, if that's his preference, then so be it. I just hope he doesn't get nailed as a fancy pants elitist for requesting dijon mustard. "

A blogger at "Slashfood, meanwhile, writes, "While I approve of his decision to top his burger with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and dijon mustard, I must strenuously object to his choice to have it grilled medium well. Although not as egregiously awful as well done, medium well is still pretty heavily overcooked. If President Obama wants to eat a hockey puck, the man should order a hockey puck. If he wants a burger, he should go with, at most, medium rare."

Of course, the president may just be taking common sense precaution. The FDA long ago recommended that hamburgers be cooked to 155 degrees to prevent E. coli bacteria poisoning.
Burgers being such a sensitive topic, the White House declined to comment on the record. But a White House aide who hails from the Midwest defended the president, telling the Sleuth, "That's how we eat them in the Midwest."

By Mary Ann Akers | May 7, 2009; 10:20 AM ET

[Staillateno]

This is what is making Fixed news...
No wonder the GOP is having problems,
the economy is in a shambles and they're griping about what the man eats- someone needs to get a clue

[spapsinee]

Unless he was ordering dog poo medium well with Celine Dijon I really do not see how this has anything to do with his decision making ability.

I almost thought this was an article from The Onion!!!!!

[JoesBro]

^^^^ Nope, Washington Post... Which is sort of like the Onion.

[ROYMANgo]

I only eat hamburgers with mustard.

A few years ago I was taken to an Applebee's in NJ... I ordered a hamburger and requested it "rare". They told me that they could not serve rare hamburger.

I, of course, told them I was going to sue and started taking names. Then they actually showed me a document stating that under NJ law they could not serve hamburgers "rare".

I told the manager that I would give him $200 if he served me a rare hamburger (just to see what would happen... this being So. Jersey and all). But he actually refused.

So what's the deal with NJ and rare hamburgers? Is that crazy or what?

[taesrom]

I guess in New Jersey you can't get steak tartare.

What's their policy on sushi?

[beckercpa]

So then I grabbed my things and huffed out of there. We wound up having an argument in the parking lot... all because of a friggin' hamburger.... it was just not a good night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckyGJr5DiJY

[gregmcal]

It happens with chicken too

[Patabeamn]

This story actually made the BBC, seriously who gives a shit if Obama went for a burger?

[pavelChe]

I only eat hamburgers with mustard.

A few years ago I was taken to an Applebee's in NJ... I ordered a hamburger and requested it "rare". They told me that they could not serve rare hamburger.

I, of course, told them I was going to sue and started taking names. Then they actually showed me a document stating that under NJ law they could not serve hamburgers "rare".

I told the manager that I would give him $200 if he served me a rare hamburger (just to see what would happen... this being So. Jersey and all). But he actually refused.

So what's the deal with NJ and rare hamburgers? Is that crazy or what?

hey, what do ya know? another mustard only & rare burger fan just like me!

anyway, that's a funny story. but don't dont pick on nj too much -- it drives me nuts you can't even get mustard to save your life in many fast food burger joints around this city.

as for the rare problem -- i don't think it's uncommon, i think lots of states or cities have no-rare regulations....and that's why we don't live there!!!

[epPtsDno]

Many people got sick because of rare burgers in joints. So to protect the people, they simply made it illegal.

They even post warnings about semi-raw egg consumption. I have not (yet) had a problem with any of my over-easy eggs, but you know, people have to be warned!

I don't know, it's hard to come down on either side of that.

As for Mustard, if most people do not eat Mustard with their burger, what incentive would there be to have it? Maybe they should offer soy sauce too? I have seen Mayo there, but no Tartar sauce at a burger joint, HOW DARE THEY!!?!


I wish for a day in my life where the worst thing I have to complain about is the fact I can't get my burger "rare".

[Verriasana]

Just wait until you hit 50 and start complaining about your wiener.

[cwgwowcom]

What - this isn't in the news section!?!?!

[NickGrass]

Just wait until you hit 50 and start complaining about your wiener.

Better mine than yours.

[Jxmwzgpv]

God I hate fox news and the far right.

[Zaebal]

Redundant.

[sharpyure]

News-zak.

[HcMkOKiz]

As for Mustard, if most people do not eat Mustard with their burger, what incentive would there be to have it? Maybe they should offer soy sauce too? I have seen Mayo there, but no Tartar sauce at a burger joint, HOW DARE THEY!!?!

actually, many in the usa do eat mustard on their burgers. for example, ketchup and mustard come standard on mcdonalds burgers in most places....except in nyc and a few other areas. otoh dijon mustard is a rather unusual choice (although i personally love it on my burgers, too). not to mention dijon bears the added dreaded stigma of being french, making it instant political media fodder.

[stadiaKab]

actually, many in the usa do eat mustard on their burgers. for example, ketchup and mustard come standard on mcdonalds burgers in most places....except in nyc and a few other areas.

But I do not remember seeing McD's with mustard packets available. I will have to check.

I am not saying it is wrong, just that when most people do not actively put somethnig on their burger, it is usually not readily available.

Other "common" things that are hard to find in some places:

Salsa (Burgers or just about anything else)
Malt Vinegar (for fries)

Add to the list if you want!

otoh dijon mustard is a rather unusual choice (although i personally love it on my burgers, too). not to mention dijon bears the added dreaded stigma of being french, making it instant political media fodder. It is seen as fancy-schmancy. I just like it for the nose-burn!

My favorite mustards are usually the Stone Ground Brown (w or w/o horseradish) and Dijon.

French's yellow can bite me.

[duminyricky]

I love French's yellow! If there's nothing to eat I'm known to put it on two slices of white bread, smash 'em together and call it a mustard sandwich. Delicious.

I also love malt vinegar but I haven't had any since my last visit to Arthur Treachers (years ago there was one in Manhattan Mall) Does anyone know of an Arthur Treacher's anywhere in the city?