Here is Barack Obama reviewing a restaurant in a curious video that only hope can appreciate. He sits at a roundtable with three Chicago women discussing a restaurant called Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop which specializes in “good, cheap food,” according to Obama, especially peach cobbler pie.
Obama, Restaurant Critic
The video is uncomfortable as it portrays Obama in a frivilous light in serious times. His critics will see the personification of a lightweight politician without any cares who is able to speak passionately about nothing at all.
“Those Johnny Cakes will get you early, then you won’t have time or room for the peach cobbler,” says the future president-elect.
You can visit the dining object of Obama’s testimonial here. One wonders just how cheap is it for a Chicago politician?
The show is called “Check, Please!” which bills itself as real people offering restaurant reviews. The particular Dixie Kitchen restaurant is in Obama’s neighborhood, and perhaps reminds us of a cop’s endearing relationship with the local Winchell’s.
The more interesting juxtaposition is the timeframe. The scene takes place only seven years ago in 2001. Barack Obama, the restaurant critic and junior assemblyman, would be President-elect of the United States only seven years later.
What was George Bush doing in 2001? He was President of the United States after serving as governor, dealing with the aftermath of 911. What was John McCain doing? He was serving his third term as United States Senator after a long military career as a war hero. What was Hillary Clinton doing? Serving her first term as US Senator while continuing a career in public service. Meanwhile Barack Obama was talking about pie as a restaurant reviewer.
All of that we can agree upon. What will be controversial is interpreting Obama’s disheveled physical appearance and mannerisms. His eyelids are practically shut while his sentences frequently run away into baritone giggles. And all this affability over munchies?
Barack Obama confessed to drug abuse in his memoirs but it was thought he was only a user as a teenager. The video will bring the issue back in some readers’ minds. What do you think, dear reader? Does Obama appear to be stoned?
See the video below.
Obama Restaurant Critic (Video)
January 6th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Oy.
You sure do interpret things interestingly. I thought conservatives just love “regular people” and that’s why they (alone among Americans, mind you) love Sarah Palin so much.
Also, it is an “umcomfortable” clip to watch? I wonder then, why it has been forwarded to me so many times, in just the last day, always as an example of how down-to-earth and charming the President-elect was, even then. I guess it must look different for the 80% of the country that contributes to Barack Obama’s sky-high approval ratings.
And did you really just accuse him of DRUG USE?? In 2001 Barack Obama was already the father of a three year old and a newborn, but also a drug user? Unlike George Bush, his drug use did not extend beyond his teenage years, so that’s an incredibly off-base comment.
In answer to your question about what he was doing, Barack Obama was 40. He had already served 6 years in the State Senate, had already written his widely-acclaimed memoir “Dreams from My Father”, was a respected professor at the University of Chicago Law School, was practicing law at Miner, Barnhill and Galland and was beginning a run for Congress. He was, at that time already a very prominent Chicagoan, and in 3 short years would become a United States Senator.
Did George Bush, John Mccain, or Hillary Clinton accomplish that much by the age of 40?
Anyways, we all know how the story ended. As soon as he entered the public’s consciousness by giving that speech in 2004, he was on a collision course with the White House. But you’re right that he was just a regular person very recently. And that’s something that most Americans find to be a positive!
January 6th, 2009 at 6:13 am
I still dont like the guy.
If anything it looks like maybe his last bit of herb was wearing off but he’s probably no more conscious of his demeanor, posture, speech than anyone else is before they’re tossed into the spotlight.
I’ve seen videos of Bush and Laura driving down a highway in a beat up oldsmobile where he looked like he might be feeling some pain from the night before.
Now, in fairness, I have to relay a few things to Elena.
Elena.
During the first year of Bushs term his ratings were in the 93% neigborhood, so, lets wait and see how long those Obama numbers last before we get all excited, seeing as how he hasnt even put a day in as president yet.
Yes, Bushs drug use did extend past his teens, but you also have to take into account that Bushs decade plus successful battle with alcoholism cannot be compared in any way to a teens frivilous use of a little blow.
Along with a junkie whos been slammin heroin for decades its one of the hardest addictions to break.
Prominent ?
Yes,his education etc.. had lead him to be a community leader, I know. But at that point and time in their lives Bush, McCain, and Hillary were not evaluating cobbler.
I noticed that as “regular person” he still had that “my poo poo dont stink” air about himself.
Although I do hear that hes an excellent tipper , regardless of the service.
Thats just the socialist way.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:59 am
what’s a johnny cake?
definately not very flattering for the next leader of the free world especially since SO much of The One is ‘just flattery.’
January 6th, 2009 at 8:55 am
“The video is uncomfortable as it portrays Obama in a frivilous light in serious times… What was George Bush doing in 2001? He was President of the United States after serving as governor, dealing with the aftermath of 911.”
I’d just like to point out that this show was recorded in August of 2001 — before the 9/11 attacks. And yes, George Bush was President — and reading storybooks to schoolchildren.
So who wins the frivolous sweepstakes?
January 6th, 2009 at 8:55 am
The problem with Obama is not about drug abuse. I doubt if he uses drugs currently. A regular old junkie couldn’t keep up the rigors of the recent campaign. It is about leadership and courage. When has he exhibited any real leadership and guts? He has positively avoided any real confrontations his whole life. He always has seemed to take the path of least resistance when things get sticky. The job of president takes guts and demands that hard decisions be made. If he can’t rise to the occasion we will be a rudderless ship and damn sure end up on the rocks. The clown he is replacing is short on guts as well and look at what that has gotten us. If they have to haul him out from under the desk in the oval office during a crisis we all are in big trouble. It won’t take long to find out.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Aaron.
That was lame and disgusting.
Although Bush was not making a life and death decision at that time the lives of many children have been saved as a result of his leadership in protecdting America since that day.
It also seems to be a lot more honorable to spend time with Americas kids rather than disecting some $hitty pancake.
He also launched a war against those attackers whos type Obama thinks he can sit down and bargain with.
Not only was it stupid upon frivilous, it was naive.
I’ve seen Bush dance with Puerto Ricans and I’ve seen Obama dance with Ellen Degeneres,
so what ?
You’re actually so consumed with BDS that you made an incredible fool out of yourself by showing the extreme reaches you will take to stray as far as possible just to bash Bush.
Hondo, I’ll repeat to you in greater terms what I said to Aaron.
You can concieve any way that you want how responsible Bush is for anything wrong today but you cant deny with any sincerity that Bush has accomplished his number one priority which is to keep Americans safe.
Bush has plenty of guts.
I’ve never seen any president in my life that cares so little about polls, public opinion or media bias and instead does what needs to be done.
If Obama had just one fraction of Bushs resolve I would feel 100% better.
You might want to look into the drug use of presidents such as Nixon and Kennedy.
Just because its not a street drug doesnt mean that they cant, don,t or didnt do drugs on a regular basis and go un noticed.
Kennedy had severe back pain and required constant injections on an hourly basis just to stand up, Nixon suffered from serious bouts of depression and was almost always under the influence of sedatives.
I’ve known junkies who are bright productive citizens who appeard to be nothing other than that for decades.
I was one of them.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Micky,
I really believe we haven’t been attacked at home because the sh**ty little muslims realize that would still serve to unite Americans. Best to just let us self-destruct as the liberals and democrats have tried so mightily to do. If Bush had any guts he could have ended the war in no more than a year. While the following example may be awkward, how long do you think it would have taken the WWII Wehrmacht to pacify a country like Iraq? Serious junkies are essentially null and void regardless of their appearances. If you were a junkie and are now sober than that represents the supreme act of personal courage. Congratulations.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Well, you’re absolutley wrong on the junkie issue.
There are many fuctioning addicts that the rest of the world is oblivious too as it can take many years for the lifestyle to catch up before bottoming out happens.
Especially if they are well enabled, have sustainable income. Middle and lower class addicts are usually the quickest to draw attention, for obvious reasons.
This area is my forte` dude. I,ve been working with addicts and alcoholics for decades now and have passed the state exam but never went for certification as the pay sucks for counselors.
You’d be surprised how many of us there are around you who have some pretty impressive and liable positions in our community.
I’d bet both my nuts that theres no way Obama is doing anything more than the occasional drink or prescribed sedative or sleeping aid right now.
Thanks bro, I sobered up 15 years ago and converted to conservatism.
Look, the argument that Bush hasnt kept us safe is about as valid as saying that theres been 20 extra guards outside the bank that has never been robbed since they got there, but theres still no proof the guards averted any attempts.
We,ve seriously crippled their ability to launch attacks whithin our borders.
Intelligence gathering from KSM and many other informants has proven that our methods have worked, stopped many attacks and led to the capture of other high profile radicals.
Look at past succesful attempts here and abroad the Cole, Africa, Iran, etc… during other administrations and whats been happening in the world recently with regards to successful attacks and then look at the situation now.
See the difference ?
Its common concensus even amongst Bush bashers that this is the one thing hes done right.
But, I have to agree that the clusterf*ck we see on the hill right now is as good as gold when it comes to proving just how dysfunctional the dems are.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Apparently this website only accepts comments from right-wingnut idiots. Typical censure from the loser morons. Hopefully they will be extincted soon and websites like this will not longer exist.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Sounds real sensible Joe.
I’m a right wing idiot, so if you’ve got anything intelligent to say lets debate it and we’ll get to see what dumber than an idiot looks like.