Congressional food fight?

Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:58 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress, 2008

From NBC’s Mike Viquiera
The presidential race is not the only place where change is an issue.
Members of Congress returning to the Capitol this week are being confronted by transformational happenings that have shaken the building to its foundations: Democrats have hired a new company to run cafeteria services. Naturally, this has caused an outbreak of partisan skirmishing.

"I like real food," proclaimed Republican leader John Boehner when asked about the new menu by a producer for another cable news outfit. "Food that I can pronounce the name of."

Boehner is now forced to wrap his lips around such phrases as "broccoli rabe and shaved persimmon," "balsamic glazed butternut squash," and "calico pinto beans"...all on this afternoon's menu, along with the downright patriotic "American Regional Yankee Pot Roast," which, even Boehner would have to admit, kind of rolls right off the tongue. On Fridays, there is a real sushi bar tended by a bona fide Japanese sushi chef. Gone are such grade-school cafeteria specialties as Salisbury steak and fried chicken, slathered in gravy and served with a side of chips. Debate rages among regulars about the merits of the new offerings. One consensus downside: the prices have gone upscale right along with the fare.

The company that Nancy Pelosi and her people have hired has a mandate to "Go Green," complete with a mission statement posted outside the cafeteria on an eco-friendly LCD screen and a requirement to buy carbon offsets. Boehner doesn't think much of that either.

"It reminds me of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, when we had indulgences," says Boehner of the offsets. Perhaps he will nail his theses to the cafeteria door. We'll ask for a photo-op if he does.

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Comments

Do you know what the word "conservative" means? It means being opposed to change of any kind. And that my friends is why the Republican Party is so out of touch with America.

Barack Obama gets it. And he was the first one to get it. Everyone else is just following his lead. Everyone, including Clinton.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:06 PM)

I wish I worked at the White House - I just started this darned diet and am determined to eat healthy and the fare sounded quite delicious.

Just a matter of tastes, I guess.

And, maybe the prices bother him more since he has to buy lunch whenever he wants to sit down when he eats.

Linda, Bloomington, IN (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:07 PM)

I'm so sad that Rep. Boehner doesn't like real food, or in this case, California cuisine, by the looks of it.

Personally, the menu sounds downright ravishing. I'm starving!!

Angry Vet, Minn. (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:08 PM)

This is how the Democrats move the country ahead. Fake drama from their presidential candidates and rearranged menus in the government cafeterias. What's next, crossing guards at every busy street corner?

Ross Smith, Chicago IL (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:15 PM)

Soft? Try irrelvant. So was the debate as constructed by MSNBC with the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich. Accordingly, there were no peace candidates, no environmental issues of stature discussed and zero contributions addressed to the needs for universal health care by Americans.

Congratulations on excluding Congressman Kucinich. Now I exclude MSNBC from my list of media sources worth troubling myself with.

Dr. Stephen R. Concklin, Mount Shasta, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:16 PM)

In a related story ... Millions of the families and children these Representatives supposedly serve starve through yet another day.

Are there now bigger issues to maybe concern one's political body with?
--Like banning guns, because I'm pretty sure it's about to become open season on politicians.

"One consensus downside: the prices have gone upscale right along with the fare."
--Which is even worse, one has to consider who is eating in the cafeteria. Doubtfully the Congress(wo)men, because they are too busy standing somewhere for a meal paid by lobbyists! No, it's their staffs who frankly aren't paid as well as they are.

" ...eco-friendly LCD screen and a requirement to buy carbon offsets. Boehner doesn't think much of that either."
--I love the environment (aside from long, hot showers), but there has to be some middle ground between the pro-pollution Republicans and let's waste money Democrates, seriously!

The canned, processed juice and pulp of the fruit of the herb Lycopersicon esculentum is apparently the official beverage of OH. I'd like to see John Boehner pronounce the name of that!

**To which John Edwards promised that if elected President, Congress would be nurished solely on bread and water until hunger was cured.

--NSMsnbc (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:18 PM)

Man..i would kill for a sushi bar at my work on Fridays. Couple that with casual friday...capri's and sushi...it's darn near heaven.

cris, Fort Worth Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:21 PM)

Viquiera, is there an address for Boehner and the other oppressed suffering through the Dark Ages so we can have a food drive? This reminds me of Newt crying about being seated in the back of Airforce 1.

(Well, I've finished my ham and cheese sandwich, back to teaching for me).

Randy Ewart (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:30 PM)

Dr. Concklin, I agree with you. I'm on my last legs with MSNBC. Terrible what they did with Rep. Kucinich, together with Chris Matthews' analysis of the NH primary results and Pat Buchanan's continually bringing up the cocaine issue.

I liked watching Pat Buchanan on weekend mornings. I liked watching Chris Matthews' when I got home from work. I liked MSNBC being an alternative to CNN and Fox News.

Not anymore. But hey, it's cable - 24 hr cable. We get what we deserve in this regard.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:32 PM)

Maybe if Boehner educated himself about good foods he wouldn't have to sound like such a backwater redneck. God forbid he has to pay to eat something that isn't processed to hell...... On second thought, he should keep eating process swill out of a can, then hopefully it will speed up the process of an agonizing death by either cancer or heart attack.

Jimmy CHICAGO IL (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:42 PM)

This is a little bit off the beaten trail, but this goes to show you how the democrats are wasting tax dollars by soaking the American taxpayer for the new menu's in the congressional dining room. Nancy Pelosi decided to green the Capitol. Way to go, Nancy! Going to take a lot of green to keep those plates full.

OLD MENU

-- Salad bars with canned and conventional vegetables, iceberg lettuce and processed ranch dressing

-- Conventional beef hamburgers with processed cheese, often served cold

-- A special fried food bar

-- Soggy vegetables drowning in butter

-- Barbecue with corn and coleslaw

-- Custards, pies and cakes with fake whipped cream toppings

-- French fries (known under Republican rule as "freedom fries")

-- Plastic and Styrofoam containers

NEW MENU

-- Composed salad tossed to order with choice of seasonal vegetables and proteins with house-made vinaigrette over a warm grilled Focaccia bread

-- Roasted chicken with fire-roasted tomatoes and goat cheese

-- Cedar-plank wild salmon with apple cilantro relish

-- Seared barramundi (fish), white beans and tomatoes with thyme

-- Smoked salmon, roasted beets and arugula

-- Steamed broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sage roasted butternut squash, herb couscous

-- Samplings from Indian, Chinese, Greek, Moroccan and Mexican cuisines

-- Locally made Gifford's Ice Cream from a 70-year-old Washington institution

Bad enough they want to raise our taxes and hit the lower and middle class people where it hurts the most, but this kind of reminds me of the French government before the revolution took place.....

Thank you first read for looking at another democratic over the top moment....

Instead of taking care of the poor, like they claim, they make sure they eat the best of everyone...

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:45 PM)

Pat Buchanan is a surly old man full of sour grapes. He ought to just crawl back into that cave he came from and stay there. Face it Pat, you aren't relavent anylonger. You and those that think like you are being more and more marginalized by the minute.

Jimmy CHICAGO IL (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:45 PM)

This is down right funny !

L.B.J. (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:46 PM)

The new menu sounds great, BUT what does it have to do with American politics or the presidential primaries or congressional races? That's whyI tune in--politics. If I were interested in food, I'd go to The Food Channel.

Stu Hyvonen, Saginaw, MI (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:53 PM)

The members of congress should be served the exact same thing you can find on military bases.

Pizza Hut, Burger King and the gawd afwul military food services subcontractors.

Tuck, Realityville, KS (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:55 PM)

My cafeteria sells nothing, because we dont' have one. Then again, working in NYC you don't it...all that nice food at the Capital Cafeteria is available at all the restaurants in walking distance...

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:00 PM)

One consensus downside: the prices have gone upscale right along with the fare.

can't wait for the next congressional pay raise so they can afford their lunches........

The company that Nancy Pelosi and her people have hired has a mandate to "Go Green," complete with a mission statement posted outside the cafeteria on an eco-friendly LCD screen and a requirement to buy carbon offsets.

Will Henry Waxman be looking at this in his investigations of wasteful money spending or is he part of the problem as well?

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:01 PM)

Congress should try the local school lunches available in the nearest grammer school. "If they have no bread let them eat cake."

TEC-Spring-Tx (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:01 PM)

And they call this news. No wonder this country in in trouble.

FL (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:04 PM)

Wow! What an important story! This is all the news that I need today!

Shaun, Atlanta GA (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:05 PM)

Mr. Boehner, I'll bet, hasn't missed too many meals since he's been up on the Hill.

I'm of the mind that anybody elected to "serve" should have to live in a tent, be paid in dried fish and have to drink fermented mare's milk. I was always taught that commitment required sacrifice. How 'bout we yank those princely salaries? Or, better yet, pull that incredibly comprehensive health-care package that our elected officials receive and make 'em buy their own insurance. Let's see how fast they come up with an insurance plan that covers everybody.

Fer criminey's sake. We have a nation in crisis, we're mired in an inexcusable occupation, with an economy that's circling the drain and THIS is what they're whining about?

Going back to eating my microwaved NutrioGlop now, while I try to figure out how I'm going to pay my bills this month.

Wufpakmom, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:08 PM)

Ross Smith, stick some broccoli rabe up your hindquarters! Dr. Concklin, I'm from the Cleveland area. I rather like and admire ol' Dennis. But it's over - and it never really got started. Time to get back to the job your constituents are paying you for.

Joe Einloth (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:09 PM)

I'm so sad that Rep. Boehner doesn't like real food, or in this case, California cuisine, by the looks of it.

Personally, the menu sounds downright ravishing. I'm starving!!

Angry Vet, Minn. (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:08 PM)

we should all be eating there....
After all...
We are paying for it.......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:22 PM)

"I like real food," proclaimed Republican leader John Boehner when asked about the new menu by a producer for another cable news outfit. "Food that I can pronounce the name of."

Can Johnny say "Freedom Fries"?

just wondering (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:25 PM)

Watch Video

Do your support Rep. Robert Wexler in his call to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1554

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PollM, Dallas TX (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:25 PM)

Meanwhile the rest of the country, if not wanting to pay high prices for lunch, isn't too full of itself to make a sandwich and stick it in a brown paper bag.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:32 PM)

shouldn't surprise anyone. typical spoiled,mindless, controlling woman.and some think they want another spoiled, mean, foul mouth , controlling, power driven womanidiot in the whitehouse. palosi would never allow that. it's all a joke. plain to see where their priorities lay. Here I was thinking there were important issues to deal with in congress. foolish me.

Del Labelle Boise Id. (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:39 PM)

Boehner can blame those idiots in Ohio for electing him. Now, if they would get smart and do not re-elect him so he can settle in Ohio and enjoy "Mama's" home cooking, we would be doing everyone a huge favor. Did anyone ever jump on his case when he bawled like a baby on live TV? Get ready, he's about to duplicate that experience.

A.Brocco, Albuquerque,NM (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:40 PM)

Can someone please get my violin so that I can play some lovely background music for Rep. Boehner as he bemoans the terrible circumstances he finds himself in? Oh Boo Hoo Boo Hoo. I hope he doesn't enjoy a single meal in the cafeteria for the rest of his tenure on Capitol Hill. I just listened to him speak on an econmic stimulus package for the well deserving in our country or should I say well heeled. Now I have to go take a shower to get the greasy feel off my skin.

Laurie, Manasquan, NJ (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:42 PM)

Boehner references the Middle Ages with regard to indulgences in the Catholic Church. That speaks to where he resides mentally. Besides, indulgences were still being promoted in the Church prior to Vatican 2 which began in 1962 and ended in 1965. Is that the Middle Ages Boehner?

John the Elder, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:46 PM)

The new Democrat policy: Let them eat cake. How apropo.

David Powell, Ocean City NJ (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:51 PM)

Rep. Boner wants Halliburton to supply the food..

They've done such a wonderful job in Iraq....

Sierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:51 PM)

Boehner must have forgotten the Papardelle that was the GOP chow of choice, 2007. He's lucky he isn't eating Dog Food like Americans living under bridges.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:55 PM)

You can get use to a new menu since it won't be far in the future when your liberal democratic friends will be telling you what or when you can eat. And if you don't comply you will be punished (taxed) accordingly.

Liberals know best - really we do! (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:10 PM)

See Nancy said she would make sweeping changes. She started with the most important. Their menu! What a joke our whole government has become.

Sharon Stone (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:11 PM)

Chris Matthews has gotten as bias against democrates (especially Hillary), as Billo and Hanity.

Blue state baby (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:52 PM)

What, no pork rinds and BAR B Q.
Little Johnny Boner says "Where are my FREEDOM FRIES".
I must ask why MSNBC feels that this is news. Your looking more and more like INSIDE EDITION everydays boys, where did you get your journalism degree, Hollywood high school? Show us waht real jornalism is, no more garbage hiding as news!

Little Benny Franklin (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:24 PM)

How can Boehner really complain? The cafeteria is still there. The food isn't poisoned (I can only hope not) I presume. Sushi is a traditional Japanese food that is popular in America even with those that aren't of Japanese decsent. If Boehner was an observant Jew or Muslim, all he would have to worry about is if the food served fit into the dietary rules. Otherwise if there are no religious or medical restrictions, dig it!

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:08 PM)

I work on the Hill and I'm not such a big fan of the new food service company running things. The prices have gone up, and that important to a lot of the congressional staffers, alot of whom probably make under $30,000 and I'm not sure that I see a noticable difference in quality.

John Hill (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:50 PM)

Regardding MSNBC content...Is anyone really watching the crime and jail shows that fill in between the political shows? Keith Olberman is the man.

Roger, West Sacramento, California (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 5:01 PM)

Poor babies, maybe they can learn what it is like to go hungry like some many people in the world. They have been so spoiled it's now wonder they have the time to complain about the food when many families are working just for shelter, food and clothing for their families. I am so tired of their whining. How many of them leave office millionaires? Statemen don't, but politicians do. Something is rotten is our system. We need a checkbox for elections that says "none of the above" and a law to prevent them from running for office again.

Sunny Shores, San Antonio TX (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 5:01 PM)

Come on, Congressional staffers! Don't you understand that the Democratic leadership cares and knows about your well-being more than you do? Don't you understand that having them think for you will make your life better? As smart and compassionate as they are, you should just acquiesce to their superior morality and eat what Mommy Pelosi says is good for you. Put away the saturated fats, learn to pronounce jicama, and do as you're told.

Dub, Mesquite, Texas (Sent Wednesday, January 16, 2008 5:15 PM)

Poor baby can't eat his cheap fried chicken in the cafeteria. I'm sure there are lots of fast food places in DC that would love to have his business, but that would mean hobnobbing with the hoi polloi, and we can't have that now, can we? Damn, just when you thin conservative Republicans can't be any whinier and childish, we get this this crap. I find it hilarious that some commenters actually seems to have sympathy with this ass, and whine themselves about "liberals' forcing their food choices on people. Seems the GOP had no problem ramming THEIR food choices down Hill employees throats - or their war and disastrous economic moves down the rest of our throats. One more piece of evidence that conservatives are spoiled, selfish, and soft. Oh, and John, if you can't pronounce "sushi" and "persimmon" I'd say you're not bright enough to be in Congress.

jjcomet, dallas, texas (Sent Thursday, January 17, 2008 11:22 AM)

Come on - the story is simply silly and I can believe all you leftest types are all over this guy for telling how he feels. Be careful your Democrat slip is showing - Had he praised it you all would have found fault in his choosing to like the food. Is this really news anyhow?

Jona B, Fredericksburg, VA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:30 PM)

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