Those Greasy Burgers Don't Fool Us, Barack

Dowd to prez: Stop pretending you like junk food and eat healthy

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 17, 2009 7:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – He might take his veep out for a burger once in a while, but Barack Obama is a health nut—so much so, notes Maureen Dowd, that when he and Michelle had dinner in New York "he managed the impossible feat of nibbling only one French fry." For the New York Times columnist, the president is mistaken to keep plumping for fried food and red meat when the cameras are rolling. It does nothing, she says, to convince Americans of his "regular guydom."

During the campaign Obama implored black families to reject Popeye's chicken, and he's now pushing his overweight aides to hit the gym, with his trainer or even himself for inspiration. Why be ashamed of it? As Dowd writes, Obama should skip the "grease-stained bovine bag" and take some photos with "what he really wants and America really needs: some steamed fish with a side of snap peas."

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (1)]

Barack Obama is served his cheeseburger as he and Vice President Joe Biden eat lunch at Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak,File)

Then President-elect Barack Obama eats with Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty, center, at Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert,File)

Barack Obama smiles as he puts on a napkin before eating gumbo at Dooky Chase's restaurant in New Orleans during the campaign. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

First lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables with fifth graders from Bancroft Elementary School in the first lady's garden that they planted on the South Lawn of The White House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Michelle Obama shells peas with fifth-graders from Bancroft Elementary School. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It was easy to imagine a scenario where the president and Reggie Love would have their own early-morning TV show called Downward Facing Dawn, coaxing a reluctant nation into a regimen of yoga and yogurt. - Maureen Dowd

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Michelle Writing Book on White House Garden

Charity volume will give tips on community gardening, keeping healthy

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's not the only Obama who can write a book, and now Michelle Obama is taking her turn, the AP reports. The illustrated tome from Crown Publishing Group will tell the story of the White House garden, Obama says, answering questions like: “How did we do it? Why did we do it? How do I do this in my own home or community?” All proceeds will go to charity. More»

Obama Signs Nutrition Bill Into Law

Law imposes nutritional requirements, expands school lunches

(AP) - Thousands more children would eat at school and all school food would become more nutritious under a bill President Obama signed into law today, part of an administration-wide effort to combat childhood obesity. "At a very basic level, this act is about doing what's right for our children," Obama said before signing the bill. The bill also was a priority for first lady Michelle Obama, who launched a national campaign this year against childhood obesity. More»

First Lady to Garden on Sesame Street

Michelle Obama will educate the residents on the value of healthy eating

(NEWSER) - What do Michelle Obama, Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria Parker, Ricky Gervais, and Kobe Bryant have in common? All of them will appear on this season of Sesame Street, its 40th anniversary. The first lady will flex her green thumb and talk about gardening and eating healthy on the show’s Nov. 10 premiere, Us reports. More»

Michelle Obama Walks the Walk on Fitness, Health

First lady joins administration's push for more positive habits

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration's push for better fitness and nutrition starts at the top, with the gym-rat president and garden-planting first lady setting the bar high for a nation of couch potatoes. It's all about moderation, Michelle Obama tells Prevention magazine. "My message to women: Do what makes you feel good, because there’ll always be someone who thinks you should do it differently." More»

Michelle Digs Into White House Garden

President bans beets from veggie plot

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama and kids from a Washington elementary school got their hands dirty today, Newsday reports, breaking ground for a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. The garden, the first on the grounds since World War II, will feature many veggies—but not beets, at the president’s request. The first family intends to cook some of the veggies and donate the rest to a local soup kitchen. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Those Greasy Burgers Don't Fool Us, Barack