Steak Raises Stakes for Kerry in Philly

[poskonig]

Look at this attack piece on Kerry in the Post today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51517-2003Aug12?language=printer

Everyone who has been to Philly (I've been there several times -- my sister is studying music at Curtis) knows about the Philly cheese steaks. I'm wondering what Kerry was thinking; he is already painted as an "arrogant elitist" and now he orders a Philly cheese-steak with swiss and reportedly took small nibbles out of it.

This isn't helping us.

[phillybri]

1. Kerry disappointed me, here....

This seems like a silly thing, but it certainly doesn't him shed the uppity image that many want to paint him with. I hate to see him look stupid in my hometown.

His other mistake was not going to Geno's across the street. Their steaks are 100 times better than Pat's. Pat's are crap in comparison.

[LynneSin]

7. Geno's serves Freedom Fries now

See my post below. I have a feeling that Dems will be avoiding Geno's with their "Freedom Fries".

Pat was the better choice. At one time I would have been in 100% agreeance with you, but not with their stupid Freedom Fries. I'll eat dog poop before I go back to Geno's again.

[CWebster]

11. Hell, Kerry would've felt right at home at Geno's

Don't they serve "freedom fries" to the Senate?

;-)

[phillybri]

56. Say it ain't so....

I didn't know they hopped on the Freedom Fries idiot train. Guess I'll be going to Jim's when I head home in December....:grr:

[DrFunkenstein]

2. Actually, Jim's Is Bad-Ass With Swiss

I would go to Jim's because it was half a block from my girlfriends place off South Street. I'm no Brahmin, but I think the swiss gives it a little kick. The cheese whiz is a little too synthetic tasting for me.

Keep in mind this is an article by a guy who still talks about the price of Kerry's haircut. Second, I wouldn't personally take huge bites if thousands of cameras were on me. Would anyone else?

[CWebster]

4. Rendell always did

A girlfriend on South Street and you are in Kerry luv? Damn, the place must've gone corporate since the last time I was down there. ;-)

[LuminousX]

6. If this is an issue...

we are in deep trouble.

Anyone who cares who a candidate prefers his cheesesteak really needs to open his/her eyes. Kerry ordered the sandwich he wanted to eat. Nothing more. It would have been better if he ordered what the stereotypical Philly resident would order, but swiss is on the menu because a good number of Philly residents don't like Cheez Whiz.

And there is no way I'd take huge bites out of the thing with everyone watching. Talk about the potential for a visual fauz pas that would haunt you to the end of time.

[CWebster]

9. Obviously clueless about local institutions.

;-)

[LuminousX]

19. Obviously

I had sincere hopes that people were above ploys. I assure you that if Kerry ate it with Cheez Whiz there'd be a whole group of people asserting that the man had never even tasted it before.

I guess I'm not a traditionalist. If a candidate came to Chicago and ordered a thin crust pizza, I wouldn't bat an eye.

[LynneSin]

14. I hate to disagree, but this is an issue

And there is no Swiss on the Menu.

Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks have Cheez Whiz. Only other choices are American and Provolone. Swiss is not an option at either Geno's or Pats. The whole Philly Cheesesteak connection with politics is a chance for politicians to show their connection to Blue Coller people. Most politicians usually get a briefing before they head into a place like Genos or Pats because of it's significance and 5 minutes of homework would have told Kerry how to order a damn cheesesteak and the fact that you never ask for Swiss.

I'll still vote for Kerry if he gets the nomination, his people should have been better prepared.

[LuminousX]

20. I shall rephrase

it may not be on the menu, but they obviously have it on the premises for a reason.

[CWebster]

23. Ahhh no

He was informed that it was not an option, I believe. ;-)

[LuminousX]

28. Ahhh

I just read the complete article and see that he ended up with Cheez Whiz on his steak. Loose lips, sink ships.

So can we see a Kerry Campaign retraction regarding this. The whole of Philadelphia may suddenly turn to anarchy over Kerry's nibbling and ordering the wrong cheese.

[CWebster]

21. It's so uncool

When I read about it in the PhilaInq, I couldn't believe he wasn't briefed. It's like going into a Jewish deli and asking for the Annie Hall WASP special - pastrami on white bread, or going into an Italian neighborhood and getting a slice at Pizza Hut. It is a politician's duty to know these things. LOL

[wtmusic]

26. I don't hate to disagree at all

and I refuse to vote for any candidate that would spend time researching sandwiches over foreign policy or tax cuts!!

[blm]

37. Give him a cancer break...no Cheez Whiz allowed.

;)))))

[Kanola]

43. As a Dean Supporter I disagree

Kerry should not be attacked because he ordered friggin swiss cheese on his philly steak sandwich.. and oh my goodness... ate it .. oh what words..."daintally".. Oh the horrors!!!!!

Sarcasm aside, the media is trying to lob really stupid accusations at Kerry that are not worthy of any merit because he is truly a plausible candidate for the DEMs 2004. The media needs to get off their Kobe, Laci, scandal beat and start looking at the policies and backgrounds of our candidates. I can frickin care less how Kerry orders a sandwich, steak, burrito, etc.

[IndianaGreen]

42. Would it violate decorum if Kerry had sliced the sandwich in half?

I am from Indiana, and I saw the picture of that big thing that Kerry was trying to it. I would have sliced it in half. Swiss cheese would have been fine, as long as I wouldn't get caught (cheese on any meat is so unkosher!).

[sandnsea]

47. Kerry Cheese Steaks YUM!!!!

Absolutely with swiss, cheese whiz is gross!

[FlashHarry]

3. I wouldn't exactly call it an 'attack' piece.

Good-natured ribbing, I suspect. Besides, if anyone gives Kerry shit about his haircuts, he should just ask how much GWB's suits cost.

[LynneSin]

5. I'm glad they went to Pat's and not Geno's (Geno's has Freedom Fries)

As an EX-Geno's Cheesesteak fan, I was appalled when I took fellow DUers GOPisEvil, Maine Mary and WillPitt to Genos only to see their french fries had become (GASP!!!) "Freedom Fries"

I may only get an authentic Philly Cheesesteak every once in awhile, but for now on I'll go to Pat's. Hopefully their fries are French!!!

BTW, someone should have briefed Kerry on how to order a Cheesesteak before he went there. Even Will, Mary and GOPisEvil all were versed in proper Cheesesteak ordering etiquette. I think they all got Cheese Whiz, but I really am an American Cheese gal.

[molly]

35. I never liked either Pat's or Geno's

there are many places that make much better cheese steaks and you can get what you want on them - I hate cheese wiz and/or American cheese.

[wtmusic]

8. Paleeeeeez...

if someone believes this is a serious issue they should have their values re-examined.

[poskonig]

13. Remember Poppy in the grocery store?

If Kerry gets the nomination, shit like this will kill us, especially since Kerry is already being painted as Mr. Liberal Elite Rich Guy.

Fortunately everyone is preoccupied with Arnold at the moment.

[wtmusic]

22. "Shit like this will kill us"?

So Kerry has to shove a sandwich with Cheez-Wiz into his mouth to win the nomination? Or maybe we should show a redneck taking dainty bites of a sandwich with Swiss on it to counter?

This is getting more than just a bit absurd.

[blm]

10. Uh-huh. And he only pretends to ride a bike

and windsurf, and fly a plane, and play hockey. Doesn't matter that he's been doing it for almost 40 YEARS...he's just pretending.

[poskonig]

27. We will be able to stop the GOP attack machine

by claiming that Kerry disciple blm on Democratic Underground states Kerry is a real guy. :eyes:

If Kerry really wanted swiss, he should not have gone there. This is just sloppy, sloppy PR.

[blm]

32. some MWO disciple YOU turned out to be

....suit yourself. Join in on the Goreing of Kerry.

[poskonig]

33. Hey, I'm just the messenger.

I will support Kerry until the final end. However, Kerry will get "Gored" if he continues running a sloppy campaign whether you or I like it or not.

[blm]

36. I knowz ya, posko...

(That's why I don't beat ya up too bad...heheh)

[Kanola]

45. I disagree

This is not bad PR just pathetic, inept media coverage, over a frickin sandwich. So dumb.

BTW. I am sure the media can dig up some inconsistencies in how Dean orders his food also. But is this REALLY a big deal??

[TheDonkey]

12. Give me a break...

I live in Pittsburgh and went to Geno's once and had no clue of the Philly "traditions" of cheese steak. I actually only ate a little bit and threw it out because I thought it was pretty damn bad. I'll never go there again, and defintely won't criticize Kerry for not liking a particular food and heaven forbid getting it with swiss cheese.

[CWebster]

17. You ain't running for prez neither.

Lighten up. This is fluff, unless it was a Dean faux pas then the Kerry kops would be on the beat. ;-)

[TheDonkey]

25. I needed a good rant...

I may have a little aggression towards that Geno's cheesesteak still ;-)! It really was not what I hoped for, and that hot sauce they had was just plain wrong!

[Fair and Balanced]

15. If Democratic canidates are going to be criticized

for the sandwhiches they order and how they eat them...wow.

[quinnox]

16. I can't believe this is serious

I can't believe anyone would think this is an important issue.

[killbotfactory]

18. He doesn't look like he's enjoying it...

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/images/I52490-2003Aug12

"Don't look at meeee! I was once like you!"

[rogerashton]

24. I live in Philly, and I have one thing to say.

Yuk! Cheesesteaks are narsty.

[CWebster]

29. Have a hoaaagie and a coooke

and some tastykakes for desert. ;-)

[Fleshdancer]

30. It's just a stupid sandwich!

People up North make fun of us Southerners and everyone seems to think us Texans are particularly strange, but we're not the ones getting our panties in a wad over how someone eats a stupid sandwich! Who cares? You've got a big wad of lard and cholestrol wedged between two peices of bread and Kerry picked the wrong dairy? IS this what a Presidential campaign comes down to these days? Is there really not enough actual news for the Washington Post to write about??

[w4rma]

31. Political journalism is definitely going downhill... (n/t)

[molly]

34. There are a multitude of places in Philly that will put almost

anything you want on a chesse-steak - I've had swiss, onions, mushrooms, peppers - :wtf:

Someone actually had the nerve to write an article about something so unimportant? :silly:

[DS1]

38. This is only an issue if idiots allow it to be one by yapping about it

If you care, you've just been played.

[IndianaGreen]

39. In fairness to Kerry, who I don't support

I thought this was an idiotic piece in the WP, from the Swiss cheese (which would have been my preferred choice, to the length of his fingernails (supposedly to play the classic guitar), to the "dainty" way in which he ate the sandwich.

If Kerry had eaten the damned thing the way I would have, together with a mug a beer and well-timed belches, he would have been savaged for being uncouth.

The only thing that Kerry has wrong, other than his politics, is that stupid $75 haircut. Kerry should go to Great Clips and get himself a good sensible $7 cut.

[KoKo]

40. First of all: No one messes with Philly Natives! Second his campaign folks

were wrong not to have briefed him! Philly folks are really outspoken and call a spade a spade. (I used to live in NJ the next hop over and had many Philly friends who would have been outraged over this...given that cheesesteak sandwiches are Philly's specialty)!

And, one always rips into the thing and lets the juice run down their mouth....(hoping that it's a really fresh and juicy cheesesteak, the best kind).

So, Kerry did really commit a Philly Sin by ordering Swiss cheese and eating daintily. Philly folks will rip your heart out if you don't appreciate your Cheesesteak Sandwiches!

It's like coming South and ordering Unsweet Iced Tea or a Soda (when you have to be asked what kind of soda.....and it's always Coke even if they only have Pepsi!)

These little cultural nuances are all we have left in WalMart America! It's important.

[molly]

41. Well, my Italian South Philly friends

would disagree with you.

[DrFunkenstein]

44. Has Anyone Seen What A Philadelphia Ghetto Is Like?

There are parts of Philly that make Baghdad look like Disneyland. I drive with my Club on the steering wheel in case I get car-jacked.

Nice of the media to keep things in perspective, as usual. The summer of the shark has become the summer of the sub.

PS - I can't believe this thread is still around. Way to keep things in perspective.

[TheReligiousLeft]

46. Bush vs. Kerry on the food issue

Kerry experimented with swiss cheese.
Bush can't swallow a pretzel.
Point for Kerry, end of story.

[DrFunkenstein]

48. A Divide Over Whether This Is Appetizing or Not

<>

[George_Bonanza]

49. This is a joke, right?

Is this the type of mud-slinging at the Dems that the W-Post had sunk into? A man doesn't have the freedom to eat what he wants? And is it Kerry's fault he didn't wolf it down like a duck while everybody was watching him? Oh boy, this is very sad, that something like this is worthy enough to be an issue.

For very basic starters, this man grubbed it out in Vietnam, a war which the rich and influential evaded. That's all cancelled out b/c he ate a sandwich the "wrong" way?

[IndianaGreen]

50. Put this in the same category as another WP story, this one about Dean

WP described Dean's eyes as "bulging" as he gave a speech to a "frenzied" crowd.

WP is doing a hatched job on all the Democratic candidates.

One more thing, Kerry had specifically requested from the reporters that no pictures be taken while he ate. What did we get? Kerry surrounded by reporters. What's next, follow the candidate to the crapper?

PS: I am a Dean supporter.

[CWebster]

51. When in Rome...

This is expected of politicians! This is the ritual they do when mixing with the folks on the campaign trail. The offering of regional specialties and the sharing of food is partaking in the cultural fabric of the country. IT IS RUDE not to participate, it is thoughtless and culturally insensitive to turn up one's nose and by doing so it emphasizes the disconnect between an indifferent and cultually insulated politician with the reality of American lives.

This may seem petty, but it is important in that it relaxes the cultural barriers between people. It is the human factor. Can't tell you how many times I saw the cameras on Rendell while he scarfed down steak sandwiches with great enjoyment. The man knows how to eat for a crowd and he is a well-liked politician. In fact, I recall Clinton indulging the same way, which was one of the most likeable qualities of the man, his ease in participating with the local folks with a sunny attitude . Bush is a total construct, without any cultural connection from his insulated life at the mock ranch to his phoney act as a military leader vowing to protect a nation cowering in manufactured fear.

[molly]

52. Eat for a crowd - says who? I would think ISSUES

are much more important. Rendell lives in Philadelphia for crissakes. It is petty. Here I thought we were going to have a civil day.

[CWebster]

53. Issues don't mean SQUAT

if you can't connect with people . You don't really think folks vote on the issues all by they lonely self, do you? It takes more than the issues to win the votes. One must be able to engage and relate to the populus in order for the message on the issues to resonate effectively.

What is damn uncivil about making this point?

[molly]

54. You are nitpicking - noone should be forced to eat something

that is not appealing to them. Eating has nothing to do with connecting with people.

[CWebster]

55. LOL

no need to be so shrewish. lol.

[DrFunkenstein]

57. Bob Dylan Weighs In On The Sandwich Issue

Now, the man on the stand he wants my vote,
He's a-runnin' for office on the ballot note.
He's out there preachin' in front of the steeple,
Tellin' me he loves all kinds-a people.
He's eatin' bagels
He's eatin' pizza
He's eatin' chitlins
He's eatin' bullshit!


Actual lyrics from "I Shall Be Free."

<>

[CWebster]

58. Well,

my telephone rang it would not stop,
It's President Kennedy callin' me up.
He said, "My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?"
I said, "My friend, John, Brigitte Bardot,
Anita Ekberg,
Sophia Loren."
(Put 'em all in the same room with Ernest Borgnine!)

Well, I got a woman sleeps on a cot,
She yells and hollers and squeals a lot.
Licks my face and tickles my ear,
Bends me over and buys me beer.
(She's a honeymooner
A June crooner
A spoon feeder
And a natural leader)

Oh, there ain't no use in me workin' so heavy,
I got a woman who works on the levee.
Pumping that water up to her neck,
Every week she sends me a monthly check.
(She's a humdinger
Folk singer
Dead ringer
For a thing-a-muh jigger)"

A little context ;-)

[kwolf68]

59. LMAO

If something so stupid was being batted about at Dean, his cult would be going, "They are scared of him now" bla bla bla...

There is discussion about what he put on a sandwich. Now, THIS is real issues. Lets not talk about agrabusinesses, the arctic, the courts...lets talk about a sub.