First Lady Michelle Obama found out early what a touchy subject barbecue is in these parts.
In an email announcing Charlotte as the site of the 2012 Democratic convention, she wrote that Charlotte is "a city marked by its southern charm .... and of course great barbecue."
The AP followed with a story quoting N.C. barbecue expert John Shelton Reed. "Complete the sentence," he said, "As a barbecue town, Charlotte is 1, not what it used to be; 2, like Minneapolis for gumbo; 3, good enough for Yankees; 4, not far from Shelby."
POLITICO piled on. "The gaffe was enough to make you wonder whether the White House had simply cut and pasted Southern clichés to create the first lady's announcement," in a story picked up by the Drudge report.
"A Fox News website also implied that Obama's praise for barbecue was at odds with her push for healthy eating, noting in a Fox Nation blog post: 'Studies show a barbecue meal weighs in at around 2,500 calories'."
Finally today, the group Media Matters joined the fray.
"The stupidest 'story' you’ll encounter all day is the Drudge-hyped 'gaffe' allegedly committed when an email announcement that next year's Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte mentioned 'great barbecue'," it said, noting that even if you have to go to Shelby or Lexington for barbecue, that's not far away.
Said Media Matters: "It's like mocking someone for saying that while visiting Los Angeles, they plan to visit Disneyland. Ha! Disneyland is in Anaheim, not L.A.! Or that a visit to New York City might involve catching a Jets game. Ha! They play in New Jersey!"
In an email announcing Charlotte as the site of the 2012 Democratic convention, she wrote that Charlotte is "a city marked by its southern charm .... and of course great barbecue."
The AP followed with a story quoting N.C. barbecue expert John Shelton Reed. "Complete the sentence," he said, "As a barbecue town, Charlotte is 1, not what it used to be; 2, like Minneapolis for gumbo; 3, good enough for Yankees; 4, not far from Shelby."
POLITICO piled on. "The gaffe was enough to make you wonder whether the White House had simply cut and pasted Southern clichés to create the first lady's announcement," in a story picked up by the Drudge report.
"A Fox News website also implied that Obama's praise for barbecue was at odds with her push for healthy eating, noting in a Fox Nation blog post: 'Studies show a barbecue meal weighs in at around 2,500 calories'."
Finally today, the group Media Matters joined the fray.
"The stupidest 'story' you’ll encounter all day is the Drudge-hyped 'gaffe' allegedly committed when an email announcement that next year's Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte mentioned 'great barbecue'," it said, noting that even if you have to go to Shelby or Lexington for barbecue, that's not far away.
Said Media Matters: "It's like mocking someone for saying that while visiting Los Angeles, they plan to visit Disneyland. Ha! Disneyland is in Anaheim, not L.A.! Or that a visit to New York City might involve catching a Jets game. Ha! They play in New Jersey!"
The picture above, by the way, shows the Obamas at a N.C. barbecue restaurant. In Asheville.
14 comments:
I'll be in Charlotte next month for the first time at a wedding. Thanks to the Charlotte Observer newspaper I now know to stay away from any BBQ related food while there that weekend, since apparently it's bad.
Say what you will about the state of BBQ in Charlotte, but I'll put Bill Spoon's up against any BBQ throughout North Carolina.
Eric, I haven't lived in Charlotte for over 30 years, but I agree, Spoon's (previously named "Jackson & Spoon's") on South Blvd. was one of the best in NC, or anywhere.
Way to bring stupid to the national spot light.
Link.
The flap seems oddly timed, as my wife and I will be driving through your good city tomorrow to have a meal at the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"-approved Bar-B-Q King. And in fact our previous trip through Charlotte, in the summer of '09, took us to Bill Spoon's, and I am still raving about it.
Two other wonderful NC BBQ places that come to mind readers will want to try are: Fuller's Old Fashioned Bar-B-Q, 3201 North Roberts Ave., Lumberton, NC 28360. Also General McArthur's Original Pig Pickin Restaurant, 13661 Barnes Bridge Road, Laurinburg, NC 28532. Both have websites and are not very expensive. If anyone leaves either of these establishments hungry, there is something seriously wrong with them...
Anyone who comes to Charlotte and thinks they're in the South is a foo.
Spoon's? Seriously? They serve pee wee portions of garbage at a gigantic price. I can do better than those slobs with a blow torch and a sewer grate on stilts.
Who cares what anti-American Media Matters has to say about it.
@ Justin - there are a couple of places on South Blvd; Spoons and that make believe yuppie biker hangout place. The second has good mac n cheese, if you're in to that stuff
There's seriously something wrong with them if they have to drive, out of their way to Lumberton or Laurinburg, unless they feel the need to catch up on their banjo-pickin' skills!
"make believe yuppie biker hangout place"
Its funny because its so true.
MARK MY WORDS.
YOU WILL SEE A BBQ PLACE OPEN UP IN uptown JUST IN TIME FOR SEPTEMBER 2012!
**Jokes recieved at DNC HQ in DC since Charlotte was nominated.
What do a Charlotte redneck divorcee and a tornado have in common? -- both gonna lose their trailer...
Why did the Charlotte redneck drive his pickup over the cliff? -He wanted to test out his new air brakes.
A goober from Charlotte was traveling through Chicago and noticed "pecans ahead" and stopped to use the john.
Why do Charlotte rednecks like the doggie position? That way they can both watch wrassling.
What do Charlotte rednecks call ductape? Chrome.
What's the difference between a Illinois farm boy and a Charlotte redneck? The farm boy raises livestock. The Charlotte redneck gets emotionally involved.
What's the difference between a NYC zoo and a Charlotte redneck zoo? On the cage in a NYC zoo it will have the scientific name in Latin. A Charlotte redneck zoo will have the name and recipe.
Did you hear about the Charlotte redneck who passed and left his entire estate for his widow? She can't touch it till shes fourteen.
What's the most popular pick up line in Charlotte? Nice tooth!
Did you hear about the new 3 million dollar Charlotte lottery?
The winner gets 3 dollars a year for a million years.
Why do folks from Charlottte go to the movie theater in groups of 18 or more? 17 and under are not admitted.
What do you get when you have 32 folks from Charlotte in the same room? A full set of teeth.
Why did O.J. Simpson want to move Charlotte? All have the same DNA.
Did you hear that the rich section in Charlotte burned? Almost took out the whole trailer park.
A new law was recently passed in Charlotte. When a couple gets a divorce they're still siblings.
Best bar pick-up line in Charlotte: "Hey, you don't sweat much for a fat broad."
How do you know when your staying in a Charlotte hotel? When you call the front desk and say "I've gotta leak in my sink" and the front desk says "go ahead."
How can you tell if a Charlotte redneck is married? There is tobacco spit stains on both sides of his pickup.
What is a Charlotte redneck's defense in court? "Honest your Honor, I was just helping the sheep over the fence."
Did you hear that they have raised the minimum drinking age in Charlotte to 32? They want to keep alcohol out of high school!
What do they call "Hee Haw" in Charlotte ? A documentary "Life Styles of the Rich and Famous."
How many Charlotte rednecks does it take eat a 'possum? Two. One to eat, and one to watch for cars.
Why did God invent armadillos?
So Charlotte rednecks can have 'possum on the halfshell.
What do you call a bunch of tractors sittin outside McDonalds in Charlotte? -- Senior Prom.
What's a Charlotte rednecks idea of foreplay? -- Hey sis, get in the back of the truck...
What would you call a pretty girl on the arm of an Charlotte Boy? -- A tattoo...
How do you know you're at a Charlotte redneck wedding? -- everybody is sittin on the same side of the church
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