Brooks thinks Obama wouldn't seem to "fit[] in naturally" at an Applebee's salad bar -- maybe because Applebee's doesn't have them
SUMMARY: On MSNBC, David Brooks asserted that "less educated" and "downscale" people "look at [Sen. Barack] Obama, and they don't see anything," adding: "And so, Obama's problem is he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee's salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there." Applebee's officials have confirmed to Media Matters that its restaurants do not have salad bars.
During the 2 p.m. ET hour of the June 2 edition of MSNBC Live, discussing Barack Obama's presidential campaign with CNBC chief Washington correspondent John Harwood, New York Times columnist David Brooks asserted that "less educated" and "downscale" people "look at Obama, and they don't see anything." He added: "Obama's problem is he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee's salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there." Media Matters for America contacted the consumer relations department at Applebee's, which confirmed that Applebee's restaurants do not have salad bars.
Brooks' claim about Applebee's, which was noted by the blog Hoffmania!, recalls CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley's reported suggestion in 2004 that Sen. John Kerry's having ordered green tea in an Iowa restaurant exemplified what Crowley reportedly referred to as his inability to "bridge the gap" with "most of America and how they live." According to a November 16, 2004, Palm Beach Post article, Crowley gave a speech in which she said that in January 2003, she and Kerry (D-MA) "met for breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Dubuque, Iowa. 'I'd like to start out with some green tea,' Kerry told the waitress, who stared at him for a moment before responding, 'We have Lipton's.' " The article reported that Crowley said: "There were many green tea instances ... There's a very large disconnect between the Washington politicians and most of America and how they live. Bush was able to bridge that gap, and Kerry was not." In fact, as Media Matters noted at the time, according to Lipton's product locator, green tea was available (and still is available in 2008) at the Dubuque, Iowa, Kmart.
In introducing Brooks, Harwood stated: "David, you have argued in your column that Barack Obama at the beginning of the year was leading a movement that was shaking up American politics, but that over time he's become more and more of a conventional politician. Why do you say that, and what do you mean?" Brooks responded that "the movement hit some natural parameters among highly educated, affluent people, people who live in places like Portland, Oregon," then claimed that "the magic is not felt by a lot of people. It's not felt, obviously, by a lot of less educated people, downscale people. They just look at Obama, and they don't see anything." After claiming that Obama "doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee's salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there," Brooks added: "And so he's had to change to try to be more like that Applebee's guy, and as he's done that, he's become much more transactional, much more, 'I'm going to deliver this, and this, and this for you' on policy."
Later, during the June 2 edition of MSNBC's Race for the White House, NBC chief White House correspondent and host David Gregory replayed Brooks' remark about Obama. Asked for comment, Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson asserted: "Well, you know, is he -- he's not an Applebee's guy -- is he an Olive Garden guy? I tend to take the sociology a little more seriously when it's delivered by people who actually eat at Applebee's, you know, more than once in a decade."
From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the June 2 edition of MSNBC Live:
HARWOOD: Now we're five months 'til the general election, and one of the questions of the campaign is: Is this the same Barack Obama right now that it was at the beginning of the year when he set off so much excitement? We're joined now by David Brooks, one of the most provocative columnists on the op-ed pages of The New York Times. David, thanks for joining us.
BROOKS: Good to be here with you, John.
HARWOOD: David, you have argued in your column that Barack Obama at the beginning of the year was leading a movement that was shaking up American politics, but that over time he's become more and more of a conventional politician. Why do you say that, and what do you mean?
BROOKS: Well, the movement hit some natural parameters among highly educated, affluent people, people who live in places like Portland, Oregon. There is a movement, and that movement is still going on. And it's big. It's a big, historic movement, but the magic is not felt by a lot of people. It's not felt, obviously, by a lot of less educated people, downscale people. They just look at Obama, and they don't see anything. And so, Obama's problem is he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee's salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there. And so he's had to change to try to be more like that Applebee's guy, and as he's done that, he's become much more transactional, much more, "I'm going to deliver this, and this, and this for you" on policy. I've been speaking to Obama campaign people in the last few days. I think they're a little too complacent about the fall election. I think they don't quite realize they're going to have to do a few more big changes to get his identity more in tune with independent voters, who right now see Barack Obama as Jeremiah Wright's guy and sort of a question mark, an attractive question mark.
From the June 2 edition of MSNBC's Race for the White House with David Gregory:
GREGORY: First smart take. The New York Times' David Brooks, talking to John Harwood on MSNBC today, says Obama still has an image problem with many independent voters. Listen.
BROOKS [video clip]: Obama's problem is he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could go into an Applebee's salad bar, and people think he fits in naturally there. And so he's had to change to try to be more like that Applebee's guy, and as he's done that, he's become much more transactional, much more, "I'm going to deliver this, and this, and this for you" on policy. I've been speaking to Obama campaign people in the last few days. I think they're a little too complacent about the fall election. I think they don't quite realize they're going to have to do a few more big changes to get his identity more in tune with independent voters, who right now see Barack Obama as Jeremiah Wright's guy and sort of a question mark, an attractive question mark.
GREGORY: I think it's a very interesting point, Todd, and something that the Obama campaign needs to start contending with soon. What do you say?
TODD PURDUM (Vanity Fair national editor and political correspondent): No, I think it's an excellent point, but I think one of Barack Obama's bigger strengths when he ran for the Senate in Illinois was how well he was able to campaign downstate. Let's not forget, his grandparents are, you know, corny as Kansas in August. They're his mother's parents. They're from Kansas. He talks about growing up eating not only sashimi in Hawaii, but Jell-O salad with grape halves, which as I can tell as a son of the Midwest, is a quintessentially kind of Midwestern dish. So, if he could let that side of himself out, loosen up a little bit, eat a few doughnuts and hot dogs, and not worry so much about his diet, it may sound trivial, I think that kind of stuff is stylistically important, and I think he has the ability to do it. He certainly has the potential to do it if he just pays attention.
GREGORY: I knew we'd get an allusion to Broadway before long. Thanks, Todd. Gene, you're take on that?
ROBINSON: Well, you know, is he -- he's not an Applebee's guy -- is he an Olive Garden guy? I tend to take the sociology a little more seriously when it's delieverd by people who actually eat at Applebee's, you know, more than once in a decade, so --
HARWOOD: You don't?
The thing is... who really cares? Wait... I know, I KNOW! There were lots of people who voted for W simply because he was the type of dude with whom they'd wanna share steak, corn on the cob, a sixpack, and NASCAR on the tube. But in this economy with all the uncertainties and with this seemingly endless war with all the dead and maimed surely most voters are beyond such inane superficialities?
Right?
Wow!
Applebee's does NOT have a salad bar!
Another mind-blowing illustration of "conservative misinformation" from Media Matters!
</sarc> (roll eyes)
Pretty weak, MM. Pretty weak, IMHO.
I think Brooks is the one showing weakness, intellectual weakness.
And the utlimate Queen of Intellectual Weakness is our own Shoes.....
More like: Let's show everyone how stupid, dishonest and hypocriticaly these conservatives are. Rich White guys trying to paint other as elitists. Saying they "can't fit in" at places they've never been. (Since every one of them is an elitest, they never go to such places.) Deciding which leisure activities constitute what "normal folks" do. (You know, like QUAIL HUNTING, as opposed to shooting hoops or playing pool - god forbid if you can't bowl.) STOP TELLING LIES ABOUT US AND WE'LL STOP EXPOSING THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU!!! (Paraphrased from Adlai Stevenson)
This is classic Rove politics. Identify your greatest weakness with the voters, and then project that onto your opponent.
Bush didn't serve his country in Vietnam, so he painted his war-veteran opponent's service as 'suspect' and 'dishonorable'
McCain is elitist and out of touch with everyday Americans, so he is painting Obama as out-of-touch.
I believe just last week, the Right-Wing blogs were attacking Obama for his numerous 'gaffes' and saying that he isn't a good orator. Again... projecting.
Aye to that! This is a clasic case of a neo-con calling the kettle black. Well, ok, Obama is black, but for a real snob to refer to AppleBee's non-existent salad bar smacks of the kind of elitism Cons say Obama suffers.
Repugs are very scrared that their world is crumbling before their eyes.
Come ON, Man. Media Matters is reporting on the stupid things being discussed on shows like this one. Read MMFA's mission statement.
in the words of the ( sarcasm on full blast ) greatest lleader this nation has ever had
: So ! "
in the words of the ( sarcasm on full blast ) greatest leader this nation has ever had
: So ! "
Tommy, why WITH this? This is just another example of how the right-leaning pundits are the real ones out of touch with America. I mean, how many every-day Americans could tell you that Applebee's doesn't have salad bars? I bet you quite a few could. Highlighting this is MMfA's way of showing that these pundits are basically making stuff up as they go.
And for the record, I hate Applebee's. The ones around here are run by a terribly ignorant franchise, and they give some of the worst service I have ever witnessed. Ruby Tuesday's, on the other hand, awesome salad bar.
Hey look, I am just trying to follow the rules, seeing as if I get scolded often about derailing the threads here. So I am sticking to it, the headline, which is salad bars, or the lack thereof at Applebees. I mean, that is the topic at hand, is it not?
Personally, I am glad to find this out so now I may stroll into an Applebees, because salad bars, even with those useless sneeze guards, are just gross - people pawing and positioning to try and grab good radishes, or fat free dressings, and then the whole macaroni salad thing, what's up with that? I can handle whipped cream and jello, and even lima beans, but I will not touch pudding or soaking cole slaw......no way!
While I'm veering off subject
Have you noticed maitre de's always say, "RIGHT this way..." and the uneaten food is called "LEFTovers"?
If you go left, you'll be right, but if you go right, you'll be left.
Not only that - left is right and right is wrong. :-)
"Maitre de's say RIGHT this way"--AA
Elitist!
VERY elitist.
I know that every time I take my wife to places like Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday, or Carino's, it's the host or hostess that shows up to our table.
wz,
Yeah me too. But the host usually says, "This way guys". :-)
No, the next thing rightie tighties are going to do is try to get resturants to NOT SERVE OBESE PEOPLE.
I mean really, they really want to do this.
I can hear the conversation now;
"Hello, I am with Media Matters for America, a liberal media watchdog site out to expose conservative misinformation and underlying conservative agendas at work in our media and we have a question for you", asked the MMFA staff member.
"Well, certainly, this sounds important, how can I help"?, answered the Applebee hostess who picked up the phone preening for her big media moment.
"Do you have a salad bar"?
Sorry I was distracted thinking about mini marshmallows. I think the conversation went like this.
MMFA "Hi this is Media matters for America. We'd like to ask you a few questions."
Applebee Hostess " Sorry. Last time David Brooks was in to order his regular Boneless Buffalo Wings and Grilled Shrimp Pesto Alfredo Fettuccine he told us you Media Matters people were a bunch of commies and not to talk to you! You have a nice day now, y'hear."
And speaking of jello I'll bet Mr Obama has never eaten strawberry jello with bananas and those little marshmellows suspended in it.
Seeing as he was a member of a church for 20 years, no doubt he went to at least a few covered-dish suppers. And there was probably at least one gelatin dessert similar to the one you described at each and every one.
"because salad bars, even with those useless sneeze guards, are just gross"
Salad bars are the least of your concern in a restaurant.
Do you order from the menu because you think that what goes on in the kitchen is not as gross?
Tommy, why WITH this?....
===================================
Because it's in his contract ... :)
Poor Tommy....
Always missing the point (rather like always missing the joke and wondering why everyone is laughing).
Getting basic facts wrong, even when presenting an Opinion, indicates sloppy journalistic standards and begs the question about how many other things has Brooks gotten wrong.
Kind of like your doctor listening to your heart by putting a stethoscope against your leg. A minor omission but one that most people would view with alarm.
Their clear problem with the commentary is that he says that Obama wouldn't fit in.
They simply documented the fact that Appleby's doesn't even have salad bars, but that's not what their posting is about.
It's not about salad bars and restaurants. It's about media commentators forwarding the conservative agenda by falsely describing a Democratic candidate.
Sue,
Do you think carrots, mushrooms and tomatoes should be on the right side of the salad bar - with tofu, bean sprouts and arugula on the left side?
Is that furthering conservative misinformation?
No, but your harping on your mistaken opinion that I am your former nemesis only makes you look like a scared, whiny baby.
Wait. You already looked like that. Never mind.
It's undeniable that you were trying to distract from the real argument here repeatedly. Many others caught you doing it. They catch you doing it day after day, and when I do it, you think it is beneficial to you to point out that you think I am an old poster come back to life?
I hope you get paid by the post, because if you only get paid making valuable distractions from the real issues, then you lose money when you post crap like this about me instead of what I wrote.
"contrary to rightwing opinion, Applebees has NO salad bar"
This thread is about Brooks, not prevailing rightwing opinion. MMFA makes no implication that a majority of rightwingers expect to find a salad bar at Applebee's. The only possible implication is that Brooks does.
"So I am sticking to it, the headline, which is salad bars, or the lack thereof at Applebees."
The headline clearly targets Brooks, who is a member of the media.
"I am just glad that MMFA has moved from media watchdog in restaurant monitoring now"
MMFA monitors the media. Brooks is the target of this item and is a member of the media. The ridiculous restaurant reference originated with brooks, not MMFA.
"but to use Applebees as some backup is.......well, never mind"
Brooks is the one that used Applebees, ridiculously.
I go to Applebees on occasion, and Obama would fit right in, he is as American as the rest of us. Brooks is being partisan as usual.
If that's what you think Applebess is, then yes, you would fit right in :-)
Hey that's for calling me the B word the other day you lefty freakazoid.
See I just can't stop. Eejit baby talking, troll, bigot, radical, you.
Savage mating rituals are really more of a Hooters thing.
At Hooter's they're more "Wishful Thinking" than anything else....
Just keep Savage's mating rituals out of the public eye.
Doris,
I can just see it now. Obama and family going out for brunch after Church. :-)
Brooks is a pompous, elitist, corporate jackass pundit.
He's talking down to the good folks at Applebee's. By playing this game, he's showing just how stupid he thinks ordinary Americans are. He thinks he can bamboozle them with this 6th grade drivel.
He can't, can he?
Seeing as we're registering our opinions about "what kind of guy" some folks seem to be, and where they would "naturally fit", david brooks seems to me to be kind of like the guy Renfield, in Bram Stoker's "Dracula"... you know, the guy in the insane asylum, who eats bugs and is under the influennce of Count Dracula?
david brooks seems like that kind of guy to me, he seems like he'd naturally fit into the role of Renfield, as though david brooks is what Renfield should look like... I'd say david brooks had also the teeth to play the part of Count Dracula too, but I'm sure Bram Stoker never imagined the Count to look so slow and dim, and so naturally and genetically inferior, as david brooks does.
The 'Caps Lock' key is the one just above the 'Shift' key on the left side of your keyboard.
The caps-lock wouldn't be so bad were he not also demonstrating brain-lock.
In order for the Brain Lock to work, you have to have a brain to lock. He doesn't. :-)
First of all. Settle down. CAPS-LOCK off, okay?
Second...who is Democrates?
Was he a contemporary of Socrates or Hippocrates?
Brooks is right,
McCain is just a regular bloke. The kind of guy who really feels at home at the local McDonald's. McCain is a regular shopper at the 99 Cent Store in Phoenix. The simple folk just go ga-ga.
And he only owns 8 homes. And his wife is only worth $100 million. Sure, she inherited it all, so what? He's not an elitist like Obama.
“This situation may be paradoxical, but it is also universal. For decades Americans have experienced a populist uprising that only benefits the people it is supposed to be targeting. In Kansas we merely see an extreme version of this mysterious situation. The angry workers, mighty in their numbers, are marching irresistibly against the arrogant. They are shaking their fists at the sons of privilege. They are laughing at the dainty affectations of the Leawood toffs. They are massing at the gates of Mission Hills, hoisting the black flag, and while the millionaires tremble in their mansions, they are bellowing out their terrifying demands. “We are here,” they scream, “to cut your taxes.””
Thomas Frank -- “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”
Oh for gosh sakes, Tommy, AA listen up here. The doofus is trying to propagate the "obama is an elitist" crap. So, if he has some basic part of his premise wrong ie no salad bar at said restaurant chain, then we can maybe start to question the entire myth, that a guy from a single parent household, middle class background, public educated, suburban Chicago, some how is now magically more elite than the guy whose SECOND wife is fantastically wealthy and his father was an Admiral in the US Navy.
Now, you can go back and read the rest of the stuff between the lines.
Pit,
The thread is ridiculous. Yeah the doofus got the salad bar restaurant wrong. He's simply opining. To make it the point of a thread is laughable, both at the doofus and at MMFA.
Let's have a discussion about who's the elitist. Being an elitist is not who you are married to or how much money you or your spouse has. Nor is it about your relatives. It is about the elitist notion that Obama has when he looks down on the Applebee's crowd. Yeah the doofus got the salad bar wrong. But when Obama starts making things up out of whole cloth as to why working class in the Midwest won't vote for him to a bunch of rich liberals in San Francisco, that it elitist. It's about his elitist views regarding Ayers, Wright, and others that he only changes because of political expediency.
If you want to argue that McCain is an elitist go ahead.
"But when Obama starts making things up out of whole cloth as to why working class in the Midwest won't vote for him to a bunch of rich liberals in San Francisco, that it elitist."
Why do you feel the need to be disingenuous when speaking of Obama?
This is the text of the speech to which you so casually refer to:
"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
So what part about this is he trying to explain how voters aren't voting for him?
DB,
Thanks for the elitist quote.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe Obama said that in a private fundraiser to rich San Francisco contributors in explaining his poor showing.
"Correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe Obama said that in a private fundraiser to rich San Francisco contributors in explaining his poor showing."
That part is what I take issue with. He was not explaining his poor showing, that's what various media figures inferred from this speech. He was explaining his concept of change, and how for the past 25 years Middle Americans have become frustrated and marginalized by each successive administration, and in-so-doing, turn to those sentiments, or turn to religion or guns, as a way of explaining their frustrations, when the frustrations are really with the governments policies.
Just because you believe he was talking about his poor showing in Pennsylvania does not mean he was talking about his poor showing in Pennsylvania.
Correct me if I am wrong
There isn't enough time in the Universe to do that.
Ridiculous? How ridiculous is getting all hot and bothered and indignant that MMFA is wasting such precious and limited internet bandwidth with this item without taking any note of the fact that cable network news time, which actually is limited, is being used to discuss such a nonsensical triviality? How ridiculous is any politician, who by the nature of their jobs are above average in terms of socioeconomic status, calling any other politician "elitist"? How ridiculous is defending these scum who do nothing other than play games to get elected in order to continue devoting the government towards improving the lives of those who are already doing quite well?
You, sir, are ridiculous.
It is about the elitist notion that Obama has when he looks down on the Applebee's crowd. (AA)
Until you wrote that, I was sort of goofing on this item, AA. Not that you have any intention of voting for Obama, or any non-Republican, but you just demonstrated the problem with Brooks little Applebees scenario; Obama didn't go to Applebee's, it was just a hypothetical, and you already think it's something that happened.
Some might argue that anybody gullible enough to be fooled by this is already registered Republican, but there could be somebody in the middle, somebody getting tired enough of the trivial distractions of the GOP and their media that they've almost seen the light.
And if they're busy, distracted, not too bright, they may hear this little bit of fiction as fact; Obama looked down his nose at the customers at Applebees.
Thank you, you've just demonstrated WTIH.
Good one Pit...
Ah yes!!! The Myth. The Myth.
The Perfect Corporate Fairy Tale.
This just in........
BARACK OBAMA HAS WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR POTUS!!!
Several superdelegates have switched their votes to Obama to guarantee he is the winner!!
Lets see how the right-wing corporate media handles this one.....
BillO, Rush, Sean, Ann, Beck, Savage, Boortz....... Their collective heads are going to explode!
Next stop...... the White House!
The problem isn't that Brooks made a mistake about Applebee's salad bar, it's that he's pontificating about the "regularness" of the place, when he obviously is totally ignorant of it himself.
And SHALLOW as hell.
"Is he the kind of guy who could go into Applebee's"?
Honestly - can it GET any more vacuous and imbecilic than THAT?
Applebee's - holy crap.
Oh how fickle we are! David Brooks has praised Barry O. from the Iowa caucus through this spring. Does MMfA do any research beyond todays headlines? I would like to see the whole transcript of this before I pass judgment.
Brooks does know something about elitism though:
http://www.amazon.com/Bobos-Paradise-Upper-Class-There/dp/0684853787
http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Drive-Always-Future-Tense/dp/0743227387
Brooks does know something about elitism though:
That's because it takes one to know one.
ETRW posted:
"That's because it takes one to know one. "
I wouldn't disagree with that Easy. I read his first tome BOBO'S IN PARADISE, and I have to say he at least has his finger on the pulse of where we are at now in America with respect to class and race.
His latest book has been torpedoed by critics, but I think that could be chalked up to sour grapes as he now is a regular on PBS'S THE NEWS HOUR, and has a regular (twice a week) column in the NYT.
Do you realize how much time you waste replying or responding to the various right-wing Bushites (thank goodness, to to many of them, at least)? True, I have no life, either. So I sit at my computer and just try to have some fun and, at the same time, try to share or be instructed by your witty and often very informed posts. But, seriously...
Be warned that the type of stupid comments made by people like David Brooks and his fellow idiots at MSNBC are taken SERIOUSLY by many folks "out there". A huge part of our population actually make judgments based on this kind of dreck. THAT is why MM comments on them. MM is not participating in the foolishness, but pointing out the seriousness of such silly conversations in the MSM.
We have a TGIF here in New Orleans. Now, WHY, I ask you, why would anyone come to New Orleans an eat at TGIF? Obviously enough of those folks "out there" who haven't a clue about food. "Folks" like Mr. Brooks or the others having this discussion. If the "points" made by Brooks are to be taken seriously, then the folks "out there" deserve the kind of government they voted for TWICE.
"Do you realize how much time you waste replying or responding to the various right-wing Bushites...?"
Hey DonaldMD, Contrary to what some of the angry wingnuts say about "living on" this site (I was accused of that once),I post a little at work, taking little breaks from my workload to read the items and comment. Right now I'm looking over some threads before bed time, but I don't really spend that much time here. I think it's projection from those who take hours to read and Google and post.
But, on the subject of The Big Easy and food, I couldn't imagine going to a TGIF there. The first time I visited NO, I was in my early 20s, and broke. I ate off the Lucky Dog carts a few times during the day, but sampled some amazing hole-in-the-wall places at night.
One night, separated from my group and stumbling around back streets in the French Quarter, I found a nondescript storefront, with a big wooden shingle out front. It was a raw slab of wood, with the outline of a T-Bone steak wood-burned into it, and I got a perfect steak,a salad, a potato and a huge pot of French oni0n soup for a pittance.It was one of the simplest and most amazing meals I've ever had.
On subsequent visits, I've been better funded, and eaten at some more upscale (and great) restaurants in NO, but I've never been able to find that little place.I assume it's long gone, but someday I'll go back , get very drunk, and wander around looking for it.
It's my Holy Grail.
You can come back to New Orleans anytime and It would be MY great pleasure to feed you properly! That place you mentioned has indeed gone the way of so many joints in the Big Sleezy. "Comfort Food" is looked down upon by the food snobs, but a great burger with baked potato with all the extras is still found in my neighborhood. On St. Peters Street, across from Pat O'Brien's, is a joint called Yo Mama's, where you can get a wonderful peanut butter burger. There's always Port 'O Call and Snug Harbor that serve the best burgers in the world. Another poster at this site, IRONY, is a "Yat", too.
Too bad we can't exchange e-mail addresses. What a gas it would be to all meet in New Orleans and just hang out.
Temp I guess you could go to the NPR or PBS site and try and find it in the archives. To add to your theme, as I posted earlier Brooks has been enamored with Barry O through this primary campaign and at times critical.
I think if MMfA would do a comparison they would find he has been very balanced in his coverage of Barry.
I don't believe this item belongs here. Brooks is using this as a random example, so there's nothing hinging on the existence of it. I think we've all had experiences where we're trying to make a point about something and gotten corrected on some detail that doesn't affect the thrust of the comments. The response is "whatever, you understand what I'm saying". You can be wrong about hypothetical details and have a valid point at the same time.
The only way to suggest that there's some hypocrisy here is to assert that Brooks thinks he can fit in with the "downscale" people. I don't see that in his comments. Brooks isn't running for president, so he can comment on places Obama is lacking while lacking in those areas himself. I said Fred Thompson didn't have the charisma and appearance to make it to the White House. Do I think I have the magnetism or looks to win votes? Hell no, but I'm not running for President.
Also I find it interesting that we understand that extemporaneous speech is not perfect when discussing so many people here, but somehow this random comment is supposed to destroy Brooks' credibility. Maybe he gets Ruby Tuesday's and Applebee's confused. Who knows? Who cares?
Is Brooks' argument valid? Maybe, maybe not, but the hypothetical salad bar doesn't have any impact on it. Is it amusing and mildly embarrassing for Brooks? Absolutely. Let the guys at Sadly, No! rip "Bobo" a new one instead of pretending it's a serious issue by highlighting it at the top of the webpage here.
Mr. Brooks:
Don't listen to the naysayers. You are right on in pointing out how elitist Obama is. I'll tell you what: While he and his elitist, terrorist friends are eating their fancy arugala, you me and the prez can be enjoying a "brew" at Applebee's like the regular Joes we are. Just pick your favorite one (the one where you always go to rub elbows with us workers at the salad bar) and I'll spring for a salad with all the trimmings. After that we can all go bowling.
Sincerely,
but the magic is not felt by a lot of people. It's not felt, obviously, by a lot of less educated people, downscale people.
He's referring to people as 'downscale' and criticizing Obama's supposed elitism. What a tool.