The Commander In Beef Strikes Again

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The 'Dinner with Barack IV' lunch menu revealed: President Obama dines on a cheeseburger and fries...
When President Obama had lunch last week at DC's Lincoln Restaurant with the winners of the 'Dinner with Barack IV' contest, the press was ushered out after a quick photo op, before the food was served. And as usual, the White House declined to release menu details. But newly released photos from Obama for America show the President being served an impressive cheeseburger. The Lincoln Burger is made with Meyer Farms Beef, watercress, Firefly goat cheese, and roasted tomatoes ($16), though it looks like the President swapped cheddar as his cheese. (Above: Winner Wyndi Austin, right, seems pretty surprised at the President's burger)

"I'm a medium-well guy," the President announced in 2009. He also enjoyed a side of French Fries at the luncheon. Or Fundraising Fries, as it were. Iced Tea was the President's beverage of choice. (Above: The President enjoys his fries)

In this post, ObFo predicted the President would select the cheeseburger for lunch. Sure, predicting a cheeseburger for someone who considers cheeseburgers one of the four food groups isn't that much of a stretch, especially when he's the most beef loving President in modern times.

But though Mr. Obama enjoyed a cheeseburger at his first 'Dinner with Barack' event at DC's Scion restaurant, for the second contest dinner he ate "Harpoon Caught Swordfish" at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. It was served "Portuguese style," accompanied by white beans, sweet peppers, lamb sausage escarole, and Littleneck clam sauce ($22). (Above: POTUS, cheeseburger in hand, at the first contest dinner)

At the third dinner, at DC's Boundary Road restaurant, the President returned to beef, though he chose the Grilled Hanger Steak, made with chestnut puree, and served over spicy kale, with a "sauce charon," similar to a Bearnaise ($22). The President started with the Quark and Black Pepper Pierogi ($10).

While the President has shown plenty of love for America's hardworking cattle ranchers, the first beef recipe from one of the White House chefs was just issued this month. It was created by Assistant Chef Sam Kass, who is charged with cooking dinner for the First Family each night they are at home. Thus Kass is well acquainted with beef. Check out his Grilled Skirt Steak with Poblano Sauce. It's a Presidential fave, according to Kass, and is served over sauteed spinach.

The President's luncheon guests at Lincoln were Janet Jones, 64, a grandmother from Accokeek, Maryland;; Paula Matyas, a retired GM auto worker from Milford, Michigan; Jim Heath, a firefighter from Aurora, Ohio; and Wyndi Austin, a realtor from Gilbert, Arizona. (Above: Obama for America posted this photo of the President's lunch plate)

The President had a second beefy luncheon last week, too. He enjoyed beef ribs, collard greens, black eyed peas, rice and a corn muffin, washed down with bottled water, during an early Father's Day lunch at Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse, also located in the District.

The 'Dinner with Barack V' contest is now open for entries.

Info: Lincoln Restaurant is at 1110 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC, 2005. Phone: 202-386-9200. Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse is located at 732 Maryland Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC, 2002. Phone: 202-547-4553.

*Photos by Christopher Dilts/Obama for America

First Lady's Book 'American Grown' Lands On US Bestseller Lists

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A memoir, a gardening guide, and a compendium of White House recipes...
Exactly three weeks after it was released by Crown Publishing Group on May 29, First Lady Michelle Obama's book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is on the top of bestseller lists for gardening titles. In her personal memoir about becoming the nation's most high-profile child health advocate and foremost gardening promoter, Mrs. Obama also celebrates community food access efforts across America. (Above: A photo from the book, with First Dog Bo)

Documented with lavish photographs, the book is divided by the seasons as Mrs. Obama tells the story of her 1,500 square-foot Kitchen Garden, and includes tips for starting gardens of all sizes and recipes from the White House chefs. The book is an elegant wake-up call for the paradigm shift that is needed to change the nation's food culture to one that is far better for the next generation. CLICK HERE for a book excerpt.

As of today, American Grown is #1 on Amazon.com's list of Bestsellers in Gardening & Horticulture, where it sells for $17.85. In the company's Health, Fitness & Dieting category, it is #35. The book sits at #80 on Amazon's overall Top 100 Best Sellers List, where it has been on the list for 22 days. (Above: The book jacket)

American Grown is also #1 among gardening titles at the online outlet ABEbooks.com,where it sells for $18.37. Both Amazon and ABE update their rankings hourly.

American Grown this week is #106 on USA Today's Best-Selling Books list, which ranks up to 150. It is down from #68 last week. The book entered the Top 150 on June 7th.

Mrs. Obama held an autograph session for the book at DC's downtown Barnes & Nobles store last week, when the book was #62 on the B&N Top 100: Book Bestsellers list, another list that gets updated hourly. This week it is not on the list. American Grown was #29 on the list on Monday, June 4, a week after it was released.

American Grown has also been released as a very good E-Book, but it has yet to land on any of the bestseller lists that are in the current issue (dated June 24) of The New York Times Book Review for any categories: Hardcover Nonfiction, Combined Print & E Book Nonfiction, and E-Books.

Publisher's Weekly is not currently releasing weekly bestseller lists.

The First Lady has promoted American Grown with visits to TV shows, interviews on radio shows, and in interviews with wire service news outlets as well as with outreach to Mommybloggers. The book has not been the subject of many reviews, but The New York Times, in a round-up review of gardening titles, hailed American Grown as "a warm and personable record" with "an impassioned message."

Mrs. Obama accepted no advance for the book, and author proceeds will be donated to the National Park Foundation for programs that promote gardening and healthy eating, and to fund the ongoing maintenance of the White House Kitchen Garden. The cover price is $30.

CLICK HERE for recipes from the book.

*Photos by Quentin Bacon, reprinted from American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America by Michelle Obama. Copyright © 2012 by the National Park Foundation. Published by Crown, a division of Random House, Inc.

First Lady On 'Jeopardy!' Today

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First Lady Michelle Obama will present a clue on the TV show Jeopardy! today, the game show announced via video. There was no indication of what category Mrs. Obama will challenge contestants with, but the show is teasing on Twitter that it will be about the Let's Move! campaign. Mrs. Obama's latest TV appearances have all been in support of her new book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America. Host Alex Trebek visited the White House on April 19, where he met Press Secretary Jay Carney and toured the West Wing. Trebek was in town to shoot a Jeopardy! "Power Players" episode, which featured former Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. (Above: Trebek in the WH briefing room)

*Photo by Donovan Slack/Politico

Sam Kass Visits Los Angeles For Launch Of Statewide Initiative, Let's Move California!

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"This is what we dreamed of when the First Lady launched Let's Move!," says Kass...
While his bosses were in Chicago over the weekend, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass was hard at work in the Golden State, spreading the good word about First lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. On Saturday in Los Angeles, Kass joined thousands of citizens for a day-long healthy eating and fitness event celebrating the launch of Let's Move California!, a statewide initiative to reduce child obesity. He was accompanied by state Attorney General Kamala Harris, members of the LA City Council, and Pastor John Hunter and his wife Denise Hunter of First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) church, the leaders of the LA-based Let's Move! initiative that led to the state-wide project. (Above, from l: Harris, Pastor Hunter, Kass, Mrs. Hunter)

Governor Jerry Brown issued a proclamation, dubbing June 16-17 Let's Move California! weekend.

"Communities are taking ownership of this initiative and transcending Washington, and making it their own," Kass told Obama Foodorama during a break in the action at the Let’s Move California!: Fitness Feria event, held on the campus of the Robert F. Kennedy Schools in the Koreatown neighborhood.

"This is what we dreamed of when the First Lady launched Let's Move!," Kass said.

With a population of more than 39.6 million, California is lionized as the cradle of healthy culinary innovation. It has millions of acres of outdoor recreation space, a fitness culture enshrined by Hollywood, and some of America's top pro sports teams as role models--the champion LA Galaxy soccer team and the newly crowned Stanley Cup champs the Kings. But the state is still in need of Let's Move!. About 61% of California adults were overweight or obese in 2011, with 25% actually obese. 38% of children statewide were obese or overweight in 2010, with the statistic higher--42%--for kids living in the largely urban and very diverse Los Angeles county (15% actually obese).

"This is a big moment," Kass said, noting that a statewide initiative will offer more resources and information for parents and communities.

Surrounded by skyscrapers, the campus was filled with information tents and fitness activity stations. The Army, an event sponsor, had a rock tower where delighted kids in rope harnesses scrambled to the top. Acclaimed chefs, including Wolfgang Puck (with his son Alexander) Ingrid Hoffman, and Cathlyn Choi gave cooking demos. Instructors--speaking in English, Spanish and Korean--led kids and parents through health screenings (BMI, blood pressure), tastings, and mini nutrition education classes, which featured USDA's MyPlate materials. (Above: Puck addresses the crowd)

Players from the Los Angles Angels and the LA Sparks led workouts for kids. Free pedometers, sports balls and even fruit tree saplings were handed out. Cosponsors for the event included Let's Move! partners Goya, Walmart and The California Endowment, as well as Dole and First 5 LA, which all had booths.

"All kinds of stakeholders have come together here," Kass said. "It's been amazing to see people uniting around the health of kids."

Kass addressed the crowd from the main stage on the athletic field, describing the First Lady's mission and encouraging everyone to keep up the good work. There were plenty of cheers as he detailed Mrs. Obama's project.

Praise for the First Lady, Kass, and Angelenos...
During a second appearance later in the afternoon on the stage, Kass, surrounded by members of the City Council, accepted commendation certificates for the First Lady and himself from the LA City Council and state lawmakers. Councilman Eric Garcetti, whose 13th District includes Koreatown, spoke at length about the city's challenges with food access and obesity. (Above: Garcetti hands Kass a commendation)

"Mr. Kass has been the person who is the genius behind the First Lady's efforts at pushing this initiative forward," Denise Hunter told the crowd as Kass was presented with the scrolls.

Hunter got plenty of shout outs of her own. Kass rained praise on all the Angelenos, but he noted that Denise Hunter and Pastor John Hunter have spearheaded Los Angeles' Let's Move! efforts, which led to the statewide initiative. FAME Assistance Corporation, the Church's non-profit, is Let's Move! California's lead organization, and organized the Saturday event. Located in an impoverished neighborhood at the corner of Western Avenue and Adams Boulevard--long ago one of the richest sections of Los Angeles--FAME has a congregation of more than 19,000 people, primarily African Americans. Among other health initiatives, FAME hosts a market in the parking lot each weekend, to boost local access to healthy food.

The Hunters "have been great," said Kass.  "They have been incredible partners."

Garcetti, 41, told Obama Foodorama that his District, which sweeps from Echo Park through Hollywood and into the Valley, has the most farmers markets in Los Angeles--14--but still has a high rate of obesity. He credited it to both poverty---he said the average family income is about $23,000 annually--and a lack of recreational opportunities for kids. (Above: A long line of kids waited to take on the Army's rock tower)

"We used to run around and play all day outside," Garcetti said, echoing something the First Lady often points out. "That's not possible now in a lot of places here."

Garcetti noted that California's high child obesity rate has persisted despite the state revamping its school fitness requirements beginning in 1999, and despite a city-wide ban on junkfood and soda in school vending machines. And for all the efforts of a certain celeb chef to deride the school lunch program as unhealthy, LA Unified School District has one of the better programs in the US.

"We've got plenty to do," Garcetti said, adding that he admires the First Lady for taking on the issue.

Kass is confident that more states will follow the California's lead and launch statewide Let's Move! projects.

"There's amazing work going on all over the country," Kass said.

When he wasn't on stage, Kass was surrounded by delighted locals seeking autographs and photos. He posed with a Taekwondo do youth team while their proud coach snapped photos, and leaned down to speak with the smallest member, a boy of nine. (Above)

"You're already a brown belt?!" Kass said. "Wow. Nice."

"He could take me out," Kass said, laughing, to the adults looking on.

 Kass arrived in Los Angeles on Friday and met with stakeholders to discuss local initiatives, he said. He headed back to Washington on Sunday.

The Sneior Policy Advisor's next jumbo outing for Let's Move! will be in July, when he speaks to thousands of cafeteria professionals at the School Nutrition Association's annual meeting, which will be held this year in Denver, Colorado. In between, there will be plenty of smaller events, too; Kass travels virtually non-stop for Let's Move!.

Above: Registered Dieticians in the MyPlate booth, which featured a copy of the family cooking magazine 'ChopChop' with Kass on the cover.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Sam Kass, Chef José Andrés Judge Recipes For First Lady's 'Healthy Lunchtime Challenge'

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56 child contest winners will visit the White House for a Kids' State Dinner with Mrs. Obama...
Junior chefs ages 8-12 from around the nation submitted more than 1,100 recipes for First Lady Michelle Obama's contest The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, according to the White House. The entry deadline for the contest was June 17, and judging of dishes prepped from the recipes was conducted on Wednesday morning. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass was chief judge, joined by acclaimed DC chef José Andrés and representatives from the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture, contest co-sponsors along with Epicurious.com. Winners will be announced on July 16th, according to the official rules. (Above: Kass in action as Andrés looks on)

The action--with the judges sampling two dishes from each state today--was live-Tweeted on the Let's Move! account, @LetsMove (Kass does not have his own account).

"Sam Kass here, WH chef and advisor for healthy food initiatives, tweeting from our tasting. Follow along -Sam," Kass wrote, later adding "So many delicious, creative recipes here today, it's hard to pick the best ones -Sam."

The Kids' State Dinner...
The 56 child winners and their parent/guardian companions--one pair from each state and the US territories--will visit the White House for a Kids' State Dinner hosted by Mrs. Obama. It will actually be a luncheon, currently scheduled for August. The top picks from the contest will be served at the event. (Above: Kass and Andrés score the dishes)

"With parents and kids all across the country getting creative in the kitchen, I know we'll find healthy meals that every family will enjoy," Mrs. Obama said when announcing the contest on May 21.

"And I can’t wait to try the kids’ creations myself,” Mrs. Obama said.

The recipes were judged on "healthiness, creativity, affordability and tastiness," tweeted @LetsMove.

"Encouraging kids to create their own recipes empowers them to make healthy choices about food -Sam," Kass tweeted.

"Kids of America! Great job for Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & #KidsStateDinner" Andrés tweeted.

The recipes had to follow USDA's MyPlate guidelines: "Entries should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruit, veggies, whole grains, protein and low-fat dairy foods," noted the contest announcement. (Above: Chefs prepping the contest recipes)

Andrés last cooked at the White House on May 19th, when Mrs. Obama hosted a luncheon for the partners of G8 leaders, while their spouses were at Camp David with President Obama.

*Photos by @LetsMove.

Watergate at 40: Obama is the Democrats’ Nixon

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It's been 40 years since the Watergate scandal ended the Presidency of Richard Nixon. When the story broke and the trials and Nixon's resignation were going on I was In the Marines. Since this was my Commander in Chief, I was interested in knowing how it would all come out. Nixon resigned and Gerald Ford became my new boss. Hopefully, unlike the Who song, unlike the old boss.

Some guys broke into a hotel room and brought down a president. Now we have people breaking US and International law and the press responds with a resounding yawn. John Ransom at Townhall Finance wrote a great article comparing Presidents Obama and Nixon. From the article;

While we were all shocked and angered at the revelation of Nixon’s abuses, today the same abuses are not only ignored but tolerated- even encouraged- by the Left.

I never thought I would see a time when the U.S. government would deliberately sell guns to Mexican drug cartels just to advance a petty policy argument about gun control, while the press stood by with not a word or reproach. Or allow the Black Panthers to practice the worst type of racism abetted by the highest law enforcement officer in the land, while the press applauded.

Have we become so tolerant that we will just overlook anything politicians do? Where is the outrage over the deaths of BP agent Brian Terry and ICE agent Jamie Zapata? What about 200 plus Mexican citizens murdered with the guns our DOJ allowed to be smuggled. What about the New Black Panthers putting a bounty on the head of a man that had not been, at the time, charged with a crime? Why do they get a free pass? Why, if people say anything do Jesse Jaskass and Al fraud scream "racist" at the top of their lungs.

There could be hope on the horizon. There has been a new development in the gunwalker case and it has the potential of being a deal breaker for Holder and friends. from that we learn about rats leaving a sinking ship.

Multiple, previously highly credible, sources close to the Gunwalker investigation report that there are at least one and perhaps two sources within the Department of Justice headquarters who have approached the Issa Committee seeking whistleblower status. One source, who reported that there were at least two of Eric Holder's subordinates who "came in from the cold," characterized them as "high-level" DOJ employees "with knowledge of Eric Holder's actions before and after" the 4 February 2011 DOJ letter denying that the DOJ and its subordinate agencies knew about "gunwalking." That letter has since been admitted by DOJ to have been a lie. If true, one or both of these whistleblowers may be the so-called "mole" -- a source within DOJ said to have been leaking documents, including the wiretap affidavits, to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

John ransom summed it up pretty well;

This time, key parts of the country have sold their soul to a man who is, like Nixon, soul-sick.

But today, whether that man stays or goes doesn’t matter.

It only matters that we reclaim our own soul.

Salvation for our country can only come one soul at a time, because that is how we sold it: one soul at a time.

What honor looks like: The flash mob at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport

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While checking out other blogs I read this morning this caught my eye. Be sure to read the whole story and watch the video. Pay attention at 3:16 and the young man with the newspaper. After reading this and watching, I had to go clear my eyes.

Honor is a hard term to describe. It doesn’t have a color or weight or shape. If someone were to ask me what honor looked like, I’d probably struggle with what to say.

But something happened on May 23, 2012 at 9:31 a.m. at Gate 38 of Reagan National Airport that might change that. A flash mob of sorts broke out. But not like you’ve seen on YouTube with highly choreographed dance numbers or people singing a song in unison. In fact, virtually all of the participants of this “flash mob” didn’t know they would be participating until moments before it happened.



I think this pretty much answers the question of what honor is.