Hungry for Change
Photo: Obama at American Dream Pizza in Oregon.
By Brooke A. Brown
With the West Virginia primary election just weeks away, I feel it’s necessary to echo the Charleston Gazette’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama and his campaign for the presidency of the United States of America. Not only because I strongly agree that the Senator is “a deep thinker who rises above partisan sniping” with “instincts that are more than sound,” and that the war in Iraq is one that should never have been authorized, but also because he’s a fellow foodie.
As an adamant supporter, I’ve followed the campaign very closely since it began over a year ago. And just as Obama has been consistent with his message of change, so is he with his consumption of local delicacies while on the campaign trail. From pancakes in Pittsburgh (at Pamela’s, no less!) and pizza in Oregon to cheesesteak in Philly and chicken wings right here in Charleston, Obama clearly relishes the opportunity to experience a town’s local flavor through its culinary offerings.
And what better way to connect with folks than through food? Conversation becomes inevitable when you’re gathered around a dining table, and it’s time that we the people have a discussion about the future of this country without the influence of lobbyists, political action committees or special interest groups. Obama is the only candidate in this election with whom we can have such a conversation.
Maybe this food connection is a sort of validation that I’ve endorsed the candidate who best represents my personal convictions. But I’ve also read his books, his Blueprint for Change and several of his speeches, so my admiration and support for Obama certainly extends beyond the gastronomical realm. I suppose that what I’m getting at is this: just as I’d urge you to try an oyster po’ boy or an Indian curry, I’m asking you to give Barack Obama your thoughtful consideration, as well.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
YES WE CAN!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Now I am really hungry!
Love how you tied Barack into your blog
Obama 2008!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Obama & waffles, sounds better than McCain and corn flakes.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Hi Brooke,
Great pictures! I am a native West Virginian and now live in Iowa (the first state to get it right even though we are a caucas state and don’t count!). Anyway, my Mom and Aunt (74 and 80) both are huge Obama supporters and are still in WV. Maybe he should get back there and check out some Italian food up North too!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
wonderful pics!! well written artuicles- great blog! West Virginia, please vote for Obama 08 and do not buy the Clinton hype!! If anything, google Peter Paul vs Clinton and see for yourself!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
My goodness, that pizza lookes good! Not only is this guy in touch with the economic situation of everyday folks, he eats like us, too!
Looks like the White House Chefs will need to bone up on their recipes for cheese steaks and pizza!
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Oh forgot to mention…next to those of the author of this blog, Pamela’s are the best pancakes in the universe. Does this guy have an intern soley dedicated to restaurant recon?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
[…] Brandy wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWith the West Virginia primary election just weeks away, I feel it’s necessary to echo the Charleston Gazette’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama and his campaign for the presidency of the United States of America. … […]
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I love the blog. Perhaps Sen. Obama can indulge in some ramps the next time through W.V. Gooooooo Obama!
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for combining my two passions: the Obama campaign and food blogs. Oyster po’ boy sounds fabulous!
http://www.pastrystudio.blogspot.com/
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Yes, we can! I love seeing a skinny person enjoying good food. Skinny but tough, as he points out. Enjoying local cuisine, bowling, talking to the folks. Just wish more people could come in closer contact with him so that the silly misconceptions could be be replaced by real perceptions of who this man is: A man of vision and hope. Not sure about the ramps, though. Might want to wait till he’s elected.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Someone has to provide the resources to make all that good food possible; from fertilizer to grow it, to the materials for the cooking and dining utensils, to the energy to cook it.
That would be the folks behind the scenes… the miners of the world.
They provide so much, yet are only acknowledged when disaster strikes, and then forgotten till the next one.
Sad, but true.
Senator Obama, please sponsor a Resolution in the US Senate for a commemorative National Miner’s Day in the United States of America.
A simple way to thank all the hardworking people who provide so much for so many.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:25 am
http://www.minersday.org/
May 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
It’s important to note that voters who are registered as an Independent can vote in the West Virginia primary; you simply need to ask for the appropriate ballot (the Democratic one) and cast your vote (for Obama, naturally).
Also, from now until May 10th, you can take advantage of Early Voting.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
C’mon, people, open your eyes to reality! Maybe Senator Obama is a “foodie”, maybe he’s not. What he is, however, is a politician, and when he’s sampling the local fare at all those campaign stops he is doing what politicians do–SCHMOOZING his constituents.
Call it campaigning, call it pandering for the working class vote, call it humanizing the face of government, call it whatever you want–it all boils down to putting on a show and telling folks what they want to hear in a effort to persuade them to cast their ballots his way.
Don’t take this as criticism of Senator Obama. He probably enjoys all those diverse dishes he samples as he travels the campaing trail back and forth across the nation, and he does so with much more aplomb and personality than either Senators Clinton or McCain. Let’s just not forget that the real reason for all those ‘meal stop photo op’s” is not the cuisine–it’s the vote.
May 6th, 2008 at 6:42 am
I don’t know, Mike. With most politicians I’d wholeheartedly agree with you. But I’ve had the pancakes at Pamela’s in Pittsburgh. They’re unlike any I’ve ever tasted — very light and thin with crispy edges. And when I read Obama’s description of them in the Post-Gazette, I knew then and there it was more than a photo-op. (And considering he already had my vote, I wasn’t viewing these food stops through the lens of a skeptic, but rather those of a foodie.) Plus, he talks about food quite a bit in both of his books, so his love of food seems, to me anyway, to extend beyond the limelight of the campaign trail.
I will give you Philadelphia, though, where he gave in and had a cheesesteak. That one was pretty obvious. But I disagree with your blanket claim that the real reason for all the ‘meal stop photo ops’ is solely for the vote. I guarantee next time Obama is in Pittsburgh, he’s heading back to Pamela’s.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:48 am
“Call it campaigning, call it pandering for the working class vote, call it humanizing the face of government, call it whatever you want…”
I think I call it eating lunch. Or dinner, or breakfast or whatever meal it is. Presidential candidates are constantly on the road and they have to eat somewhere. I think for most people–politicians and non-politicians alike–one of the first things you think of when traveling is where you’re going to eat.
I’m an Obama supporter too, but I think good culinary taste may run in the Clinton family as well–after all, Chelsea ate at the Bridge Road Bistro when she was in town.
May 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I agree with you on the Pamela’s pancakes - they truly are the finest in the world. I have to disagree on the whole cheesesteak thing. If you want a quality cheesesteak, you’ve gotta go to Atlantic City and visit The White House.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
To Brooke: I’ve neither read Senator Obama’s books nor eaten at Pamela’s, so I’ll give you that one. However…
To Raging Red: I agre that most folks give priority to food and dining while on the road. I know I do, anyway.
I also know that keeping ones name and face in the public eye is the name of the game when seeking political office. Too, it only makes sense to do so while partaking of good, local food. This puts the candidate out there with the people and gets his or her face on camera and in print.
If that weren’t the case, why wouldn’t all the candidates just order room service? I’m sure they must crave a little privacy every once in a while.
No matter how well a meal is prepared, surely having cameras trained on your every move and microphones shoved in your face from all sides would detract from anyone’s ability to enjoy it.
Just a little food for thought…
May 7th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Hey Mike,
Grab a copy of “Dreams from My Father” on CD and listen to it on your way to Pittsburgh for a stack of Pamela’s pancakes. Whether you’re a supporter of Obama or not, his story is fascinating and inspiring, and one that could only happen in America. (It’s important to note that this book was written BEFORE he held an elected office, so it’s not politically driven.)
May 7th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Barack is the first politician I have watched who I believe has a SOUL. He is a good man with integrity and I am happy to be able to vote for a person of such substance in the GE.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Why do people call Barack Obama a “black man”?
Is there some “default” setting, like on a computer, that automatically goes to a pre-programed human designation, saying anybody that has mixed heritage is auto-piloted to the darker setting?
Good grief, we are all toasters!
(Heh, toasters…that’s my FOOD link here!)
But, if someone objects to his being “black”, then they can vote for his white DNA setting, from his Kansas-born-white-mother!!!!
He’s an amazing man!
Not white or black…
Best of both!!!
From an older white woman who blogs with the Obama people, who are all wonderful!
Stop by the Obama ‘08 website ans see for yourself!
my.barackobama.com/
May 7th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Folks, the bottom line is Barack Obama likes to be up close and eye to eye with people. He much prefers talking directly to people over a meal in a diner versus big rallies. He wants to hear what the people have to say . . . just like sitting around the kitchen table.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
To All: I said neither anything about Senator Obama’s race, nor that I don’t like him, so let’s clear the air on those fronts. There are things I like, and don’t like, about each of the three remaining candidates. While we’re on that subject, I’ll go on record as saying that in my opinion, Obama’s ethnicity, Clinton’s gender, and McCain’s age are all moot.
In my opinion, all that matters is which candidate has the best qualifications to head our nation’s executive branch.
To Rita: I understand that Obama prefers more intimate settings than huge rallies. I still think, though, that this whole campaign must be getting pretty old by now (not only for Obama, but for each of the candidates) and that a quiet meal would be a welcome change. Truly, I wonder if anyone who seeks our nation’s highest office realizes beforehand what they are in for over the course of the campaign?
To Brooke: I will get the book, or possibly the CD, and give it a go. As for Pamela’s, I’m never in Pittsburgh, but if I ever have the opportunity, I won’t hesitate to give those pancakes a shot, too.
(I just like to stir things up a bit sometimes, ya know?)
May 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Stir it up, Mike. That’s not a problem at all. But I don’t think that comment #22 was directed at you in any way, shape or form… it was just a random musing on the issue of race. The air doesn’t need to be cleared.
Let me know what you think of the book! As for Pittsburgh, never say never. Oh, and when you’re there, be sure to save room for a sandwich from Primanti Bros.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Brooke, you’re making me hungry.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am
America it looks as if it’s destine to have a President in Obama.
Farewell the Clintons, Welcome the Obamas:
http://empowertube.blogspot.com/2008/05/farewell-clintons-welcome-obamas-wsjcom.html
May 9th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
In my not-so-humble opinion, the only Pamela’s worth going to is the one in the strip district. Shadyside is Uber-pretentious and the Pitt area one, is, well, near Pitt. So, no parking and lots and lots of student types on weekdays and suburban, take-the-kids-to-see-the-dinosaurs-at-Carnegie types on weekends.
The pancakes are good indded, but it’s the Diner Burger that does it for me. It features fried jalapenos, among other things, and is about as good as a fried hamburger can be. (Now, for the best burger you can get, period, check out Tessaro’s in Bloomfield. Sheesh. We’re talking religious experience here.)
May 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Interesting Blog from a food point of view. Maybe you should do a blog on all of that “Obama Kool-Aid” which many of your readers seem to be drinking. This guy is a leftist politician, nothing more, nothing less.
I don’t know what else to say except “Where’s the beef”?
May 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
It’s easy to make blanket statements about folks you know anything about. “This guy is this or this guy is that, nothing more, nothing less.” That is not a fair description of any person that I’ve ever met.
It’s also easy to jump on the cynical bandwagon of those who talk solely about “drinking the Kool-Aid” instead of debating actual differences in opinion, ideas, policy, etc.
Obama has written two books that explain in great detail who he is, what he believes, how he’d like to see this country move forward and why this “where’s the beef” question is, in fact, the item lacking substance.
His legislative experience, both in the Illinois State Senate and in the U.S. Senate, adds up to more time served as an elected official than Senator Clinton. And his accomplishments as a legislator are impressive and of great substance.
And then there is his greatly detailed Blueprint for Change that outlines his presidential agenda. Nice and juicy!
I understand that people may not want to work so hard to better “get to know” candidates who are unfamiliar, different or seemingly new to the national scene. But to pronounce, rather lazily I might add, that informed, passionate and dedicated supporters such as myself are somehow delusional proves to me that there’s more work to do.
And that’s okay. I’m ready to work, along with 1.5 Million of my closest friends.
Yes, we can.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Well, I did throw in Kool-aid and beef in there because this is supposed to be a food blog…
May 9th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Seems to me that someone else likes to stir the pot, as well…
May 10th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Hey Rich,
Yeah, this is a food blog. Had you left out the part about Obama being “a leftist politician, nothing more, nothing less,” then we would’ve remained on topic.
Still, I truly appreciate your — and Mike’s — consistent patronage of this blog. I raise a glass to you both!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Even though I just had some Granola and a banana, I could go for an Oyster Po’ Boy right now, proving that you still manged to worked some food into the blog.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Democrats unite and begin the much needed debate with Senator McCain..
“The United States needs a clean break from eight catastrophic years of George W. Bush. And so far, Senator John McCain is shaping up as Bush the Sequel — neverending war in Iraq, tax cuts for the rich while the middle class struggles, courts packed with right-wing activists intent on undoing decades of progress in civil rights, civil liberties and other vital areas.” NYT, 05/09.
Obama 2008/2012
May 11th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Go for it, Rich. No beer (yet), but they do have hot sauce.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
To #29 Rich Ireland comment…
“…leftist politician, nothing more, nothing less.)
Well, that’s a label!!!
Guess there’s a Wine-label connection, eh?
Speaking of wine labels, my daughter found a wine label for Mike Ditka of all things…
Some pretty funny varieties too. But they do TASTE good!
But just as wine has labels, isn’t it best to taste it?
Please go to Obama’08 and check out the plans, policies, and comments and the blog.
He is so much more than a label.
This old republican white woman would not be supporting his candidacy if he were “just” as you said, believe me!
May 12th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Obama is 100% correct! People today are fed up with the lies, the war, and the loopholes for big business,…. We have had enough! We need change and he is the only one to change the system. Enough of torture, secret prisons, wiretapping, saber rattling and no due process. We need a young, brilliant, articulate president to lead us out of the recession, the war, and the poisoned policies of the Bush years. We need Barack Obama to renew America’s values. We need Barack Obama to lead this wonderful nation as President of the United States of America.