Disgusted with the Obama's diet and lifestyle
I am not looking for a fight here and please, let's not get personal here. Just expressing an opinion on a vegan website, that is all. I am just wondering if any other vegans have similar feelings/thoughts on this.
I don't respect the Obama's diet and lifestyle. Why? Because they advertised themselves as visionaries and progressive but do not live this way. They don't practice what they preach. I expected more from them.
One thing I am really disgusted with is their diet. They have all the money they need to be a positive example to the country in terms of diet. They could be eating exciting, healthy, more plant based meals..but what do they choose? They choose hamburgers frequently and very expensive meats, lobster, caviar and anything else that is considered high status. They eat that expensive Japanese meat, Wagyu steaks, and Spanish Hams. Blech!!!
They have access to any diet in the world..yet they choose frequently something as banal as hamburgers . I don't feel they are truly progressive as they like to see themselves. My motto is "high thinking, simple living" and I really love to live this way. From the way Obama and Michelle preached to us, they would like US to live that way, too..except that they DON'T. Instead, they are very luxury orientated, very pleasure orientated be damned animals, the environment or health. Their diets are totally lacking in creativity, even with all their resources. They are the opposite: "High living, simple thinking".
Also, Michelle's designer clothes fixation, shopping, expensive trips. I feel this is what she is about, not higher values as she claims to have. I personally love fashion myself but I deplore "designer" fashion. It just seems tasteless to me, especially in a bad economy and it's just so unecessary and it shows what she is into...social status.
I would not be making these comments IF they didn't present themselves as "different" or "progressive". If they were any old politician I would not say anything because I don't expect more from other politicians. But Barack Obama made himself out to be different. Also the fact that they are asking us us to share more of our pie for others, yet they aren't doing it themselves? They are more into luxury and status than ever. I doubt they would be happy living a simple life, seriously. I think they are addicted to luxury.
And no, I am not envious. I truly love a simple life. I don't need nor do I care about name brands, fancy meats...I find all of that stuff repulsive and in bad taste. I am very happy to be me...someone who gets a lot of joy from simple delicious meals and shopping bargains. Someone who cares about animals and cruelty.
I thought they would be better. They could be better if they wanted to, but they choose not to. Sigh.
Depends on what you wanna compare to, i guess... i think there's been more emphasis on healthy organic veggie-chompin' under this administration than the last one... are they ideal? nah-- of course not. Worse than Dubya? don't see how... worse than the McCain/ Palin folks would have been?! doubtful!!!
Anytime you compare real people to an ideal, you're not gonna be happy. Compared to equivalent other real people... meh, could be worse! I'm ok with 'em.
These are their own personal "funtimes" where they are living and eating extravagantly.
And, of course, they have to have certain "airs" when they visit other countries...and be Presidential. But being "Presidential" does not mean total hedonism and pleasure at any price. It means higher values such as respect, nobility, thoughtfulness, honesty, humility, sincerity...in a word it's CLASS. You don't have to eat fancy foods, wear designer clothes to be this...you just "are" these things, or you are not, no matter what your outer acoutrements. Most of the world recognizes that this is true class, not what you buy, eat...but how you are. It's what is on the inside that matters.
And as for having fancy parties...that's OK. I like making "fancy" food but my food is not in bad taste, it's not excessive, it's thoughtful of the world around us. You can still be fancy/formal and eat without excess or without thought. The President has the power to be an example and decide a lot of this stuff. He is not forced to serve this food. If he wanted to, he could change the tone from 60 dollar a pound meat to something that is special but less decadent. He simply chooses not to because that is how they want to live.
I feel they are lacking in humility, have large egos and are materialistic. Sorry it's the way I feel.
I feel a lot of people make excuses for him because they like him. That's OK...but I feel that is what this is. Excuses.
Be aware that they also have to project an appropriate image to other countries. However you personally feel about "high thinking, simple living", heads of state simply do not have the option to turn down food, particularly not when they are making state visits. The same is true of clothes and "expensive trips" - much of what they both do is state business, not happy funtimes. While in some Western countries there is increasing status in eco-credentials and simple living, the world is constantly watching and the majority of other countries expect a certain amount of pomp and circumstance from world leaders. If Michelle Obama walked into a state event wearing something from the high street, she'd be laughed out of town (and there'd probably be a bunch of people from forums like this self-righteously talking about how high street fashion is bad and wrong).
Like royalty in the UK, a vast amount of both of their day to day lives is regimented and scheduled. The Queen of England is in her 80s and she frequently attends up to 500 events a year. The same is true of a working head of state: there simply isn't time to grow all their food kitchen gardens and handmake their own clothes from organic hemp. It isn't realistic. As I recall they are both proponents of organic food and a lot of what they eat at home is grown in their garden, even if it isn't specifically by them. And once again, if they DID spend time gardening and eating vegan and sourcing things which you consider appropriately ethical, there'd be a whole bunch of people lined up to critique their time-wasting, or "anti-American" veganism, or Michelle's clothing, or something something something.
You're taking the media-projected public image that they project out of necessity, and using it to "prove" that they are materialistic and ignorant. Unless you know their preferences and private choices, you simply can't judge. There's a bigger picture here than their food choices.
+1. Catski wrapped everything that I was thinking up perfectly.
Oh to some of you that said we can't expect them to live organically from their garden or be vegan...I totally get that. I didn't expect that from them at all....I did think they would not be so extreme in their diet choices...the exact opposite.
As for the garden...great! Of course Michelle doesn't have time for that. That is understandable. I never expected that. I haven't yet heard of one recipe they made from the garden, though and I doubt she gets her hands dirty. Too busy shopping I think or taking vacations. She doesn't seem to be that type of woman...that's OK, just stop pretending you are something you are not.
One of my favorite lines from a movie fits here...
Get down off the cross honey, somebody needs the wood.
Do you honestly believe that all the food the Obama's eat 24/7 is reported in the press? Sweet Jesus, get over yourself. So what if they eat fancy while on vacation or in their own home. It's their lives and they can do what they want. I don't give a shit. It's not going in my body. Everybody that I know eats decadent rich food while on vacation. I know I do, I'm on vacation. I'm there to relax, have fun and enjoy foods I don't cook at home.
Whether you like it or not they do have to project a certain image. So what if Michelle wears designer clothes? It's not as if she's wearing them only once. It's been reported quite frequently her wearing outfits multiple times. So does Barak for that matter, it seems like everytime he's on T.V. he's wearing the same damn suit and tie.
How do YOU know what's going on inside their home to know how they act in "normal" family time to know for a fact they are hedonists? Why are you passing judgement on people using information supplied by the media, especially the US media, which is known to be biased?
And lastly, people with class don't look down on others and ridicule their personal choices. So, another famous saying also fits. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
I am not ridiculing them. They are public figures preaching for all of us to sacrifice for the greater good while they are clearly not...not even in spirit. Obama touted himself as the one for "change" yet everyone here is saying he can't even decide the menu! Give me a break! He can do a lot...he just chooses not to.
I have zero interest in wealthy people living high on the hog. I do have an interest with the Obama's because they are preaching otherwise for all of us, calling out excessiveness and asking all of us to change for the greater good. To me that is hypocritical. I also think, during times of recession when so many can barely feed themselves And you are the President who supposedly "cares" about the poor, for them to choose the most expensive luxury items ever. I do think that is extremely crass and in poor taste and thoughtless.
Like Michelle's $500.00 plus (I think it was like over $700.00) dollar shoes when volunteering for the poor. Very bad taste.
And, please, no one can tell me that Michelle HAD to wear those shoes to project a certain "image". She did not. In fact, she projected a really negative image by doing so. Also, Obama does not "have" to eat that special beef to be President, that is absurd. YES, they have to dress up, look nice and professional but that is very different than going overboard and wearing clothes that scream "me, me, me!!!" Notice the other President's wives...how do they dress? Simple pant suits or dresses. Nothing too ostentatious. You dont' get the feeling it's about designers but simply to look appropriate and nice.
Mirryl~ Of course I dont' know their whole life but I do know some of their life and that is what I am commenting on. If you are President, you better be able to take it because you took on that role. Also, as far as me "people in glass houses should no throw stones"...well, I don't live in a glass house. I don't live like them while telling others they must give up things for the greater good. I am not living outside of my values.
One of my favorite lines from a movie fits here...
Get down off the cross honey, somebody needs the wood.
Do you honestly believe that all the food the Obama's eat 24/7 is reported in the press? Sweet Jesus, get over yourself. So what if they eat fancy while on vacation or in their own home. It's their lives and they can do what they want. I don't give a shit. It's not going in my body. Everybody that I know eats decadent rich food while on vacation. I know I do, I'm on vacation. I'm there to relax, have fun and enjoy foods I don't cook at home.
Whether you like it or not they do have to project a certain image. So what if Michelle wears designer clothes? It's not as if she's wearing them only once. It's been reported quite frequently her wearing outfits multiple times. So does Barak for that matter, it seems like everytime he's on T.V. he's wearing the same damn suit and tie.
How do YOU know what's going on inside their home to know how they act in "normal" family time to know for a fact they are hedonists? Why are you passing judgement on people using information supplied by the media, especially the US media, which is known to be biased?
And lastly, people with class don't look down on others and ridicule their personal choices. So, another famous saying also fits. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Soliel, if only you had run for president........the world would have been a better place ;)
I am not ridiculing them. They are public figures preaching for all of us to sacrifice for the greater good while they are clearly not...not even in spirit. Obama touted himself as the one for "change" yet everyone here is saying he can't even decide the menu! Give me a break! He can do a lot...he just chooses not to.
Personally i think Obama has a lot more to concentrate on than a damn dinner menu. And besides, don't you think the White House Executive Chef is picking out the expensive meats and choosing the dinner menu? That's the point of his or her job.
Please post a link to the article where in "sacrficing for the greater food" that he was even remotely talking about a grocery bill or other essential items necessary for life. The point for that comment was for people living excessively beyond their means, using multiple credit cards because they don't have the money to pay cash. Asking those people to stop living beyond their means is the RESPONSIBLE and COMMON SENSE thing to do. Excessive credit and irresponsible lending is what sent this country's economy in the toliet.
Please, instead of bitching about the "hedonistic" Obamas here on a forum where it will do absolutely no good, why don't you write him and tell him you don't appreciate the $60/pound meat he chooses or the $500 shoes Michelle wears, because really he has nothing better than that to think about while trying to run this country.
Please, instead of bitching about the "hedonistic" Obamas here on a forum where it will do absolutely no good, why don't you write him and tell him you don't appreciate the $60/pound meat he chooses or the $500 shoes Michelle wears, because really he has nothing better than that to think about while trying to run this country.
;)b
I'm trying to think of other politicians criticized on this forum for their dining habits.... (head scratch)... coming up empty! Sure it'd be great if the Obamas were publicly-privately whole-food/ local-food/ self-gardening/ 100% herbivores... but no other president has been, either! i didn't notice any disgusted outrage about dubya's diet... guess i don't get the different standard. Obama's the leader of the damn free world, in a time of unprecedented uncertainty and financial meltdown, with multiple wars & stuff: he's got a shitload of, well, shit, to deal with!... if you have problems with his policies, say so; but this is a silly thing to get pissed about, imo, when there are so many more urgent matters-- pardon the pun-- on the man's plate.
eh, i didn't ever expect him to actually be progressive.
I followed the campaign and don't really remember them attempting to represent themselves as "progressives and different", at least not in the sense the OP expected.
I seriously doubt we're going to see a true progressive that lives simply and eats a proper diet. Much of their lifestyle involves eating, entertaining and being flashy.
Sadly though them eating a hamburger when they are out at a diner makes them more mainstream in average American's eyes.
I seriously doubt we've evolved as a nation where we're going to see a progressive vegan living simply in the white house.
Because they advertised themselves as visionaries and progressive but do not live this way. They don't practice what they preach. I expected more from them.
I have heard this from more then vegans I assure you, omnis say the exact same thing!
i respect how you feel.. and for those that down people for posting there feeling.. why waste your time doing such things.. take it up with the administration of this site if you think peoples post dont belong here.. ~
blessings
This doesn't make any sense. It's in Food Fight for a reason.
it doesnt matter anymore.. im going to stick to creating recipes and making them.. i have no time for food fights~
blessing ah flow~
::)
;)b .. plus im just learning there is a forum here.~
Hot Mama...I already said this many times. I didn't notice other President's because they did not make themselves out to be different, visionary, "progressive", for "change", etc as Obama did. Had Obama been like them and did not claim to be anything more, I would not have expected more.
The thing is, to me, he has turned out to be MORE materialistic than the past President's who don't didn't make themselves out to be visionaries.
That is where the criticism comes from.
Please, instead of bitching about the "hedonistic" Obamas here on a forum where it will do absolutely no good, why don't you write him and tell him you don't appreciate the $60/pound meat he chooses or the $500 shoes Michelle wears, because really he has nothing better than that to think about while trying to run this country.
;)b
I'm trying to think of other politicians criticized on this forum for their dining habits.... (head scratch)... coming up empty! Sure it'd be great if the Obamas were publicly-privately whole-food/ local-food/ self-gardening/ 100% herbivores... but no other president has been, either! i didn't notice any disgusted outrage about dubya's diet... guess i don't get the different standard. Obama's the leader of the damn free world, in a time of unprecedented uncertainty and financial meltdown, with multiple wars & stuff: he's got a shitload of, well, shit, to deal with!... if you have problems with his policies, say so; but this is a silly thing to get pissed about, imo, when there are so many more urgent matters-- pardon the pun-- on the man's plate.
Please prove that he is more materialistic than the past Presidents. You have done a lot of complaining with absolutely no evidence, proof or sources sited.
And again, I don't remember him ever saying he planned to be less materialistic or ask anyone else to be.
Minke~
Their many vacations...most of them very lux. Their Spanish trip especially.
Michelle's clothes...most of them designer and the $400 plus shoes she wore at a charity event.
One dinner, where he toasted his wine? glass...it was extremely fancy with fancy/special meat.
Yes, I absolutely feel they are materialistic, not truly spiritual,and are fully invested in the perks of the Presidency more than solving our problems. Yes, I feel that absolutely.
... and this is different from past administrations how, exactly?!
It's not an ideal world, my friend, and I think it's just silly to say 'his lifestyle is different than mine, so he's a bad president.' I haven't always agreed with his decisions re: USDA & big ag interests... but baby steps are still steps. The Obama admin has at least turned some national spotlights on the importance of food-- fresh, local, sustainable, non-junk food. Whatever they do on vaca, or whatever fancy stuff is served at Presidential events (ummm, they're *presidential events*! it's GONNA be posh, ya know?!), that's still more steps down a good food path than I recall any other administration taking. So, yeah, if you want to criticize policy decisions, I get it-- like any prez, I think there's a mix of good/ not-good things to be discussed. But this just seems like a petty reason to get all up in the man's kool-aid, to me.
LOL! What are you smoking woman?
LOL! What are you smoking woman?
If you mean me... for the sake of legal prudence, I decline to respond. ;D
LOL! What are you smoking woman?
If you mean me... for the sake of legal prudence, I decline to respond. ;D
Lol, not you. :P
Pages