U.S. Senators Binge at BBQ Joint to Make a Political Point About Meatless Mondays

[DBoon]

Two aging U.S. senators—Iowa's Chuck Grassley and Texas' Jon Cornyn—tried to make a point today about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's promotion of Meatless Mondays by stuffing themselves with meats that their doctors might advise they consume in moderation, reports Iowa Politics:

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ABC News has more on the meatless Monday-backlash, noting that it was the National Cattlemen's Beef Association that first objected to the initiative. (The memo promoting it is no longer available online, but it's posted below.) Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) followed up with complaints to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“Never in my life would I have expected USDA to be opposed to farmers and ranchers. American farmers and ranchers deserve a USDA that will pursue supportive policies rather than seek their further harm. With extreme drought conditions plaguing much of the United States, the USDA should be more concerned about helping drought-stricken producers rather than demonizing an industry reeling from the lack of rain. I have requested that Secretary Vilsack let me know if it is now USDA’s official policy to discourage the consumption of American grown meat. It is my hope that the USDA has not abandoned farmers and ranchers in pursuit of policies best left to the Environmental Protection Agency,"

from http://dcist.com/2012/07/old_white_men_binge_on_bbq_to_make.php

[MADem]

1. What assholes.

They didn't pipe up with the Catholic Church required that their adherents forswear meat on Fridays, now, did they?

Why weren't they standing on the steps of the RC cathedrals, back before Vatican 2, waving hotdogs in protest?

Sounds like a load of bullshit to me!

It's not like USDA is saying give up meat forever--it's a way of ensuring an adequate supply all around AND promoting health.

Morons.

[wendylaroux]

2. Sheer stupidity

i think these men should make a bigger point and eat that stuff every meal,and for between meal snacks. That'll teach those USDA people a lesson.--- .

[HopeHoops]

6. That would at least contribute the the fading away of two idiots.

[handmade34]

3. Meatless Mondays

is an excellent movement to start the process of thinking about how our consumption of meat affects us and how factory farming harms the environment... Senators Grassley, Cornyn and Moran do a great disservice to the country by acting in such childish ways. The USDA is not opposed to U.S. farmers and ranchers and to imply such is ludicrous!

Unfortunately, much the same happens even here on DU when I or someone else posts something similiar about how our excessive meat consumtion is harming the environment... many comments from DUers in so many words "you can't tell me what to do!"

NIMBY like behavior seems to cross many lines

[HopeHoops]

7. Factory farming isn't "helping farmers". Supporting local growers does. Hard concept, eh?

I used to eat at BBQ joints in Kentucky even though I was vegetarian (and still am). Despite the smell, they did have excellent salad bars with a lot of offerings. I saw some really disgusting meat cramming going on, despite trying not to look.

Rather than objecting to a useful suggestion by the USDA, how about if these assholes put some work into making our food supply (including meat) safer and less predatory on small family farms? Oh, wait, they DO have their corporate sponsors like Monsanto to cower before.

[qb]

4. The GOP meat binge is a slap in the face of American soybean & vegetable farmers.

I wonder if they had Freedom Fries with their BBQ.

[DBoon]

5. And how much did the broccoli lobby contribute to their campaigns?

I think that's the real issue

[HopeHoops]

8. Oh my. The concept of a "broccoli lobby" is seriously funny, but you make an excellent point.