In the land of hotdog and honey, Barack Obama prefers broccoli

Of all the courageous public pronouncements that US President Barack Obama has made, the revelation that broccoli is his favourite vegetable must rank as one of the boldest. The land of meat and plenty has been deeply divided on green issues, particularly when it comes to emissions. Broccoli, in addition, has the distinction of being the target of presidential boycott in the George H W Bush era, and featuring as an opposition mascot in the subsequent Bill Clinton presidential campaign. Even so, Obama’s endorsement of this manmade vegetable must not be seen as evidence of Democratic partisanship but the beginning of a brave initiative to bring about fundamental change in US.


It is not surprising, however, that his critics smell something else, as his cruciferous confession has coincided with the development of the perfect all-weather broccoli by university scientists and seed companies, sans the occasional bitterness that ensures its automatic exclusion from many people’s shopping lists. This brouhaha over broccoli could also be seen as evidence of the increasing influence of the First Lady on the most powerful palate in the world. After all, while he has been less than clear on the continuance of the US’ War on Terror, he has unequivocally shifted from burgers to broccoli in keeping with Michelle Obama’s War on Obesity.