By John Celock
North Dakota’s Republican congressman has launched a potato challenge in order to combat First Lady Michelle Obama’s “war on the potato.”
U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) posted a video this week on YouTube showing him eating a stuffed baked potato to promote potatoes. He then encourages Democrats in the state to join him in taking a potato challenge in order to promote potato farming in North Dakota and combat Mrs. Obama, along with President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, who he said are against potatoes. He was referring to an op-ed Mrs. Obama wrote in The New York Times earlier this year where she said that potatoes should not be included in the WIC benefits for women, because women and children already eat enough potatoes.
“Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to override science by mandating that white potatoes be included on the list of foods that women can purchase using WIC dollars. Now, there is nothing wrong with potatoes,” Mrs. Obama wrote. “The problem is that many women and children already consume enough potatoes and not enough of the nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables they need. That’s why the Institute of Medicine — the nonpartisan, scientific body that advises on the standards for WIC — has said that potatoes should not be part of the WIC program.”
Cramer said this is a war that the first lady and Democrats have declared on potatoes.
“I call on all North Dakota Democrats to stand up on their party’s war on the potato,” Cramer said. “Michelle Obama, Barack Obama and Democrats across the country hate the potato. It is time that Democrats stand up against that war on the potato and for the North Dakota potato farmers.”
Cramer ate the stuffed potato from the Grand Forks Republican headquarters. There is no word if Democrats plan to join the Republican’s potato challenge. Cramer is facing off against state Sen. George Sinner (D-Fargo) in his bid for a second term.
Cramer’s video was called out by MSNBC host Ed Schultz who defended Mrs. Obama, noting that she did not want more potato consumption but was in favor of potatoes.
“Michelle Obama is just trying to keep women and children healthy, she clearly says that she has nothing against potatoes,” Schultz said on his show this week.