Bad Eats

First and only time I was ever in a White Castle was when The Dictator's did their album jacket

"Hi. This is Congresswoman xxxx. I'll be in L.A. next month and I was told you and Digby and John take people to the best restaurants in town." I had never spoken with her before, nor written much about her. She's a bit of a backbencher, but a solid liberal in a deep blue district. I had no idea why she was calling. She didn't either. Other than the food. And we do like taking Washington progressives out for good meals when they come to L.A.... but usually ones we know. But-- what the heck-- I've never seen her take a bad vote in her career and I'm always happy to meet new congressmembers who can be counted on to stand up for working families. "Have you ever tried molecular gastronomy," I began. I think that confused her even more. Then I recalled that one of her closest colleagues had had an amazing dinner with us a few weeks before, at Mozza, one of California's most food forward Italian restaurants. And he was raving about how great it was. He must have told her. And everybody loves Italian food.

Now one thing anyone coming to L.A. who wants to have dinner with the Blue America crew knows they'll never have to worry about is being dragged into some right-wing fast food joint serving cheap anti-nutritious garbage, and especially not the ones who recycle their profits into right-wing politics. Last week we took a little look at the anti-LGBT hysteria that is part and parcel to the Chick-fil-A food empire. Believe it or not, they even have one at 6750 Sunset Blvd, in one of the most LGBT-friendly areas in the country. I bet that isn't working out too well for them. We don't usually go for industrialized processed food anyway. I enjoy preparing my own food-- and worked for years as a chef-- so unless there's some love and intelligence behind food preparation, I'm happy staying home and making my own meals. Yesterday, though, Lauren Kelley put together a nice little list of the worst food companies of all at Alternet. Lauren only used one criterion: propensity to help fund right-wing politics. As she warns, "a number of food companies are owned by far right-wingers who’ve spent significant money opposing gay rights, abortion rights, and other important causes and funding attack ads against left-leaning politicians." And for me that alone is enough reason to never go near any of these places. She started with-- surprise, surprise-- Chick-fil-A, which is being boycotted by the LGBT community and was dumped this weekend by The Muppets.

1. Chick-fil-A

It won’t be news to many readers that Chick-fil-A’s owner is deeply entrenched in conservative politics and social issues. The chain has been in the news many a time for its owner’s anti-gay attitudes, in particular.

The latest Chick-fil-A hubbub has been especially high-profile. Chain president Dan Cathy, who is the son of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, said in a recent interview with the Baptist Press that “as an organization we can operate on biblical principles.” Asked about the company’s support of the "traditional family,” Cathy answered, “Well, guilty as charged... We are very much supportive of the family-- the biblical definition of the family unit... We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.” ...

2. Carl's Jr.

Carl’s Jr. founder Carl Karcher, who died in 2008, had been a supporter of anti-abortion causes for decades. In particular, Karcher was fond of funding the anti-choice group Operation Rescue. He also had a mean anti-gay streak as well. From the AP story that followed his death:

He was reviled by abortion rights activists for his contributions to anti-abortion groups and his oft-repeated story about talking a Carl's Jr. employee out of an abortion. Gay rights groups dubbed his hamburgers "bigot burgers" after Karcher supported a 1978 proposition that would have allowed school boards to fire teachers who were gay or advocated homosexuality.


3. Domino’s Pizza

Like Karcher, Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan is an unapologetic supporter of anti-choice groups, including Operation Rescue, Right to Life, Priests for Life, and the Committee to End State-Funded Abortion in Michigan. (Domino’s itself has noted that it does not, as a company, support “either side of the reproductive rights issue.”)

Monaghan is a devout Catholic who also founded Ave Maria University. It’s said that he was inspired by a visit to the Vatican in the 1980s to found the Ave Maria List, an anti-choice PAC.

4. White Castle

White Castle joins Carl’s Jr. on the list of beloved burger joints with right-wing ties. According to a recent ThinkProgress report about companies that have helped bankroll right-wing attack ads, White Castle has given $25,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, a group linked to House Speaker John Boehner that is supporting conservative candidates in the November election.

5. Waffle House

Waffle House (or Awful House as I used to call it growing up) is also mentioned in the ThinkProgress report. The breakfast joint has given $100,000 this election cycle to the Karl Rove super PAC American Crossroads. Mother Jones’ Tim Murphy reported on the donation:

This is surprising because one doesn't normally associate Big Waffle with big scary super-PACs, but also not that surprising: CEO Jim Rogers Jr. is a longtime supporter of Republican causes, and the company's political action committee has given exclusively to Republicans (in considerably more modest quantities). His ties to Romney date back to 2006, when he joined the finance team of Romney's political action committee, Commonwealth PAC.