Everyone was excited that President-elect Obama made his first big foray into the city this weekend with a stop at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Some were more excited than others. Namely, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, who put out a press release hilariously titled, “National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Says President-Elect Obama’s Historic Trip to Famous DC Hot Dog Restaurant Reflects Excellent and All-American Taste in Cuisine.”

Many people enjoy a good half-smoke after a night partying on U St., but there are likely very few people who believe a preference for half smokes are a measure of “excellent” taste. There’s a reason why people love it when they’re drunk, and it doesn’t exactly require a refined palate to enjoy salty, meaty goodness doused with melted Velveeta. Every 4-year-old I know would eat that for dinner every night if they could, and a lot of those kids like to eat paste and crayons. Not to mention, hot dogs and sausages have their origins in Germany. So using their logic, Mr. Obama might actually have All-German tastes. Sie schmeckt gut!

The release gets even better, declaring that “hot dogs have a rich bi-partisan history” at the White House. There are partisan foods? The only one we can think of is maybe walnuts. Unless they’re secretly serving donkeys and elephants…

National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet M. Riley said that Obama’s “stop yesterday shows that while the most sophisticated chefs in America may be vying for his palate, American hot dogs and sausages were the ‘wieners’ this weekend in Washington.” Someone’s a “wiener” this weekend, but, for once, we don’t think it’s the hot dogs.

Image courtesy of youbebetty