Broccoli-Gate Revived By Obama

Clearly hitting close to home is Michelle Obama's healthy eating campaign.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday sung the praises of broccoli, snubbing the cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pork chops and pumpkin pies he has munched to show common man credentials on the campaign trail.

The slim line Obama was asked by a guest at a "Kids State Dinner" event at the White House to name his favorite food, and nominated the pride of the cabbage family, which reputedly boasts more nutrients than any other vegetable.

The president with his wife close by, stayed faithful to the First Lady's "Let's Move" campaign, which is designed to cut childhood obesity and tout the benefits of a healthy lifelong diet and exercise.

Obama also reopened a long bubbling Washington debate, about the benefits, or otherwise, of broccoli.

Former president George H.W. Bush hated broccoli so much that he reputedly banned it from Air Force One, wielding the power of the presidency in a blow to healthy vegetable fans everywhere.

"I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it," Bush said in 1990.

"I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli."

Obama's comments quickly sparked a political debate on Twitter. The president's campaign guru David Plouffe predicted the president's Republican foes would now come out swinging against the vegetable.

"All (Republican) 2016ers will now have to pledge to never eat broccoli again," he tweeted.

Source: AFP