White House Thanksgiving Traditions: Broken and Observed
EmailABC's Yunji de Nies and Sara Just report: The White House is breaking with tradition today. What tradition is that, you might ask? Is the First Family having meatloaf instead of turkey as the center piece of the Thanksgiving day meal? Perhaps. Because the tradition the White House is breaking is a media one. The press office says they will not be releasing the menu of what the family will be eating today, as White House press offices have done on Thanksgiving Day for as far back, as well, we can remember. For instance, last year we know the Bush family dined at Camp David on free range turkey, zucchini gratin, and pumpkin mousse trifle. And in 2007, the record shows that the Bush family Thanksgiving menu was nearly identical, with the addition of a jellied cranberry mold. So what will the Obamas be eating today? And will the American public be satisfied without such details? All the White House press office will say today is that the first family will be enjoying “traditional foods and family favorites.” UPDATE: The White House has now released the Thanksgiving day menu. You can read the delicious details HERE. But there is one more significant Thanksgiving Day tradition the White House is maintaining – and that is personal phone calls from the President to troops deployed overseas on this holiday. This morning President Obama called 10 U.S. service members to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and to let them know how much the First lady and he are thankful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation. The President called two service members in each of the five military branches. The calls to the two Army soldiers were both deployed in Afghanistan. The calls to Marines, Navy and Air Force troops were to one deployed in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. The calls to the Coast Guard went to one deployed in the Arabian Gulf and one in Iraq.
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
Meat loaf or hamburger helper?
Served with organic, free range, arugala harvested by a co-op no doubt.
Posted by: Que pasta. | November 26, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Whats the issue with Arugula? Since Obama brought it into the media-scape farmers in the Midwest have seen a boom in their returns for this healthy veg.
Posted by: Bill | November 26, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Great story.
The V are eating meatloaf for Thankgiving. I hear they are not fond of turkey and are here only to “serve man”.
Enquiring minds want to know what kind of meat is in that loaf???
Is Anita Done going to be there?
Posted by: Heard of ClimateGate? | November 26, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
No transparency even at Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Jenny | November 26, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
The only transparency would be if they were serving jello.
Posted by: Heard of ClimateGate? | November 26, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Who would have thought the right wing would turn out to be such whiners? Whine, whine, whine . . .
Was that the theme of the last election? “Whining First”.
No wonder only about 3% of the population will claim to be Republicans any more.
Posted by: tierra | November 26, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Obama dances as American burns – Do they think at the White House about anything other themselves?
Its hard envision what the next three years will be like with this ship of fools?
The liberals deserve what they got – How can they look anyone in the eye? Barney Franks has the answer “Don’t Care” think only of yourself.
Posted by: a citizen | November 26, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Obama dances as American burns – Do they think at the White House about anything other themselves?
_______________________________________
Nonsense. Work hard, do absolutely the best job you can – and enjoy as much as possible.
Life is full of very difficult realities. Almost everyone has gone through hardships and great losses. It does not mean we should not take our pleasures as we can.
Quit whining.
Posted by: tierra | November 26, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
“Nonsense. Work hard, do absolutely the best job you can – and enjoy as much as possible”
Or, just be born with the politically correct amount of melanin and then skills, work history and competence will be waived.
I’d quote Rev. Wright here, but it would be censored.
So instead we’ll go with Don King:
“God bless America!”
Happy Thanksgiving America. Enjoy your turkey.
Posted by: pilgrim | November 26, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Or, just be born with the politically correct amount of melanin and then skills, work history and competence will be waived.
___________________________________
Yeah, you’re right . .. Caucasians have had it really easy. Steal the land from the first peoples and then employ slaves to make an easy profit.
Bless you.
Posted by: tierra | November 26, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
“No wonder only about 3% of the population will claim to be Republicans any more.”——-
Tierra, first….stop the lies. Quit making such stupid comments.
Now, all here making snide comments against President Obama and his family:
Get a grip; it’s Thanksgiving! Stop embarrassing yourselves.
I don’t approve of much of what the President has done…do approve of some. But that is no reason to criticize him for enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Extremists, Republicans AND Democrats, need to stop the hating and start working together or our nation is doomed.
Apparently the idiots in the Senate and House won’t do it so we ‘regular’ Americans need to show the way.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Oh, the menu was released. I guess the President got tired of hearing the press corps whine and beg.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
“No wonder only about 3% of the population will claim to be Republicans any more.”——-
Tierra, first….stop the lies. Quit making such stupid comments.
————————–
Sorry, I meant 1% . .. . :)
Posted by: tierra | November 26, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
This is pathetic.
Why are conservatives obsessing over everything Pres. Obama does?
If he decides to eat meatloaf instead of turkey, what does it matter? Pres. Bush spent half of his two terms on his ranch in Texas doing absolutely nothing, and its his fault we’re in this mess in the first place. The Bush administration spent 8 years tearing to shreds what Americans have built up over hundreds of years. Its going to take more than one year to fix everything, and complaining about Obama’s choice of meat is not going to make any difference.
Posted by: Eleanor | November 26, 2009, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
Sorry, I meant 1% . .. . :)
—————
Yep, you are as bad as the rightwing nutjobs complaining about the menu. Decent Democrats are as embarrassed by you as I am of these fools.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
C’mon, it’s Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkey, break out your copy of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”, and catch up on your holiday reading.
Posted by: Sharon | November 26, 2009, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
Why are conservatives obsessing over everything Pres. Obama does?
———
While there are the rightwing idiots, some posting here, that complain about everything President Obama does, not all conservatives and/or Republicans do…me being one.
Of course, there were plenty of leftwing idiots who gripe about everything President Bush did. For instance…do you honestly believe President Bush ignored the country while he was at his ranch?
That would be as absurd as griping because President and Mrs. Obama try to nurture their marriage with those wonderful date-nights.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
stop taking our money in form of taxes and I would be happy with any meal you choose. You can have corned beef and cabbage or PHO soup and I would care less
Posted by: Egon | November 26, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Happy Thanksgiving Tierra.
Posted by: d | November 26, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
C’mon, it’s Thanksgiving. Enjoy your turkey, break out your copy of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”, and catch up on your holiday reading.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
Hey Malcat, have a great turkey day and thank the troops for their service with a hug from me. And a hug to Prince Hal.
Posted by: Sharon | November 26, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Maybe it’s Turkey Loaf…
Posted by: Jennifer | November 26, 2009, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
at malcat. bush ded a better job than obama will ever do.
sincerely,
anon
Posted by: anon | November 26, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Hey Malcat, have a great turkey day and thank the troops for their service with a hug from me. And a hug to Prince Hal.
—-
Thanks, Sharon, I will gladly pass on your well-wishes and hugs to my two cousins.
As for Hal, I’m still mad at him for treating all those wives so badly when it was HIS fault he didn’t get more sons!
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
at malcat. bush ded a better job than obama will ever do.
sincerely,
anon
————–
On some things yes, on some things no.
Posted by: malcat | November 26, 2009, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
So much to give thanks for . . . so much left to be done.
Posted by: tierra | November 26, 2009, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
a citizen- What an intelligent post. What are you saying? Let me guess – Geo. Bush wore horsehair shirts his whole time in office to show he was in constant “pain” for creating a war under false pretenses. He never smiled, went to Camp David or danced? No, the Captain of the “ship of fools”, you mentioned, is back on the ranch. The co-Captain however, was a casualty. He suffers from severe disentary of the mouth and moral decay. Thank God the ship of state is in much steadier hands.
Posted by: Gretchenmom | November 26, 2009, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Yeah, why is him not eating turkey even news? My family hasn’t had turkey as our centerpiece dinner for Thanksgiving in years. These people are just trying to make Obama looks less American and they’ve had to stoop this low, over turkey.
Posted by: Hmm | November 26, 2009, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
He Pardoned a Turkey That is going to disneyland. I will carve it up and turn it to turkey legs.
Posted by: CSSR Klein | November 26, 2009, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Why are you all using this as your political forum. This isn’t even news.
Posted by: Josh | November 26, 2009, 10:49 pm 10:49 pm
The nerve of Obama withholding the dinner menu from…well…the people.
Its obviously a cover up for some sort of socialist entree…Peking Duck I bet.
They should call for an investigation of this, and for the sake of the country, quickly move to impeachment proceedings.
Posted by: Tea Bagger | November 27, 2009, 4:03 am 4:03 am
You must have had your heads in the Sand for the past 8 years….did this ALLLLLLLLLL happen in the last 10 months. Oh, I see. You felled for the “okey-doke”, while being distracted and participated in name calling…ARABS!, MUSLIMS!, TERRORISTS! THE TERRORISTS ARE COMING!!! OK….WHAT ABOUT OUR COUNTRY! THE PEOPLE, THE ECONOMY, THE JOBS, KATRINA, HEALTHCARE……AS LONG AS THE TOP 1% GOT THEIR TAX CUTS, HAD HEALTHCARE AND DIDN’T LIVE IN N.O., JUST DISTRACT THE REST OF THE POOR FOOLS WITH FEAR!
Posted by: sara | November 27, 2009, 8:07 am 8:07 am
I really could give hoot, but why?
Posted by: LongT | November 27, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Seriously.. he has small children who might not like turkey. Who gives a flip what they had for dinner! It’s not like they DIDN’T have dinner for thanksgiving. So.. based on this theory, Italian Americans who have lasagne for dinner are un-American too? Please.. find a real problem~
Posted by: Susanne | November 27, 2009, 10:27 am 10:27 am
The Big O’s comment to the soldier in Afghanistan: No, I have no intention of doing anything to help you and your buddies. Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?
Posted by: Ferd | November 27, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Does it really matter what the Obamas are having for thanksgiving dinner? Since taxpayers do not pay for their meals, (occupants of the white house pay for their grocery bills) The Obamas do not have to tell you what they are having, who they are having or when they are having dinner. It is about time you people know the facts before you go ranting and raving.
Posted by: Maureen | November 27, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Since the Obama’s obviously hate America and all that it has stood for these past 200+ years, I wonder what it is they are actually celebrating.
Posted by: PittsburghPatriot | November 27, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Obama is CLASHER TO BREAK “AMERICAN TRADITIONS”; HAVING OF MEATLOAF OF TURKEY IN THANKSGIVING DAY, SKIPPING OF PRAYER IN NATIONAL PRAYER’S DAY, AND INVITING OF GAY/LESBIAN COUPLES TO EGG HUNTER EVENT IN WHITE HOUSE ON THE
EASTER SUNDAY THAT JESUS CHRIST RESURRECTED HOLY. THESE ARE “THE CHANGE” SO FAR OBAMA HAS CHANGED.
Posted by: Unhappy w/clasher of American traditions by Obama | November 27, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
At least the globe isn’t warming anymore. Oh I guess it was never warming. Thank god for hackers.
Posted by: jwh539 | November 27, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
you know, It could be said that BO has fixed global warming. Now that the truth is out and there isn’t any warming, I will even give him credit for fixing it if they stop “crap and tax”
Posted by: jwh539 | November 27, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
At least the globe isn’t warming anymore. Oh I guess it was never warming.
_________________________________
I see the oil industry is getting very worried, since almost every major world leader is now going to Copenhagen.
The oil industry – pretending to have uncovered something, when they’re done nothing to contradict the overwhelming body of evidence global warming and greenhouse gases are very real.
Posted by: tierra | November 28, 2009, 2:51 am 2:51 am