Bush jokes about the White House chef

Cristeta "Cris" Comerford was named White House chef in August of 2005, after 10 years as an assistant chef in the White House kitchens. Trained in culinary arts in the Philippines, Austria and the United States, Comerford, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has been unusually press-averse for a White House chef -- declining most interviews and preferring to do her talking through her cuisine.

But Tuesday, welcoming Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the White House, President Bush couldn't resist getting in a joke about his chef.

First, said Bush, "I want to tell you how proud I am to be the president of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine Americans.  They love America and they love their heritage."

Second, he continued, "I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine Americans when I eat dinner at the White House.... And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President."

Arroyo thanked Bush for the compliment,  and for  the offer to send two assets the Philippines need desperately now: U.S. Navy ships  to help with ferry rescue, and rice to feed a country suffering a rice shortage.

"We're happy to do it," said Bush. "We want to help our friends in a time of need."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Tina Hager/White House

Comments

[Brady]

Even though Bush is a dumbass.. I really don't see anything wrong with his comments about Filipino-Americans.

[Nick]

"Countdown to Crawford" and "Bush Jokes About White House Chef." Two highly biased, prejudicial, and uncalled-for headlines. Why does the LATimes sponsor a column that not only eagerly anticipates the end of the president's term, but also warps a simple pleasantry into some kind of racist joke? Closer to graffiti than journalism.

[Fullerton, CA]

Bush couldn't recall her name so after stumbling over himself he falls back to his old habit of trying to turn it into a joke. The man is a complete bafoon!
Similar to asking the blind reporter why he's wearing sunglasses when the sun's not out.
His handlers need to tell him, "shut up when you don't know what to say. It's okay to remain silent" (and appear dumb, Then to open your mouth and remove all doubt to all nations).

[George Feldt]

Where's the "joke" in this story? Am I missing something?

[JASP]

I am of Filipino descent and I do not find Pres. Bush's comment about The Whitehouse Filipino Chef Cornerford insulting. I do not find anything wrong with what he said.. lighten up people!

-jasp

[jamesincalifornia]

I like the idea of the "Countdown to Crawford" series. Can't wait to see Bush go! You could enhance the series with some kind of a clock or graph to mark off the days and hours as they elapse.

[KathyYou know what s]

Bush bashing, particularly by the media, has done great damage to this country. We've become a country of idiots willing to let a bunch of journalism majors control our thoughts and beliefs. I'm beginning to fear that it will be our downfall.

[karela]

to Brady who doesn't see anything wrong---It would be like if your mother did the president's laundry and when you came to visit, he said he thinks of you every time he puts his socks on. You might act nice if the rest of your family was going to starve unless he gave you food, but you wouldn't like him for it. I don't think the president would feel complimented if it was his family in question. Do you? It isn't the highest form of diplomacy to remind someone, who has to be beholding to you, that their country men are your servants. I'm just mildly relieved that he didn't mention the Filipinos who serve the food, wash the dishes and sweep the kitchen floors at the White House.

[ChefJoAnna]

Johanna, what exactly is the JOKE here? other than pointing out, once again, that the president is a buffoon who NOT ONLY can't remember the name of the first female executive chef of the white house (who in fact, has worked in a managerial capacity in the white house kitchen for over 10 years) but offers pathetically weak compliments, saying "she's nice" and "she can cook". Even if you don't know who's feeding you, georgie, you could have one of your people look it up for you and give you a cheat-sheet, so that you might pay a proper compliment. Remember: three people you should never make angry are your dentist, your computer tech, and your chef!

[Chito Quijano]

I am a Filipino and I was not offended by Bush comment but I am outraged by the fact that our tax-dollars ($30 MILLION this year US military aid to the Philippines) is being used to support a regime with the worst record of human rights violations with over 900 political killings under the command of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Bush and Arroyo should be both indicted of war crimes in Iraq and Philippines.

[R]

offensive or not, it's pretty stupid and unpresidential.

[Sgt Lucifer]

We must also recall that George W Bush was also reminded of his well-tended green lawn as he welcomed Mexican president to the White House last August

[Jerry Renteria]

Countdown to Crawford is a nice idea, but it will get lost with all of the other Bush distractions, i.e. his Bushisms.

[Sheryl]

Is anyone going to comment on the fact that we're not "Philippine-Americans," but Filipino-Americans? It's like saying someone is Italy-American.

[K Zap]

damn right, we filipinos can cook and so can fusion of our filipino-americanness!

[Felix Tate]

Is it this part that's the 'joke'?:
"We want to help our friends in a time of need."
Clarification from the author would be helpful here.

[Steve Seagram]

How did this guy get into the White House again?

[Jim Bradford]

How can you read this and not be embarrassed? The man has no brains at all. If Clinton said something this stupid the republicans would scream 'racist' and demand a special counsel. It's only because we expect this dim-wit to spew nonsense every time he opens his mouth that you don't see the joke. Talk about the dumbing of America...

[Gail]

This isn't the worst thing that Bush has done, but it's pretty tacky. The American people deserve far more class and diplomacy from their President! As for Bush's worst thing, it has to be the war in Iraq, no doubt about it. Nothing else holds a candle to that!

[Bob Borden]

Kathy uknwt wrote,
"Bush bashing, particularly by the media, has done great damage to this country." It should really read,"Bush..... has done great damage to this country!" Bashing, schmashing; the guy's an idiot. Jeeesh!

[huh???]

I don't get it??? What joke???

[Juda's Priest]

this is to all my kababayans. how many of you are "PHILIPPINE-AMERICANS"? can you tell me how to become one?..LOL!!! i think that was the joke right there. i did not find that comment (as well as the other ones) offensive. in fact when i read that transcript from the white house website, i started laughing and thinking, "you gotta be kidding me, right?" you have the person that holds the highest office in the country talking that way? what a goof ball!

[lost_swimmer]

First of all, it's not bush bashing when the media just reports all of the moronic, embarrassing and highly insulting things that have flown out of our pres' mouth. Second, perhaps THAT is what has done great damage to this country - the fact that such idiotic things fly out of his mouth ALL THE TIME...FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm

and for the people who don't get the joke - you're probably just as bigoted as he is. It's gross. you meet with the president of a foreign nation and refer to a member of your service staff as a reminder of how great her people are? gross.

oh and "How did this guy get into the White House again?" His daddy and brother gave it to him.

[Ka_Jun]

You have to put his comment into context. The context that Philippine Nationals were actively recruited into the US Navy and due to overtly racist exclusionary policies were only permitted to be stewards and mess-boys until the 1970s. We Pinoy were good enough to cook/clean/valet for Bush & his type of people, but that was it.

[Juda's Priest]

Kathy uknwt wrote,
"Bush bashing, particularly by the media, has done great damage to this country." - you don't really believe that do you? the media is only reporting back what the guy did and/or said. you can't blame the media a person's actions...or for that matter, the silly things a person says. if you're a very high profile personality worldwide, it is your responsibility as a president of the US of A to be sensitive to the things you do and say. you can't just crack jokes because you don't know what else to say. that is very UN-DIGNITARY...you host the most important people of the world right in your backyard. if you don't want to be put on the spotlight, start acting like you know what you are doing. the media has no power whatsover in making policies. the media is not a policy making and not a regulating body of the country. but the president's office is!! so how can you say that they are doing great damage to this country? given there are some media outfits that needs to learn to be ethical, but the newsworthy ones still outnumbers the gossip monglers. without the media, you'd still be stuck in the dark ages. can you blame the media if the whole world referred to pres bush as "dubya" because of the way he said the letter W?