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?

[Andres Bonifacio]

Read this, and you'll see why Dubya's statements are problematic.

Filipinos in the U.S.:
‘Where Are You from? When Are You Going Back?

http://www.bulatlat.com/news/4-48/4-48-filipinos.html

[My Other Car's the Tardis]

Incredibly insulting and potentially damaging to US/Philippine relations? Probably not. Really awkward and a little gauche? Yes.

Signed,

A proud "Philippine-American"

[My Other Car's the Tardis]

Incredibly insulting and fatally damaging to US-Philippine relations? Probably not. Awkward and a little gauche? Most definitely.

Signed,

A proud "Philippine-American" and Bush-critic

[sylvia camacho]

Bush is really dumb.... could not remember the name of the Fil American chef at the white house... Bill Clinton is a better president... he can name names easily especially someone who cooks your food daily....

As a Fil-Am, it was so dumb of Bush to say Philippine American.. It is Fil-Am and it has been used in the community. As usual, Bush lack the curiosity to even learn about trivia...

But he is on his way out and couldn't care less about his stupidity... I wish and pray his impeachment will go through

[Lee]

Yes, blame the media, they have no business reporting the truth. They need to get back to telling the lies they did before the Iraq war. What is the matter with them any how, don't they know American's don't want the truth, we want the Republican dance.

[Rose Tyler]

I would like to point out that while many of you keep emphasizing Ms. Comerford's role as a member of the service staff, she is actually an executive chef in the White House! That is far from a demeaning position for any professional DEGREED chef. What's more she is the FIRST FEMALE EXECUTIVE CHEF in White House history! She is not a short order cook at the Waffle House, not that there's anything wrong with that either. My point is that she is a professionally trained chef who has attained a certain status in her field. There is no shame in setting yourself apart and excellling in your profession. It was quite complimentary to hold her up as an example of the best of both the Phillipines and the United States. Bush says many things that truly are worthy of mocking, but this isn't one of them. Shame on the L.A. Times for demeaning Ms. Comerford's achievement with this garbage.

[Becky Mondragon]

John Stewart says it best. Bush makes these unbelieveable comments and then does the "Nailed it" look.

Bush is a disgrace... he is an embarrassment to the country... he made us lost our stature in the world for his lies and bumblings. Can we afford to wait another 6 months before this clown goes back to Texas? How did we ever put up with him for 8 years?

[Realist]

Bush is an idiot, but he's said lots of things that were dumber than this. I suspect the press is just getting in a few last licks because they know that soon they won't have him to kick around any more.

Relax, people - it's not like this will be his last verbal gaffe. He seems to average about one a month, and he's still got six months left as Prez.

[Felix Razon]

How about an American chef at Malacanang? Anyone eager to apply among those who praised Comerford/the terrorist Arroyo/torture president Bush?

[D. Rabago]

For those who "don't get" why Bush's comments are both stupid and degrading:

Not only does Bush incorrectly state "Philippine-Americans" instead of Filipino-Americans, as other readers have posted, but he also insults a highly decorated professional on his staff by DIMINISHING her culinary accomplishments, her presence in the White House to merely being "a really good cook." In doing so, he perpetuates the long-lived derogatory stereotype of Filipinos coming to this country as indentured help, when in reality, many Filipinos contribute to the progress of this land not only in the service sector, but also as healthcare providers, business owners, academics and politicians. And we do so with immense pride in our roots.

Americans expect their rightful leader to know how to address his people in a respectful way, regardless of gender and cultural background. Americans expect their leader to know his staff well, and not rely on pathetic stereotypes to describe a person's race, gender and background. THIS IS RACISM AND SEXISM SNEAKILY DISGUISED AS AN UNDERHANDED "COMPLIMENT."

However, this comment was made Bush... and by now we should all not be so surprised. Not only is this insulting to Filipino-Americans and women, but it is insulting to ALL Americans. We ALL deserve better than this moron!

[JLee]

President George W Bush's frequent tussles with English are numerous and legendary that nothing shocks me anymore. Nincompoopery aside, Bush has an axe to grin with the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo eversince she withdrew her troops from Iraq ( one of the first among the Coalition of the Willing members to do so) not to mention the increasing role China plays in today's Philippine economy notably , the signing of Joint Oil/Gas Exploration Project in Spratleys Island . We all know how this W from Texas reacts when OIL is mentioned, don't we? He instantly becomes a Wartime President running with scissors. We should all know, afterall, we've suffered and continue to suffer these consequences to this day.
Viva la Filipinas!
JLee

[sugbuanon]

I don't know about you guys but "Philippine-American" as this dimwit has said, is just not right! It is like saying "Italy-American" or "Poland-American" instead of Italian-Americans or Polish-Americans. Bush needs to go back to the basics of the english language. What a disgrace to the english language (not to mention the U.S.) he has been!

Didn't he even bother to ask somebody before this meeting how to properly call Americans of Filipino decent? Didn't he even bother to ask around if there are other Filipino-Americans who are prominent in other fields of work other than cooking? Herein lies the insult folks- the degree of preparedness he had for this meeting is directly proportional to the degree to which he thinks about Filipino-Americans and Filipinos for that matter (which is ZILCH).

[Esther]

PhilippineAmerican is CORRECT. so is Pilipino-American or Filipino-American. Philippine is the adjective for the name of the country (Philippines, with an S).

I thought there is dignity of labor in America, and we encourage our kids to do any honorable job/career they want to do. To be the Executive chef in the White House would be a great achievement.

[Rose Tyler]

THIS IS RACISM AND SEXISM SNEAKILY DISGUISED AS AN UNDERHANDED "COMPLIMENT."

Really? I think you're giving him way too much credit. Considering the context, I think it much more likely that he was trying to be personal and down to earth. He complimented her as a person, not just for her culinary skill. I don't get that it's sexism at all. He hired her for that position despite the long-held tradition of appointing a male as executive chef. Really, can't we find something legitimate with which to skewer him?

Seriously, he called her a Phillipine-American. So? If someone called me a Norway-American, I would not get my knickers in a twist. I might think they weren't all that articulate, but I wouldn't take it as an insult.

[Ian]

The insult to me is that he only recognizes the contributions of Filipino-Americans when one cooks for him. But what do you expect from a spoiled rich white kid like Bush?

[James]

I see nothing wrong with the headline. People who support Bush need to realize that over 70% of Americans hate this guy and find him to be an embarrassment. Most of us will be very glad to see this jacka** go! He's been a black eye to all of us for far too long. I literally count the days until we are rid of his buffoonery.
As far as this particular SNAFU it is a pretty mild one, but typical of his awkward handling of almost any social situation.
The people I really find frightening are the 28% of our population who would follow this man to their doom and our own unquestioningly. Astonishing how many people refuse to use their brains and mindlessly follow whatever their party, pastor, or neighbor tells them all the while carrying on this illusion that the media is thee just to lie to them and present a liberal viewpoint. Wake Up! The media is controlled by conservative ownership even if the actual reporters tend to be liberal so most of it is extremely balanced and hasn't been left leaning since the 70's. The only reason Bush even has 28% approval is because the press was extremely kind to him for the first 5 years of his presidency. Oh, and the fact that he has controlled most of the information coming out with a propaganda machine unrivaled since the Nazi's and limited and controlled press conferences.

[Mike]

It's not a column, it's a blog you morons; and the damage done to this country hasn't been done by the press, it's been done by the most incompetent asshat ever to occupy the White House. Our downfall isn't in a free press, it's in ever electing someone this horrendously stupid ever again.

[Maria]

I'm Filipino myself and I really didn't see this as particularly offensive. I was surprised by the animosity of the comments, to be honest. It seemed like an honest (if not especially eloquent) compliment on the president's part. It's no insult to be called a good cook - not if you're the White House chef and you trained your whole life for a position like that.

[Rose Tyler]

Thank you, Maria.

James, I understand where you are coming from when it comes to blindly following. I have the same fears. Frankly, I have my doubts about any past or sitting president or presidential candidate that refuses to see how NAFTA and globalization have weakened our country. We have become a derivative nation, no longer producing real value, but imaginary value. When we all wake up and see that the emporer has no clothes, we will realize that it was garbage like this that distracted us from the real issues. That is my beef with such petty stories, blogs or not.

[Eskrimador]

I too am a Filipino American and can see the remarks as a double edge sword. I can see how some of us pinoys would be insulted. In a way, Bush's remarks insinuates that Filipinos are only known as cooks. Definitely not so. We are multi-talented and multi-educated folks.

Perception is the key here. C'mon fellow pinoys. We all know Bush is a dumbbell and he's just about out of the office. Bush's remarks (historically) have put him in the hot seat. This is yet another testament that we had a true retard as our commander in chief.

We (pinoys) know we're better just cooks. Though being a top chef is not bad at all in terms of a professional career and we are great cooks! Well, most of us are....hehehe.

Lighten up my fellow pinoys. I for one have a short fuse but this is not one of the times in which we should or have to express our dismay over Bush Jr.

He's destroyed himself and is continuing to do so in his own stupidity and lack of PR. Let him destroy himself further and just laugh at his stupid, stupid, and I say again, stupid comments.

To be honest, I think people should take a look at their own insecurities if they are offended by Bush's Filipino remarks. Was it dumb? Yes, but only the way it was phrased.

He leaves behind a legacy of stupidity. Don't follow suit by wasting your energy on expressing what we "all" already know. Bush is a JACKASS :)

If you all don't mind, I am now going to eat some kare-kare and lechon. Damn this post made me hungry now. Good thing I live in Daly City, CA where I can find Filipino food easily so I don't have to spend time over the stove.

Regards,
Eskrimador

[Juda's Priest]

How long did it take you to look that up in the dictionary and to have a premise for your arguement that the term is correct? I don't see how that term could be correct when you are talking about the nationality of a person. What our beloved president was talking about isn't the country itself, but a FILIPINO NATIONAL who is from the Philippines. And no it is not correct because we/the country (meaning the Philippines) are not a territory or a colony of the great US of A. Are you trying to say that if you were half Japanese and half Filipino, I can call you a PHILIPPINE-JAPAN/JAPAN-PHILIPPINE? No offense meant Esther, but if you're a Filipina (not a Philippine, but a FILIPINA), I am saddened by the fact that you would not know the difference and correct term for us FILIPINO-AMERICANS. But if you're not a Filipina, consider yourself educated about the correct term of referring to me and my kababayans. And yes it is an insult when you don't know how to refer to people of different national descent (in general) the correct way.

Esther wrote:
PhilippineAmerican is CORRECT. so is Pilipino-American or Filipino-American. Philippine is the adjective for the name of the country (Philippines, with an S).

[Rian Cali]

Actually, being an executive chef means that you're on top of the kitchen brigade. Chef Comerford is not the person who heaves a large chunk of tenderloin into a steel stockpot then slips on the floor afterwards. Exec chefs do not merely cook, they lead.They brainstorm menus and conjure the recipes out of anywhere, or sometimes nowhere. It's a great deal of chemistry, a great deal of brainwork and genuine honesty to be in that position. They didn't put her there just for the palatability of her dishes, the president's life is also at stake with every plate he eats and also his guests' so they have to designate a trustworthy woman in that significant position. How come you say that being a head chef is offensive when you don't find being the head of his security party offensive? The former invents menus while the latter writes plans, and in simple words, the latter is translated as bodyguard.