SNAKES: An InstaPundit prediction is fulfilled by David Frum. Referencing Obama’s juvenile snake-eating, I commented: “New Media Matters spin: See, he’s practically undergone Navy SEAL training!”
And sure enough, Frum writes:
Likewise, you wouldn’t think there’d be much scope to doubt the Americanism of one who bets his presidency on a mission to kill Osama bin Laden face to face rather than by the less risky means of a drone strike. Anyway, a lot of 100% Americans have eaten exotic foods. Teddy Roosevelt favorably compared the flesh of young bears to the taste of pork.
My friend in the Special Forces boasts proudly:
“‘Snake Eaters’ is a military slang term for Army Special Force (aka “Green Berets”), and YES we DO eat snakes. This is part of our survival training, although I have slayed and eaten snake in the field to supplement the rations, and because basically, snake tastes good.
“I have encountered snakes (and eaten them) throughout my career. I have eaten cobra in Thailand (and drank the blood mixed with Mekhong whiskey), Eastern Diamondback in Mississippi and copperhead North Carolina. For what it’s worth, I prefer rattlesnake; tastes like chicken.”
Well, like the dark meat in my experience. But I prefer dark meat. (And yes, I’ve eaten rattlesnake many times). But I’m claiming this prediction as fulfilled. Sure, it’s Frum instead of Media Matters, but, really, that’s pretty close these days.
Also, despite Frum’s claim, the passage wasn’t found by the Romney Campaign, but by the Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher.
UPDATE: Reader Rich Chapman writes:
The problem with eating dogs is not that eating dogs is exotic, like eating snakes.
The problem with eating dogs is that dogs are our friends. Snakes are not our friends.
I don’t think snakes are really capable of friendship.