# Could a vegetarian president candidate be elected? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098 "2011-06-11T11:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/1 "2011-06-11T11:54:07Z")
Thinking about Romney’s Mormon issue, just wondering what the title of the thread says. If a candidate was openly, but not PETA level, vegetarian would that person appeal to 51% plus of voters? Personally I don’t think it would fly, particularly the Rush/Fox News folks would have a field day against a Veg Democratic candidate. They would characterize the hypothetical candidate as environmentalist Wack-job and pushing a pro-Veg agenda. Also, the candidate wouldn’t be able to have the burger at the local bar photo ops. Let me know what you think. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/2 "2011-06-11T12:09:04Z")
What I wonder is how vegetarianism would even come up… I do not remember ever hearing anything about dietary preference of any candidate… And why the fuck would it matter in the first place? Worried that they may make eating meat illegal or something? ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/3 "2011-06-11T12:22:49Z")
Oh it would come up for sure. Fox News notices no meat being consumed during the photo ops and the weeks on the road with reporters. Obama smoking came up, not big time but a lot more people smoke than are Veg. You could really frame the candidate as out of touch w/ American people or Veg environmentalist wacko. You don’t think Fox News would mention it? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/4 "2011-06-11T12:38:16Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > You don’t think Fox News would mention it? Fox News mentions lots of things. Some of them are even true. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a significant point in their favour. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/5 "2011-06-11T13:17:15Z")
Ovo-lacto might have an uphill chance if it’s kept low-key as in a personal belief that meat is not healthy. Start playing up the cruelty aspect and that will blow any chance. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/6 "2011-06-11T14:33:10Z")
Only if they find an alternative to the rubber chicken dinner. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/7 "2011-06-11T16:10:54Z")
Bobby Jindal is a vegetarian BTW. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/8 "2011-06-11T16:26:32Z")
Probably not. Beef and meat companies are BIG business in the USA. They would use their power to keep him/her out. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/9 "2011-06-11T17:06:07Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > Probably not. Beef and meat companies are BIG business in the USA. So are tobacco companies, but a non-smoker could be elected president. All that being a vegetarian necessarily means is that the person chooses, for whatever reason, personally not to eat any meat. I don’t think most people care enough about a President’s dietary choices to change their vote because of them. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/10 "2011-06-11T17:21:20Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > What I wonder is how vegetarianism would even come up… I do not remember ever hearing anything about dietary preference of any candidate… Not that it _mattered_, but have you not heard of Presidential peanuts, jellybeans, pork rinds, (absence of) broccoli, cheeseburgers and Tex-Mex? ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/11 "2011-06-11T18:36:58Z")
Openly, but not PETA level? Sure. If they were of a party that wasn’t relying on flyover state votes. Could be problems for those[lactose-intolerant](http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2007/8/6wayne.html)candidates, though. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/12 "2011-06-11T18:47:32Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > Personally I don’t think it would fly, particularly the Rush/Fox News folks would have a field day against a Veg Democratic candidate. Do you think a vegetarian Republican would have an easier time being elected? I’d vote for a vegetarian, but I’m not American. ---
**Author:** ![QuarkChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c5a1d2/32.png) [@QuarkChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuarkChild)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/13 "2011-06-11T18:56:58Z")
I think that being a vegetarian candidate would be difficult for the reasons described above. However, you don’t need the support of Rush Etc. to be elected; you need the support of one side plus the independents. So it might be possible. Consider Obama–he had the full force of the right wing noise machine aimed against him (Madrassa! Muslim! Unpatriotic! Radical!) but got elected anyway, because the independents went for him. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/14 "2011-06-11T19:14:06Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > cheeseburgers That was for Bill Clinton, of course, who I understand is now vegan for health reasons. Vegetarianism as a _health_ choice (and not a nutty one, at that) is rising steadily in the public consciousness. I wouldn’t be very surprised to see a major candidate within the next few elections who has already made a similar choice by the time of candidacy, and when that happens, I doubt it will be a notable factor in the outcome. By then it will be seen as little different than giving up alcohol or extra salt. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/15 "2011-06-11T19:29:24Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > That was for Bill Clinton, of course, who I understand is now vegan for health reasons. Bill Clinton is a vegan? Can you share where you read this? ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/16 "2011-06-11T19:35:43Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Bill Clinton is a vegan? > > Can you share where you read this? [this was trivially easy to find](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ied_AD4iE) ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/17 "2011-06-11T19:51:42Z")
I think **the meat industry** might be the biggest barrier to a vegetarian prez, not the voters. Remember that there are a lot of special interests involved in modern food production (ever see the movie Food Inc?). Both Republicans and Democrats are in bed with big business agriculture. Remember that **even the almighty Oprah** was put on the defensive by the beef industry. That being said, Dennis Kucinich was a vegan when he was running for prez, so it wouldn’t be the first time. (I am a vegetarian myself so I notice these things, though I was pretty disappointed that he stopped identifying as a pro-life liberal when he decided to run for prez). ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/18 "2011-06-11T19:57:08Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > I think **the meat industry** might be the biggest barrier to a vegetarian prez, not the voters. > Remember that there are a lot of special interests involved in modern food production (ever see the movie Food Inc?). Both Republicans and Democrats are in bed with big business agriculture. > Remember that **even the almighty Oprah** was put on the defensive by the beef industry. > > That being said, Dennis Kucinich was a vegan when he was running for prez, so it wouldn’t be the first time. > (I am a vegetarian myself so I notice these things, though I was pretty disappointed that he stopped identifying as a pro-life liberal when he decided to run for prez). I remember when the beef industry sued Oprah. I think this was around the time she made friends with Dr. Phil. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/19 "2011-06-11T22:21:13Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > I think **the meat industry** might be the biggest barrier to a vegetarian prez, not the voters. > Remember that there are a lot of special interests involved in modern food production (ever see the movie Food Inc?). Both Republicans and Democrats are in bed with big business agriculture. > Remember that **even the almighty Oprah** was put on the defensive by the beef industry. > > That being said, Dennis Kucinich was a vegan when he was running for prez, so it wouldn’t be the first time. > (I am a vegetarian myself so I notice these things, though I was pretty disappointed that he stopped identifying as a pro-life liberal when he decided to run for prez). And I don’t think the average person knew Kucinich was a vegan. Also, vegan for health reasons doesn’t make sense. It’s a philosophy, not just not eating meat. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098/20 "2011-06-11T22:24:29Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Fox News mentions lots of things. Some of them are even true. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a significant point in their favour. The _reason_ Fox News tells lies is because they work in their favor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-vegetarian-president-candidate-be-elected/585098.md?page=2)