First lady Jill Biden probably thought she was being cute when she talked about fish sticks in setting out the lavish preparations for tonight’s state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.
Biden recalled her mother’s serving of fish sticks in noting that any dinner can be done well and with love.
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“My mother made every dinner a special occasion. She would bring out the china, put fresh flowers on the table, and light candles,” Biden said yesterday. “Even if we were only having fish sticks from the freezer, she always made our dinners feel special.”
If the Biden White House can prioritize purchasing 200 Maine lobsters for a fancy dinner, @POTUS should also take the time to meet with the Maine lobstermen his administration is currently regulating out of business. https://t.co/PLiGGopsid
— Congressman Jared Golden (@RepGolden) December 1, 2022
“I learned that setting a table can be an act of love — and once I had my own family, I did my best to keep that tradition alive,” she added.
Of course, the first Biden state diner isn’t an everyday affair, so fish sticks wouldn’t do. Instead, the White House reportedly shipped in 200 Maine lobsters to be steamed and poached in butter and caviar for the appetizer of a three-course dinner.
And it now includes a side dish of Democratic family controversy.
With the announcement of serving lobster, the congressman who represents many in the industry is crying foul.
In a tweet, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) said, “If the Biden White House can prioritize purchasing 200 Maine lobsters for a fancy dinner, @POTUS should also take the time to meet with the Maine lobstermen his administration is currently regulating out of business.”
Golden, who sometimes sounds like a Republican, has joined with other Mainers to fight for the lobster industry against administration regulations limiting catches, moves that have prompted some stores and grocers to stop selling lobster.
He even featured a lobster dinner in a campaign ad earlier this year as he defended his seat.
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Last night, as the controversy spread in Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) joined in with her own tweet.
“Delicious, sustainable Maine lobster is an excellent choice for the main course for the president’s first State Dinner,” she wrote. “If Maine lobster is good enough for the White House to serve, it’s good enough for every seafood retailer — including Whole Foods — to sell.”
Delicious, sustainable Maine lobster is an excellent choice for the main course for the president’s first State Dinner. If Maine lobster is good enough for the White House to serve, it’s good enough for every seafood retailer—including Whole Foods—to sell. https://t.co/VV8pUqZPOo
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 1, 2022
