Electronica star of the 1990s and famous vegan Moby called out President Obama for his stab at veganism back in 2008 when, according to the artist, “He said something about how much he loves bacon.”
Well, actually, Moby, he said he loved steak.
“I do like a steak once in a while. I’m just being honest,” then-Sen. Obama said at a public meeting in Florida when approached on the topic. “I like barbecue, I’m not going to lie. …”
But after his disclosure, Obama seriously addressed sustainable food systems that Moby gave a nod to.
At the hipster-safe haven Busboys & Poets on Wednesday night, Moby and co-author Miyun Park discussed their new book, “Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Safety (Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat),” and animal production issues. Moby emphasized how taking on factory farms to embrace food safety requires change in policy and stressed the overwhelming power of animal lobbies in the political system.
He even dared take on fellow liberal Al Gore.
“I asked him why … he wrote a book about an inconvenient truth, he doesn’t mention animal production,” Moby said, “… and his answer was really honest, because it’s too inconvenient of a truth for most people.”
He responded to criticism by groups like Humane Watch who have criticized animal advocacy organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society (which sponsored the event) for spending a substantial amount on advertising. Moby’s take: Compare it with his hard-core punk days.
“Unless you were a perfect hard-core purist we would criticize every move you made,” Moby said. “… So there’s that tendency to be so extremist and so it’s like … isolate yourself so it’s like you and two other people. … Vegan Trotskyites who only wear bags on their shoes, or on their feet, rather.”
