Cookiegate Is All Over the Internets!

[Stephanie]

Do not cheat in the '08 Presidential Cookie Bake-Off, Mrs. McCain. The blogosphere will catch you, and another intern will have to be fired!


At Wonkette:
Cindy McCain Continues To Steal Easily Googlable Recipes


And HuffPost:
Re-Heat Offender: Cindy Bakes Another Whopper


And TPM:
McCain Camp Cribs Recipe For Cindy -- Again!


The comments at Family Circle are pretty funny too.

[Cha]

1. Cookiegate...leave it to

cindy mccain to make this even possible. They're living in the last century too before Al Gore invented the internet.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. And you found it first..... SEND IT TO KEITH

He's taken some of my stories I have found before.

[Stephanie]

3. I couldn't find a link to send it to him.

Now it's on HuffPost it's on his radar anyway.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. They have a new link...... try this one

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18616878/

[Stephanie]

10. Thanks

:hi:

[Mz Pip]

4. Does Cindy even bake cookies?

See sort of strikes me as the type who has the help do most everything.

[tanyev]

7. I doubt that she's ever even opened a can of soup.

[L. Coyote]

44. Wow, soup comes in cans??? Which Country Club has that?

Just need to know to avoid the place!! :rofl:

[frickaline]

82. Probably only brownies

:smoke:

[blogslut]

5. Yep

And the best part, this scandal may just sound the death knell for that damned Family Circle bake-off. My hope is that the magazine will be so embarrassed by this they stop that ridiculous competition forever.

The fact that Cindy McCain is a recipe pinching faker is pure bonus.

[IndyOp]

6. One trick I learned is to ground up some of your sons "special seasoning."

OMG! You were right about the comments over at Family Circle! :rofl:

One trick I learned is to ground up some of your sons "special seasoning." You know, the green stuff he keeps in a baggie in his underwear drawer. Grind it up and simmer with the 3/4 cup of butter until it turns golden brown. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth and proceed as normal. You'll be voting for Bush's third term in no time!

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. that is just too too rich !!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[kenny blankenship]

13. Sprinkles are even better!

Never had any complaints about the little blue ones.

[elliotwayne]

11. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[sniffa]

12. Good job

At first, I thought you were referring to this:



Courtesy of DS1.

K&R

[JimGinPA]

14. Her 'Oatmeal Vicodin' Recipe Is The Best

:evilgrin:

[Canuckistanian]

22. Her 'Xanax Zucchini' is to DIE for, I hear

Or was it the 'Percoset Puffs'?

[Eurobabe]

84. Then you haven't tried her Klonopin Krispies!

They'll really set you back. :spray:

[tridim]

15. LOL at the graphic.

:rofl:

[Stephanie]

17. So funny! From HuffPost

I hope Cindy will explain this controversy tomorrow...

[Cali_Democrat]

18. That graphic is awesome

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stephanie]

19. Now also in NY Observer >

http://www.observer.com/2008/cindy-mccain-lifts-recipes-again

[tishaLA]

20. "That's not cooking we can believe in"

Says someone at TPM. That? Is hysterical.

[Marie26]

21. You're famous, Stephanie! nt

[AnnieBW]

23. Bring me those puppies!!!

Or at least some Vikes!

[bleever]

24. Dan Abrams just mentioned it

on his show.

Nice work!

[Colobo]

25. It's amazing the woman can't be honest about where she got the freaking recipe.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

29. I don't get this...

At the risk of being labeled a McCain apologist, I don't get the supposed controversy here. I have very few recipes (none, actually) that I didn't get from somewhere else. When somebody gives me a recipe, I never assume that it's original to them.

Why does everybody seem to think that Cindy McCain is in the kitchen creating new recipes. If she were Martha Stewart or someone like that, I could see where this would be a problem.

[Stephanie]

31. 1) They were busted doing the same thing earlier; 2) She lied; and 3) It's a CONTEST - she cheated.

Previously they posted "Cindy's Recipes" on the campaign website, only the recipes were cut and paste from the Food Network website. The campaign blamed that one on an intern. It's ok to say this is one of my favorite recipes, just don't claim it's YOUR recipe when clearly an intern assembled some stuff and posted it to enhance your image as a family gal. Second, in this instance, she tells Family Circle that this cookie recipe is a family favorite, used to be just for special occasions, now they make them whenever they get together, the recipe came from a family friend, etc. All elaborate lies when you see that once AGAIN, an intern copy and pasted the recipe from the Hershey's website. It's ok to love a Hershey's recipe, just don't lie about it. The point is, they just make stuff up and expect us to buy it. Well, we don't.

[Evergreen Emerald]

42. I agree. The article asks for their "favorite" cookie recipe. Not an "original"

And, frankly I don't know anyone who creates recipes. Curious, has anyone checked into the history of Michelle's recipe?

[Stephanie]

43. *yawn*

Can't you even PRETEND to be on our side, like Cindy PRETENDS to cook?

[Evergreen Emerald]

45. I think you should get on board the Obama campaign.

I can support the democratic nominee without resorting to ignorant republican-like tactics against the spouse of a candidate. The republicans attacked Theresa Heines-Kerry and Hillary Clinton the very same way "some" are attempting to attack Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama. I will not stoop to those tactics.

Remember, we represent a different kind of politics. I think you should get on board the Obama type of politics.

[Stephanie]

46. *pssst*

The Clintons' recipe is copied from Betty Crocker! Now she'll never be VP!

[ellacott]

58. That's not the problem

No one is crtiticizing Cindy because her recipe is not original. The criticism is directed to the fact that she was not truthful about the origin of the recipes. Michelle does properly give credit to where she got the recipe from.

It is a pattern with Cindy that is driving this story. She used 2 other recipes that she claimed was a family recipe but was actually taken off the Food Network website. Why couldn't she just say that this was a recipe that she got from Rachel Ray?

It's not a question of where she gotthe recipes from, it's more about not giving the proper credit. If you're going to lie about cookie recipes what else would you lie about?

[Evergreen Emerald]

65. my family recipes are from all sorts of sources...not one is original

(that I know of). Indeed, I am certain there are very few people who create original recipes.

So, my family recipes would also look like the Hershey's cookie cook book. Even the recipes I received from my mother in-law in a little home-made book of her favorite recipes. So, if I said I got my recipe from my mother in-law it would be true...where she got it? I have no idea. But I know she did not create it.

There are plenty of things to attack McCain on. This is stupid, petty, shows ignorance, and is frankly hypocritical after complaining that Michelle should be off limits--to turn around and attack Cindy McCain about the origin of her "favorite" (not original) recipe. It demeans us.

[ellacott]

71. You don't pay attention

You keep mentioning "Original" when this is not even the issue. You are absolutely right that this could have been a recipe legitimately passed down from her family. If she had not lifted two previous recipes from The Food Network and lied about it then people wouldn't be suspicious of this latest recipe.

It's actually not petty if it reveals a pattern of behavior. If Michelle lied about where she got a recipe then she should have to held accountable for that lie also.

[Evergreen Emerald]

74. No. It is you that is not paying attention.

She said she got it from a friend. The friend may well have given her the recipe. See my post above: I get lots of recipes from friends that are from other sources.

1. What makes you think she lied?
2. WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT CINDY MCCAIN? Distraction for the masses--rather than focus on REAL issues we attack the female. Keating 5, Iraq, Iran.

DU is not a gossip republican site. DU is a progressive site. Not bent on attacking the candidate's spouse over a RECIPE!!!

Good heavens DU has lost it.

[ellacott]

76. To answer your question

1. She lied about 2 previous recipes. Why did she lie about those? Because she lied about 2 other recipes it decreases her credibility. That is the issue.

2. Lots of people care about Cindy, she's a window into the life of the McCains. For some odd reason people assume that others can't concentrate on more than one issue.

Stephanie forwarded this to other sites and they picked up on it. It is an interesting look into the personality of the McCains.

[seaglass]

75. Have you ever gotten a recipe from a friend and questioned

them about the original source of the recipe?

This has got to be one of the dumbest topics I've ever seen here...Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED DU.

[ellacott]

77. I also don't take recipes from The Food Network and claim they are family recipes

When this happens for the third time people are going to be suspicious.

[seaglass]

78. I guess. I just find the whole topic trivial and really can't believe

in this day that we actually expect women to have favorite cookie recipes.

[Stephanie]

80. It's for the kids, and it's kind of cute, in a way.

And Bill submitted a recipe too. He did not claim it as his own, of course. He said the family cook makes them and he likes to eat them.

[ellacott]

81. If it were just this episode then I would agree with you

But this is the third time. To me it's part of a narrative. Taking someone's husband, taking drugs from her own charity.

[Stephanie]

27. No kidding!

You see how that works?! Now if we could only get the same viral action on substantive stuff...

[Stephanie]

28. What did he say?

:hi:

[bleever]

34. He basically laid out the facts

the way you did in your first post, and prefaced it by mentioning the first episode of recipe plagiarism.

Consider this the dessert portion of the blogospheric serving up of a new paradigm in viral politics.

:)

[Stephanie]

35. ty!

:hi: It is delicious!

[ellacott]

68. This is the link for MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25201471#25201471

[grantcart]

26. k and r

[Stephanie]

30. Now in US Magazine

Will they have to disqualify her from the Cookie Contest?

http://www.usmagazine.com/cindy-mccain-plagiarizes-cookie-recipe-again

[blogslut]

49. Not that I know anything

But perhaps it's time to start asking Family Circle what they're going to do about this.

http://meredith.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=contacts

[bleever]

51. .

the avatar!

[blogslut]

53. I know!

It's almost as magical as this image:



But of course, this one is God:

[Stephanie]

54. I think they must already know they've got a little problem.

The comments at the Family Circle site are out of control. Will Cindy be disqualified?! Hang onto your hats!

[sudopod]

57. I agree

Your avatar is made of slack and win, good sir.

[Hippo_Tron]

32. And just yesterday people were talking about how Michelle would lose because of the elitist amaretto

[Stephanie]

33. Yes!

I did google amaretto shortbread cookies and saw some references but no recipes.

[Cha]

48. I said I saw people all the time(where I work) looking

for special ingredients to pull some recipe together they'd gotten from one of their cooking shows.

[Overseas]

36. LOOOVVVE the photo !! Cindy never looked better !

[chiffon]

37. Stephanie, I first read about this on YOUR thread here on DU this afternnoon!

I am also certain that your post was lifted and used by the others. I wish they could at least give you credit. Any-who, way to go!

:toast:

[Stephanie]

40. I sent it to them!

I sent it to Wonkette & HuffPo. Wonkette links back to my post here. :hi:

[chiffon]

41. Thanks for clarifying that. I am glad they link back....That's class! n/t

[thewiseguy]

38. She has a habit of stealing things

From perscription drugs to cookie recipes :rofl:

[thewiseguy]

39. Cookie Monster is a liar too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaQNmYBB77E

lol

[AspenRose]

47. "C is for cheating...that's good enough for me"

:rofl:

[shellgame26]

66. rofl

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Liquorice]

50. It's hard to believe women have to put up with this kind of

crap still... I mean that the spouses of presidential candidates are still required to offer up cookie recipes and being raked over the coals over which cookie tastes better, and now whether the recipes are even theirs or not. I truly don't believe Hillary ever had a chance because of her gender.

[blogslut]

52. Hillary is the reason the magazine started the bake-off

Remember the cookie controversy? When Ms. Clinton was scorned because she said: "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession."

Family Circle jumped on the opportunity and in 1992, held the first Presidential Cookie Bake-Off. Ironically, Ms. Clinton won that competition as well as the 1996 contest.

Don't get me wrong. I think the contest is insulting. But Ms. Clinton did compete and did win, twice.

[snooper2]

79. you crack me up..

you do realize that Bill submitted a recipe, ( one he stole online as well ).

So, Cindy McWobble and Bill Clinton Inc. both cheated, and are disqualified...

which makes Michelle the winner!!!!!!!!

[LynneSin]

55. All this dingbat had to do was say her favorite recipe came from Hershey's

I mean, how many of us have our own original family recipe for cookies? Hell my favorite cookies had their recipe on the back of Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chips.

I'm sure if the McCain folks contacted Hershey's they would have allowed for the recipe to be printed. I mean it's free publicity for Hershey's and Cindy could have said "Oh my family favorite came right from Hershey's" and this mess would have never existed.

Clearly Ms. McCain has lived a life of privilege that dictated that if she wanted something and it wasn't hers - just take it. She did it to get her husband, her drugs and now 2 recipes. What else has she stolen?

[Stephanie]

59. She doesn't have a "favorite recipe", Lynne

The campaign had an intern dig up a recipe. Just like the last time. And the intern found this one online, copied and pasted it, made a few edits in an attempt to disguise it, just as a college freshman might do in a term paper, and sent it off. Example:


Hershey's website:
Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large bowl, beating until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.


Cindy's intern:
In a large bowl beat the butter or margarine, granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well.

[LynneSin]

63. She could have still had an intern do it and give Hershey the credit.

Not like we're going to force a stool sample from her to see if she ate the cookies recently.

[Stephanie]

64. Yes she could have! But that would have destroyed her whole fictional narrative:

"Originally for special occasions only, these butterscotch-chip-studded cookies are now "an absolute must" whenever the whole family gets together, says Cindy. The recipe came from a good friend."

[DearAbby]

61. My favorite cookie recipe

was on the back of a Quaker Oats box, I am not ashamed to give credit to the box with the picture of Barbara Bush on it! I love oatmeal cookies!

[LynneSin]

62. My mom made that recipe too - it was a good recipe

you have good taste just like I do

[flpoljunkie]

56. MSNBC's Contessa Brewer just gave the full absolution for Cindy McCain on this.

Said she was won a recipe contest with one she had stolen herself. So there, all you who complain about Cindy McCain's cookie recipe dishonesty!

[Stephanie]

60. Seriously?

I had it on in the background and I didn't even notice!

[flpoljunkie]

87. Yep, and she repeated her defense again in the noon hour.

Contessa was saying if she cheated in a recipe contest, it was okay for Cindy McCain to do so for a magazine. The young woman hosting the noon hour could not endorse this defense.

[Stephanie]

67. Oooh! MSNBC is calling it Recipe-Gate!

Coming up next! Hah! This is too fun!

[Stephanie]

69. That was great! They said, according to HuffPost, alerted by a "tipster" (ME!)...

That her recipe was identical to the one at Hersheys.com - the only difference, they said, was Mrs. McCain uses 1 and 2/3 cups of butterscotch chips, where Hershey's uses 1 and 3/4.

What will we tell the CHILDREN???

[ieoeja]

70. This actually makes *us* look pathetic.

I thought this was addressed months ago, for one thing, with her basically saying, "that might have been where I got the recipe, why do you ask?".

This is going to rank up there with the stupidest of the stupidiest faux scandals cooked up by the Republics against our guys.

[npincus]

72. LOL- I jsut posted a thread... MSNBC picked it up!!!

Way to go, girl! Your find went national!

Don'tcha just love the Internets?

:rofl:

[Stephanie]

73. I do!

The internets is FUN! :rofl:

[Eurobabe]

83. I heard on MSNBC last hour: an "unnamed source" alerted HuffPo

:rofl: :rofl:

[Stephanie]

85. Well, I guess that is editorial license.

I'm okay with it! :)

[Stephanie]

86. Family Circle responds to the "controversy"

http://www.parents.com/community/food-diary/?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aefa1994f-a175-4064-9661-5d2feb5a0bfdPost%3ab8e226bf-f689-4cd9-a45a-03ea13f20de1

[Cha]

88. Wonder if The View knows

about this?

[democrattotheend]

89. I think we should call it "Hersheygate"

Because my dog's name is Hershey, and since he feels ripped off by Cindy McCain he ought to at least get a gate named after him.

[Swamp Rat]

90. hee hee!!

:D