Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is being blasted for his attempts to seem relatable by crowing about his love for seasoning-less “white guy tacos” — even though critics point out he hasn’t shied away from the spice drawer in the past.
“I have white guy tacos,” the 60-year-old former football coach said sheepishly during a sit-down with running mate Kamala Harris, which was published on YouTube on Thursday.
When pressed by Harris, Walz explained that the Average Joe delicacy consisted of “pretty much ground beef and cheese” — and took the awkward gag one step further by insisting that he did not season the dish.
“Uh, no. Here’s the deal. No, they said to be careful and let her know this, that black pepper is the top of the spice level in Minnesota, you know?” he told the room.
The attempt at relatability was crucified by critics.
“This isn’t cute,” Fox News columnist David Marcus wrote on X.
“Walz is being used as a clown to mock white people. If Walz doesn’t like spicy food that’s fine, but it has nothing to do with being a white guy,” he said of the governor’s comment.
Marcus also claimed Walz was picked to be the “idiot, docile sitcom dad” of the Harris campaign.
Another commenter accused Walz of “falsely playing to every stereotype of ‘whiteness’” in a bid to “ingratiate himself” with diversity.
Right-wing media personality Michael Cernovich went so far as to dig up evidence that Walz actually won a recipe contest in 2016 with instructions for a taco casserole complete with paprika and chili powder.
“Geezus. On a hunch I thought. Hmmm I wonder if Tim Walz is lying about how people in Minnesota don’t season their food,” Cernovich wrote on X.
I really like Tim Walz, but as someone who also really likes cooking with flavor, I will tell you that black pepper is far from the top spice level in Minnesota. https://t.co/zUDsWOiNTQ
Alt-right activist Jack Posobiec also dug up Walz’s apparent fib, and reshared one of the governor’s own posts about his “pretty mean hotdish.”
I really like Tim Walz, but as someone who also really likes cooking with flavor, I will tell you that black pepper is far from the top spice level in Minnesota. https://t.co/zUDsWOiNTQ
“Weird thing to lie about, but lying simply comes naturally to the man who lied about his DUI, lied about being a retired command sergeant major, lied about carrying weapons in war, & happily encouraged & promoted books & articles falsely claiming that he was a combat veteran,” author Jerry Dunleavy chimed in, referring to the firestorm of criticism over Walz’s comments about his military record.
Even one of the governor’s fans was put off by the bit.
“I really like Tim Walz, but as someone who also really likes cooking with flavor, I will tell you that black pepper is far from the top spice level in Minnesota,” journalist Brian Shea commented.
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