May 12, 2007 7:48 AM
A Tancredoburger with all the fixins
Photo by Steven R. Nickerson © News
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These two things are clear.
Rep. Tom Tancredo hates political correctness.
He also is of Italian ancestry. (Even though he built his first political campaign on handing out copies of his mother's Italian spaghetti sauce recipe, we won't call him Italian-American because he so often rails against "hyphenated Americans.")
So it was only right that on Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids, "Back roads to the White House" asked the long-shot Republican presidential candidate to weigh in on the story of our times.
With just a few seconds of reflection, Tancredo lamented that the landmark Blue Parrot restaurant in Louisville, Colo., has given in to complaints, including one from the National Italian American Foundation (NAIF), and re-named its famous wopburger.
Says Tancredo:
"I think they should have hung in there. It's just giving in to the politically-correct crowd, that's all it is."
As the Rocky's James B. Meadow reports, the item had been on the menu since 1919, when Michael and Emira Colacci, fresh from Campobasso, Italy, opened the restaurant as a gathering place for fellow paisanos. It consists of an Italian sausage patty, melted mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce on a bun.
But the name "alarmed" NIAF Chairman Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli, who sent a letter noting: "Perhaps you are not aware that this is a pejorative term that insults the Italian American community."
Perhaps.
So finally, after 88 years, they changed the name to the Italian burger -- a move that some lamented as "a death in the family."
As an alternative, they could call it a Tancredoburger. But since he's a fairly controversial fellow, some folks might consider that offensive, too.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.
How about the "Back roads burger"? Kind of gimmicky, but still...
July 1, 2007
7:58 PM
WALTER SANTI writes:
Congressman Tancredo is short sighted in endorsing the "Wopburger".
He is losing the Italian-American vote.
May 23, 2007
8:51 AM
Keith writes:
Dave II, speak for yourself. I grew up in The Bronx, just off the Grand Concourse and 167th. If you can't find a wopburger there, it's because the tiny diners are run by the Greeks and the remaining Italian restaurants are trying to be too upscale to server burgers of any type. If I'd known of a place that did serve one, I'd have found it funny and eaten there at least to try it.
I agree with you on the quality of the standard dishes - never knew what all the hype was about - and honestly I never even noticed the burger on the menu. However, I plan on patronizing them at least once to show support and, if I like the burger, I'll go out of my way to make it a regular spot. I'm skinny - I've got some room.
May 22, 2007
7:45 AM
Carlos Espinosa writes:
I'd just like to respond to "Joe" on behalf of Rep. Tom Tancredo - Yes, actually the Congressman has always been in support of going after ANYONE from ANYWHERE who is in the country illegaly. Regardless of what their country of origin is. Feel free to check out our website and our releases to see how we've targeted ALL illegals.
May 21, 2007
2:50 PM
Hogar De Vuelta (العودة) writes:
I wonder what Tancredo's thoughts are about Italians and other immigrants who came to this country 'without papers'. By Tancredo's rationale, they should have to return to their native lands as well,
Posted by joe on May 21, 2007 01:17 PM
Joe,
You should be more careful before you reveal your ignorance to the rest of the world. The fact that they arrived without papers did not change the fact that we controlled and approved of their entrance into the US. They were legal immigrants by the standards of the day.
May 21, 2007
2:01 PM
KDO writes:
Changes like this are the result of economic decisions - the restaurant owners didn't want the bad publicity so they dropped an outdated name that is commonly considered a slur - it has absolutely nothing to do with "pressure" or "control" (talk about paranoid...!) and everything to do with the bottom line. Business owners make these decisions all the time.
May 21, 2007
1:17 PM
joe writes:
I wonder what Tancredo's thoughts are about Italians and other immigrants who came to this country 'without papers'. By Tancredo's rationale, they should have to return to their native lands as well, Tancredo possibly included if they cannot provide substantial documentation of legal immigration. That way, we wouldn't be profiling certain ethnic groups. But of course, Tommy boy would never do that! What a joke this clown is.
May 15, 2007
5:33 PM
TW writes:
Typical off-the-cuff Tancredo response. Not surprising, from a guy who saw nothing wrong with speaking from a Confederate-flag-bedecked podium and singing "Dixie" after a South Carolina speech attended by Southern secessionists...
May 15, 2007
11:53 AM
steve writes:
Blue Parrot blinked! Too bad. I'd have never thought an Italian wop would have surrendered faster than a French frog. The reason there are no Wopburgers in Frisco is because the faeries outnumber the weenies, which is what wopburgers are made of.
May 15, 2007
11:44 AM
Gio writes:
No one has any idea of what WOP means.
For the clueless, it means WithOut Papers.
How is that a racial slur?
Bring the name back.
May 15, 2007
9:44 AM
Dave II writes:
I had forgotten about the Blue Parrot and the Wopburger.
About 15 years ago I had occasion to have lunch a couple of times in Louisville. I figured I would give the Blue Parrot a try since it had such a great reputation.
It was almost the worst Italian restaurant I have been in. I was actually surprised to learn that it was owned by Italians. Oh well, I guess not all of us can cook.
As for the Wopburger. I was amazed they called it that and figured they could only get away with it someplace without a large concentration of Italians. While we Italians do have thicker skins than other ethnic groups "Wopburger" goes too far. Funny how you won't be able to find a "Wopburger" in San Francisco, Chicago or the Bronx.
May 14, 2007
6:05 PM
bill yates writes:
88 years of racial slurs?
May 13, 2007
6:35 AM
LB writes:
Just one more example of the liberal mindset to take away rights of individuals and business owners.
88 years of tradition down the drain!
Contol! Control! Control!