there's no reason to make up shit about the cheesy lard filled ham-cake when things like this: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_34925,00.html actually exists. thank god for paula deen.

butter

Hey Y'all, Boycott Paula Deen and Smithfield Ham
by dhfsfc
Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 10:53:30 AM PST
Diane Rehm just interviewed Paula Deen on the radio, promoting her latest cookbook Christmas with Paula Deen. I am sure that by the time it was over, Paula was sorry that she had agreed to the interview.

dhfsfc's diary :: ::
Although I only caught the last few minutes, what I heard was Diane questioning Paula about conditions at the Smithfield Packing factory in Tarheel, North Carolina. Paula Deen is a paid spokesperson for Smithfield, promoting their product at every appearance she makes. Meanwhile, Smithfield has become notorious for its dangerous and otherwise inhuman working conditions, as well as it's relentless anti-union activity. As Chicago Sun Times columnist Teresa Puente stated in a recent article, "The conditions at the company have been documented by Human Rights Watch, the National Labor Relations Board and OSHA. They are so notorious that last year the Chicago City Council passed a resolution critical of Smithfield."http://www.suntimes.com/...

So, what was the beloved Food Network chef's response to Diane's questions, as well as those of the obviously many people who took the time to call in and to write e-mails to Diane Reems, so that she could ask Paula about Smithfield, and her involvement with them?

"I have no particular expertise in these [labor] matters. I only have expertise in how ham tastes, and how it is processed." Essentially the Joe Klein defense we all have become accustomed to. If Paula were to use her head for more than just eating, she might realize that what she is saying is that she has relinquished her role as a human being, and is shutting her eyes to human suffering, because someone is paying her to do it.
" I have met with workers at the plant, and they have never expressed to me any unhappiness." Yes, Paula has apparently sat down and met with the largely black and Latino factory workers of Smithfield and they have expressed nothing but happiness to her. They have never indicated that they did not love their jobs, nor that they wanted a union.
However, when Diane asked Paula Deen whether, now that the matter has been brought to her attention, would she speak to the company and look into they way they treat their workers or whether they discourage union organizing, Paula quickly demurred. No, she repeated, because "I have no expertise in these matters." Now this is the funny part. Paula Deen actually mispronounced the word "expertise" at least once, and repeated the line verbatim about three or four times. Sounds like something that came out of Smithfield Public Relations, doesn't it?

Well, y'all, Christmas is coming and, while I am not an expert in these matters, I think we should spread the word that it's time to boycott Smithfield Ham, and all of their products!

Thanks to Bob B. who wrote a diary in November on the subject of boycotting Smithfield, with all the relevant information on Smithfield and the products to be avoided, as well as other steps we should all take.

http://www.dailykos.com/...

Also, please send an e-mail to the Food Network www.foodnetwork.com/food/about_us/te...to express your unhappiness with Paula Deen.

And finally, refuse to buy any Paula Deen books or products, and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same.

Happy Holidays, y'all!

Paula has a 'touching' story in her Christmas book of how she and her sons spent their last $200 to buy toys at WalMart for a needy child. If only she would show the same compassion to the children of Smithfield workers. Her handlers did her no favors when she became a Smithfield spokesperson. Taking only written questions and claiming to be naive demonstrates her avoidance of issues. While once a fan, I consider her a fraud. Emeril has at least done a lot to improve meals children receive at school in New York city. My understanding is that both he and Rachael Ray did not want to be affiliated with Smithfield when they were approached.

I was at the Bagdad theatre last night to see the doyene of morbidly obese receiving adulation of her minons waving sticks of butter and declairing their undying devotion to all Paula, all the time. I am sure that for many of the patrons of this event, Paula is the justification for their obesity. This is certainly a cult. I was viscerlly ill at the sight. I am not "sizeist" but what I witnessed at the Bagdad is best summed up by the Hebrew prophet Amos: "hear this word you cows of Bashan...who oppress the poor, who crush the needy..."(Amos 4:1-3). Ms Deens refusal to meet with the real workers at Smithfield Food Tarheal plant or meetingonly with those the company has deemed acceptable is this woman continuing to prosititute herself and do a gross dis-service to the misguided souls who purchase her crap and buy into her bull shit! Paula, why don't you come out in your white sheet -- you are a disgrace!