Former President Bill Clinton Goes Vegan

by Annie Hartnett · 2010-09-20 09:30:00 UTC
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Bill Clinton was once so famous for his fast food diet that Saturday Night Live performed a sketch called "Clinton at McDonald's." In the five minute parody, Clinton eats a fish fillet, a sausage egg and cheese sandwich, a chicken nugget, bites of a hamburger, a milkshake, and several french fries.

But Bubba has turned over a new leaf. The former president has followed his daughter Chelsea's vegan footsteps and is now experimenting with a plant-based diet.

Clinton says he is trying to stay healthy for his future grandchildren, and has gone vegan to fight heart disease. You can watch Clinton speak about his new vegan diet in his own words here.

I'm in a state of shock over this news. I thought the most powerful United States politician we'd see adopting a vegan diet would be Dennis Kucinich. And, as much respect as I have for Dennis and his beautiful vegan wife, the Kucinichs got nothing on the Clinton family.

It appears that PETA didn't think Clinton was a prime candidate for veganism either, instead spending years attempting to convince former vice president Al Gore to go veg.

PETA went so far as to write Gore an open letter after he announced his divorce: "Now that you're single again and presumably considering dating, you may also be looking for a way to slim down. May we recommend kicking the meat and milk habit entirely and going vegan, which is not only one of the best ways to fight climate change but is also one of the best ways to shed unwanted pounds?"

While this letter was entirely tactless, Al Gore might be interested in the news that Bill Clinton has lost twenty pounds since going vegan.

It appears that Chelsea Clinton is solely responsible for her father's new animal-free diet. Chelsea asked him to lose weight before he walked her down the aisle.

President Clinton was voted one of Time magazine's 2010 Most Influential People, called a "mythic figure," and a "rockstar" by Bono. The U2 frontman writes: "there have never been a head and heart so perfectly matched as the pair within William Jefferson Clinton."

Hopefully Clinton's big, healthy vegan heart will influence others to think twice about eating animals. Perhaps more than one turkey will be pardoned at the White House this Thanksgiving.

Oh, and Chelsea? You're totally forgiven for not having a vegan wedding cake.

Photo Credit: sskennel

Annie Hartnett is a writer and animal advocate who has worked for several wildlife rehabilitation centers and environmental programs.

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