Michelle Obama Thrilled to Head to Charlotte for Some Barbecue

While she's not busy nagging Americans about healthy eating, FLOTUS never misses an opportunity to slobber down some cheeseburgers and fries. Now with word the Democrats will hold their 2012 convention in Charlotte, NC, Mrs. Obama sent word out that she's looking forward to some great Charlotte barbecue. Just one little problem with that.

Charlotte residents were ecstatic to hear this week that their city was selected to host the Democratic convention. But there was one line in the e-mail announcement from First Lady Michelle Obama that made locals say, "Huh?"

In listing Charlotte's many virtues, Obama named southern charm, hospitality, diversity — "And of course, great barbecue."

That was news to residents, who know that North Carolina's best barbecue lies farther afield. "We appreciate the compliments, and they're all spot-on until that last one," the editorial board of the Charlotte Observer newspaper wrote in a blog post titled, "Charlotte = great barbecue? Who knew?"

"Everybody knows to get the best stuff, you gotta drive north to Lexington," the board added.

A local Associated Press reporter quoted a barbecue expert, retired University of North Carolina professor John Shelton Reed, who said that Charlotte for barbecue was "like Minneapolis for gumbo."

The gaffe was enough to make you wonder whether the White House had simply cut and pasted Southern clichés to create the first lady's announcement.

He's let's forget their stupidity. Can we get back to talking about how dumb Sarah Palin is?

Don't worry, though. They'll be shipping in the grub for the First Lady.

"If barbecue is what the First Lady wants, she will have all the barbecue she needs," Foxx said. "We'll make sure of it."