One of Michelle Malkin’s favorite themes about Barack Obama is that he’s an elitist, because he does things like mention arugula. Real Americans eat iceberg lettuce, preferably smothered with some sort or orange cheese. A more rational pundit might have noted that Obama’s arugula-and-Whole-Foods reference in Iowa was too subtle if it was a joke and rather tone-deaf if it was not. Malkin’s objection is not so limited; she’s seized on food as a class-dividing dog whistle and is committed to gustatory orthodoxy.

But I think that it’s possible Michele Malkin’s standard for what sort of food is elitist or strange might be even a little more extreme than we previously realized.

The Obamas also invited 60 Minutes to come film the family making tuna fish sandwiches earlier this year–you know, to show what a regular guy he is. Question: Who the hell puts Grey Poupon and gherkins (don’t ask me what those are, I have no idea) in tuna sandwiches for kids?

Even in fawning Malkinland, that’s good for some eye-rolling from her commenters. And think for a minute what type of thinker that makes her. She’s never heard of a gherkin (okay — odd to me, but whatever), but decides to (1) present it as something elitist, odd, or silly, (2) admit she’s never heard of it, and (3) not bother to Google it.

That’s because intellectual and journalistic curiosity are like elitist panini, but willful ignorance is like a patriotic Wonder-Bread sandwich.

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