'He said it was one of the best days of his presidency': Bear Grylls reveals how Obama ate raw salmon and discussed drinking urine while 50 Secret Service agents watched, ahead of Alaska premiere

[flowers]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3359905/He-said-one-best-days-presidency-Bear-Grylls-reveals-Obama-ate-bloody-salmon-talked-drinking-urine-50-Secret-Service-agents-kept-guard-filming-Running-Wild.html

Grylls revealed Obama was accompanied by a food taster,

food taster??? Since when has a US president have a food taster? Can someone please tell me that?

[mountaineer]

You know how we Bible-clinging conservatives are. We're always poisoning His Royal Hineyness' shave ice and craft beers, 'n' stuff.

I'm guessing Barry O. found "Bear" particularly attractive.

The episode was filmed in early September on a trek to Alaska's rapidly shrinking Exit Glacier that was aimed at drawing world attention to climate change.

Last year alone, the Exit Glacier melted and retreated 187 feet toward the Harding ice field, which has itself lost 10 per cent of its mass since 1950.

Oh, please.

[mountaineer]

Roughin' it with the Big Zero:

[flowers]

To Walter Scheib, who served as the White House executive chef from 1994 to 2005 under both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the president's use of a taster could not be less of a big deal.

"It makes sense to me," Scheib tells Daily Intelligencer. "When you're in an uncontrolled situation, regardless of whether it's a senator's home or Ray's Hell Burger — wherever the president may be — the Secret Service is not big on uncontrolled situations. And they will do everything they can within reason and sometimes outside reason to narrow that window of opportunity or danger."

Schieb was careful not to reveal too many details about the tasters, but he knew them well, and he thinks people are getting the wrong impression.

"They do more — let's not characterize this as some kind of Medieval court food taster. That's not the case," Scheib scoffed. "These folks have a number of different duties and responsibilities, one of which is to be sure that the president doesn't get poisoned, quite honestly. "

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/obama-food-taster-walter-scheib-president.html

It seems they have had them for a while.

[mountaineer]

    "These folks have a number of different duties and responsibilities, one of which is to be sure that the president doesn't get poisoned, quite honestly. "

I bet their annual salaries are well worth it.   

[flowers]

I bet their annual salaries are well worth it.   

Yep....they are probably exempt from deathcare and will get civil service pension for life.

[Fishrrman]

Ok, so obama has a food taster -- apparently more than one.

But what about previous presidents?

How long has this been going on?

[mountaineer]

I'm more annoyed by this whole global warming photo op nonsense than I am his army of food tasters (strange as that may be).

[PzLdr]

If Barry had eaten raw sewage, and actually drunk urine, it would have been one of the best days of his presidency for me as well.

[mountaineer]

If Barry had eaten raw sewage, and actually drunk urine, it would have been one of the best days of his presidency for me as well.

[flowers]

Ok, so obama has a food taster -- apparently more than one.

But what about previous presidents?

How long has this been going on?

To Walter Scheib, who served as the White House executive chef from 1994 to 2005 under both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the president's use of a taster could not be less of a big deal.

[EC]

Ok, so obama has a food taster -- apparently more than one.

But what about previous presidents?

How long has this been going on?

Dunno. How many years has the Secret Service been tasked with guarding the President?

It is a standard thing to do.