According to Iowa Senate candidate Bruce Braley, nobody outside of the Midwest is aware of what a potluck is.
The Democratic congressman told the New York Times this week that if only members of Congress partook in a unique Iowa tradition called a "potluck," the historic levels of paralysis and gridlock in Washington would be a thing of the past.
In case you weren't aware of what that could possibly be, let the man potluck-splain it to you.
"And for those of you not from the Midwest, a potluck is where you go to somebody's house and you bring a dish and you share it with everybody," he said. "I invite people over to join me for dinner. Sometimes I'll have waffle night, and it's Republicans and Democrats when you sit down and get to know the people you work with on a personal level, you find out where they came from. You learn about their families and what they did before they got elected to Congress. It breaks down barriers."
The line is part of Braley's effort to appeal to heartland voters, and was also featured in an ad his campaign ran in early October. But sharing meals with a group isn't merely an Iowa thing. In fact, the tradition may go as far as back as the Middle Ages.
If Braley needs more proof, however, here's the staff of the Huffington Post D.C. bureau enjoying its delicious fall potluck today.
And credit to Braley, engaging conversations were indeed had. Now if only us city folk knew about "waffle nights."
H/T David McCabe
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