Celebrity Chef Mario Batali Jumps on Bandwagon: Says Bankers as Bad as Hitler & Stalin
- Posted on November 8, 2011 at 6:58pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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He’s a successful celebrity chef and restaurateur with a commercial product empire marketing everything from pasta sauces to cookware, but now, famed gourmand Mario Batali is serving up what some might consider a less palatable dish: his political views. During an appearance at Time magazine‘s ’Person of the Year’ debate, Batali announced to the world that bankers are as evil as Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin. And although an opportunity presented itself during the debate to retract his comments, Batali refrained from doing so.
The following is what Batali said, according to Time’s transcript:
I would have to say that who has had the largest effect on the whole planet without us really paying attention across the board and everywhere is the entire banking industry and their disregard for the people that are supposed to be working for them….So the ways the bankers have kind of toppled the way money is distributed and taken most of it into their hands is as good as Stalin or Hitler and the evil guys…[T]heir evil has had a huge effect on the world.
After the debate concluded, Forbes writer Jeff Bercovici asked Batali to elaborate on how he draws moral equivalence between bankers and, in Bercovici’s words, “tyrants who slaughtered millions and reduced Europe to rubble.”
“Oh, that was just a metaphor,” Batali said.
Bercovici adds:
But, offered the opportunity to back down from his pronouncement, he stood firm. “The way people change lives, I do think bankers change lives as much as a repressive [inaudible] autocrat. But, that said, it was more direct.” (“It” presumably meaning the Hitler/Stalin form of evil.)
You might think a person who equates corporate malfeasance with the greatest mass acts of mass murder in history would be a big supporter of the Occupy Wall Street protest. In fact, Batali’s down on OWS, too. “It’s kind of a part-time job,” he said. “Those guys in Zucotti Park, they’re kind of just sitting around. It’s a very 2011 rebellion.”
To read Bercovici’s full report click here.
Of the Occupy movement, Batali went on to say, “I’m a supporter of anyone that’s thinking about trying to manifest change.”
“Them not having a real strategy doesn’t make them bad. It just makes them not effective. They’re certainly making people think about it, but a smart, real revolution starts with an ideology base.”
Does this change the way you view Batali? Can Batali be “against” bankers and not necessarily condemn the capitalism that has arguably helped launch him to greatness?
(h/t: Forbes)
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Comments (297)
Rickfromillinois
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:23pmOne can only hope that the OWC clowns decide to start hanging out in front of his restaurants. Maybe he can give free food to his buddies.
Report Post »crolic9
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:44pmI guess all that stuff around his body is his stash since banks are no good… By the way capitalism seems to work for him as-well…. Maybe a little let’s not buy his stuff or watch his show or the station that provides it will help in changing his thoughts.. Or maybe a little economics a bit of supply and demand… I guess if he has no demand, he won’t have to supply… this might show him too…. Anybody want to join in????
Report Post »apollo18
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:55pmWho cares?
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:02pmYeah … another to add to the boycott list.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:02pmanother fat slob speaks
Report Post »GIDEON612
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:15pmHe is another Michael Moore just trying to be proactive and keep his money coming in through capitalism.
Report Post »riverdog1
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:09pmwhen are you all going to figure out that they are not against capitilism but against huge corporations collapsing our economy that WE have to pay for. my guess, as long as you listen to glenn, rush and hannity, never.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:22pmHitler and Stalin would’ve been the ones leading the protests.
Report Post »crolic9
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:49pmReally, think about it, if these people would have been around when Stalin or Hitler were around they would have been the first ones they would have gotten rid of..
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:07pmI meant in a sense that the useful idiots are the pawns. Hitler used the SA (brown shirts) to instigate riots amongst protesters. But then once his agenda was complete, he killed them off. So you’re right there as well.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:55pmHitler and Stalin would be in the White House conferring with Herr Obama.
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 7:59amHitler and Stalin used the banking system to maintain their power and add to it. They used the international banks to build up their power. Banks do not care who they loans to.
Report Post »nohussein
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:21pmAnother jealous fat pig.
Report Post »Ernesto
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:21pmJust another money loving lib. Hey fat boy why don’t you go to occupy some where and give your money to them if you believe in them so much.
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:20pmI agree with Batali. But I don’t agree with the chaos and anarchy created by the liberal losers at OWS or any other occupation. Banks are evil. But so are the wanna be hippie idiots rioting in the streets. They have no idea what they’re rioting about, just want a free ride.
Report Post »mr molotov cocktail
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:53pmwhen there is more jobs then people speak!~ when there is a true 25 plus unemployment rate-and not enough jobs-
Report Post »get bent~
IndyNWguy
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:01pmI concur.
Report Post »MeMadMax
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:20pmWow, some people need to just stay out of politics….
Report Post »Another example would be Tom Hanks… he was my favorite actor till recently…..
SageInWaiting
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:17pmWill they never learn… shut up and cook. Now I’ve lost my appetite.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:24pm… Mario jumps on the schit wagon! He still has nothing to say and will always be insignificant! Yea!!
Report Post »wzanesdad
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:42pmyeah….see if I ever eat anymore of his famous smorgendorfenhoof again.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:16pmStick to your pasta sauces and shut up.
Report Post »sizzler2220
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:15pmI think all the fat he has eaten has gone to his brain. Do we really care what a chef says?
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 11:41amWhat do I care about what a chef says? Recipes, for one. Preparation technique for another. Politics… not much. I respect them for the amount of study and hard work they put into their craft… a LOT more work than many of our film celebs who struggled to get a high school diploma yet see us plain folk as evil dolts because we don’t have their enlightened intellect. Keep to the craft you know and prove yourself an expert; open your mouth on other topics and show yourself a fool.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:15pmWho cares what a fat cook says? He and Moochele can eat ribs together!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:14pmI would give this weeks grocery money to see him smack the sh!!t out Holder or obumbler with a braised veal chop.
Report Post »Duio67
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:16pmLOL! That’s a very funny one!
Report Post »TruthDetection
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:13pmI‘ve loved Mario’s restaurants from NY to Las Vegas to Los Angeles: Otto, Carnevino Bobo, and Mozza. I can‘t believe he’s turned into another celebrity blathermouthed fool. Shut up, run your empire, and stop making nonsensical, juvenile comments about politics. You’ve lost me, my wife, and all of our friends as customers and we live minutes away from Mozza in Newport Beach. Bummer for you, big mouth.
Report Post »TexanRon
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:25pmYou also need to write a letter to them and let them know why you are no longer coming to their restaurant. This is the only thing they understand. Good for you.
Report Post »chris3
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:47pmno shows or products from him,thank you,goodbye!
Report Post »mattmo79
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:12pmYeah, maybe you need to stick to cooking if your not going to truly follow an issue.
Report Post »wdvander
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:11pmI have no idea why the viewpoint of a fat guy that cooks on TV should be any more important than the opinions of a fat guy who works and sits in front of a computer in the evening and types about the goofy political opinions of fat guys who cook.
Report Post »azkidd
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 5:24amYa, what we should be doing is listening and taking advice from a certain goofy bumbling, womanizing pizza guy, cough cough!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:11pmOn second thought…Nope, don’t much care what Emeril thinks either…BAM!
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:11pmBecause if there is anyone I need advice from on who to trust in government, politics, banking, etc., it’s a celebrity chef.
Report Post »mbean
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 9:17pmCelebrities are always the first people I look to for advice on major issues. Their great experience in economics, politics, law, business, surely must set them far apart from other lower forms of human beings.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:10pmsheesh, another celeb I liked bites the dust. Tell you what Mario…Take your orange crocs and shove them up your liberal…
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:10pmI used to enjoy his skills. I am so disappointed and he has just lost a fan and he is an insult to all those that fought in World War 11.
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:03amThe international banks gave Hitler the necessary financing to create his armies.
Report Post »shackero
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:09pmIt’s funny—-they (left-wingers) always leave out the federal governments role in the fiasco…………………
Report Post »greenmeanie
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:08pmMario you’re a chef. SHUT UP AND COOK!!
Report Post »Reach63
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:05pmWell there you go Mario, you just lost me. You should have stuck to making osso buco and we would have been just fine.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:04pmDuring an appearance at Time magazine‘s ’Person of the Year’ debate, Batali announced to the world that bankers are as evil as Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.—— And just why was he attending?. sounds like a set up to try and show support for a losing idea of OWS.
Report Post »Bombgod1
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:04pmShut up and Cook.
Report Post »Agnes
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:08pmI think he should continue to concentrate on cooking and leave politics alone!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:03pmYour Souffle just fell. You wrecked the rice. Your stew tastes like Purina. Your steak still has the marks where the jockey hit him.
Report Post »Just another celebrity Dipstick
bikerr
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 7:00pmWell, there goes his career.
Report Post »