The International Mass Retail Association invited journalists to
accompany members of Congress late last month as they lunched at
McDonald's, then shopped at Target.
Seriously.
The idea was to show Americans their leaders were not afraid to go
shopping - which in turn would encourage citizens to do the same.
Sitting abreast of one another, stiffly nibbling Big Macs and French
fries, Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN) and Rep. John E. Peterson (R-PA) were
photographed and questioned on matters of national security. Later they
plopped down a combined $311.53 at Target.
The event did get decent press, including a front-page article in The
Washington Post "Style" section and the front page of Roll Call.
To date, the economy is still in the toilet.
