Obama and McDonald’s Israel, in a new commercial for the “Big America” burger, have wowed the crowd this week (OK, it’s an Obama look-alike), setting off media reactions on how it’s a reflection on Israeli-American relations, and that it’s typical Israeli advertising.
Check it out:
What’s also typically Israeli, though possibly less so than our typically American reaction, is that this commercial is neither new nor was it forged in the context of the Obama-Netanyahu era.
Around 2008, a version featuring a George W. Bush look-alike made the rounds:
And now the big question:
After receiving the “Big America” burger, Obama tells the attendant “God bless Israel for the ‘Big America.'” All that Bush has to offer in the 2008 version was “Lucky you were open.” Obama seems to see the big picture and all the ‘Big America’ burgers to come, and Bush was only thinking about today’s burger.
Does this mean Obama cares more about Israel(i burgers) than Bush?
You be the judge.
First of all, let’s get one thing clear: This is not your moyel’s burger.
Anyone who’s gone for fast food on Ben Yehuda street in downtown Jerusalem knows that you’ve got a choice of burger with ketchup, burger with onions, burger with spicy, etc.
In the Jewish state, as well as in most Arab and Muslim nations, McDonald’s Israel does not serve pork products, and mixing milk with meat, which is likely to occur inside of a cheeseburger, is frowned upon.
From pics of McDonald’s Israel’s “Big America” burger (of which there are at least Big New York, Big Texas, and Big Chicago box design variations) it appears that eaters are in for a half-pound beef patty, pickle, onion, lettuce, and ketchup “with slight differences in the sauce and the onions”.
Many will remember the late 1990s ad from Israel that took advantage of the Monica Lewinski scandal in a very creative way. Have a looksy, and pay special attention to the CNN anchor’s conclusion following the ad:
Seems like he’s never met the “Big America” burger!
