Soundbite: Rachel Maddow Has Heard That Hooters Has “Awesome” Wings

“Yesterday, we reported an unexpected political role for the American family dining chain that’s famous for its wings. That chain, of course, is Hooters. They’re famous for their … wings. Right?” …
… “I have heard that their wings are awesome.”

— Rachel Maddow, pontificating on Chamber of Commerce fraud and Hooters

On her show last night, Rachel Maddow reported on the too-weird-to-be-made-up link between Hooters, the Chamber of Commerce, and the health care debate. Yesterday morning, TPMMuckraker noted a tacky, wacky, and true campaign by what appeared to be the Chamber of Commerce, which baited and switched an offer of a $150 gift card to Hooters with a page that outlined an anti-government healthcare platform:

Online ads have popped up lately, telling readers that they can win a $150 Amex Gift Card for use at Hooters, if they complete a survey about other offers. One of those urges them to sign up for “free emails” from the Chamber of Commerce, which will explain “how to protect your family’s future and bring common sense solutions to the health-care debate.”

Maddow picked up on TPM’s reporting on both the controversy and the counterclaim of a Chamber of Commerce PR firm, which said that the campaign was actually orchestrated by someone else to make the Chamber look bad. But she also had a lot of fun making Hooters jokes.

Counterpoint: Chris Rock’s 1999 novelty single “No Sex in the Champagne Room:” “Nobody goes to Hooters for the wings.”

(via TPMMuckraker)

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