Dear President Clinton:
I hold you as the greatest president to have served this country in my lifetime – not to mention being the coolest and the best musician. A great day for me was January 26, 2013, when a letter arrived on your official stationery and signed with your own pen (nice pen, by the way) regarding my book, Main Street Vegan. You wrote: “I’m delighted that you’re helping to make the vegan lifestyle more accessible and achievable for as many people as possible….”
You can imagine how dispirited I am that your recent appearance on Rachael Ray confirmed the rumors I’ve heard for months: you’ve given up on being vegan. Now, obviously, the way anyone eats is a personal choice, but I feel sad that you may never have been shown how this particular dietary choice is, well, way more than a diet. Sure, eating whole, plant-based foods is a profoundly healthful way for people to nourish themselves. It is the only practice – dietary or medical – proven, re-proven, and never disproven to reverse cardiovascular disease, the condition that got you looking at healthier eating to begin with. But it goes so much further, all the way to the essence of holistic health. How can we be genuinely healthy when we’re causing others to suffer?
There are plenty of ways to approach nutrition for general health and certainly for weight loss. Any of them is likely to be superior to the SAD (Standard American Diet), widely known for its soda and fried chicken, its pizza and Buffalo wings, and the 21st century “cup of coffee,” a 16-ounce caffeinated milkshake. But only in getting the animals off our plates are we eating for integrity as well as health. I know of no other dietary choice that puts compassion ahead of convenience.
In addition, only by moving away from animal agriculture can we stem the tide – if it’s not too late – of environmental disaster. I’m sure you’re as familiar as I am with the assessments of the UN and the World Bank that raising animals for food is the number one human-induced cause of climate change, not to mention water use and water pollution, topsoil erosion and rainforest loss.
Focusing on fish doesn’t solve the problem. Ninety percent of the fish that once swam our oceans have been fished away in the past century. The oceans are emptying so rapidly that the scientific consensus is that by 2048 there will be, for all practical purposes, no fish in the sea.
One of the statements you reportedly made on TV was: “It’s hard being a vegan to get enough good quality protein…”I know your current physician is of the low-carb school of thought. Dietary philosophies are largely that: philosophies. You’ve dealt with philosophies all your life, and with politicians clinging to one ideology or another, sometimes despite the facts, or when everybody had some piece of the truth and together might have had it all. Diets – and doctors – aren’t much different.
In this country, vegans get more than enough protein; non-vegans get way more than enough – and the excess may not be a good thing. Among the vegan athletes apparently getting protein of sufficient quality are MMA’s Mac Danzig, the NFL’s David Carter, strongman Patrik Baboumian who walked 10 meters (32.8 feet) with 550 kilograms (just over 1212 pounds) on his shoulders, and ultramarathoner Rich Roll who did five Ironman-style events in a week.
You also said, “I know a lot of fat vegans…” Come on, Bill: you know a lot of fat Democrats and you’re not leaving the party. When I went vegan back in the 80s, it seemed that everybody who did it lost weight – I’ve kept off sixty pounds since Reagan was in office. These days there are all kinds of vegan convenience and snack foods so vegans can choose to be as fat as other Americans. Democracy in action!
Those of us who want to be trim and fit limit the amount of processed foods we eat, and favor instead vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and some nuts and seeds. Grains? OMG, aren’t grains the carbo-devil? Well, they haven’t been for all the human populations they’ve kept alive for millennia, but you know what? They’re not required. Raw-food vegans rarely eat them, and those whose take on veganism is more eco-Atkins (higher protein and fat, lower carb) go easy on them too. There’s plenty of food left to eat.
It’s all so American: about choice. And self-determination. Forging your destiny. And statistically, plant-eaters are still the BMI champs. In the huge Adventist Health Study-2, looking at dietary patterns of omnivores, fishivores (pesco-vegetarian is a contradiction in terms), lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and vegans, only the last group came in under the mean for being overweight.
As my husband – a grown-up Missouri boy who lived on steaks and burgers when I met him – said when we discussed this: “Being vegan isn’t about being thin. It’s about compassion and respect for all living beings.” And yet, compassion, blended with a modicum of good sense, has side effects. For me, these include effortlessly keeping off weight for a really long time, and being free of pathologies and pharmaceuticals.
Instead of retiring next month, which the calendar and the Social Security Administration say I could do, I’m planning the tour for my next book, The Good Karma Diet, and moving into production with a feature film, Miss Liberty. She’s a fictional cow who escapes from a slaughterhouse. Because more and more people are waking up to the fact that if we don’t have to kill in order to eat, let’s not.
When you wrote to me two years ago, you concluded your note with “All my best for continued health and happiness in the year ahead,” and I wish that to you right now.
~ Victoria Moran
Victoria Moran is longtime vegan, author, and radio host, as well as the director of Main Street Vegan Academy. Her 12th book, The Good Karma Diet, is available now for preorder. Follow her various goings-on on Twitter: @Victoria_Moran, @MainStreetVegan, @MissLiberty.
What a great letter, Victoria. Well-written, smart, rational with great research-based info sprinkled through, and kind. I love it. Georgiann
As if you needed to give me any more reason to love you, Victoria!
So eloquent and on-point, Victoria. I hope he reads it!
Victoria, only you would have the cohones and clarity to just up and write Bill Clinton about his dietary change. Hope it hits home. Thanks also for setting the standard on peso-vegetarians. I have been saying for years that it translates as a “meat-eating non-meat-eater.” Offensive both to vegetarians and the fish. Clearly an oxymoron, with the emphasis on moron. Cheers, David Kidd, Canton Ohio http://www.vegetarianclubofcanton.org
David Kidd! My goodness, what a surprise! I’ve thought about you so often and wondered what you were up to. In fact, when I meet a vegetarian from Ohio, I often ask if they know you. So, thanks for being in touch and thanks for your very kind words. Let’s stay in better touch.
Thanks for taking the time to write this Victoria! The Huff Post is showing their true colors by not publishing it. May it find its way to his eyes without them.
Perfectly compassionate, eloquently stated. Love you and looking forward to Miss Liberty as well as changing hearts and dietary preferences. Blessings.
Thank you for this letter, Victoria! I’ll certainly share it. Hopefully, President Clinton reads it and reconsiders his position.
Nicely written, Victoria. I share your sentiment, 100%.
Great letter. Full of facts and very kind. Your stance on the animal welfare aspect is refreshing and provocative. I wonder why they didn’t print it as it is truly timely and on point.
Beautiful essay, Victoria. It would be even more beautiful if the president reads it and has second thoughts about his change to an unhealthy, cruel diet. I must add however that Mr. Clinton was never a vegan. He was on a plant-based diet, while he continued to wear leather and wool and likely exploited animals in other ways in which we are not aware.
I am an FOB (friend of Bill) and have adored the entire family since he wrote My Life. I’d sure like to see a sequel but it won’t happen unless he returns to a plant-based lifestyle.
Victoria,
None of us eats alone. We may think it’s all about personal choice, and “what I eat is MY business”, but in fact each of us affects others, the health care system, animals, and the environment by what we put on our plates.
This is quite eloquently underscored in your letter. It’s quite disheartening to see Clinton swayed so easily with the nutritional pop-icon Hyman, who seems to have garnered quite a following while completely oblivious to all the other important issues like the environment and the lot of animals. I love how you put “there may be fat Democrats, but you didn’t leave the party.” I am wondering if the upcoming election framework has not caused him to packpedal from dietary choice, in the tradition of the polititian. You think?
Thanks for all that you do and for your voice, my friend!
Lani
This is so smart, intelligent and beautifully written !!!!!!!! xo Thank you for writing to President Clinton for us xoxoxox
Thanks for the comments and shares. People are telling me that he’s “only eating fish.” I don’t see that that’s the point. He can eat fish, or eat anything, without saying that being vegan keeps people from losing weight or getting adequate protein. It can be hard to be vegan. People’s families are on their case, and sometimes their doctors are too. Socializing can be tough, not to mention dating. When people want to do this, whether for their health or because they care about other beings, they don’t need people who leave the fold to expound at length about how benighted they were when they were vegan. An old saying adopted long ago by the American Vegan Society was “Live and let live.” I used to think that didn’t fit, that it meant “Let’s let other people kill animals and eat them.” I see today that it means allowing people to live up to the highest light they have. If somebody thinks one thing on Monday and something else on Tuesday, it doesn’t mean that everybody who agreed with them on Monday is hopelessly wrong.
Thank you for all you do to promote the Vegan lifestyle. I get a little perturbed when people say it is too hard to stay Vegan. I made the choice two years ago after my younger daughter made the change. Since then, my older daughter, granddaughter, and grandson have become Vegan. I am sixty years old and from the South. I have had to learn how to cook all over again. It does take more work and more time in the kitchen, but I do it happily sand with a clear conscience. Just wish I had become enlightened years ago. May God bless you!
I think it’s hard when you travel a lot and are in situations where you’re not in charge of the food, but I always remind myself that my inconvenience is nothing compared to the animals’ suffering. (And it’s almost funny sometimes when the big celebs talk about how hard it was — and who was it recently, some rock star, who said he had to give it up because it was too expensive? That was a good one.)
Very nicely put.
I myself at first was not for Bill Clinton. Then after all the attacks of his mis-action I felt sorry + watched for the good he was doing. There were things I liked and when I heard he went vegan he became a hero to me. Wish he stayed that way. I am heartbroken.
Me too.
amazing,so we’ll said!! Spot on, you are my hero
Right – wrong. Let’s meet beyond.
Awesomely written letter, thank you muchly. So sad when someone apparently falls back toendorsing cruelty to get food. As if it was necessary these days…
Even Clintons and Bills get brainwashed – and manipulated, morally corrupted. Human condition, I guess. But then, that’s the playground of conscious (r)evolution I guess. Choices or decisions? What power we individuals have! Only DO it – live vegan. Wishing peace, kindness and compassion.
What a lovely, respectful, yet profound open letter. I love your point on Mr. Clinton’s doctor being of the carb-based thought. I have no doubt his doctor was eating away at him and personal lifestyle eating choice. It is sad he caved. I, too, hope he will reconsider, if not for his own health’s sake, then for inhumane filth—that makes up a meat eating lifestyle.
I believe that eating sentient beings is probably THE most difficult addiction to overcome since our whole society being ruled by Big animal agriculture revolves around it. We can give ourselves applause that we average vegan citizens were able to do what the former president was not. Now if he has the cohones to get back up on the horse again, then he too will get my applause.
Ray Kilgore
Akron, Ohio
Fantastic letter Victoria and I hope it makes an impact on him. Its weird that he says he’s no longer vegan when he probably has veganism to thank for still being alive. I must get a copy of Main Street Vegan.
Thanks, Andrew — great point about his being alive. And thanks for wanting to read Main Street Vegan: I appreciate it.
So incredibly well written and felt. Thank you Victoria!
As others before me have said, this is a well-written, well-reasoned letter, full of humor and yet clear and to the point. Since Huff chose not to publish it how about sending it to other sites/magazines? We, your fans, can certainly send it out to our peeps but it’s such a clever letter; it needs to be seen by those not in the choir. Any other places you could send it?
VegNews ran it night before last. HuffPo held onto it long enough to make it old news (the Rachael Ray Show was a couple of weeks ago now) so I think its time has pass. And I guess the good thing about HuffPo’s refusal is that it’s brought a lot of people to the Main Street Vegan blog who didn’t know it existed. I think I’m going to just let this go where it will. Thanks for your kind comment and for all you do to make the world better.
I share your disappointment with you Victoria regarding President Clinton’s decision to no longer be a vegan. As far as I know though, President Clinton has never been a vegan as he was eating fish, and at times eggs. I read recently in the beautiful book from Jacqueline Lagacé ‘The End of Pain’ that even a small quantity of animal food in our diet could have a negative impact on our health. I think what is even more disheartening is that President Clinton was supporting veganism for a short while and now he doesn’t any longer. He is a very powerful man so charismatic and even though he wasn’t a vegan the fact that he supported it was to me anyway of great comfort.
It is also extremely disheartening is the fact that most vegan will be vegan for about 6 to 8 months I read somewhere that it was the great majority about 75 to 80% who will not stick to veganism any longer than that short period of time. So President Clinton is part of the majority of people who aspired to be vegan or even been vegan. It’s my experience that it is very hard as you mentioned in your post to be a vegan. It is a fact then when I was at Fort Lauderdale airport in December 2014 and I could not find anything but French fries to eat, it is then difficult to find good protein to eat. I think we need to listen more and learn from people who have been vegan and decided to let go of it. I know personally that even though I am so committed of being a vegan it is at some times so difficult to be and to remain so. I hope that President Clinton will eat better than he did before being a vegan as he has learned from veganism and hopefully he will eat less animal products which will be good to him, to the environment and to animals.
I admire how eloquent you are and I’m looking forward to read your new book. I wish you best and thank you so much for the great work you do
Hughes! So lovely to hear from you. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I, too, have had my share of airport French fries, and I know that this takes a commitment beyond just “Oh, I’m doing this diet.” I wish everyone were as committed as you. Give my love to your beautiful wife.
other than your opinion of Clinton, let’s get something else straight: he never was a vegan. He was an ovo-piscaterian, and admitted it numerous times. It was the vegan press that idolized him, and let him slide on this. Kind of like the Brian Williams of ex-presidents.
Hi, Tim. What you’re saying is fully accurate, but he did use the “v” word and I always thought of him as imperfectly vegan, but still a help to the cause. What gets me is that he can’t just leave and eat what he wants to eat without saying how bad it is to be vegan.
Fantastic letter! You are so inspiring and amazing Victoria. Thanks for being you. xxoo
Victoria,
I’m so thrilled to read about the feature film you’re working on, Miss Liberty. I was just thinking the other day how I wish someone would make a film depicting the life of an animal bound for the slaughterhouse or, in the case of your film, escaping from a slaughterhouse. I recall a sad and shocking story I read recently about two retired dairy cows, on their way to slaughter, who escaped from a transport truck and were running frantically through a neighborhood looking for a safe haven only to be trapped in a residential backyard and shot to death. So many animal activists responded that all the police had to do was lead them with hay or feed to safety. Not one farmer came forward to help these cows after all the years they spent producing milk. There are so many similar stories about the lives of farm animals that need to be told. Thank you so much for stepping up to the plate to do just that. Animals are friends, not food!
Thanks, Andrea. We were inspired to write this by stories of cows like the ones you wrote about. We’re just at the verge of a mass wakeup about animals, and it is so about time. We’re really excited about Miss Liberty — it’s been a long time coming and there’s a lot ahead to make this vision a reality, but we’re farther along than ever before and will keep you posted. Your support and interest means so much. Are you on the Main Street Minute (newsletter) list? If so, you’ll get info about the film as it progresses.
Victoria! So eloquently written, and with such intelligence and kindness as well. Thank you for being a sane but powerful voice.
Victoria, how do I subscribe to Main Street Minute newsletter?
Is it via email or facebook? Thnx for all you do.
To subscribe to the newsletter, go to mainstreetvegan.com and on the top of the home page, click on where it says “Main Street Minute.” But, Mary, we’ll go ahead and subscribe you — thanks for asking.
you rock Victoria! What a fire ball for justice!!! Cant wait to connect with you! You are on a lifechanging mission like me! I feel the current you are on – I’m on the same wave! PEACE MY SISTER
As a vegan doctor (for 20 years) you can imagine the talk behind my back, and actually to my face…. that I have had to endure. I am so thankful every time I come across someone who has been fighting for awareness . Now that I have quit mainstream medicine and looking for my next career – I hope to incorporate your messages and books ! Thank you so much!
Hi, Dr. Sue – Thanks for posting. I wish you well in your new life as a force for good and for genuine health.
I read that he was hospitalized last week and had two stents placed. Maybe he’ll question the revised diet come back to us. I wish him well.
I hadn’t heard about this until now and just went online to watch the NBC Nightly News clip. Oh my goodness. Thank heavens it wasn’t worse than it was — no heart attack, according to his cardiologist, but one of the bypass grafts was completely closed and two stents were placed there. From what I read, he’s been away from the WFPB diet for about eight months now. You just have to wonder if this would have happened had he stayed with it.