Iowa Gov. Branstad hospitalized after choking on carrot
Beware the vegetables.
Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad was temporarily hospitalized Wednesday after a run-in with a carrot.
The Des Moines Register reports that Branstad choked while eating the vegetable during a visit to southern California, according to a spokesman for the governor. Branstad was in the Golden State for the commissioning of the USS Iowa.
The governor was taken to the hospital for testing, partly under pressure from California officials. Branstad, in what we hope is a salve for his wounded dignity, reportedly objected, saying that he was fine. The tests found that to be the case.
“We take the governor’s health very seriously,” Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said. “We don’t believe that there’s any cause for concern.”
He said Iowa officials would have pushed for the same thing had another governor been visiting Iowa.
With this incident, the governor follows in the illustrious footsteps of George W. Bush, who choked on a pretzel while watching a football game in the White House and passed out, leaving him with several scrapes and bruises on his face from when he “hit the deck,” in his words.
Bush, too, was evaluated by a doctor.
Branstad, perhaps, could have avoided the trip to the hospital had he listened to Bush’s then advice, jokingly passed along from his mother.
“If my mother is listening, mother, I should have listened to you: Always chew your pretzels before you swallow,” Bush said jokingly, according to CNN.
Branstad is now back on schedule, flying back to Iowa on Thursday.
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