Mayor on food stamps Cory Booker isn’t really at the poverty line, but he has committed beginning Tuesday to embark on a challenge in which he will live like it for a week following a contentious debate with a conservative Twitter user who attacked his support of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The mayor on food stamps story soon went viral, as Booker’s embrace of a leaner lifestyle for an ideological reason drew massive attention. And Booker has confirmed on Twitter that he plans to start the challenge — hopefully alongside the Twitter user that made the deal with him — early next week.
However, it seems that the woman with whom Booker is supposed to be engaged in the challenge is reconsidering her participation. The woman, who tweets under the user name @MWadeNC and wishes to remain anonymous, tells the press:
“I don’t think it’s fair to be challenged and just find out from the Internet when I’m supposed to take part … I would have appreciated the consideration that I have a life as well.”
But in his defense, Booker mentioned the start date four days ago, and said on his Twitter account that his staff were reaching out to initiate the mayor on food stamps challenge with the unnamed woman:
We have a start date set & some fair rules. We will reach out tomorrow MT @mwadenc I havent heard about challenge since last sunday night
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 25, 2012
Booker confirmed the challenge again yesterday, with six days to go:
I start on Dec 4. There will be a site RT @ khwezimagwaza : Twoogle: is Cory Booker still living on food stamps? Is there site documenting?
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) November 28, 2012
Whether the woman plans to put her money where her mouth is with the mayor on food stamps challenge remains to be seen, but the Twitter user admits she thinks “everybody should do this” despite her dim view of food stamps in general.
