[
{
"name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
"component": "11591218",
"insertPoint": "4",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "4"
},{
"name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
"component": "11591214",
"insertPoint": "2/3",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
},{
"name": "R1 - Beta - Mobile Only",
"component": "12287027",
"insertPoint": "8",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "8"
},{
"name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
"component": "11591215",
"insertPoint": "12",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
},{
"name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
"component": "11591215",
"insertPoint": "4th",
"startingPoint": "16",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
}
,{
"name": "RevContent - In Article",
"component": "12527128",
"insertPoint": "3/5",
"requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
}
]
Mixing politics and food criticism is asking for trouble. And if you don’t believe me, go ask the embattled Prime Minister of Thailand. He got fired on Tuesday for moonlighting on a television food show.
According to the New York Times, Samak Sundaravej had been the host of “Tasting and Complaining” for seven years before he was sworn in as the nation’s chief executive. He did four more episodes after taking office, and accepted $2,350 for his appearances. A Thai court ruled that this culinary freelancing was a violation of the Thai Constitution and threw Samak’s food critic ass out of office.
Samak, who is a stand-in for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been in hot water lately anyway. Protesters who have been blockading Samak’s office for the last two weeks were jubuliant at the news of his ouster.
No word yet on whether or not Samak will resume his former duties as host of the popular “Tasting and Complaining” show now that he’s gotten politics out of his system. -- Robb Walsh
