By Jim Abrams -- WASHINGTON (AP) -- Show the flag and pass the ketchup was the order of the day in House cafeterias Tuesday. Lawmakers struck a lunchtime blow against the French and put "freedom fries" on the menu.
And for breakfast they'll now have "freedom toast."
The name changes follow similar actions by restaurants around the country protesting French opposition to the administration's Iraq war plans.
"Update. Now Serving in All House Office Buildings, 'Freedom Fries,'" read a sign that Republican Reps. Bob Ney of Ohio and Walter Jones of North Carolina placed at the register in the Longworth Office Building food court.
Jones said he was inspired by Cubbie's restaurant in Beaufort, N.C., in his district, one of the first to put "freedom fries" on the menu instead of french fries.
"This action today is a small but symbolic effort to show the strong displeasure of many on Capitol Hill with the actions of our so-called ally, France," said Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee.
Ney, whose panel oversees House operations, ordered the menu changes.
The French Embassy in Washington had no immediate comment, except to say that french fries actually come from Belgium.
Ney said he was of French descent and "once the French government comes around we can get back to talking about french fries."
On a more serious note, Republican Jim Saxton of New Jersey has proposed a ban on Pentagon participation in this year's Paris Air Show and restrictions on French participation in any postwar construction projects in Iraq.
But House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said at a news conference that applying legislative sanctions to France was not necessary. "I don't think we have to retaliate against France. They've isolated themselves pretty well," he said.
