Nominating Speech Reviewed at Bill Clinton’s Hometown Barbecue Restaurant

The barbecue at McClard’s restaurant in Hot Springs, Arkansas comes from the kitchen piping hot and basking in its trademark sweet sauce. But over lunch today, the crowd paused between bites to talk about the restaurant’s most famous customer and his speech at the Democratic National Convention. They were unanimous in their take on the food, but decidedly divided over the address delivered by former President Bill Clinton in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Barbara Prince and her husband rounded out their meal with a succinct endorsement of Mr. Clinton and President Barack Obama. “I think they’re probably pretty good,” she said about President Obama’s chances for being re-elected. “It’ll be interesting.”

The elderly couple smiled as they identified themselves as Democrats. They were a handful of diners who aligned themselves with the Democratic Party. At another table, four men sat working their way through plates of food. Two of them described themselves as Republicans.

“It was self-indulgent crap, and I like Bill Clinton,” said Eric Hankins. Another described President Obama as a “war criminal” for the numerous drone attacks against Al-Quaida operatives. And, the third seemed preoccupied with his pulled pork. The lone Democrat at the table, Kyle Tayoor “missed it, but I wanted to see it.” He added that “the economy is hurting President Obama’s re-election bid.“

McClard’s is a homey staple in this boyhood hometown of Bill Clinton’s. The staff is friendly and the place is known for its large year-round crowds. Time and again Mr. Clinton has named it as one of his food favorites. And they repaid the compliment. Arms laden with platters of smoking cue, waitress Reva Reedy said, “He was very good. He had the crowd eating out of his hand.”