Voter Snubs Kirsten Gillibrand in Iowa Restaurant: 'I'm Just Going to Get Some Ranch' Dressing

Democratic senator and presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand had an awkward moment during a meeting with voters at an Iowa restaurant on Tuesday.

A woman approached Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) as she was addressing a group of supporters gathered at The Airliner, a popular Iowa City restaurant and frequent campaign stop for presidential hopefuls. The senator reached out and laid her hand on the woman’s shoulder, perhaps expecting to hear some words of praise. Instead, the woman explained, “I’m just going to get some ranch” dressing.

And here’s video of the woman “just trying to get some ranch,” while Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaks to supporters in Iowa City. pic.twitter.com/6PRCVbbIQW

— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) February 19, 2019

“Go ahead,” Gillibrand instructed, as restaurant patrons erupted in laughter and the woman headed for the salad bar.

During her speech and the Q&A that followed, Gillibrand vowed to stand up to her fellow Democrats. “I will stand up to my own party,” she said, reminding the crowd that she refused to stay silent about sexual abuse allegations against Al Franken.

She also praised failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose work to expand women’s rights in China brought her to an “ah-ha” moment. When Clinton declared that “women’s rights are human rights,” Gillibrand explained, it was her signal to “get off the sidelines.”

Of course, she did not pass up an opportunity to bash President Trump’s trade wars. “Trump ran on the notion of no bad trade deals. I wish he had stuck to that because he’s belligerent,” she said.

Asked whether she has officially announced her plans to run for president, Gillibrand demurred that she is waiting for the right moment “because I want it to be special.”

The internet, of course, had a little fun with Gillibrand’s “ranch” moment.

https://twitter.com/CargoShortLife/status/1097897858567524352

Biden 20
Sanders 17
Harris 10
Warren 5
Gillibrand 2
Trying to Get Some Ranch 30 https://t.co/z8x0YGinBs

— Jim Antle (@jimantle) February 19, 2019

Thank God it was Gillibrand and not Klobucher. Klobucher would have thrown the ranch dispenser at the Iowan.

"You want some ranch dressing, here's your damn ranch dressing"

— Jedi Ghost Wisconsin Irish James (@blackdoglurking) February 19, 2019