Last week, Barack Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod turned away from me before I could get an explanation as to why Obama didn’t condemn Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas as he forcefully as he did Don Imus.

Now, the Hotline reports:

Asked if he had heard that Carter reported a positive outcome from the meeting, Obama looked at the reporter who questioned him and said, “Why can’t I just eat my waffle?”

Asked again by the reporter, Obama bit. Not at the question but into a butter-covered bite of Glider’s specialty over-size Belgian waffles. With a wink this time he said, “Just let me eat my waffle.”

Obama has criticized Carter previously for meeting with a terrorist organization, but the IL Sen. has also been attacked by John McCain for not condemning Carter’s visit more sternly.

I suppose when reporters ask presidential candidates questions on the campaign trail they are engaging in the old kind of politics.