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Waitress Tara Swanson bustles about inside the American Diner in Liverpool during the lunchtime rush on Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The diner made national news because owner Michael Tassone's menu includes the "Dictator Obama/NYS Special (King Cuomo)" egg plate and "The Anti-Michelle Obama Don't Tell Me What To Eat Or Feed My Kids Burger."

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- At the American Diner, you can order a "Dictator Obama/NYS Special (King Cuomo)" plate of eggs and toast for $3.59 plus tax.

But the tax is going to be $27.99, according to the menu.

Michael Tassone serves up a Conservative brand of politics and humor, along with his burgers and eggs, at the little diner in the Syracuse suburb of Liverpool.

His unusual menu - which also includes "The Anti-Michelle Obama Don't Tell Me What To Eat Or Feed My Kids Burger" - attracted the attention Tuesday of Fox News, which published a story about him on the homepage of its website.

Ever since then, the diner has been hopping with new customers and news reporters.

"I'll sell you as many as you want," Tassone said of his two eggs and toast "Dictator Obama" special.



But nobody at the American Diner orders the "Dictator Obama" because you can get the same egg and toast plate as a daily special for $2.49, laughed waitress Dawn Reynolds.

In a highly partisan presidential election year, the diner's unusual menu is drawing in customers.

Steve and Ashley Reininghaus drove 20 miles Wednesday to eat at American Diner after reading about it on the Fox News website. "The reason why we came here was to show support for like-minded people," said Steve Reininghaus, explaining that he thinks Obama has been a "horrid" president.

The "Dictator Obama/NYS Special (King Cuomo)" special at the American Diner in Liverpool, N.Y. cost $3.59 plus tax, but the tax is $27.99. The special includes two eggs and toast.

"It's very refreshing for people to stand up for true American values," his wife said, as the couple munched on burgers for lunch and laughed at the Obama items on the menu.

Both Republicans, they said they plan to vote for Donald Trump for president.

Tassone welcomed a syracuse.com reporter into his diner, but declined to be photographed, and didn't want to be interviewed.

"I'm just a little guy flipping pancakes, trying to make a living," said Tassone, a burly guy wearing a blue "Wake Up America" t-shirt promoting the national day of prayer, beige cargo shorts and sneakers.

"Guys like me are a target. Because I speak the truth," he said, explaining his reluctance to be photographed or interviewed.

American Diner menu with House Specials including, third from top, "Dictator Obama/NYS Special (King Cuomo)." The American Diner is located at 214 Oswego St., Liverpool.

The outside of Tassone's restaurant is decorated with "Repeal the SAFE Act" signs, referring to the tough gun control law that Cuomo pushed through, and "Don't Tread on Me" and American flags. Inside, the decor includes an Uncle Sam statue, Three Stooges photos, and a "Chia Obama" box depicting the president as a chia plant.

Tassone's menu says "We encourage legal carry on premises" and "We encourage prayer/grace."

"I don't like either party," said Tassone. "People think I'm a Republican. I'm not."

Tassone says he's enrolled as a Conservative Party voter.

The restaurant owner ended the interview when he was asked about a 2011 arrest of a Michael P. Tassone of Liverpool on a charge of welfare fraud by Syracuse police. Police also charged Tassone, of 4342 Loveland Drive, Liverpool, and his wife, Michelle, with offering a false instrument for filing.

The owner of the restaurant is identified as Michael P. Tassone of Liverpool, according to the 2009 business certificate for the restaurant.

The Michael P. Tassone charged with welfare fraud has the same date of birth and home address as a Michael P. Tassone who is a registered Conservative, according to county voting records.



The restaurant owner didn't deny he was arrested on a welfare fraud charge, saying "I can't speak about it." When asked if the charge was dismissed, he said, "There's nothing I can discuss about it." He said he thought he'd be able to talk about it soon though.

"You can google Jesus and find bad stuff, too," he said, and suggested that it was unfair to include the welfare fraud arrest in this story.

Update

The charges of welfare fraud and offering a false instrument for filing are still pending against Tassone, Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Mike Kasmarek said Thursday.

Tassone and his wife were accused five years ago of stealing $25,627 by obtaining Medicaid benefits that they weren't eligible to receive because of income they had that they failed to disclose, Kasmarek said. He said the couple illegally received the benefits from May 2009 to April 2011.

The case is still pending five years later because prosecutors have been waiting for the Tassones to make restitution, which the Tassones' lawyer has promised will happen, Kasmarek said.

The DA's office plans to decide how to proceed with the case soon, the prosecutor said.