This appears to be about an imaginary “inner-city” kid that has never heard of a tomato; not from any of the humans around him, somehow. Take note that Vilsack (a Dem) has to “envision” his neo-stereotype rather than go out and actually talk to any inner-city kids . . .
Most politicians won’t dare go to inner city , and if one tried to talk with the street kids there about tomatoes he’d probably just get blown away or knifed anyway . Ps: tomatoes are those red things in double whoppers.