Obama does a little Christmas shopping on "Small Business Saturday"

President Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha shop at One More Page Books on Small Business Saturday, which promotes shopping at local small businesses, in the Falls Church neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, on November 24, 2012. / SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Hoping to encourage other Americans to participate in "Small Business Saturday" as an alternative to big chain-friendly Black Friday, President Obama today visited an Arlington, Va., bookstore to cross some items off his family's Christmas list.

Accompanied by his daughters Sasha and Malia, the president journeyed across the river to One More Page Books, which the White House described as an "independent, neighborhood bookstore." After consulting his Blackberry for an apparent holiday wish list, he purchased 15 children's books before even browsing the store.

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Obama goes Christmas shopping on "Small Business Saturday"

"Preparation," he told shop owner Eileen McGervey, according to the reporter who covered the visit for the White House pool. "That's how I shop. Michelle, she can go wandering around forever. I like knowing what I'm coming in here for."

Mr. Obama declined to answer a question about the fiscal cliff. "We're doing Christmas shopping," he said. "Happy Thanksgiving, folks."

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"Small Business Saturday" has become an annual tradition for the Obama family. Last year, the president and his daughters visited Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle neighborhood.

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Small Business Saturday: Supporting local economies

The government is promoting "Small Business Saturday" on social and paid media in partnership with American Express, according to The Hill, urging Americans to support small businesses on what is notoriously the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

In a message to "Small Business Saturday" supporters Friday, the president said: "From the mom-and-pop storefront shops that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of our Nation's promise.

"These businesses create two out of every three new jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities across our country and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the American dream," he continued. "Through events such as 'Small Business Saturday,' we keep our local economies strong and help maintain an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century."

[chris76543]

Obama SHOULD be president because he black and he buy me a new cellphone.

[hebgb65]

I actually saw a democrat with his hands in his own pockets the other day -- seems there is nothing left in ours to steal.

[chris76543]

Spending needs to be cut (now REPUBLICANS are whining about it - too many have major interest in defense related industries [you know... the ones where they charge $500 for a hardened bolt you can get at the auto parts store for $2]), but you can only squeeze so much from the middle class - some corporate profits are flattening this quarter because they've cut all they can from below (like jobs). The economy is supported by a working middle class sending money UP, not by tax cuts to high-enders "trickling down". NO ONE hired anyone with their high-end Bush cut, and it should be taken away and the top two rates set back at those during the Clinton days.

[TStewartIII3]

NewsBusters: CBS Puffs Obama's 'Small Business Saturday' Shopping, Ignores The Onerous Burden He Brings Them
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matt-vespa/2012/11/26/cbs-puffs-obamas-small-business-saturday-shopping-ignores-onerous-burden
---
Doug Powers| SBA head: I haven't heard any small business owners say Obamacare will have a negative impact on them
http://michellemalkin.com/2012/11/24/sba-obamacare/

[Jaylah54200]

Yet, interestingly enough, I don't remember any of the Rush-bots posting here about how George W Bush was spending OUR money to fund either of the two unwinnable, unnecessary wars he started during his administration.

I also don't remember any of them whining here about how often he used Air Force One to go on vacation.

[JV1970]

You're not thinking about the cost of Obama's vacations compared to Bush's vacations. Bush spent most of his vacations on his ranch in Texas or occasionally visiting his parents in Maine. He very seldom vacationed in four star luxury hotels or expensive and exclusive Martha's Vineyard bed and breakfast inns as the Obamas do at the taxpayer's expense!

[chris76543]

We need to pay off the Cheney wars first before thinking of any high-end tax cuts. JV1970 shows how dumb he is because he cites the cost of presidential vacations - any president is going to cost a lot - think how much it would be if Romney, his wife and kids all went on a vacation - or Palin. Teabaggers whine out one side - spending is okay if it helps them (they'll say cut out FEMA or the FDA but are first in line about deserving help 'because they are a taxpayer' if the tornado/hurricane lands).

[compliancecamp]

Just FYI, regarding the photo caption: Falls Church is not a neighborhood of Arlington, but is an independent city. This bookstore is located in Arlington, not Falls Church.

[Mavswin]

Did he tell the small business owner that he was going to raise their taxes?

[cameo_dave]

did he go there just to scope them out and see how he can put them out of business?

[Jaylah54200]

tsigili says:
Who CARES????

He is probably paying with the people's money.

_________________

Sure. Because it's not like there are any accountants keeping track of whose money get's spent, right?

I mean, there's just this BIG safe in the White House, and only President Obama has the combination. Whenever he wants something, he just goes into the safe and grabs fistfuls of cash.

We all know (from past tax returns) that the Obamas moved to Washington in 2008 with only $500 to their name, and surely Michelle has already spent that at Wal-Mart.

I mean, it's not like he or his wife ever got college educations, or law degrees, or worked for a successful law firm, or taught Constitutional Law, or anything, right? I mean, neither of them has ever held a job that paid more than minimum wage before they moved into the White House.

So he MUST have used "the people's money" since he obviously has none of his own.



Do you know that President Obama only receives a salary of $400,000 per year, and must pay a lot of his official expenses himself? While rent is free, just about nothing else is. The president and first lady pay for their food, parties, vacations, butlers, housekeepers, ushers... and at Ritz Carleton prices. If they want to bring someone on Air Force One who isn't in the official traveling delegation, they have to reimburse the American people the equivalent of first-class airfare for the flight.

So the blunt truth is that it actually costs a family more to live in the White House each year than the job pays. And that's why you'll never see a "middle class" family living in the White House. You have to be wealthy on your own before you can afford that job.



All you're accomplishing by displaying your ignorance here is making yourself look even dumber.

[Jaylah54200]

Oh yes, how DARE our President provide a good example to the rest of us.

How DARE he follow his own advice?

What was he thinking???

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Another Christmas in the White House as a President of the USA, you are a happy man Barack Obama, you must celebrate as it should be.
"au revoir"