Hey Joe, How 'Bout We Go Out For A Burger?

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: White House

(AP)

UPDATED The president's schedule today showed he was to have lunch at 12:30PM with Vice President Biden in the Oval Office. There's pretty much nothing they couldn't order from the staff of White House chefs. Instead, they went out.

They fired up the motorcade and headed across the Potomac to a place called Ray's Hell-Burger in Arlington, Va. It's a casual eatery, no waiter service; you stand on line, order your burger and toppings, get handed a number, and wait for it to be cooked, plated and handed over.

What the ambience lacks appears to be more than made up for by the beef. People who have eaten there say the burgers are among the best they've ever tasted.

"Killer burgers," says CBS News producer Mary Hager.

Like any other customer, the president waited in line with Biden right behind him. They spent the time examining the chalkboards listing the various cheeses and other toppings available for their burgers.

When he made it to the counter, Mr. Obama let loose with a presidential directive.

"I'm gonna have just your basic cheddar cheese burger, medium well," he said. "I just want mustard. No ketchup. Lettuce and tomato."

"Are your fries pretty good?" he asked. "Can you vouch for your fries?"

"No french fries," counterman Tim Murray informed the president. "We've got cheesy tater puffs."

"Is that right?" said the president, sounding a bit surprised by the absence of fries.

"We'll have one order of that," he said of the tater puffs. "We'll check that out." He offered to share the flash-fried pureed potatoes and cheddar cheese with Biden.

The president placed burger orders for a number of his aides, and even offered to buy lunch for the members of the press pool accompanying him. He had only a few takers.

"You guys are cheap dates," he told the media. "I can't believe I couldn't get more people to order a burger."

Some in the press were worried about the appearance of the leader they cover buying them lunch.

The counterman offered to make the order on the house, but the president wouldn't hear of it.

"No, no, no. We gotta pay for it," he said. Referring to reporters, he added: "See all these people, they'll write about how we were free-loading."

The president and vice president dug into their pockets and pulled out the cash to pay the tab. Obama tucked a $5 bill in the tip jar.

He was handed a ticket for his order - #42 - even though he's President #44.

I don't recall President Bush and Vice President Cheney ever going out for burgers – or any other of their predecessors for that matter.

If nothing else, today's lunch outing gave the local economy a boost – and no doubt will bring Ray's Hell-Burger a lot more business.

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by Ichabod09 May 6, 2009 6:05 AM EDT: I'm taking my pre-colonoscopy drink right now and while you republicans are typing I just turned my azz to the screen and did a big number 2 washout in your face.
Posted by notmudroseiii at 1:15 PM : May 5, 2009

Your colonoscopy prep is a blessing for all posting on this blog-You are definitely full of it.; Reply to this comment


by justsane-2009 May 6, 2009 12:49 AM EDT: who's the doofus who said the pres. ordered a veggie burger? did you not read the transcript? he ordered a cheeseburger, medium well...let's try to keep the hysteria on-point at least.; Reply to this comment


by weedapoopl May 5, 2009 9:53 PM EDT: Something was probably going on in the WH that they wanted Biden far, far away from.
Posted by aspadeisaspade at 6:35 PM : May 5, 2009

Hmm, his birthday is in November, so it wasn't a surprise party....; Reply to this comment


by aspadeisaspade May 5, 2009 9:35 PM EDT: Something was probably going on in the WH that they wanted Biden far, far away from.; Reply to this comment


by ubrew12 May 5, 2009 8:32 PM EDT: Biden: "Mightent the media object to letting Geitner and Summers, who like Rubin before them, will, in 'retirement', make hundreds of millions of dollars from the people they're supposed to be 'regulating', offer trillions in taxpayer money to bail out those same people?'

Obama: "Don't worry. I gotta plan for the media. Its called Ray?s Hell-Burger."; Reply to this comment


by weedapoopl May 5, 2009 8:14 PM EDT: Ray?s Hell-Burger ...

They liked the sound of the name, so they went to check it out.

The burgers turned out to be pretty good, too.; Reply to this comment


by ToolMangler1 May 5, 2009 8:12 PM EDT: My only regret is that at my age and health, that would have been the end of me.

Life is not fair. Growing up, I had to pick cotton, eat beans and rarely meat because we could not afford it. I am now 70, have a very good income but can only look at the food I really want and can now afford.
Posted by ramos1129 at 3:46 PM : May 5, 2009

I am over your age and in good shape for the shape I'm in.
Without meaning any disrespect I will tell you that I was raised like you, but in the Virginia Mountains near Marion. I eat what I want and work it off later. I have died twice and decided that the next time I woudn't be the cause of my own demise. Now I exercise and "work" outside. I was always active as a younger person and learned that if you take care of your body, it will take care of you. I deserved the death I got (smoked for 60 years) GOD wasnt done with me so CPR brought me back. I am still living the same way (minus the smokes) and who knows how long it will last. BTW I am not concerned in the least now, I am learning; Reply to this comment


by wogerwabbit May 5, 2009 8:05 PM EDT: ROFL, the right wing is so delirious they're attacking anything that moves. A piddly little story like this already has over 12 pages of hysterical comments... good Lord, how irrelevant can you people get?

You guys are a VAST minority in this country today and you'd better get used to it... this country is hurting, help us or least get out of the freakin' way! Or start your revolution like I hear threatened by some of you wackos and get squashed like bugs.

Don't be misunderestimating liberals, there's not enough of you paranoids to force the hell of republican rule down our throats again any time in the near future... no, no... that's NOT going to happen. There's too many of us out here that are sane (as opposed to republican) for that kinda nonsense.

Even if Obama fails miserably in the next 4 years you guys will blow it by running Palin/Limbaugh or some such monstrosity instead of finding the middle ground and trying to lure ex-republicans moderates like me back into the fold.

We're witnessing the suicide of the republican party and all I can say is jump!; Reply to this comment


by OrionCA May 5, 2009 7:22 PM EDT: notmudroseiii: "I'm taking my pre-colonoscopy drink right now and while you republicans are typing I just turned my azz to the screen and did a big number 2 washout in your face. "

Well, I hope your procedure goes well and they don't find any problems. You DO realize that it's YOUR computer that you dumped all over, don't you? Were you planning on cleaning that or making your Significant Other do it for you?; Reply to this comment


by OrionCA May 5, 2009 7:15 PM EDT: Question: Did anyone actually see them EAT the burgers? As a rule the Secret Service doesn't let the President consume food it can't vouch for - though sometimes they'll allow it if their agent is stationed in the kitchen and watches the cooking process from start to finish.

Also, every time the President leaves the White House it costs the US taxpayers several thousand dollars *per* *hour* because of all the security this entails.

Presidents do eat out just not very often because of all the hassle it entails. Usually they'll order out and have it brought to them if they're in the mood for something the kitchen staff doesn't usually make.; Reply to this comment