From The Road
April 2, 2008 2:17 PM

Obama Has Testy Exchange In Philadelphia

(CBS)
From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

WALLINGFORD, PA. -- Barack Obama’s six-day bus tour has been chock-full of local stops through out the state, where he has had personal interactions with voters. However, during a stop at the Italian Market in Philadelphia, Obama had several testy run-ins with a man who wanted to take a picture with the senator.



According to the campaign, the man is an eBay seller and was seeking a photo, presumably to sell online. He approached Obama outside the hotel this morning in Philadelphia and was aggressively asking for a photo.

"It was apparent that these guys were seeking autographs on books and magazines to sell on ebay," said Jen Psaki, a campaign spokeswoman. "They wanted a picture to authenticate the signatures. They were first at the senator's hotel and tried to get in front of third graders who were lined up to see Senator Obama. After being disruptive, the police moved them to the sidewalk. They then followed the motorcade to the second stop at the market and continued to push for a picture to authenticate whatever they could get signed."

Transcript from the pool report:

Run In #1

Man: Senator, Can I have a quick picture with you?
(Obama refuses to take a picture)

Run In #2

Man: “Senator, Can I get a picture with you?”
Obama: “You are wearing me out Brother.”
Man: “I got one with Hillary Clinton and I got one with McCain, come on Senator that’s not right.”

Run in #3:

Man: “Senator, can I please, a quick one?
Obama: “No, you know what no.”
Man: “Can I just say something to you real fast?”
Obama: “Yeah, you can”
Man: “I had one with Hillary Clinton, had one with Senator McCain.”
Obama: “I am sure you do. Because when I was trying to talk to some kids – and I know look
Man: “No, my wife is a school teacher and she was there, she had to go back and that wasn’t right what wont you just take a picture with me, I'm not asking you for a autograph its for my family.”
Obama: “Yeah well whatever. Just take it. I won’t be smiling. Because you’re wearing me out. ….No no, you’ve been really rude about it. Just take a shot.”


Tags:
italian market ,
philadelphia ,
barack obama ,
rude
Topics:
Barack Obama
Add a Comment See all 115 Comments
by susan10001-2009 April 2, 2008 2:43 PM PDT
HOW does this WACKO get THATCLOSE to OBAMA??

THAT is the REAL STORY!

WHERE was the SS?
Reply to this comment
by jone775 April 2, 2008 2:51 PM PDT
susan10001: You are right. This concerns me a bit.
Reply to this comment
by lvdragonlady-2009 April 2, 2008 2:54 PM PDT
Where the hell was his security? Have the Feds been bought off already???
Reply to this comment
by forthepeopl1 April 2, 2008 3:02 PM PDT
His comments came as the president paid a quick visit to a nonprofit debt counseling center in Freehold, N.J. to refute exactly that sort of criticism and argue his administration has acted effectively.

The administration''''''''''''''''s moves over the past about six months include expanding the Federal Housing Administration''''''''''''''''s ability to offer refinancing to homeowners with good credit, allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy up more home loans, and brokering help for struggling homeowners through a private-sector mortgage industry group. That group has agreed to offer a five-year rate freeze for people who have not missed payments or a 30-day foreclosure pause for those who fall behind.


"There are some homeowners who have made responsible buying decisions and who could keep their homes with just a little help," he said. SO WHY DID YOU BAIL OUT YOUR FREINDS ON WALL STREET. MR PIN HEAD

The president has come out strongly against the Democrats'''''''''''''''', warning that an overzealous governmental response to the nation''''s housing woes could hurt the economy''s ability to recover long-term."We have a role to play at the government level, and that is to help lenders avoid foreclosure," he said. THE STOCK MARLET IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN A FEW MILLION AMERICANS LOSING THEIR HOMES.. "The housing market problems are complicated and there''s no easy solutions.
DONT FORGET MR POTATO HEAD/ PAULSON I S FROM WALL STREET

DONT FORGET BEN/MR FED IS FROM WALL STREET TOO

Reply to this comment
by getcentered April 2, 2008 3:08 PM PDT
Keep that guy away from Obama....

please.......

Reply to this comment
by getcentered April 2, 2008 3:09 PM PDT
Anyone who claims to still be "suspicious" that Obama secretly harbors or sympathizes with the extremist views of Rev. Wright after actually listening to Obama''s now famous speech, was never going to vote for Obama in the first place. All the anti-Obama or pro-Hillary voters are jumping on the lynch-wagon because they see it as a way to bring Obama down, not because they honestly believe Obama to be an extremist. So let them rant and rave. The polls show their fury is barely even fraying Obama''s support at the edges. And in a way, they have actually helped Obama (1) by reminding everyone that Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim and (2) by dispelling any notion that Obama can not stand up to the Republican attack machine. Not only did he stand up, he did it with grace, courage and brilliance.
Reply to this comment
by mike71067 April 2, 2008 3:17 PM PDT
Obama is not ready for the White House. This is more and more apparent every week when new things emerge.

That said, those jerks who were insisting on getting his photo should be kicked in the seeds. They were being rude about it, and the Senator has more important things to deal with. Such as, how will his pro-abortion views resonate with pro-life Democrats in Pennsylvania?
Reply to this comment
by nathan8804-2009 April 2, 2008 3:20 PM PDT
Hey this guy is not President! Not even a party nominee yet! This is the "campaign trail" he should not be in some bubble where no one can talk to him. Imagine he is acting like this in public with cameras rolling. What are we to expect of this novice should he become President!
Reply to this comment
by gaiaschild-2009 April 2, 2008 3:21 PM PDT
Where were the security people? They are usually just really close.
Reply to this comment
by neoconslayer April 2, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
mike71067: How does anything in this silly non-story relate to Obama being "not ready for the White House"?
Reply to this comment
by smashwl7 April 2, 2008 3:25 PM PDT
This guy might be trying to kill him or something.
Reply to this comment
by jersupporter April 2, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
It is apparent that Obama needs more security. Let us not forget what happened to Bobby Kennedy. This imbecile asking for the picture should have never been allowed to get that close.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 2, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
DON''T TAZE ME BRO!

Reply to this comment
by flreason April 2, 2008 3:31 PM PDT
nathan8804:

Give me a break! This guy was already ID''d as someone selling candidate pictures/autographs on e-bay. You think trying to give this guy the brush-off makes Obama unfit for the Presidency. He has been very available to voters. He is well within his rights to rebuff someone trying to hustle him.
Reply to this comment
by blkpresident April 2, 2008 3:31 PM PDT
What a %$#&$& jerk! If this clown likes taking pictures so much with lil'' Hillary and OLD man McCain, go right ahead, but trying to guilt Obama into taking one because he had pictures done with the lil'' woman and the OLD man is pretty weak leverage. That''s like a sports fan saying to someone like Michael Jordan, take a picture with me ''cause some lil'' girl powder-puff player did already and so did grandpa the old clown who wished me a happy 5th birthday. Lil'' Hillary and OLD man McCain couldn''t hold Obama''s briefcase.
Reply to this comment
by obamasgranny April 2, 2008 3:33 PM PDT
It took him 5 minutes to say no,..a pic would have taken 5 seconds.
He thinks he''s a rock star already!!
Reply to this comment
by elle-eda April 2, 2008 3:35 PM PDT
omg. i hope we havent just seen ''the shooter''.
obama needs more security. just because he''s a running for president doesnt mean he should entertain this belligerent stalker.
Reply to this comment
by skyk-2009 April 2, 2008 3:37 PM PDT
Lil'''' Hillary and OLD man McCain couldn''''t hold Obama''''s briefcase.


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Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 03:31 PM : Apr 02, 2008
+ report abuse

You know this guy had a picture of them how? Because HE told Obama so? ROFLMAO He was a ebay seller for Gods sake. You people will do ANYTHING I think for a Wedge or something to harm this man PERSONALLY! It''s rediculous!!
Reply to this comment
by farmermd April 2, 2008 3:42 PM PDT
What a waste of print! Its obvious that CBS is just trying to hype a non issue. CBS STAY ON THE ISSUES
Reply to this comment
by lilvinnyb April 2, 2008 3:46 PM PDT
Keep on calling McCain old...they did the same to Reagan. Personally, I like my presidents like I like my airline pilots...with a little grey on the top. Makes me feel a bit safer that somone with epxerience is flying the plane.
Reply to this comment
by summarex April 2, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
The guy is a low life and a troublemaker.

Unfortunately Obama was not direct and in his face when talking to this guy. Instead he looked away from him almost as if afraid to tell him off directly.

People in this country are hard wired to vote for the guy who never backs down from a direct confrontation when he knows he''s right. Obama didn''t react lik he should of.

BTW: I doubt the guy is just an ebay seller.
Reply to this comment
by gobears1028 April 2, 2008 3:54 PM PDT
Seeing that idiot harass Obama gave me a flashback to that sick and horrible evening when Robert Kennedy was shot. Would security please keep these nickel and dime crackpots away from him as well as Clinton and McCain?!
Reply to this comment
by PulSamsara April 2, 2008 3:57 PM PDT
Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.
Reply to this comment
by deadanimal April 2, 2008 3:57 PM PDT
Yes they did, and by the time Reagan finished his second term in office, he barely knew who he was, where he was or what he was supposed to be doing....and McCain is older than Reagan was when he was first elected.

-----------------
Keep on calling McCain old...they did the same to Reagan.
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Posted by lilvinnyb at 03:46 PM : Apr 02, 2008
Reply to this comment
by thisandthat1 April 2, 2008 4:05 PM PDT

The guy was an annoying jerk who is known for stalking famous people so he can sell their autographs and pictures on Ebay. Good for Obama!
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 2, 2008 4:09 PM PDT
olandug, you must work for Exxon Oil, or Halliburton?
Reply to this comment
by danstoned April 2, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
US media continues to give the mentally unstable John McCain a free ride. Corporate reicht winged journalism, the number one sponsors of the Republicon terrorists, continues to be as biased towards John McCain as it was towards the pitiful Ronald Reagan, who was the best friend Iran ever had.

Reply to this comment
by dlcreationz April 2, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
If you look @ the guy when he asked Obama let me take a picture he didn''t even have a camera with him so what do you think was in Obama mind (was is this man''s intentions towards him.. with all these comments that republicans and some democrats are being allowed to post i would be thinking the same thing..
Reply to this comment
by lkcb1 April 2, 2008 4:18 PM PDT
I am certain we will see this man later on FAUX NEWS telling us how he is suing because he was manhandled. I am a former pro athlete. It is not hard to tell who is a legitimate photo-seeker and who is a pro- stalker-azzi. They end up everywhere, he already said that he was at the hotel another stop with kids and then a 3rd place. I agree, where is the protection???? Obviously everyone else respected the distance and didn''t break whatever security line there was. This guy knows how to bust a line and approached aggressively like a pro. Thank God he did not have a knife or a gun or something.

Protect the next President of the United States, for goodness sake.
Reply to this comment
by pepperp1 April 2, 2008 4:20 PM PDT
ARROGANT I MISSED THE PART WHERE HE SAYS HE A EBAY GUY....lordy Obama and his team do say and do anything .....

.........maybe it was a bumper sticker on his butt...


maybe its because he was typical and looked like a ebay seller I guess ebay sellers are typically no Obamaish am I WRIGHT on this?
Reply to this comment
by ov442 April 2, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
see? even here Obama wont bow to the lobbying special interest of a self serving papparazzi-like individual that was being disruptive and obnoxious.
Reply to this comment
by danstoned April 2, 2008 4:24 PM PDT
Why cant anybody get that close to GW Bush? I believe that we all know the answer. The US Secret Service clearly was not doing its job in protecting Obama.
Reply to this comment
by wellthom April 2, 2008 4:25 PM PDT
There are so many crazies around I also would have been keeping him away from me...Why didn''t the security detail make sure he wasn''t that close. There is always someone trying to do bad things to a future President, they get in the news.
Reply to this comment
by pepperp1 April 2, 2008 4:26 PM PDT
Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.


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Posted by PulSamsara at 03:57 PM : Apr 02, 2008


No way we want a President who is proud of all Americans rather they have been called the N word or not or even if they are typical.
Reply to this comment
by ermengarde11 April 2, 2008 4:31 PM PDT
Ickb1, so true, I was fearful for Obama''s safety, although it seemed pretty clear that the eBay guy was just a jerk anyway. I''m surprisd the SS did not remove the guy from proximity to the Sen.

It''s clear by the fact that he wouldn''t give up that he was a nuisance.

Barack did the right thing.
Reply to this comment
by gracchus1 April 2, 2008 4:31 PM PDT
I agree. Where the **** was security? Why did they let this guy get so close?
Reply to this comment
by dcasay April 2, 2008 4:42 PM PDT
I am surprised to see anybody can reach so close to Obama.

Secret Services are not doing their job well. He could have harmed Obama. Am I the only one who feels so?
Reply to this comment
by dcasay April 2, 2008 4:45 PM PDT
I am surprised to see anybody can reach so close to Obama.

Secret Services are not doing their job well. He could have harmed Obama. Am I the only one who feels so?
Reply to this comment
by cdfoxtrot April 2, 2008 5:01 PM PDT
This incident tells me Bush''s Secret Service are not doing their job. No-one like this would get within a block of the moron-in-chief, so why is the first realistic black candidate so exposed? I really fear for his safety.
Reply to this comment
by taddles-2009 April 2, 2008 5:09 PM PDT
"maybe its because he was typical and looked like a ebay seller...

Posted by pepperp1 at 04:20 PM : Apr 02, 2008"


The campaign spokesman said he was an Ebay seller, probably because they''ve run into this same guy before because scum like him don''t go away.
Reply to this comment
by tulcak April 2, 2008 5:30 PM PDT
the man wants to make a profit on ebay...this is exactly what is wrong with our country... unregulated orgistic greed... gimme gimme gimme... hey, my profit is more important than the 3rd graders in line ahead of me... we want to teach our young kids that being greedy is good and do this at an early age... so they can be good greedy consumers instead of good citizens and good people... what a good example of what has gone wrong with our society... be quiet... there is nothing else to say...
Reply to this comment
by guysdigdirt April 2, 2008 5:31 PM PDT
why is the first realistic black candidate so exposed? I really fear for his safety.

Posted by cdfoxtrot

What a racist whiner you are. You pull the race card from your butt every chance you get, and what a whiner!!
Reply to this comment
by joeysky18 April 2, 2008 5:35 PM PDT
Hillary would have just let the guy have a picture or two for his peace of mind. Why Obama was making a big deal out of it I don''t understand.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 2, 2008 5:36 PM PDT
OMG!! You would think someone just shot Jesus. If Obama did get hurt it would probably start a civil war or something.
Posted by truth-hurts at 05:27 PM : Apr 02, 2008

What a racist whiner you are. You pull the race card from your butt every chance you get, and what a whiner!!
Posted by guysdigdirt at 05:31 PM : Apr 02, 2008


nuff said...
Reply to this comment
by tulcak April 2, 2008 5:38 PM PDT
the reason you morons can''t understand why Sen. Obama would not want his picture taken by a greedy MF pushing himself in front of the line in front of 3rd graders so he could sell his pictures on ebay for a profit clearly shows that you are just like this piece o cr*p. its all about money for you isn''t it? what did the 3rd graders learn today?...
Reply to this comment
by April 2, 2008 5:42 PM PDT
I smell a "plant". McCain loses his temper.... Somebody tryin'' to get Obama to lose his cool on TV. Gotta believe it ain''t gonna work... I wonder how much he got from whoever he''s workin'' for...
Reply to this comment
by larryjines April 2, 2008 5:44 PM PDT
Your posted transcript provides a somewhat limited impression when compared to the actual video: Senator Obama is walking with the man, engaged with him as they both approach the door. Senator Obama simply moves inside. The transcript reads that he "refused" a picture. It seems to me Senator Obama may have concluded the man was a little too intense in his request; I avoid those folks, too. In the video I do not see the "story" as it''s being told in print.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 April 2, 2008 5:45 PM PDT
I smell a "plant". McCain loses his temper.... Somebody tryin'''' to get Obama to lose his cool on TV. Gotta believe it ain''''t gonna work... I wonder how much he got from whoever he''''s workin'''' for...
Posted by hadenough43 at 05:42 PM : Apr 02, 2008

That''s what it appears to be, we''ve all seen what the paparazzi does to poor little Britney Spears to get a reaction out of her for TMZ, or Entertainment tonight.
Reply to this comment
by minnick8-2009 April 2, 2008 6:09 PM PDT
You mean to tell me there are actually people willing to pay for a photo of Obama? Why don''t they just print one off the CBS website?
Reply to this comment
by thgdriver April 2, 2008 6:11 PM PDT
Question! Where the hell is it written down that Obama or any one else for that matter must stop and take a picture with some jerk? Inthe future, Obama needs some security to keep this slime at bay.
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