Obama's Run-In With A Persistent Photo-Seeker

Barack Obama was confronted by a pretty persistent photo-seeker in Philadelphia Wednesday. Turns out the guy was an eBay reseller, but watch an irked Obama handle the pesky Pennsylvanian:

Ben Smith at the Politico has the transcript, via Shailagh Murray of the Washington Post's pool report:

Run in #1: outside the first shop, on the way in

Man: Senator can I have a quick picture with you.

(Obama has his arm on the guys arm in a very nice way, like he does when he shakes peoples hand) but Obama refuses to take a picture and walks away.)
Man: It will take you two seconds. Don't cram me, I'm not doing anything to anybody. Jesus.

Run in #2: after the first shop
Man: "Senator can I get a picture with you?"
Obama: (slightly annoyed) "You are wearing me out, brother."
Man: "I got one with [Clinton] and I got one with McCain, come on Senator that'[s] not right."

Run in #3: in the street
Man: "Senator, can I please, a quick one?
Obama: (very annoyed) No, you know what no.
Man: Can I just say something to you real fast.
Obama: Yeah you can.
Man: I had one with [Clinton] had one with [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: Yea 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.

Obama and the man did not take a shot, the man was still arguing and the secret service stepped in (non confrontationally), just putting a hand between him and Obama.

Secret service: That's it.
Man: No I'm good. All I want is a picture that's it.

Comments

[peachfuzz]

Mark David Chapman looked harmless too.

Seemed like a nice fan even. This guy was allowed too close.

No one is obligated to give pics if they sense exploitation.

[suigeneris]

The guy is clearly a rude jerk who has no care in the world other than himself. Possibly even trying to make Obama look bad by forcing a confrontation. The Senator handled it well, but honestly?

I really am having trouble believing that this is an actual news story.

Are they that desperate for content?

[Markometer10000]

If I was so desperate for a pic of me and Obama, I would just download GIMP and make one. Gotta be easier than driving into downtown Philly, paying for parking, fighting the crowd and then chasing a busy candidate all over the place.

[kfdan]

Watched the video and this guy reminds me of the character Joe Pesci played in the Lethal Weapons series! Obama handled him well.

[oracle99]

The Secret Service evidently isn't doing their job. There are too many crazies out there that would like to make a name for themselves by doing something to harm him.

[farseer]

Obama evidently and rightly sensed that the guy was a paparazzo.

[Mormondude]

"Obama Harassed By Aggressive Photo-Seeker"

LOL, that headline makes Obama look like some kind of saint. "Brave Obama Endures Harassment, Shows Unbelievable Restraint"

We all know this is a liberal site, and an Obama site, but the love-fest is getting a little much, don't you think?

[BlackWidowPilot]

Really? From where this independent voter is sitting, Mr. magic underwear, Senator Obama was being pestered by someone lacking in basic good manners and tact, and handled it about as well as anyone could expect.

But your holding Senator Obama to such a high standard of extreme good conduct comes as no surprise given the content of your profile. People of colour have to be "twice as smart, twice as educated, twice as competent" for one such as you to view them as being merely *acceptable* IMHE.

Say, how about Mitt Romney's sons? Any of them sign up yet for a hitch in the Marine Corps? No? Didn't think so.

Guess if you want to read nothing but "Obama bashing" you should go to Rush Limbaugh and get your fix. Here, you'll usually just get the news reported with something resembling accuracy, and we can't have you subjected to that, now can we?

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Mabo]

you mean..."citizen and Mormon-basher", right?

[Earl]

The guy was an obnoxious, greedy pig and Obama deserves credit for putting up with him for as long as he did.

[rbspickles]

Why didn't the guy just click a picture of the man if that's what he wanted?

[polish]

He calls the guy a "brother" and tells him he's wearing him out? His true self is showing. Just an arrogant politician.

[ghostwriter5]

Wow. I cannot even imagine how this site and the media would have hung Hillary if she had refused to smile in a picture with a local. This is just one more example of the horribly skewed covergage. Just imagine if Hillary had blocked revotes in Florida and Michigan...if Hillary had donated money to a divisive religious figure..if Hillary had told five different stories about Nafta and Rezko.

I watched Matthews supplicate to Obama yesterday with cheerleaders in the background--let's all make sure we keep women in their place--better not try to interfere or you'll be humilated and shown the door.

[vincealy]

This clown almost tried to provoke this incident. You have to wonder what candidate might have sent him.

[ricchase]

Those bungling, irresponsible secret service agents should be fired immediately. Obama needs to have his own security force. This creep should NEVER have been allowed to touch the Senator!

[DHC]

I agree, ricchase. Something is wrong with that picture. This is the second time the secret service has screwed up while protecting Obama. What is up with that?

[ME08]

Oh please...get a life...this guy meant no harm...what is WRONG with you people...oh, I don't need to ask.

[ME08]

OMG! AN Ebay photo hawker is a security threat! Call in Homeland Security!

What a friggin' wimp Obama is...an Ebay guy sets him off!

[tess08]

HRC and Chelsea would just have said, "No A--hole, No, it isn't any of OUR business to have free pix taken with the common people, especially if you haven't contributed to my campaign OR the Clinton Library.....Ickes, kick him out, and don't let the riff-raff in until they pay their dues!"

[karela]

Obama didn't care for the Ebay part and he didn't like the rude pushiness, but the thing that set him off is not on the clip. Earlier, Obama had been trying to talk to some children and this guy wouldn't allow it with his push to get a picture. The guy could have taken a picture like anybody else. What he wanted was something different, something saleable and personal and he didn't care whose day he had to ruin to get it. I think Obama handled it well. I don't think that anyone acting out like that should ever be allowed to get close enough to put his hands on any candidate. This country doesn't need anymore tragedies of that kind.

[Ramirez]

Tase him, bros!

[aceholiday]

damn dude whats wrong with you? i love obama as much as the next guy but he's still one of us. that's the most important thing. you give him a specially, elite-trained bodyguard unit this week, and next week we're a police state. a person is a person

[idontthinkthisishelping]

What? Did you read what you wrote?

[zrus300]

Are you serious a person is a person? Barack Obama has received so many death therats since he annouced his candency. Which is why he has secret service in the first place. Who is to say this "harmless" man wasn't crazy and tried to harm Barack. Mr. Obama has every right to turn someone away that he gets a bad vibe from. Sorry, but that is the world we live in.

[suigeneris]

If that guy had a knife up his sleeve, Obama could be dead right now. The commenter is right, it's unbelievable that a guy that pushy and obviously unwilling to take "no" for an answer was allowed to approach him close enough to touch.

[OneWoman]

This guy obviously doesn't believe "No" means no. How utterly disrespectful.

[kennedy]

Rasmussen:

MARCH 31.08

Favorable/Unfavorable

McCain 53 / 44

Obama 49 / 49

[Barbarossa03]

Kennedy you are one of those Hilary supporters that is going to vote for John McCain if she doesn't get the nomination aren't you?

[ME08]

Not a surprise...Obamabots are more responsible for Obama's deserved high negatives than he is!

[Ramirez]

Good news: Obama still has a chance as long as his negatives don't go over 50%.

Bad news: If you factor in the "Bradley Effect", his negatives probably ARE over 50%.

[Darkbane]

Mccain has yet to even be truly looked at by the press. When good ole flippity flop gets roasted by the media........expect the favorable rating to drop....and drop.........and drop. He has yet to be exposed to the nation. Clearly if Ann Coulter and Rush c
The more Mccain hugs it out with the Bush down the road the lower his rating will go.

[dsmyre]

Maybe the guy wanted Obama to get angry on camera, yell or take a swing at him or something. It's almost as though he was taunting him by deliberately being a boob.

[ME08]

No one was taunting anybody...a ridiculously stupid response by Obama...period...end of discussion.

[condew]

No, take this rude idiot and multiply. A candidate should not have bee accosted by this guy a second time.

[EdnaEpstein]

This is news? You've got to be kidding...