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

[GrainOSand]

The straw that would more than strain the vertebrae of a nation –assassination;

Message to the CIA:

Do your job, for if the man falls, hell will know no fury like what will happen afterwards. The palpable tension in the air is real. Do not be so foolish to think that people are going to stand idly by and allow yet another conspiracy to control and maintain who holds political power to pass unanswered.

Everybody on that detail should be fired. If I performed like that in my profession I would be fired. If they want something to happen to Mr. Obama all I can say is that each individual on that detail is a waste as a human.

Alternative view:

There were agents we could not see and the area and people in it had been pre-swept. The agents closet to the persistent man had gauged the threat and already positioned themselves to thwart any attempt at harming the senator (although it only takes a second for tragedy to strike). I hope that is the case, because the nightmare scenario is just that.

[GrainOSand]

I meant message to the Secret Service.

[Ramirez]

Good post. Even with the mistype.

[Wildcatdiva]

No the man was in his face! You saw it, I saw it. You are right CIA, FBI, AND ANY OTHER SECRET AGENT DO YOUR JOB!!!!

[ME08]

This dude was harmless, you people better get a grip or you are all going to end up where you certainly belong, in Bellevue!

Lunacy is alive and well on Huffpo!

[nunzia]

And if that guy had been trying to photograph Hillary, this article would be
all about how Hillary reacted.
It wouldn't be about how aggressive
the pest was.

[ME08]

Of course it would...an­d the bitchy, catty comments would be coming fast and furious about her appearance, about her clothes, her hair, her facial expression­s...you know, important stuff like that.

[carlgt1]

I guess the Secret Service was trying to scramble fighter jets who would arrive 45 minutes too late!

[ME08]

Hmmmm...di­dn't know that was their job...mayb­e you can suggest it, though...

[personalpolitical]

It IS disconcerting that the Secret Service let that guy get that close to Obama, twice, especially given the guy was so aggressive about it. From the look of the area no one had been screened, that is not a good situation. I've seen too many assassinations or attempted assassinations start from someone getting up close and pulling a gun...and this isn't the first example of the Secret Service being way too lax.

As far as the guy goes, he had crossed the line, he was being an ass, obviously just looking to make a scene, and Obama was completely justified in not wanting to be stopped by the guy.

[Nostraboris]

I'm sure the guy was a nano second from being taken out. If the secret servive had acted too fast, Lou Dobbs and all the sour Clinton people would be starting yet another irrelevant "narrative"

[ME08]

Huh?

[tommy2tone]

Not only did Obama give the guy a picture, but he gave him this nice video too.

And BTW, telling a jerk to take a hike is not immaturity. Immaturity is daring the enemy to attack out troops so you can seem like a tough guy. "Bring it on."

[afgail]

I do not support Obama. I think he would be a disaster for this country if he was elected president. But, I was just horrified as I watched the clip. The guy was clearly distraught and should have been kept away by the Secret Service. This looked like a potential tragedy in the making. It should never happen again. Obama must immediately demand and get much more secure protection.

[ME08]

I saw nothing in the video that remotely would indicate such a thing... despite some here who want to trash Secret Service, these guys know when a guy is a threat...t­hat's their friggin' job, and they do it well. I have no doubt that they would never have let this guy come so close to Obama if he really was a danger...I mean, come on now, I can understand why we might be worried about Obama's safety with all the nuts out there, but overreacting as some have here serves no purpose...

[harriscrl3]

Good grief even the secret service is INEPT. Is there any area of our government that it is competent. This stuff is frightening.

Carol

[hppygrl15]

Secret Service let this guy get too close to Barack...a­nything could have happened

[Wildcatdiva]

That's the only thing good about thisarticle ...some heads will roll!

[Wildcatdiva]

OBAMA'S PEOPLE : GET THE F ON THIS SHIT AND DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

[kennedy]

Give the guy his photo Obama. Stop whining.

[EvoMan]

Like you would have if you were him? Bet not.

By the way, if you'd have watched you'd have seen that he did give him a photo.

[ME08]

Agreed...c­ut the nervous nelly routine, Obamabots.­..it's getting very old...
Hillary has faced some much more disturbing nuts so far...this was a minor episode.
Granted, both he, McCain and Hillary will most assuredly be faced with many crazed people, since that is what the world has come to. But this must be put in perspective, and by no means, NONE whatsoever, was this guy's behavior on a level that Obama's safety was in danger...

[GBecker]

I had a few creepy flashbacks watching this guy harass Obama for a freakin' picture and the SS just let him - especially after the 2nd time. No is no, for chrissakes!

[pertello]

This Mark David Chapman moment gave me chills. I seriously fear for Obama if this is how the secret service leave him open to any lunatic who accosts him on the street.

[GoreyFantod]

Did you know that the Bush family & the Hinckley family were friends back in Texas? Both men were in the oil business. I've read a theory that Poppy "CIA" Bush used the Reagan assassination attempt as a way to seize power. Family & friends said Reagan was never the same afterward; he didn't fully regain his health & was possibly suffering PTSD in addition to Alzheimer's.
Whenever the Bush family is involved, we should all be suspicious.

Google any of the following:

- Neil Bush Scott Hinckley
- John Hinckley Vanderbilt Energy
- Bush Hinckley Texas

[ME08]

Now things are beginning to get a bit freaky here...goi­ng from conspiratorial to the pure loony fringe.

[jones]

Yeah. I thought about Chapman when I viewed this video. It sent chills down my spine. I wish the ss were somewhere in site.

[mediahack]

You are watching too many movies .. The reality is this stuff happens all the time. The world is full interesting people like that guy that wanted a picture.

[ME08]

Tin foil hat time...

[lizzytysh]

I have no choice but to weigh in with serious concern regarding the level of security Barack is actually receiving. Like some of the others here, I watched the instant replay footage of the assassinations already mentioned here. This has been a concern of mine from the beginning, to the extent of writing the Obama campaign and suggesting exactly the same as a couple others here, that they hire their OWN security detail. The innermost circle MUST be trustworthy to protect Barack. I'm not seeing it at all in this footage. We could be watching footage of still another historical tragedy at this very moment. Your life is too precious, Barack, to entrust it to people who won't take control when control MUST be taken... in order to protect you. There's no time for second-guessing in situations like these.


~ Elizabeth

[midtod2008]

I am glad this incident occurred so the whole world can see how LAX the Secret Service has been. This is just one more example, such as their stopping the Dallas police from screening people with metal detectors prior to an Obama stadium event.

Notice in the video of today's incident that Obama walks AHEAD of the Secret Service when he gets out of the SUV, with the agents trailing. Video shot from another angle shows the man in question waiting to intercept the candidate on the sidewalk. He could just as easily have walked up and stuck a gun in his ribs, just like Jack Ruby did to Oswald, and the SS couldn't have prevented it. Because the agents were not in a position to do so. They were BEHIND Obama. This is called protection? As soon as Barack and the man made contact, the guy physically laid his hands on Barack. Can anybody imagine that being allowed to happen to Bush or Cheney? The agents took an entirely passive approach to dealing with this harasser, even allowing him to repeatedly touch the candidate -- a definite "no no." They also turned their backs on the guy, which would have made it easy for him to pull a weapon and shoot at Barack from behind.

This whole incident is very revealing and should alarm everyone about Barack Obama's safety. I suspect that's why Hillary is hanging in the race...hed­ging her bets, "just in case." It's an outrage.

[IAM4CLINTON]

The only thing this reveals is Obama's immaturity and childish behavior. Your attempts to change the topic by smearing the Secret Serice is despicable

[GBecker]

^ what an idiot ^

[Kenji]

Yeah. He was so childish. Sure we're not talking about YOU?

[ritenow]

Dear IAM4Clinton,

The only thing your comment reveals is your IGNORANCE and that when it comes to you and your candidate - "small minds think alike."

Oh - I'm sorry if I misspoke. Again, it must the PTSD from sniper fire I had to endure on my way to the market.

[jadez]

hey loder
whats up with the liar?

bosnia!

[finethnx]

Seriously! Imagine if every time someone wanted a picture with a candidate we thought they were going to be assassinated.

[lizzytysh]

"I am glad this incident occurred so the whole world can see how LAX the Secret Service has been. This is just one more example, such as their stopping the Dallas police from screening people with metal detectors prior to an Obama stadium event.

. . .

Notice in the video of today's incident that Obama walks AHEAD of the Secret Service when he gets out of the SUV, with the agents trailing.

. . .

They also turned their backs on the guy, which would have made it easy for him to pull a weapon and shoot at Barack from behind."

This whole incident is alarming beyond belief. Your first paragraph is incomprehensible and shows that there is an egregious lack of protection surrounding Barack!! I agree with all of your observations in your second paragraph.

I've already agreed with someone who commented privately that Barack does not want to allow himself to be one heartbeat away from Hillary becoming President. His choices for a V.P. ought NEVER have her name on the list.

This is terrifying stuff... and the Secret Service stopping the police in Dallas from metal-detector screening!?! New protocols must be established and enforced by a new set of security people. Let the Secret Service be the outermost layer and those able and willing to do the serious work of protection be the innermost.


~ Elizabeth

[geobushono]

all those incompetent secret service slugs should be cashiered today. This is a major scandal.

[kennedy]

Larry Sinclair, Rezko, Wright, terrorist ties and Donald Young are the huge scandals.

[personalpolitical]

Um, except not at all.

Do we really want to revisit all of the Clintons' REAL scandals though? C'mon now.

[finethnx]

Wright is the new "architect". Better believe it.

[IAM4CLINTON]

A perfect snapshot of Obama's immaturity- I cracked up that he will agree for the photo but will NOT smile !! Spoken like an elementary school kid.
This man wants to be President of the U.S-- so I guess he will go to a summit with a head of state and refuse to smile in the photo afterward if the leader has worn him down ! What a joke !

[kennedy]

A Philly tv station was making fun of Obama. For a 2 nd night. The gutter balls just wrote themselves.

Obama reminds me of a spolied rich brat.

[AdLib]

How many endorsements did Hillary get today? Obama added 2 more.

[GoreyFantod]

"Obama reminds me of a spolied rich brat."

What does George W. "Malfoy" Bush remind you of, then? Do you live in Upside-Down Land, or what?

[ME08]

How much contact has he had with anyone except the types of crowds he attracts?

--Overwhelmingly yuppie
--Overwhelmingly young, too hip...

The rest of America has no time for such an effete bunch of snobs...

[chin075]

"I knew it!! His reaction to the poor man just looking for a picture shows that he's not qualified to be commander in chief!!" You rabid Clintonistas have to continually reach for anything you can get...

[ME08]

His followers, in their obsessive overprotectiveness, reveal why he can never be President. One of you nuts could do far worse than this guy ever did...you are THAT sick.

[AdLib]

Let's see, Hillary repeatedly makes up a story about running from non-existent sniper fire in Bosnia and Obama tries to tactfully discourage an obnoxious Ebay weasel from disrupting campaign visits to local stores...w­hich candidate would an intelligent person attack?

[ME08]

Hillary...­by light years...

You clowns make any sane person want to RUN from Obama like he has the plague...

[DiogenesII]

SHUT-UP AND GET OUT.
What is truly elementary is your extrapolation. That guy was totally rude and to infer that
Obama's reaction/action is reflective of the way he would comport himself on the world
stage is, in itself, the province of a small mind. What's needed here is a photograph of
your brain, so we can determine how many marbles are missing !!! The Mind is a
Terrible thing to waste. You "cracked up"....Sug­gests that someone needs to replace
or remove the "silly putty" that's in your head. Your synapses are maladroit.

[IAM4CLINTON]

By saying "shut up and get out"- you exhibit the same immaturity as your leader

[finethnx]

Everyone where I am cracked up, too. It's funny.

[tozo]

I can't believe that this has happened.
as soon as this guys starts getting agressive, by placing his hands on Obama, there should have an intervention by Secret Service. Don't these guys remember the 60's? Isn't there a film for service guys concerning the kennedy's, King, and to a lesser extent, Larry Flint.

People running for POTUS need protection!