Obama, Construction Workers Toast To More Jobs

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP/The Huffington Post) -- President Barack Obama has joined four unemployed construction workers in Florida for a round of beers on a day his jobs bill met defeat on Capitol Hill.

Obama met with the group at Harp and Celt Restaurant & Irish Pub in downtown Orlando. He solicited opinions on the jobs situation and said he was trying to figure out how to get the construction trades back to work.

The workers – three unemployed pipe fitters and one unemployed plumber – drank Budweiser and Obama had a Guinness. They all toasted: "To more jobs!"

Obama held the meeting between fundraisers in Florida as Senate Republicans – and two Democrats – turned back an effort to open debate on the president's $447 billion jobs bill. Obama says the bill would create construction jobs.

The White House Pool Report, written by Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal, offers some more details:

POTUS, with a pint of Guinness, cheers with unemployed construction workers - "To more jobs..."

Motorcade was rolling at 6:58 pm and stopped at 7:01 pm for President Obama's visit with unemployed construction workers an Irish bar in downtown Orlando.

When pool entered, Mr. Obama was already seated with the construction workers (names below) and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer at a table inside Harp and Celt Restaurant & Irish Pub on Magnolia Avenue.

The bar smelled like stale beer. It was mostly empty except some workers, WH staff and a couple of people in the back who appeared to be customers eating and drinking. POTUS and the construction workers sat at a table near the door. The wooden table had a half eaten large plate of nachos in the middle. Apparently the construction workers had been eating them, as they had small plates in front of them. There were 4 bottles of Budweiser on the table. Two were in front of construction workers and one in front of Mr. Dyer and POTUS, but POTUS, then Mr. Dyer, ordered a Guiness instead. One worker had a Corona, and another had a soda. Mr. Obama, seated with his back to the door, was in shirtsleeves. A lifesize cardboard pint of Guiness was propped up behind him in a corner.

POTUS told the workers part of the reason he wanted to stop by is because "Buddy and I" are trying to help create jobs. "You guys are what this country's all about," Mr. Obama said.

POTUS said he wanted to get sense from the unemployed construction workers what they're seeing, how projects are going. One man told POTUS he had worked at the Amway Center. Pool couldn't hear much of the conversation. A version of "Landslide" was playing in the bar (not Fleetwood Mac, maybe Smashing Pumpkins?)

As the group of six talked, someone brought POTUS a Guinness.

"Look at that," he said, examining it. "Now that looks good."

Mr. Dyer thought so too. "Is that a Guinness?" he said. "Can I get one of those, too?"

POTUS then raised his glass and the construction workers raised theirs.

"To more jobs," he said.

And they clinked glasses.

See more pictures below:

Comments

[NAVRETRD]

12:50 PM on 10/12/2011

How meny of YOU 'little people" would jump at the chance to have a face to face and be herd, most of you i'd be willing to bet!

[NAVRETRD]

12:45 PM on 10/12/2011

SO VOTING NO IS NOT ACCETABLE, what do you have to offer, anything ?

[FiredUpRTG]

04:54 PM on 10/12/2011

Whew! Imagine how much money she blew on that trip to Target last week. And not to mention how much did she spend on those clothes she wears over and over? And how much were those dresses she hands down from Malia to Sasha?

Yeah, Princeton grads are real rubbish.

Her spending habits are really eating into those book profits.

[sarcasm]

Excuse me while I flag that comment.

[Indep Votr]

08:41 AM on 10/12/2011

The economy is in shambles and joblessness soars. Obama's response? More campaigning over beers. Serious, competent leadership is desperately needed.

[K August]

09:34 PM on 10/12/2011

I'd call it multi-tasking......

[Indep Votr]

09:37 PM on 10/12/2011

The rest of us see it as campaigning instead of working.

[jeffnomelt]

08:36 AM on 10/12/2011

Were these guys complaining about their union dues being used for political purposes instead of funding their retirement plans?

[K August]

09:43 PM on 10/12/2011

Nope because that's not the way it works.
Union workers pension money is totally separate.

" No worker in the United States is required to give one red cent to support a political cause he or she doesn't agree with."

[splatl]

08:30 AM on 10/12/2011

And Obama stuck the unemployed with the bill.

[Marisa Stein]

11:59 AM on 10/12/2011

if I could I'd fan you again

[FiredUpRTG]

04:55 PM on 10/12/2011

Four beers. I think his book profits can cover it.

Jealous.

[lightningbolt]

08:27 AM on 10/12/2011

Bush never had the guts to go have a beer with average people when he was in office. I'm sure he was afraid of being heckled and called a war criminal and thief.

[Indep Votr]

08:46 AM on 10/12/2011

The only other time I recall Obama having a beer with "the peeps" was in the Rose Garden, after he screamed racism in error.

And now we're supposed to laud Obama for campaigning over beers, on a taxpayer-funded trip?

[lightningbolt]

12:54 PM on 10/12/2011

Obama occasionally visits restaurants, bars, factories, and other places to talk to regular people.  Bush never did that.  He was too afraid of the people.

[sheeplesuks]

09:29 AM on 10/12/2011

Bush was too busy working LMAO dr_one

[lightningbolt]

12:55 PM on 10/12/2011

Cheney did all his work for him.  Come on, even you should know that.

[altollew]

08:10 AM on 10/12/2011

"Landslide" was playing just to remind obama how bad he was going to lose in '12

[Deschris]

02:07 PM on 10/12/2011

Keep dreaming.

[FiredUpRTG]

05:00 PM on 10/12/2011

Song was about 2008 when he got a true majority of the vote.

[altollew]

05:45 PM on 10/12/2011

Tonights homework assignment is to get out your dictionary, you know that big book with all the words listed in alphabetical order, and look up the definitions of landslide and majority.

[No-name-plz]

06:57 AM on 10/12/2011

Here's a few dozen pipe fitter jobs in Florida... http://www.drywallflorida.com/yWeldFlorida.html

[Hammer0311]

02:38 PM on 10/12/2011

yes thanks so the men in the pub were looking for work real hard

[hogman]

06:09 AM on 10/12/2011

I wonder what Obama would have said if the construction workers told him that it's the environmental wing of the Democratic party that's the real job-killing entity.
Actually, it's a good thing that the President has a conversation with some unemployed union workers. No doubt they'll tell a different story than what he'd hear from the union leadership. The rank and file, the grunts if you will, their perspective will always be different than what the union management (isn't that an oxymoron?) will say. The individual instead of the collective. The Chiefs don't see things the same way the Indians do.
This is one time I'm delighted with Obama, he's talking to the right people.

[psnyder325]

06:21 AM on 10/12/2011

"The Chiefs don't see things the same way the INDIANS do?" What century are you from, please? That phrase is pretty offensive to Native Americans....but, then, I'd guess you're a Republican who couldn't care less who is offended or how inappropriate you are.

[Thaag Tidestalker]

07:37 AM on 10/12/2011

Maybe he was talking about the Kansas City Chiefs having a cultural difference with Indians that don't follow football....

Oh whom am I trying to fool?

[RMorr2002]

08:17 AM on 10/12/2011

Typical Lib....just looking for something to be offended about!

[rae112754]

02:53 AM on 10/12/2011

Sitting down and sharing a few beers with four unemployed construction workers. Did'nt know unemployment insurence paid all of that much. Maybe I should get myself fired from my job so I can kick it and be able to afford to hang out with my buds sucking down a few beers. Im a family man, and I work a 40 hour week plus overtime. And with all of the bills like morgage, insurance, gas and electric, water, garbage, telephone, medical and cable. Then add in food and clothing and misc expences. Im lucky to have a few bucks left over each week to take the old lady to a movie. Its been a very long time since the last time I got together with my friends and went to the local pub and hang out and have a few brews. Who has the extra money these days to do that. But it seems some people on unemployment getting a check every two weeks have the extra cash to do it.

[SD CD]

06:53 AM on 10/12/2011

Stuff it.

[Justjack1]

07:34 AM on 10/12/2011

Really? So you would like to take away any means for a person fired or let go to get back on their feet? Thats the huge issue we "the real American people have with the GOP. Most of them are rich and convince their followers to regurgitate how they view us middle classers, and that is as 'HUMAN REFUGE"

[sheeplesuks]

09:30 AM on 10/12/2011

baaaa aaa you sheeple are so funny

[nmsidewinder]

02:14 AM on 10/12/2011

What is he calling this one? The Union Construction workers beer summit?

[Justjack1]

07:42 AM on 10/12/2011

The GOP 'UNION' rhetoric is getting so lame.
I say this, for those whom haven't been a part of a union shut up. The fact of the matter that without unions we wouldn't have "bothersome regulations" like food safety, work safety, fair wages. Just look at all the minimum wage jobs, and ask who would they go to if they wanted a raise from minimum wage to 20 dollars an hour, how would one do that

[RMorr2002]

08:22 AM on 10/12/2011

undefined

[nmsidewinder]

08:33 AM on 10/12/2011

"I say this, for those whom haven't been a part of a union shut up"
I worked in a union shop for 17 years. Quit the union after 5 years of that because I got tired of their " strong arm " tactics telling members what they could and could not do, who to vote for, who to donate money to. Protecting bum union officials (union stewards) using drugs on the job that would have other wise been fired and prosecuted for use of illegal drugs. Don't preach to me about how great the union is. What ever good they did in ancient history passed away along with Jimmy Hoffa # 1. Unions have NEVER "hired" anyone (given a JOB to anyone other than their fat cat officials). Companies hire the employees and after a probation period (usually 90 days ) the Union sinks its claws into the employee for Union dues. I attended some of the union meetings that were no more than a "get drunk session" and listen to the same old hacks complain about the same old gripes or telling you who to vote for the next elections. As far as being for the "workers", Unions are more about a political agenda and power now days. Go B. S. someone else that hasn't been in a union or exposed to their tactics.

[parlimentMike]

01:22 AM on 10/12/2011

Does the president think his drug of choice is less harmful that the one his storm troopers are attacking in California? Why does the president hate science?

[blizzard man robot voice]

01:11 AM on 10/12/2011

Unemployment rates have little to nothing to do with who is the current president. The Red Sox won the world series when the unemployment rate was low. Kanye West made his controversial statement that "Bush hates black people" when the unemployment rate was low. The Iraq counterinsurgency was going on when the unemployment rate was low.

Listen to "This American Life"'s episode on Creating A Job. This episode really sums it up explaining that politicians cannot do anything to create jobs.

[blizzard man robot voice]

01:06 AM on 10/12/2011

I'm a bit verklempt. Obama looks like Gus Fring from Breaking Bad. Discuss.