President Obama and Vice President Biden were supposed to be having their weekly lunch today in the Oval Office, as per the press guidance sent out last night.
Instead, off they went to Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Va.
Biden ordered his with swiss cheese and jalapenos. Poolers weren't sure what Obama ordered, possibly swiss mushroom or possibly a basic cheeseburger. He definitely wanted mustard on it. Obama paid cash and put $5 in the tip jar. Biden paid for his own.
The president's long been a burger man and appeared to enjoy busting out of the confines of the White House. As per the report from today's print pooler, Linda Feldmann of the Christian Science Monitor, the pool got a last-minute call and the motorcade zipped off the White House grounds at 12:26 p.m. and made it across state lines and into the burger joint at 12:31.
The prez and vp waited their turn in line, then the president informed the pool he'd be treating them as well. Some declined, others took him up on his generosity but said they'll each kick in $10 to charity in exchange. He later teased the pool they were "cheap dates."
According to the pool report, many at the restaurant gawked and some took pictures on their cell phones, but two guys ahead of Obama and Biden in line appeared somehow oblivious. POTUS and VPOTUS ate inside and were out at 1:05. The reporters got their burgers much later and off-site, by then cold but reportedly tasty.
lmtlsao ~ I woulda been the one in front of the Prez ~ oblivious and only after chowing down on my own burger would I have looked up and realized!!
And for the commentor that calls the Prez an idiot for going out for a burger ~ Dude puhleeeeze ~ hiding inside the WH went out with little Bushhawg!!
Posted by: KateyB | May 09, 2009 at 10:21 AM
That sounds like when I was in the Air Force.....Men we have 500 of you here for lunch you have 30 minutes to eat and time started 25 minutes ago so order up!
Sounds like to me he is tempting someone to take a shot at him going into places like that.
Posted by: Buck McCoy | May 09, 2009 at 08:48 AM
So obama went out for a burger I wonder how much that cost the tax payers for the security that is REQUIRED to travel with him, he has a 5star chef that we pay for to make him a hamburger.
Not to mention going out in public where any body that dose'nt like him could attack and possibly kill him, WHAT
A IDIOT, it shows no common sence at all.
Posted by: David | May 07, 2009 at 05:04 PM
It is so refreshing to have a OPTUS who gets out among the PEOPLE and shows the touch of a man in touch.
Posted by: Anthony Monroe | May 06, 2009 at 08:03 PM