In Iowa, President Obama surprises fairgoers with a visit

[Tx4obama]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Iowa State Fair wasn't on President Barack Obama's official schedule, but the lure of a beer and a pork chop may have been too much to pass up.

Obama's three-day tour of Iowa by bus made the unscheduled stop Monday at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines just a few hours after the Republican vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, appeared at the fair.

Obama spent an hour walking along a stretch of the fairgrounds, greeting throngs of parents and their children, crouching at one point to meet 9-month-old Cole Nelson, who was resting in the arms of his mother, Deborah.

When the child swept his hand across the president's nose, Obama said: "What do you think? That's a pretty big nose."

-snip-

Full article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_IOWA_STATE_FAIR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-13-23-17-19

[FirstLight]

1. the jovial nature of this man is too hard to ignore :)

the whole joke about the beers, his comment about his nose...I just him!!

[darkangel218]

2. + 1,000 x

[freshwest]

6. +1,000

[longship]

3. OMG! What an awesome picture!

Thank you for this post and especially the pic.

R&

[DCKit]

4. Ryan must be doing some volcanic fuming tonight!

Upstaged by the President just showing up and meeting some people.

[Raster]

5. And look, what a surprise: they didn't have to arrest anyone, nor was anyone kicking and screaming.

Contrast that to the appearance by Eddie Munster.

[freshwest]

7. Yes, indeed! I don't think the American people want more of that Ryan rudeness.

[gkhouston]

15. No kidding. And what did the President do?

Played with a baby, bought beer, and ate food on a stick. I'd say this round easily goes to Obama.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

22. Pssst. Hey, GOP Ticket....

This is what REAL AMERICANS do at the State Fair. If you don't believe me, just as your butlers.

[global1]

8. Didn't Ryan Make Some Crack About Obama Not..

coming to the state fair? Whoops - wrong again Ryan.

[gkhouston]

9. Yes. I'm wondering if they scheduled the stop at the last minute just to show him up. n/t

[DCKit]

10. Actually, he did. I think they replayed it on both the local (DC) and national news.

Good catch!

[CoffeeCat]

17. I just posted about Romney...

Romney said last week that he wouldn't be going to the Iowa State Fair. Romney said this at a very exclusive country club, when he was in Iowa last week. After the country club, Romney met with an Iowa "farmer" for some photo ops.

Funny thing--that farmer owns more than 40 farms, is a real-estate mogul, is a concert promoter and lives in a very eccentric mansion that looks like a spaceship.

While Romney is sauntering around my state, meeting with the one percenters--and avoiding "you people" (translation, 'We The People') Obama is out at the fair, having a great time with regular folks.

So Ryan basically needs to zip it.

[progressoid]

11. This morning he said that he wanted to see the Butter Cow!

And that the Secret Service wouldn't let him ride the bumper cars like he did four years ago.

[AllyCat]

12. "Four more beers" chanted the crowd after he bought a few rounds :)

Nice!

[Kablooie]

13. Politicians are supposed to kiss babies.

But he takes it one step further, he plays with them!

And he seems to enjoy it.

Cool.

[dsteve01]

14. Paul Ryan

told me he wasn't going to be there. Paul Ryan doesn't lie. Therefore, I find Obama to be God.

[CoffeeCat]

16. Romney said he won't be at the Iowa State Fair...

...and no politician passes up the Iowa State fair during a Presidential campaign. But Romney does.

Romney was in Iowa last week. He held a private, closed-door, invitation-only function at the Glenn Oaks Country Club. This club is the most expensive and exclusive country club in Iowa. This is truly the club of the top 5 percent who are flourishing during very tough economic times.

That really juxtaposes the differences between Romney and Obama doesn't it? Obama isn't afraid to go out and meet the people. He's not afraid to be in public and to be challenged and to be asked questions. I can tell you this--the fair crowd isn't exactly a bunch of liberals walking around. Romney hides in posh rooms with the one percenters. He didn't dare to any media interviews at the country club. They just covered his unchallenged speech to the elites.

Isn't that just telling?

I'll tell you one thing (and other Iowans will back me up), if you can't be real in our state--you won't win here. PERIOD. If Romney continues to hide behind the walls of the country club, while Obama is meeting with regular people (or should I say "you people"?)--then I wouldn't worry about Iowa, Democrats. Cuz it will be going to Obama in November!

[Cha]

18. Fun article.. Thx Tx4obama!

You've been such a reality based excellent supporter of President Obama over the years.

I do know PObama loves to surprise peeps!

[BlackX-068]

19. I am not afraid...

Of the people.
President Obama.

He really surprised me and I am all smiles over here. Bravo Mr. President, Bravo!

[eShirl]

20. "Four more beers!" vs "Stop the war on the middle class! Stop the war on the poor!"

yeah, he had a better day than Ryan

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

21. Wait. What? A porkchop? I thought he was a Muslim!

P.S. Awesome picture!