Politico/Drudge trying to push straw-grasping anti Obama story (Obama refuses picture with harasser)

[Unsane]

UPDATE: apparently the harasser follows famous people around, gets their photo/autograph, and sells it on EBay.
2nd UPDATE: Drudge has apparently removed the link from his site. This "story" is apparently too stupid even for him.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Scenes_from_the_pool_report_I_wont_be_smiling.html

[anonymous171]

1. This is going to be the Clinton's strategy from here on out.

Gaffes Gaffes Gaffes Gaffes.

[Unsane]

3. agreed. The MSM is now in full shark jumping mode.

[TeamJordan23]

2. I'm glad he shut down the Ebay guy. nm

[slinkerwink]

4. link to actual story

Persistent Picture-Seeker Irks Obama By Shailagh Murray

PHILADELPHIA -- During Sen. Barack Obama's visit to the Italian Market here this morning, he was harassed repeatedly by a middle-aged man trying to get a photo with the Illinois senator. The extended contact was unusual, given the heavy security surrounding the candidate, and Obama was sufficiently frazzled that he lost his cool. It turned out the man was an e-Bay seller, according to campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs. He had been spotted by campaign staff at Obama's hotel earlier in the morning, and was seeking an autograph -- presumably for sale -- as well as a photograph to authenticate the transaction. Apparently the man had previously approached Obama while he was speaking to several children. When the man surfaced at the Italian Market for another try, Obama walked away.

The man nudged his way to Obama again, after the senator walked out of a shop. "Senator can I get a picture with you?" Slightly annoyed, Obama responded, "You are wearing me out, brother." A bit later, the man was back. "Senator, can I please, a quick one?" A very annoyed Obama responded, "No, you know what, no." The man asserted, "Can I just say something to you real fast? I had one with Clinton, I had one with Sen. McCain." Obama said, "I am sure you do. Because when I was trying to talk to some kids...."

The man interrupted, "No, my wife is a school teacher and she was there, she had to go bac wasn't right... I'm not asking you for an autograph, it's and that for my family." "Yea, well, whatever. Just take it," Obama said. "I won't be smiling. Because you're wearing me out... you've been really rude about it. Just take a shot." But no picture was taken. Obama and the man were still arguing when a Secret Service agent stepped in and put a hand between the man and Obama. "That's it," the agent said. "No, I'm good," the man protested. "All I want is a picture, that's it."

[here_is_to_hope]

5. Article says the guy sells these on ebay....

And Obama knew this...I would have said much, much worse...

[GarbagemanLB]

6. I'd do the same thing. That guy was rude.

[Changenow]

7. The outragous latck of security is stunning

Could this happen to Bush? Or Clinton? Or McCain?

[Unsane]

9. He has his own secret service detail.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Yeah - he sounds like a stalker sent to follow him around.

The guy had a New York accent too. Ballsy to go up against the Secret Service.

[VolcanoJen]

10. That guy is an asshat, and Obama was nicer to him than necessary.

"You're wearing me out, brother."

Wow. And Secret Service let this guy get that close to him? Repeatedly?

[GarbagemanLB]

11. I'M CALLING IT: Hillary supporters will push 'EBAYGATE'.

[NJSecularist]

12. What are the chances this is a guy sent from the HRC campaign to make it look like...

...Obama doesn't care about the little guy?

A plant, so to speak.

[Justitia]

13. That aggressive guy was a security threat. This shouldn't have happened to any of the 3 candidates.

He stalked him event to event and got aggressive in his personal space.

That should NOT have been allowed to happen to Obama, Hillary OR McCain.

Physical security is no joke.

[slinkerwink]

14. I agree

[The Wielding Truth]

15. If you have an extremely rude stalker, do you let them know

that you are not pleased? If you are human and expect a bit of respect, I say yes. Yes you can.

[rox63]

16. Sounds like the guy is stalking Obama

Showing up at multiple events in a row. :scared:

[Debi]

17. That's it - the truth is finally out there - Obama hates stalkers

:eyes:

[Unsane]

18. lol

[slinkerwink]

20. and no one likes an ebay autograph seeker

[EmilyAnne]

19. What an annoying man! I can't believe he feels slighted after the way he approached Obama, invaded

his personal space, and just kept nagging at him. No respect whatsoever. What a creep.

[Unsane]

22. agreed

[MidwestTransplant]

21. Obama hates white people. See the video at Faux News.