Who’s that man?: Obama asked for ID at gym

[babylonsister]

:wow:::banghead:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/whos-that-man-obama-asked-for-id-at-gym-2008-06-27.html

Who’s that man?: Obama asked for ID at gym
By Kris Kitto
Posted: 06/27/08 02:13 PM


Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have one of the best-known faces in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is recognized everywhere, even in Washington.

Washington Sports Club employee Takehia Wheeler was manning the front desk to scan members’ identification cards Friday morning when the presidential candidate walked in with his entourage. The gym opened a month ago in the Columbia Heights district.

“He came in and walked past me,” Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”

Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.

“I said, ‘What’s your last name?’ He said ‘Obama,’ ” Wheeler explained. “I said, ‘So what’s your first name?”

Then she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends? By saying, “Sorry, Mr. Future President!”

She wasn’t alone in not recognizing Obama. Trainer Drew McNeil wasn’t sure either.

“I was training right next to him, and I was like, ‘That looks like Obama,’ ” he said.

Obama brought his security detail along. Gym staff said Obama stayed for 20 minutes.

They said he has a membership to the citywide gym network, with his home gym at the Gallery Place/Chinatown location.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. You know what?

If I were working out on a treadmill and a guy who looks an awful lot like Obama got on the treadmill next to me, I'd be skeptical too.

[babylonsister]

3. In D.C.? I'm not so sure; besides, I think I'd recognize him anywhere.

;)

[napi21]

7. I too am surprised that this happened in DC. I can understand it almost

anywhere else because there are so many people who don't want to of don't have time to watch a lot of TV, but in DC? Everything in that town revolves around politics!

[newmajority]

5. And the fact that he would be surrounded by a bunch of guys in suits wearing sunglasses

wouldn't be a dead giveaway?? :evilgrin:

[GarbagemanLB]

6. I think the guys standing around him with earpieces and sunglasses would tip me off.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Right, but I don't think they always look like that.

I think that's mostly 90% cliche.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

11. They do tend to be pretty obvious.

It's probably intentional, to discourage anyone from trying something.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. I was at an Obama town meeting a couple months ago.

In line long enough to watch it from the search dogs, until the end.

No guys in black suits, sunglasses, or earpieces.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

17. Really? They've been in abundance at every Obama event I've attended

Including a small fundraiser with Michelle. Suits, buzz cuts, and earpieces.

[babylonsister]

20. You see them standing behind Obama every time he's shaking hands-

at least I always figured they were Secret Svc.

[Wickerman]

10. Not as skeptical as I would be if the guy looked like McCain n/t

[Hope And Change]

2. LOL.

[book_worm]

4. Good. She's doing her job.

[LisaM]

8. Exactly. Why didn't he pull out his membership card?

I always have mine ready when I go to the gym.

[rodeodance]

13. yeah, It would have been wise to do that.

[Renew Deal]

16. OK Ms. Perfect

:D

[LisaM]

23. Oh come on.

It's just common courtesy. Maybe you've never had a job checking IDs (I have).

[Renew Deal]

25. People screw up.

They forget things. They lose things. And then a few of them are ridiculously famous.

[democrattotheend]

12. My best friend uses that same gym

How cool would it be if she ran into Obama sometime? Maybe I should join!

[Xenocrates]

15. That's really cool

I hope he hits every gym in the system, in order to be recognized more, and to show that he is just like you and me. And the leader of the free world-to be.

[kevinmc]

18. Kris Kitto must have just graduated High School .....

This is something you would read in a High School paper ... this isn't News.

[Recursion]

31. The Hill and Roll Call both run stories like this a lot

"ZOMG J Random Citizen ran into Senator Thawtwistle Q. Goldtharpe and didn't know him!! The nerve of the peon!!"

Admittedly it's funnier when the Senator is the presumptive nominee of a major party, but it's still an easy bread-and-butter story for the hill rags. Plus it lets the politicians have a "man of the people" moment that they like.

[AspenRose]

19. Bwahahahahahaha

That's funny :D

[JuniperLea]

21. Not surprising...

Do you expect Obama to walk into your place of business? It takes a while to register a face when it's seen out of the normal situations... in Obama's case, you instantly recognize him on a magazine cover or on TV. You might not recognize him in your own front yard.

I used to work in a building with a ton of entertainment lawyers and agencies. It was hot and cold running celebrities around there, from Ah-nold, to Tyra Banks, to Jon Voight, to Vin Scully, to Marlo Thomas. You never knew who you would see... the mayor of Los Angeles came into our office a lot; he was a personal friend of the boss. Sometimes I didn't realize who I was sharing an elevator with, or even chatting up on said elevator, until I was getting off on my floor. Even knowing there were tons of celebrities around, I was in the workplace, and they were in my face, not on a magazine.

Growing up in LA tends to make you blind to some things... you want to give Harrison Ford a break when you dine at Table 8, and not gawk at him.

I will, however, make a public apology for gawking at George Clooney with mouth dropped. Shoot. What a goon I was! LOL! :)

[grasswire]

22. twenty minutes?

Who works out in twenty minutes???

[gcomeau]

24. People with presidential campaign schedules. -nt

[babylonsister]

28. Maybe he was in a hurry; I hear he had an important meeting with

someone today.

[Recursion]

26. You've mostly seen him in make-up

Like actors, politicians look different in person.

[babylonsister]

27. Oh, please. You're kidding, right? What, does he get prostheses

to make his ears bigger or his nose longer? :crazy:

[Recursion]

29. Ha ha

Actually what I most had in mind is that his skin looks darker when he's not under bright tv lights, and it really does change how his face looks. I was surprised when I saw him at Union Station last year.

[Gabi Hayes]

30. didn't he punch her? ARREST him!

they all look alike, don't they?

Hang him...he's a WITCH!