When in New York rubbing elbows with wealthy private equity types, might as well also go shopping.
At the Gap.
President Barack Obama, in Manhattan for some high dollar Democratic Party fundraising, made a quick, unannounced Midtown retail stop Tuesday to buy some sweaters for his daughters, athletic wear for his wife and to make a pitch for the minimum wage.
“I think the ladies will be impressed by my style sense,” he said as he took his purchases to the counter.
Stylish or not, he still showed off father-like sensibilities. Examining tops for his daughters, a clerk suggested a V-neck sweater.
“I’m worried the V-neck is going to slip,” he said, choosing instead round-necked alternatives — a striped, gray and white number and another in coral.
“For Michelle, I have no idea what to get. Maybe we should buy some socks,” he said. He turned down a hoodie before settling on an athletic jacket for the first lady.
As he paid with a credit card — “I don’t always carry my wallet,” he confessed — he feigned surprise at the automated transaction. “Oh, so you can sign the machine?” he asked, recalling a similar shopping moment by former President George H.W. Bush. “I’m just teasing, everybody,” he added quickly. “They had these around the last time I shopped.”
He then went on to congratulate the Gap for instituting a policy of paying entry level employees a higher minimum wage. Obama has ordered that federal contractors increase the minimum wage and has asked Congress to approve an increase from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour for all employers.
But not before offering some sound advice:
“It never hurts to bring something back when you’ve been on a road trip,” he said. “You get points when you go home.”
(AP)
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8 Responses
Like it or not, Obama is a good family man. Doesn’t that just get under your skin?
Cliff Huxtable was a good family man too. But like Barry, not exactly presidential material.
Cliff Huxtable was a fictional character.
Thanks Dr. Heretohelp–as usual very helpful. But Barry H. Obama is a fictitional character too. Only he’s not playing an obstetrician; he’s playing president of the US.
Very clever jew yorker. BTW, I’m not a doctor.
Don’t worry, neither was Dr. Huxtable.
Comment No. 1 illustrates a problem in many political discussions, and the problem afflicts partisans across the entire political spectrum. It bothers Commenter No. 1 that President Obama is a “good family man.” Why should it? Because commenter no. 1 wants to believe that people who have different political opinions than his are awful people. Well, it’s possible to hold President Obama’s political views and be concerned about the welfare of your children, be attentive to your wife, and whatever else you think was demonstrated by his remarks on his visit to a popular retail store.
As for comment no. 2, I am sure that Dr. Huxtable would have made an excellent president, if the producer hired the appropriate writers. Now, George Costanza’s father – he might not have been such a good president.
I thought this was Yeshiva World, where do all these TV references come from?
Also, to comment 7, it’s not that I think that Obama has different views, but is a good father. I think that Obama has views antithetical to Americanism, so it’s the case that he does not have views antithetical to being a good father.
There are democrats, then there are liberals, then there is Obama