The plan to visit the place was done with 40 minutes notice. Yeah.. the Campaign decided that they'd go to a pizza place and have the muscled owner pick the President up for a photo op.

Riiiight.

His shop was not chosen at random:

"He has received commendations from the White House, the surgeon general, he has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he's educating kids and folks all across the country on this issue."

It looks like Obama knew the guy and really liked what he was doing in his community. I trust the President's judgment. In the interview with MSNBC afterward, the guy was gushing about meeting Obama face to face.

Especially after Barack made comments on his physique. "Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I've ever seen," Obama said. "Everybody look at these guns," the president said, pointing to Van Duzer's pectoral muscles.

I had those same thoughts, and would not be surprised if the SS
is having some internal discussions about this incident, and addressing
our concerns hopefully.

He asked an agent beforehand and was given permission.

So what did the Secret Service think about Van Duzer — a registered Republican who says he'll vote for Obama in November — hoisting the president? "He said I was all right as long as I didn't take him away," Van Duzer told reporters.

He's a great guy, but I sincerely doubt he keeps a mental dossier on every citizen...


“One of the reasons we wanted to stop by is Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama said.


“He has set some records here in Florida, he has received commendations from the White House, our surgeon general. He has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educated kids and folks all across the country on this issue. And so this is an example of somebody who’s doing well, but he’s also giving back and so we just want to say how proud we are of him."

Yes, their preference would be for Obama never to come into physical contact with anyone, but I think the risk is small enough for him to live with.

from the Secret Service.

built around him creates a dangerous separation.

I think this was the right thing to do.
I am glad to see it.

Do you really think that the President was in a small room full of people that wasn't thoroughly swept by the Secret Service?

As long as he didn't have a gun, which is far more dangerous and harder to see.

As to the guy killing the Presz with his bare hands, his history of service to the community belied that possibility.

Hopefully the next time POTUS wants to socialize and greet his constituents and potential supporters he'll run it by you first. Maybe we should get Obama a Pope-mobile and industrial sized barrel of Purell.

Yes, I know there have been Presidents and politicians hurt or killed by crazies but in this instance, the Secret Service was right there. I think President Obama enjoys getting to interact with people. After all, Truman called the White House a glamorous jail.

thanks for posting! Is there an article/link that goes along with it?

I simple lifted from another thread in GD, stating how you'd never catch Romney in a similar situation.

The owner is a major blood drive organizer:

"He has received commendations from the White House, the surgeon general, he has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he's educating kids and folks all across the country on this issue."

He wasn't some random guy. The President asked specifically to see him.

for letting me know. I say "if" not to be snarky, but
this is still breaking and I noticed there was no link or
reference supporting what you were saying.

I lived through JFK, RFK, MLK.

So I DO take Obama's safety seriously.

Then read ANY news story about it.

Mr. Obama asked for him by name when he came in and recited the guy's accomplishments....

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2012/09/obama-swept-off-his-feet-literally-during-stop-at-fort-pierce-pizza-shop/

“One of the reasons we wanted to stop by is Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama said.


“He has set some records here in Florida, he has received commendations from the White House, our surgeon general. He has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educated kids and folks all across the country on this issue. And so this is an example of somebody who’s doing well, but he’s also giving back and so we just want to say how proud we are of him."

Last edited Mon Sep 10, 2012, 02:36 AM - Edit history (1)

Which makes it a little less than genuine or spontaneous.

Still, a great photo.

See above posts.

- Security around the president of the US is sophisticated and redundantly tight. The secret service would either have cleared the guy, and his plans to grab the president, beforehand, or would have made some effort to stop some strange guy from actually physically lifting the president off the ground. Seems only logical to conclude someone knew this was going to happen before it happened.

- It's too perfect, hits too many notes. Here's this guy - small business owner, blue collar, middle aged, white male, who also happens to be a republican, embracing Obama. Aside from being a republican, which is icing on the supposed cake, the guy hits all the demos Obama is having trouble with. A bit too good to be true.

It was well done and seems to be very effective. Pics with "the common man," are a tried and true tactic. This one is a good one. But spontaneous and entirely unscripted? I guess I'm just a little too seasoned and/or cynical to buy it.

And on Saturday you were wanting the Secret Service to hire more agents. It's hard to keep up with your positions. The threads you've started have been.....special, though.

I was too subtle, I think. I liked your response to him better!

seemed to be that he felt embarrased and awkward but handled it well. I do not think he liked it at all. Watch his face when it happens. It is dangerous in my opinion.

unless it was planned and approved as in this case .

“One of the reasons we wanted to stop by is Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama said.


“He has set some records here in Florida, he has received commendations from the White House, our surgeon general. He has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educated kids and folks all across the country on this issue. And so this is an example of somebody who’s doing well, but he’s also giving back and so we just want to say how proud we are of him."

And this seems hardly to be different than that.

The dangers come with the job. Plus, the secret service probably had a good watch over everyone in the restaurant.

Aside from all the posts proving that this "lift" was cleared with the SS in advance, do you really think they would let just anyone pick him up? President Obama has had an unprecidented number of death threats. I really doubt that the SS would have let just anyone get that close to him if they weren't cleared before hand.

Plus, the guy grabbed Mr.Obama near the President's waist, a strong region that would be difficult to snap. Let us assume that a strong guy wishes Mr.Obama harm and wanted to try to snap his neck, two issues come into play. First, the man would have to move his arms and/or hands toward a vulnerable area of the President's body. The Secret Service surely know what parts of a person's body is vulnerable, they have to take out threats fast and absolutely. If a dangerous person tried to reach one of Mr.Obama's danger regions, the Secret Service would have taken that man out in a second. Second, you assume that Mr.Obama would just stand around and allow someone to break his neck or spine. Given what a potential dangerous person would have to do, Mr.Obama would have figured out what was happening well before the situation reached a danger point.

Secret Service could tell what the mood of the situation was--they are trained.

4 more years!!!!!!

yes it did

The Secret Service was right there.. if they had thought Obama was in any danger they would have took immediate action.

Obama is a President who likes to interact with people. He shouldn't be expected to live in a bubble.

carefully vetted this guy before they let Obama go there.

What was the guy trying to prove, that he was super strong? Nada good idee to me.