Obama Shops at NC Farmers Market, Won’t Discuss VP-Shopping
EmailGREENSBORO, NC — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, popped into the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market on Yanceyville Street this morning.
Established in 1874, the market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A few dozen folks were shopping when he walked in; most booths were empty.
Applause greeted the senator upon his entrace. Within 45 seconds of his arrival he was holding a baby.
A small group gathered and Obama began making small talk and shaking hands.
He asked a female teacher: "When does school start? Tell them I say hello."
"Nice to see you!" Obama said to locals, his sleeves rolled up. "I gotta see what kind of stuff we got; what kind of baked goods we got."
"You got a handful!" he said to Tina Evans, 35, a stay-at-home mom who was holding her blonde sons Samuel, 4, and Jackson, 2.
Mamie Faucette, a Greensboro resident who runs a booth where she sells "My Father’s Biscuit Recipes," handed Obama a plastic baggie of six plain buttermilk biscuits. Obama sampled one.
"Some nice tasting biscuits!" He said. "I’m gonna buy that!"
Margariette Graves, who sells baked goods at "Margariette’s Goodies," tried to give the senator a quarter poundcake, but he insisted on paying, handing her a $20 bill and getting $15 in change.
A little boy who had just reluctantly tried his first zucchini muffin, and was pleasantly surprised, insisted that Graves give Obama one. She did. He ate it.
A girl gave the senator, who has a sunny disposition today, a sunflower.
"Oh, look at this sunflower!" Obama said. "Who’s got a camera? She gave me a flower."
They had their picture taken together.
Obama then spoke to a man at a tomato booth about safety standards for food, and picked out two tomatoes that combined weighed in at one pound. The salesman put them in a paper bag and gave them to Obama.
Evans, Faucette, and Graves are all Obama supporters, but unbeknownst to him, Obama then turned to a produce booth run by two supporters of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Dot Vernon, 79, and her sister Juanita Edwards, 71, sold Obama some peaches from Vernon’s orchard 75 miles away in Cana, Virginia.
"Now these peaches look good here," he told the sisters.
"These all came off your land?" Obama asked Vernon. "Can I try any since you already got it all sliced up?"
He took a bite.
"That’s tasty, that’s really nice," Obama said. "I think I could use, what? About eight? Eight of them?"
"That’s a nice looking peach," Obama reiterated. "These are really good peaches."
He autographed a napkin for Edwards. Vernon tried to give Obama the peaches for free.
"I gotta pay for ‘em," he said. "I insist. I insist. See all these people here?" He said pointing to a throng of media. "They’ll say I didn’t pay for ‘em."
He handed the paper bag of peaches to personal assistant Reggie Love.
"I just like what the Republican party believes," Vernon later said when Obama was out of earshot. "Abortion and schools. The war. Everything."
"Abortion," Edwards said when asked why she’s supporting McCain. "I’m against abortion."
Obama then spoke with a car salesman.
"How are sales right now?" Obama asked.
"Okay," the man said.
"What’s sellin’ right now?" Obama asked.
"Mostly small cars," the man replied.
"Fuel efficient cars," Obama said. "That’s what people are looking for…I’m telling you, you guys are going to have to make a transition. Gas is going down but its not going to go down back to where it was two or three years ago. So people are going to have to change their habits, I think. What we’re going to do is help the automakers make more fuel efficient cars. That way you can sell more and they are made right here in America."
"We gotta get you in," said the salesman.
"Well, I’m gonna be working hard," Obama said.
A woman handed him a paper bag containing a few small loaves of bread.
Making his way through the crowd, carrying a few bags now, Obama was asked by a woman to autograph a check.
"I’m not going to sign no one’s check, now!" Obama said.
"I’m not going to cash it!" Said the woman.
A local reporter asked Obama about his running mate selection.
"No hints," Obama said. "No new hints."
Can he win North Carolina?
"I think I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t win it," Obama said.
The Chicago Tribune’s John McCormick asked Obama if he is still "shopping" for a vice president.
"John, how long did it take you to think of that question?" Obama asked.
The senator, his purchases and entourage exited the market at 9:50 am ET.
- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Gotta love the guy! He’s down-to-earth and very sincere with common people. I think he will do great come November, regardless of what the polls are saying today. Once the conventions are over and he gets to really debate McCain, people will see what a bright, capable, ready-to-lead man he is and how proud we can be to have him as our President.
Posted by: geecee | August 20, 2008, 11:20 am 11:20 am
Oh Nevermind……
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 11:20 am 11:20 am
C’mon Jake, where’s the news here? Oh, wait, one good quote:
“Oh, look at this sunflower!” Obama said. “Who’s got a camera? She gave me a flower.”
Nope, Obama needs another photo op is old news too.
Posted by: Emm | August 20, 2008, 11:22 am 11:22 am
Love this remark:
“Abortion,” Edwards said when asked why she’s supporting McCain. “I’m against abortion.”
Guess who else was against abortion. YES, Bush! And look what a great job he did running our country.
Posted by: cindyct | August 20, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am
Nicolas…you’d better check your facts. That was 1 poll out of 6:
LA Times Obama up by 1.2
Rassmussen Obama up by 1
Gallup Obama up by 1
Quineppiac Obama up by 5
IBD Obama up by 5
Posted by: truthtell | August 20, 2008, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Can’t…the question was NOT whether he believed in abortion, it was when does life start. I don’t think anyone can answer that question with positivity. It is objectionable.
Posted by: militarymom | August 20, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am
I’m not going to sign no one’s check, now!”
Folksy. That’s how you talk to real people, of course. None of that grammar-y stuff you learn at Harvard.
Posted by: MayBee | August 20, 2008, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Could Obama be any less comfortable interacting with common folk? You either get excruciating small talk or a condescending lecture full of platitudes and things you already know.
Posted by: marylou | August 20, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Yea it is one poll but he is slipping in them all. I’m an Obama supporter but I still look at reality. But this poll was taken while mccain was on the attack for a week and Obama was on vacation. What i want to know is why doesn’t mccain state how his oil rig speech was posponed due to an oil spill from that rig after the storm?
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am
Another “photo opt”. No one is at the Farmer’s Market during Tuesday in Greensboro NC…buy a little food and get pictures with older people, flowers, food for the forthcoming advertising or campaign pictures. What a stupid conversation to ask the car salesman…”Fuel efficient cars,” Obama says? He knows that we do not have fuel efficient cars. He implies that we will soon…which means everyone will have to BUY them on less money, higher taxes and during a recession…good thinking.
Posted by: Mike | August 20, 2008, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Is that true or not? I read that was the real reason on mediamatters.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 11:49 am 11:49 am
To truthtell
REUTERS is now showing McCain ahead by 5 points!
Posted by: Mike | August 20, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Mike your taxes wont go up unless you make 250,000 a year and if you can’t afford it you have overextended yourself and need to learn how to budget. Me I make about 30,000 a year so I’m stoked I’ll get a tax break. WOO HOO!
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Why do people believe in these day to day polls. They aren’t even accurate. More and more people use their cell phones and don’t have land lines. And these people aren’t being polled.
Posted by: annie | August 20, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
Mike,
Take the poll in context. It was taken among “Likely” voters and only those home during the day, midweek (older voters) and only those with a landline phone. No cell phones included in the polling data.
Posted by: Llama in Pajama's | August 20, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Another thing about these polls is they are likely voters… I hate polls they are dumb. I mean they never add up to 100% then you have 5 to 7% margin of error, just stupid. I think it’s still going to be a blowout one way or the other.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Will he discuss selling “free” tickets to Invesco for $1000 each?
HOPE AND CHANGE!
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
@Joe
If you’re making $30k a year, don’t you think the little, and by “little” I mean “very little” bit your already paying in taxes is your “fair share”? Why do you want other hard working Americans to pick up your tab when you aren’t even covering your own burden?
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Tax Breaks,
I may WAY closer to the 30K. Why should ppl making over 250K pay more taxes than they already are paying? Their rate is much higher than mine. It won’t help me a bit to have productive ppl like them pay more taxes and then be unable to invest those dollars in the economy.
Posted by: keepyourheelsdown | August 20, 2008, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
Obama isn’t selling tickets.
Posted by: Llama in Pajama's | August 20, 2008, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
love how you repubs are attacking obama for this
oh he said fuel efficient cars. what a moron!
we want drilling not efficiency
lol yea, good approach,
oh hey, i have something to clue you in, when you purchase a fuel efficient car, you get a tax break, you get a tax credit, and when obama is president he will make other breaks for purchases like these.
Not to mention that you will get some cash from another stimulus check as well as possibly getting soem cash for windfall profits tax.
See yoru arguments show hwo small minded you are, and why you support john mccain, instead of fixing the economy and the way things work,
YOU want to do NOTHING.
Posted by: bhrandon | August 20, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Ok first of all you are pretty much calling me lazy when I work everyday day. Second I “pick up my own tab” and pay about 600 a month in taxes. Third I do think if you are a ceo and you bankrupt a company send jobs overseas and then claim a 30 millon dollar bonus pretty much tax free then yes you can “pick up my tab”. Also people who make more tend to drive bigger cars fly more eat more exspensive food there for driving up the cost of gas, putting more wear on our roads. Also they have bigger houses which take up more land and require more energy. So if you don’t get taxed more for driving up the cost of stuff for us “simple folks” you should have to have your costs adjusted for your demand. I mean you people are like 5% of the population and demand most of our resources and pass the buck onto us again.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Most economists say this tax code mccain is pushing will continue the greatest shifting of wealth away from the middle class and put it into the pockets of the top 5% of our population. Where obama’s plan will stop this shifting of wealth stop jobs from going overseas and give TAX BREAKS to companies/bussiness owners that keep jobs here in this country.
Posted by: joe | August 20, 2008, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
@Joe
So, do you feel that $7200 a year covers your burden on America? All that America gives you and you feel you should pay back less than $7200? Why do you think America owes you more than you owe her? I’m just trying to figure it out, how much do you think you owe America?
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Joe,
What makes you think that most economists think this?
But hey, aint it fun to make things up!
Posted by: keepyourheelsdown | August 20, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
p0s3r
It looks like Joe and folks like him want freebies. They dont want to earn what comes to them.
“Ask not what your country can do for you….”
Posted by: keepyourheelsdown | August 20, 2008, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
I pay way more than that. I try to buy everthing I can that is made in america. So let me point the question at you. What do you owe america? I pay my bills I’m debt free, I support my local farmers I drive an american car. I live in a one bedroom apartment I don’t take alot of space or resources. So your argument holds no water with me. I’ve lost family because of wars in the name of this country. I don’t feel america owes me anything. Ive never taken wellfare, everthing I have I earned. So sir when I see a system that is unfair were the rich get rich and then they start to choke the education system so the middle and lower class can’t even get a good education to compete then yes it is time for a CHANGE!
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
keepyourheelsdown,
I know. It’s baffling. What kind of American thinks they deserve a free-ride at the expense of another American? It blows my mind.
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Go to your web browser and type in BUSH TAX CUTS.. Then READ what it says. I’m not going to sit here and try to explain stuff to children that can’t look things up or think for themselves.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
@Joe
FYI, $600/month x 12 months = $7200 year. And you feel you’re paying too much in taxes? As it is, you’re not covering your own cost to society, yet you want to pay even less. Who do you think is going to have to pick up your tab? Another American, thats who.
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
Bush argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs. Economists, including the Treasury Secretary at the time Paul O’Neill and 450 economists, including ten Nobel prize laureates, who contacted Bush in 2003, opposed the tax cuts on the grounds that they would fail as a growth stimulus, increase inequality and worsen the budget outlook considerably.
Kind of whats happened isn’t it.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Hey if you make more you should pay more. And besides under President Obama (get used to it) your taxes won’t be more than under Regan. Mcsame is a flat out lier in his commercials. Also most people in these fourtune 500 compamnies don’t mind “picking up my tab”. So were as John Mccain thinks I should pay more and the people that make 5 millon a year should pay less I have to strongly disagree with him and you.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
Under Obama’s tax plan, my effective rate is going to hit 50%. I own a small business with 4 employees. Which one of those employees do you want me to fire so I can afford my “fair share”? The single mom with 2 kids? Or the kid just out of college and a new wife? Which one of those do you want me to let go so you can have Applebee’s and a movie once a month?
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Thanks for employing people. But you aren’t going to hit 50% if you can find that number in the Obama tax plan post it. Other than that you are just spreading Mcsame lies. But seriuosly thats cool you own a bussness I work in a small bussness and my boss/owner is an Obama guy kind of funny how he isnt worried about firing me. Also I don’t waste my money like that I’m not your typical american I guess.
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Maybe your boss is paying his accountant more than he’s paying Uncle Sam. Google “small business effective tax rate Obama” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I can’t post links b/c they’ll delete the post.
Posted by: p0s3r | August 20, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Obama will also eliminate the capital gains taxation of start-up businesses to encourage innovation and
job creation. These provisions, combined with reducing the self-employment tax for small business
measures, will ensure that the corporate tax code is not only fair, but also promotes continued
economic growth and innovation.
Here is what I found
Posted by: Joe | August 20, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
This story is news? Good grief. And please stop using the word ‘folks’. They are PEOPLE.
Posted by: Mary | August 20, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
“Barack” means “Peach” in Hungarian. I wonder if he let the people selling the produce in on that joke.
Perhaps the Senator was remembering to tip his hat northward from way down here in the Provinces before he has to Move On to more cosmopolitan areas.
Posted by: marginaleyes | August 20, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
“You got a handful!” he said to Tina…., 35, a stay-at-home mom who was holding her blonde sons….”
Interesting that the press has described hair color here.
Posted by: marginaleyes | August 20, 2008, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
You know….O”H”B appears to be smart, he is very neat, but I wonder how many times a day he changes his “white” shirt? Is this the only kind of shirt he owns….show us the real guy.
He is so perfect that you never see a wrinkle, and his suits look so expensive and I think I read that he wears $500 shoes. Hum……..this doesn’t make me feel that he is going to help much with the concerns of folks that really need help. Maybe we should rethink this fellow!!!
Posted by: MEW | August 21, 2008, 10:45 am 10:45 am