Ticket pool report: Barack Obama visits N.C. BBQ where not all is friendly

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Cape Fear BBQ and Chicken Restaurant. Some powerful and at times ugly interaction today.

12:33 p.m. Sen. Barack Obama entered the barbecue joint where an older and majority white clientele of dozens was eating lunch after church services. At the other end of the restaurant, Diane Fanning, 54, who works at a discount club, began yelling: “Socialist, socialist, socialist -– get out of here!”

There was a lot of noise and excitement and positive reception as well and it was unclear whether Obama heard her.

The gentleman next to Fanning, Lenox Bramble, 76, flashed an angry look at her. “Be civil, be courteous,” he admonished her.  Another woman, Cecilia Hayslip, 61, yelled back at Fanning (per Reuters), “At least he’s not a warmonger!”

Mr. Bramble told Reuters’ pool reporter that he wasn’t voting for Obama because he didn’t think he had enough experience. Bramble’s wife, Kit, 75, said after meeting Obama, “He was very nice” but added she’d been a conservative Republican since Barry Goldwater’s era and she wouldn’t vote for Obama.

Fanning said (after considerable public Colin Powell discussion) that she’d heard Powell had endorsed Obama but...

...that “Colin Powell is a RINO, R-I-N-O, Republican In Name Only. This is my one day off,” she muttered.

Later, Obama came to the long table where Fanning and other members of a local First Presbyterian church were gathered. He held out his hand to her to shake it and asked, “How are you, ma’am?” but she declined to shake.

He spoke at length with many of the other parishioners at the long banquet table, however, and got a much friendlier reception as he spoke about healthcare, taxes and Social Security. Fanning told the pool reporter, “Some of them are just nicer than I am. I know how some of them think.”

But several of her fellow churchgoers said their support was genuine. Betty Waylett, 76, told him, “You’re doing a great job.” She told the pool reporter she is a Republican but will vote for Obama because she likes the way he speaks and his manner.

Waylett, who is white, said Obama’s race was not a factor. “I never thought about it one way or the other.”

Pastor Randal Bremer, also at the table, said Obama told him, “Whether you vote for me or not I’ll need your prayers.” Bremer told the pool reporter, “I’m very impressed by his ability to meet people on a down-to-earth level” and that he would pray from him but that he planned to vote for John McCain, mostly because he prefers smaller government and McCain’s position on the Iraq war.

He thinks there have been important gains in Iraq and “I don’t want to see that damaged by a premature pullout.”

Bloomberg news quotes Mike Long, 33, a furniture salesman who is a first-time voter, said (per Bloomberg) that after talking with Obama about healthcare, he’d gone from less than 50% likely to vote for him to “98%” likely.

Sheila Evans, 39, who is biracial, told Obama, “I’m so proud of you.” She said Obama had chosen a restaurant frequented more by whites, while one a couple of doors down had predominantly African American diners on Sundays.

But some of the other older white diners looked surprised and slightly uncomfortable as Obama stopped at their tables to shake hands. “I’m surprised, but I’m not going to say anything else,” said diner Pat Smith who was joined by her husband.

A group of six retired women said they were mostly Democrats -– but mostly undecided about how to vote. “I have to pray about it, think about what’s best for our country,” said Dorothy Buie, one of the women.

Obama ordered some food to go for himself and aides. They ordered chicken, collard greens, baked beans, cole slaw and wings. The tab was $13.91. The visit lasted about a half hour.

--Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers

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Photo: Alex Brandon / Associated Press

Comments

[Reno]

Looks like the McCain/Palin ticket has a virtual monopoly on the dead-enders, wing nuts, racists, sub-80-IQ , and 85-and-above crowd in this country. Wow.... way to go, GOP - now that you've gotten one out of every eight voters in your back pocket, you'll receive ... exactly one out of every eight votes that'll be casted this coming November.

Carry on!

[QuakerBeach]

A slice of Americana. This is the way it is. He did get some votes out of that diner. That is how it works. So the woman yelled, "Socialist!" She is Palin repeating ignorant. (Remember: "We will fight them over there so we don't fight them over here." Who was them - did we ever ask?).
I admire Obama for going into places that he may not be well received and yet making a difference, even if only with a few people. Every vote counts. And I know that if he can face us in all of our uglines, he can work for us and face the world for us. UNITY - Obama '08

[DEE]

We are too intelligent to fall for McCain and Palin’s tactics! There is too much at stake for us to let the Hate mongers in this country win, not this time! Do not become complacent or overconfident! Barack Obama CAN lose this election! Don’t worry about what anyone says! Don’t pay attention to the polls! People have had big leads in the polls and lost on Election Day! Just get out and VOTE! Vote early! Don’t wait until the last minute! Don’t become overconfident! When you are VOTING there will be extremely long lines, but be determined and vigilant! Obama must win this election! Vote! VOTE! VOTE! The world is watching!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08-12!

[George]

"Did I mention the clientele were white?
Well the Obama camp loves to play with race!!"

is that supposed to make sense? So politicians should only campaign amongst their own race? What about species? Only I haven't see Palin at any Zoos.

Alessandro I'm sorry that Obama beat Hillary, have a nice time spending the rest of your life hating a good man for no reason. and BTW you make no sense. Only a coward would avoid going into difficult situations. As in Palin.

[Gerald Sim]

It is just amazing how he was called names, and heckled at, and still he could bring himself to offer a handshake to that lady (which she rejected). It just shows the character of Obama. I bet if it was McFury, he would have knocked her out cold

[gregrocker]

The rest of the world has completely written us off because of the hopeless ignorance of half of our population. These redneck baboons are ground central for dumb American, people who are too stupid to even climb out of total ruin, because it would mean giving up their prejudices long enough to vote smart.

[tom]

Two points:How could anyone think Palin capable of being Pres/VP and Obama not be capable of being Pres? Who are these folks?Secondly,how can McCain/Palin live with what they are doing in provoking incendiary responses to their rhetoric?Don't they realize someone could get physically hurt?

[Matthew James]

Diane Fanning works at a discount club. Probably a Sams Club which is basically a Wal Mart Club store. It's fair to guess that she makes far less then $250,000 per year. North Carolina is a right to work state and the minimum wage there is $6.55 an hour. I seriously doubt this woman has any real savings or retirement plan. If she wants to vote against her interests (working class) and support John Mccain, God bless her. Odds are she will be greeting people at the front of a Sams Club the rest of her life. Hopefully Sams Club won't lay her off anytime soon. You get what you vote for people. Yell socialist all you want. I doubt she can even define the term. Instead of voicing her concerns in a respectful manner she chose to scream across a diner. That speaks to her level of intellect.

[dave]

Mr. Machi you sound like an ignorant racist.

[Jan Jenkins]

With a Republican government engineering a
$700 000 000 000.00 ($3500.00 for every person in the country) bailout, the word "socialist" is losing its sting.

[alaskan voter]

Interesting that my Governor, Sarah Palin, would mention socialism, refering to Obama. Alaska is the most socialsitic state in the country. Every citizen gets a check from the state each year. we pay no income or sales tax. we receive mjore federal funds than we pay, and this fall, Governor Palin pushed a pull through special session of the legislature to give each person an additional $1,200

[peter]

The very first order of business should Barrack become the next president should be to fumigate the Whitehouse. Complete extermination all of the vile, filthy, disease infested rodents of Rove & Co..... And maybe an exorcism to be on the safe side.

[tom]

Ms. Fanning,southern Presbyterian ladies do not act the way you did. Show some dignity.

[Phil R]

Well as someone who lives in another country (New Zealand) and looks at things objectivly, I have never been tagged as a Republican or a Democrat.

I do however work for a large U.S. Company and have lived in north america, so have an interest in the welfare of the American people (and my salary).

I have been impressed with Mr Obama's depth of character and ability to think intelligently then, articulate his responses in such a way that you gain a glimpse of his mind every time he speaks. His approach of reason and thought is why I personally wish him all the best...

From this side of the world, there appears to be two types of republican's

1)...The humorous ones (to people overseas...unless your based in the middle east...not so humorous) who claim the bible as thier guide (...although, I do not recall anything about US polictics in the psalms) and have a shocking similarity in beliefs to the terrorists they strive to smite. OK they do wear different clothes and read a different bible...but the same religios vigour and blind faith in thier political leaders is helping to prove mr Darwin right.

2)...The proud, nationalistic and fearless supporters of the american flag (oh, and heavily armed). I have as much respect for these individuals as anyone (well deserved...I would be speaking japanese if they hadn't defended our country in the 1940's). What puzzles me though is given the great pride they have in their country, how it is that they still don't realise how embarrasing the other group are to their country and how heavily aligned the Republican leadership is to this ignorant minority. The republican party deserted them and thier interests many years ago, yet still relies on their vote to get through!?

The citizens of the USA need to stop, remove the republican or democrat label from their mind. Then think about what they want. Look for the traits of their greatest leaders and founding fathers (ie charisma and foresight), then vote for the person that will make a great leader. You have one at the moment...and it's not the old man!

Just "Think" about it.

-Phil

P.S. They also need to remember: At McCain's age he is statistically likely to drop dead with excitement if he wins...and unless your think shooting wolves from helecopters is an important part of your life, I would think hard about putting Palin in office!

[Eric]

---"If you were drowning and the person reached out their
hand to save you was black, would you refuse
it and die"-------posted by Kate.

Very good post Kate!

The hillbilly crowd IS dying a slow death because of Republican policies these last 8+ years.
Their IQ is 'WAY' TOO LOW to figure that out.
If they haven't by now they never will.

[Jovan Sam OKullo]

It is my belief that every American should indeed have American ideas. Obama's choice of going into a predominantly white restaurant was not an act of playing with race as Steve Rodriguez seems to point out. First, Obama has the right not just to enter any restaurant he chooses, but to serve the people of America irrespective of race color or creed. Second, Obama who is always referred to as black is not black-if you want to see black people come to Africa. Obama is white as he is black. And to the good presbyterians at the restaurant; you preach a gospel of inclusion, please practice what you learn from the bible.

[Janice]

Socialism?? GW Bush has brought Socialism to a new level, only going to the rich instead of the poor and middle class. Give me a break, people! McCain levels these charges against Obama because he figures Cindy will have to pay more taxes and maybe they might have to sell one of their 13 houses! Let the rich pay their fair share, that is not socialism!! That is called, what is fair!! After all, the greedy rich top 5% are the ones who made a mess of our financial system with their robber baron approaches! With Obama, the country will work in our favor for a change! I wish my grandparents were alive, they would vote for Barack in a heartbeat, without reservations! They knew intelligence and a good heart and spirit when they saw it! Shame on those so called Christians for being so nasty! If McCain gets in, and you find yourself freezing because you can't afford to heat your home and McNasty won't approve subsidies to help older people with the heating bills, but gives socialist tax money to the oil companies just like George Bush did, I hope that these people remember who would never have let them freeze-Barack Obama, that is who!

[Crutnacker]

My experience is that people are holding onto these words (terrorist, socialist, Muslim) because they can no longer use the N word in polite company.

Is there any doubt the woman is racist? I seriously doubt she understands the find points of socialism.

[JD]

That lady did a really good job of representing the hate-filled south. Funny how she screams socialist, I guess she hasn't been awake for the past 8 years. Also turns out this woman works at Wal-Mart, she's a glorified slave and for some reason doesn't mind the fact that she will pay more taxes under McCain than under Obama while giving high-income earners like many of us tax breaks at her expense. Maybe that explains why she works at Wal-mart.

[worriedmom]

Not all rural conservatives are dumb, racists who believe every bit of propagand we read online, see on TV (or have our kids "learn" thanks to Robo calls).

Thanks alot, McCain and Palin. By "riling up the base," you've brought out every stereotype of the right and small town America. I thought you could make the GOP better. You made it worse.

I don't know what decent conservatives are going to do. If you're a registered Republican and proud of it, how do you look your kids in the eye and say you support people who run on lies and insults?

P.S. That woman is the worst Christian I've ever seen. Obama -- "Muslim sounding name" and all -- behaved in a more "Christian" way that she did. You bet those people need to start praying!

[leon]

So sad for a person to attend church but forget to put biblical principals in practice.
So what if Obama were a socialist ? Is that a reason to be plain rude ? He is a Christian and a politician. You can't blame him to go campagning where he goes.
I hope for the US he will be the next president.

[jesselee]

ahhh, the church-goers! as anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant on sunday afternoon can tell you... these people are just full of God's love.

and if you believe that, you'll believe obama is a socialist too.

[imma_wake]

What kind "Christian" is this woman? WWJD?

[Misreal]

Rejecting someones handshake. A man running for President of the United States no less? How absolutely disgusting. That woman SHOULD be horribly ashamed of herself. Most likely however, she isn't.

[Tomcat]

As a North Carolinian, let me appologize for Diane Fanning who represents the "minority of rudeness". I would be the first to stand-up for her right to express her opinion however, for her to address a presidential candidate as to say "get out of here" was over the top and you have to question not only her tact but, that of her sanity.

As a fellow republican, I have never liked the policies of George W. Bush however, I would give him the courtesy regardless of my feelings.....ironically, Diane Fanning is CLUELESS about calling Obama a socialist...apparently she is ignorant to the fact that the 750billion Wall Street bailout under the leadership of the REPUBLICAN GOP could be seen as a "socialist" move........how ironic.