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

[Diana Kitch]

In the end, elections are about character, not experience. Experience comes from the advisers the president selects. We have for such a long time needed a president with CHARACTER and PRINCIPLES. Now, in Obama, we have someone we can be proud of as he deals with domestic and foreign policy. I am embarrassed at the ignorant outburst in the south, but my man handled it beautifully. GO OBAMA!

[Katy]

did someone actually say that Obama was 'brave' to walk into a restaurant in daylight surrounded by aides and of course dozens of secret service? for real?? No wonder we're the way we are - we are getting the governments we deserve, not the ones we need, but the ones we deserve.

[TLKlein]

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

WHAT? He is both black and white, everyone seems to forget that fact, so in my small mind he can play "race" either way... That older man did this "lady" a favor and was civil and mature in his admonishment for her, he could have been ugly about it as well..and she is how old? Oh well, that type is obviously lacking something in their lives, so I'll leave it at that.
Obama is a representative of what more and more people truly are in heritage....a mixture.
His race is of no factor, just his way of dealing with people matters to me.

[johnB]

The southern red states are the true socialistic states. The wealthier northern blue states pay far more taxes and the southern red states get most of the money. Red states should be grateful the blue states are subsidizing them.

[Katy]

David in California

What didn't you like about them? That they aren't voting for Obama? That they were mostly all polite and receptive without stating that they are going to vote for them?

Face it - you are belittling them and their christianity because politically they don't agree with you - and that is immature and shameful.

[H R Roberts]

I was born and still am a proud Southerner, but I am ashamed that some of my fellow citizens were so rude to Barach Obama. I and my wife are proud to be for Obama and I sincerely hope that my State of North Carolina will give all of its electoral votes to him.

[alberta treadway]

What obama accomplished was that these folks will talk about this and how nice Obama was, even after that woman treated him so poorly. It may have even opened some peoples eyes a little, that was completely shut. Also, I think that it might have got these christian people talking about what a christian should be like, and what they should do and say in this world. So, I think it might just have accomplished to bring these folks along to the live in the 20th century with the rest of us! This writter made a big error pointing out black vs. White in this situation, and should stop doing that.

[Crazy Joe Sixpack with a blue shirt]

"I find the "be nice" comment by the man to the women to be accidental sexism, at it's worst. The man probably didn't mean it, but he was basically telling the women to shut up."

This comment is wrong on all levels. He told her to be nice / shut up because she was being disrespectful not because she is a women. What your basically saying is that if as I tell a man to be nice bacause he is being rude OK but if the same thing is told to a women its Sexist???

Stupid, just plain stupid.

[sparafucilli]

If Obama is a Socialist then this lady must think of McCain as a Capitalist. And look what the past 8 years of Capitalistic rule have wrought and produced - government ownership or subsidy of the prime capitalist institutions themselves. Please tell me which "means of production or goods distribution" Obama is advocating that government own if in fact he is a "socialist". It's about time that the deep end of the economic pool in which the wealthy class is swimming is tilted toward the middle class that has been left high and dry in the past 8 years of Republican rule.

[Debbie]

How are you a good man when all your friends are terrorists or anti-white, or anti-american? That is not good for our country. It's a free country, that woman had every right to say what she said. Of course you're fine that Obama and Biden has ruined poor Joe the plumber's life for simply asking Obama a question - and remember Obama came to his street, not the other way around. Now a private man has all his business out there for everyone to see, yet the liberal media continues to lie about and hide Obama's true story.

[David]

I wish the LA Times would do a piece on how red states are actually welfare states. There was a great article on this issue four years ago:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/211080_sciglianomoney.html

[Paris Sailin]

I was born in 1948 and lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At that time, and for many years after that, Milwaukee was governed by Mayors Frank and Carl Zeidler, both of them Socialists - that is a member of the US Socialist Party.

Consequently, Milwaukee was the first city in the country to have free city-run modern health clinics, and it was considered the model for it's working class (classless, actually) environment and for clean government without a hint of corruption for over 50 years!

I had a good friend from Sweden who was always incredulous about how Americans spoke about Socialists and Communists. To her, they were just legitimate political parties on the left. As opposed to Conservatives on the right.

What a bunch of knee-jerks!

Tax breaks to the wealthy while working class wages drop like a rock leaving them just enough to bail out Wall Street bankers = NOT Socialism and Class Warfare

Raising the marginal tax rate on the wealthiest 5% of Americans in order to provide some relief to the beleaguered poor and middle class workers = Socialism and Class Warfare.

Got it!

[Bill]

The remaining two weeks is for white Caucasians like me to debate amongst themselves and come to grips with the future of America.

[ac]

The woman who yelled "Socialist!" most likely gets all her news from Fox News and doesn't read any other news sources, or even know how government works. I lived in NC most of my life, and know that the rural areas are thick with racist, intolerant, "Christian" idiots. Fayetteville has the highest crime rate in the state, and is a sea of strip joints, pawn shops, and payday loan booths. I feel sorry for the military wives and children who have to live there, since it's absolutely one of the ugliest and most depressing parts of NC.

The rampant racism was one of the reasons I left the South. The KKK is still active, and I've heard the most vile comments from the mouths of supposedly "Christian" white people my entire life. Since I'm a white woman, many of these people assumed that it was "safe" to say racist comments about other people in my presence, as if I would agree with them or feel empathetic. It's really shocking.

[Phanyxx]

"I find the "be nice" comment by the man to the women to be accidental sexism, at it's worst. The man probably didn't mean it, but he was basically telling the women to shut up."

She was behaving in an extremely rude manner, so I'm thinking he was justified. Whether you agree with Mr. Obama's politics or not, the man is still a United States senator. Screaming "get out of here" is very uncouth.

[Beth Niesiobedzki]

I think we ALL should let the First Presbyterian Church know how we feel about their Christian behavior.

First Presbyterian Church
Post Office Box 569
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28302
Phone: (910) 483-0121
Fax: (910) 483-3975
email: admin@FirstPrez.com

[The Fab One]

This is why you don't give a bunch of country hicks national press coverage. They don't know how to act. That idiot Fanning woman has lost her manners and for that she should be ashamed.

GO OBAMA!!!

[Jack E. Jett]

I am sure that old lady Fanning will not mind returning the massive pork that was given to her state back to those of us who appreciate it.

It is women like her that will have the blood of innocent Iraqi children on her hands forever.

Socialist? Give me a break.

[BD]

All republicans are not rednecks or morons. Not all republicans are represented on these blogs. Being a redneck, retard, moron is not subject to Democrates or Republicans. Its just people. If you want proof look at some of these blogs and others with the name calling and abrasiveness. Obama handled the situation as any candidant should have handled it. Just to explain the call for socialism by some republicans is because Obamas tax plan means taking from the success of others and give to the poor and in most cases people too darn lazy to work or better themselfs. By the way that money would go to the 38% that don't even pay one dime of federal taxes. While the other 62% carry the entire country. So in my book that would be considered socialism. So not only do we get the burden to carry the entire countries spending habits we also will now have to contribute to the spending habits of the poor!

[EliasWilliam]

I DO frequent Upper West Side Manhattan diners - and I'm telling you - if John McCain walked into one and came up to shake my hand, I WOULD shake his hand, and would NOT say anything nasty, even though I disagree with just about everything he stands for and I think his presidency would be a disaster for our country. I'm just not a mean-spirited person.

[mm]

I believe pastor's have a duty to encourage civil behavior and civil discourse. The way this woman failed to shake hands with another human being, while out with her pastor and church group, is just disgusting. Apparently, she was never taught to disagree without being disagreeable. It's unfortunate but true that a lot of pulpits are used to spread hate. Is that christian?

[Confused]

I don't care about her yelling Socialist, if I was confident she knew what it meant.

What I don't get is how a 35% tax is ok, but 39% is socialist (I hope my #'s are correct but you get the point). It's not like Obama has proposed anything too radical, just tinkering with the %'s on the upper end of the dial.

[Lee]

She makes NC look bad. I am from the western part of NC and plan on voting for Big "O"!

“Be civil, be courteous,” - Mr. Bramble is very correct. Just because you disagree with someone does not mean that you have to be rude to them. There are far better ways of getting your opinions and points across.

Please do not let Mrs. Fanning's attitude discourage people from visiting NC. I assure you, we are not all like that. I am looking forward to NC going "BLUE" for the first time since 1972.

[Tim]

I too find that Obama's ability to talk with people in a regular way in a regular place is a breath of fresh air.

[Anold Fert]

That Obama guy is only get'n what deserves for wanderin off into one them Pro-America parts of the country.