President Obama Stops at Smitty's Bar Before Town Hall

President Obama and the presidential motorcade made an unscheduled stop at Smitty's bar in Elyria, Ohio on Friday. President Obama joked with patrons at Smitty's bar and restaurant and posed for pictures with surprised patrons, according to a pool report provided by Stephen Collinson, a White House Correspondent with AFP Washington.

President Obama remarked about 98-year-old Charles Raynor, that he was "happy to see Charlie still eating fries at 98" as he posed for a picture with the man. Another man, Shawn Hatcher, remarked that he was celebrating his 42^nd birthday, which prompted President Obama to inform the group at Smitty's bar and restaurant that "I am going to buy this guy's lunch." He also told the crowd, "A bowl of chili, I can afford."

Jeff King, told President Obama that he was working on a project funded by the stimulus package as an electrician for the Lorain County Transportation Department, to which President Obama replied, "I am glad to see things are happening." King told the pool reporter that he had no idea the president would be stopping in to Smitty's prior to seeing their surprise arrival.

In a cliché photo opportunity, the president also posed for pictures holding 16-month-old Dyllan Schneider. Finally, President Obama had a burger for lunch with the mayor of Elyria, Ohio, Bill Grace. As the pool reporters exited, the two were talking over their lunch in a quiet corner of Smitty's bar and restaurant.

During the commotion, a cameraman bumped into a wall clock knocking it to the floor. President Obama advised restaurant staff to make sure the responsible network paid for the damage.

President Obama is in Lorain County, Ohio for a Town Hall meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, according to the White House Blog. Those without tickets to the event can watch it live at www.whitehouse.gov/live. The event is the second in the White House to Main Street Tour, which kicked off in Lehigh, Penn., in December. The State of the Union Address is upcoming on January 27^th and will also be streamed at the White House Web site, beginning at 9:00 p.m.

Sources:

Among other sources, this report was compiled from a pool report issued by Stephen Collinson of AFP Washington and forwarded by Michael A. Harris, New York Government Examiner.

White House Blog, www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/21/first-look-lorain-county-ohio

White House Live, www.whitehouse.gov/live