FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - There was a sharp exchange among patrons during Barack Obama’s visit to a barbecue restaurant on Sunday, highlighting the strong emotions the U.S. presidential race is stirring in the final weeks of the campaign.
Obama stopped by Cape Fear BBQ in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to pick up some chicken, collards and baked beans and court voters in this traditionally Republican state.
Some patrons cheered his arrival while others looked on with curiosity and surprise. One woman yelled, “Socialist, Socialist, Socialist — get out of here.” Obama was across the room at the time and did not appear to hear Diane Fanning, 54, who was among several patrons who had just come by after services at the local Presbyterian church. She said she was annoyed that the Illinois senator had stopped in at the restaurant that she regularly visits.
Obama supporter Cecelia Hayslip, 61, responded to Fanning’s comments by saying, “At least he’s not a warmonger.”
Lenox Bramble, 76, isn’t an Obama supporter but he also was bothered by Fanning’s comment. “Be civil, be courteous,” he said.
Later, Bramble and his wife, Kit, seemed to find some common ground with Obama when he said he shared their concerns about the loss of textile jobs to other countries and underscored his pledge to try to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Act.
They later said that while they found Obama likeable, they were not going to vote for him. Lenox finds Obama too inexperienced while Kit said she had been a conservative Republican since Barry Goldwater’s 1964 candidacy and wasn’t about to change.
Obama had more success with first-time voter Mike Long, 33, who talked to the candidate about health care. Long said he had gone from being less than 50 percent likely to vote for Obama to being 98 percent certain he would back the Democrat.
Obama later walked over to Fanning’s table and extended his hand to her but she did not shake it.
North Carolina is among some traditional Republican states that have turned competitive in recent weeks. George W. Bush won the state handily in both 2000 and 2004, racking up more than 12-point wins each time. But an average of recent polls on the Web site RealClearPoltics showed Obama with slight 1.3 percent lead in the state.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young - U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama makes a campaign stop at a restaurant in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Oct. 19, 2008.
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Diane Fanning checked her Wings and Halo at the restaurant door, grabbed a pitch fork, grew horns and sproutted a tail.
- Posted by BenDiane Fanning is living in her real world. Remember she is a reflection of biases and prejudice that, for some, still exists. It is unfortunate that she represented herself as a Christian but clearly, Diane Fanning is out of touch with not only reality but also the content of the Gospel.
Hopefully, she regrets the portrait that she left in the minds of the General Public and will do better in the future by remembering ask what would Jesus do and do just that. OBAMA did what Jesus would do, he not only turned the other cheek but, extended his hand to one who should have been the one to apologize for her rude, outburst in anger.
What an example of leadership and character Obama displayed!!!!! I commend him for treating her with dignity and respect!!!!
- Posted by JoyDoug from Canada,
OMG, are you for real? Canada has a first-class medical system? Seriously? I, too, WAS from Ontario, and let me tell you, the healthcare was a BIG reason for me leaving. Some of the best doctors are leaving Canada to work in the US. There are fund drives to purchase standard medical equipment, like MRIs, because the gov’t can’t afford them in all the hospitals. Free is NOT free when the gov’t can’t supply the doctors or the equipment. TWO of my uncles have cancer, and to see a specialist, they had to wait MONTHS. And if you are middle class in Canada, you actually DO have to pay out-of-pocket costs. My aunt and uncle are seniors, and they even pay an additional tax because of their age. The only people who have it free are the people who aren’t working. And btw, the unemployment rate in Canada is more than double the US. Hmmm….sounds great to me. Sign me up. NOT.
- Posted by PattyTHE PERFECT STORM FOR A DEPRESSION …
- Posted by HowardA far left Media …
A far left President …
A far left Congress …
A far left Senate …
A far left Supreme Court …
This would eliminate all the checks and
balances that our democracy is based upon.
Barack Obama formed his political and economic
ideology, and his radical associations, during the
TWENTY YEARS … yes, that’s TWENTY YEARS … when
he followed Marxist Black Liberation Theology, in
Jeremiah Wright’s anti-American, racist church.
And, now, with our country on the brink of depression,
Obama wants to impose new laws which would change
America into a third world country.
You may be upset with George Bush, but in spite
of Obama’s slogans, John McCain is NOT George Bush …
so don’t over react to Obama’s 600 million dollar
Propaganda campaign designed to highjack America !!!
A vote for Obama is a vote for changing America beyond
recognition … and, it would be a vote for voter fraud,
a corrupt media, socialism, and the end to America as we know it.
Keep America free, strong, safe, and American …
Elect McCain/Palin on November 4th.
Great article and posts! The people here are so thoughtful. You are missing out unless you learn more about the great Obama. Just think, this is such an important historic moment, though Obama is so modest about it.
You are totally missing out on half of the excitement if you don’t look up more information about Obama on the internet –his life history and the important people who helped him develop his brilliant mind: Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Rezko. Just a simple click away is a whole world of fascinating info. How can you resist? It is just that much more exciting when you know about Obama’s life.
- Posted by Mark JonesIt is frightening when I overhear this kind of discourse…It happens often here in Denver and we have had a Hispanic and Black mayor…
Think we have to allow for the fact there are people out there that will never vote for a person of colour or a woman. However, with the younger people it is NOT NOT an Issue. Hurray for them.
- Posted by DocbDoug,
You said “If you don’t like how your government is spending your tax dollar, then elect another one.”
That’s a great idea! Let’s take it one step further. Instead of giving a bunch of money to the government and then voting on how they will spend it, how about we let individuals keep most of their money, and then they can choose to spend it on whatever they want. That way the will of the people will be perfectly represented in their purchases.
You also said “I think it is unrealistic for large, complex organizations–such as health care–to be organized and funded like a charity.”
Well I have good news for you! Health care doesn’t have to be a charity! Many successful capitalist based health care providers already exist.
The trouble with Obama’s health care (or more appropriatly health insurance) plan is that he wants to run it LIKE A CHARITY, but he wants to force all tax-payers to donate to it. If you don’t think enough people would donate money to support a hospital, then why do you think government run hospitals represent the will of the people?
You must pick one or the other. Either people are generous and want to give to charities, or people are not interested, and creating government charities is tantamount to “taxation without representation”.
- Posted by JesseJesse:
- Posted by DougI live in Canada, recently labeled a “socialist” country. Such baloney! Yes, we have some social programs–such as a first-class medical system–paid for by the government (and thus from our taxes). But where do you think the money for any service comes from?
I don’t understand Americans–they seem to believe such things as roads, military, weather forecasts, etc. just happen! Tax payers pay for all of it: how could it be otherwise…(oh yeah, I forgot, Bush and company can just print more money or borrow from the Chinese!). If you don’t like how your government is spending your tax dollar, then elect another one. That’s how democracy work. Many European countries such as Sweden are so-called social democracies, are extremely efficient and care for their own. I think it is unrealistic for large, complex organizations–such as health care–to be organized and funded like a charity.
Emily,
You said, “If you think a 3% tax increase for the $250,000 above makes socialism, you are insulting Stalin and Mao (”Come on, what took you so long and so many lives?”).”
Obama wants to give 95% of Americans a tax cut, and he has a plan to do it. Did you know that according the Wall Street Journal more than a third of Americans do not pay any income taxes? Obama will overcome this by give “income tax credits” to people that do not pay ANY income tax. This is not a social program. This is strictly taking money out of man’s pocket and giving it to another. This is wealth redistribution. This is Marxist. This is socialist.
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” - Karl Marx
Now to address your other comment. You bring up a valid point. Health care, roads, and education all have a cost, even under capitalism. The difference between a socialist system and a capitalist is freedom. If the government chooses where you will spend the vast majority of your income via public services, then you are automaticaly supporting a plethora of charities that you may or may not agree with.
Furthermore because government social programs are not part of the free-market they do not have to be as efficient as an independent charity would. As I said before I advocate (and practice) individuals donating money and time to charities. That way people have the freedom to support programs they believe efficiently and effectively bring about the change they personally believe in.
See the Wall Street Journal article for more information on Obama’s tax plan. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12238565 1698727257.html
- Posted by JesseWhat you just heard was a small taste of what African Americans have been dealing with. I am from North Carolina and this behavior is not uncommon. I am glad the world is getting a good look at the US and how some people really think and who they support. I think Obama is a better candidate because his views and ideas are more realistic or directed towards the people and not higher power. I listen to McCain and all I hear is Obama does not have experience. You can spend 30yrs on a job and still not be a productive employee. You just have time in on the job. The war he was in has been over for some time now. Just because you fought in a war does not make you anymore qualified to be president of the US than the next person.
- Posted by ChristopherIf Barrack Obama is a socialist then so wae President Lincoln. Lincoln was the first President to sign a graduated tax system into law in 1862 to finance the civil war. Those made less paid less and those who made more paid more.
‘Spreading the wealth’ was maybe not a very good phrase to put out there, all he was really talking about was our graduated tax system. The alternative would be a flat tax, but that would mean that 90% of us would be paying MUCH higher taxes. I guess that’s what Palin/McCain is for.
- Posted by Joe HairsprayIf Obama is a socialist, then I’m Santa Klaus. All too many Americans seem to have a grasp of the political landscape that is laughably ignorant, naive and out of touch. This lady should also think: Is this the way Jesus would have treated another? Didn’t He say “Love thine enemies”?
- Posted by James