Kevin Lamarque of Reuters snapped this photo of President Obama at a Seattle doughnut shop today. What went down (courtesy of the pool):
Seattle, WA
Oct. 21, 2010POTUS goes out for doughnuts:
President Obama grabbed a couple dozen doughnuts at Top Pot Doughnuts, a small shop in downtown Seattle just a couple blocks from the hotel where he stayed last night.
At 9:15 a.m. pool was brought into the Top Pot. POTUS showed up in the presidential limo at 9:19 a.m. Before heading into the shop, POTUS walked across the street to greet some people who had gathered.
POTUS entered Top Pot at 9:21 a.m.
“Hey guys,” POTUS said, eliciting cheers from the several dozen people who were in the place.
He was with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, whom he’ll headline an event for later today. POTUS greeted some eager diners who were standing near the entrance, cooing at a baby and shaking hands.
After greeting a few more people, POTUS stepped up to the counter to order as Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” played in the background.
“Let’s see what we got here,” he said. Turning to members of his staff – Jim Messina, Robert Gibbs, Marvin Nicholson, Jon Favreau – who were standing near the door, POTUS yelled, “Are we buying a dozen?”
“A couple dozen?” he said after apparently being urged to get more than one.
“I think we’ve gotta sample everything right? So why don’t you just give us a sample,” he said to the clerk behind the counter. “Whatever you recommend.”
His order placed, POTUS worked the room a bit more, shaking hands. “Everybody know Senator Murray?”
He then headed upstairs with Murray, where about 15 customers had abandoned their doughnuts and coffee to focus on POTUS.
Even all the way in the Northwest, he can’t escape the Beltway.
“Nice to see you guys,” he said to a father and two young boys who said they were from Virginia. “What grade are you in?” POTUS asked the boys.
“First,” one of them said.
The man told POTUS they were visiting from Virginia in town for a wedding. “I figured you must be on vacation,” he replied. “You got a little long weekend going on?”
“Is this sort of like a daily thing?” he asked the next group before he was informed they’re from Baltimore.
Encountering some locals, Murray stepped in to shake their hands.
As he walked back toward the stairs, a woman told POTUS about her work with animals. “Ok, well I’ll tell Bo that you said hello,” he replied. “Oh excellent,” she said.
Back downstairs, POTUS took out a bunch of $20 bills. He peeled off a couple and handed them to the cashier. After putting his change in the tip jar, he said, “One of the benefits of being president.”
He then took a photo with the staff and Murray.
“Everybody needs to remember to vote,” he said afterwards. He then went to the counter to pick up his two boxes of doughnuts.
But before he left, he decided to try one. He opened the lid on of the boxes and told Murray, who stood with him, they were too big to eat alone. (Top Pot offers large “designer doughnuts” and even serves an Ovaltine latte.)
“Who wants a little sampler here,” POTUS said, turning to his staff near the entrance. Gibbs stepped up, taking a piece and sharing it with Messina. Murray had a piece too.
“This is outstanding,” POTUS said, as he took a bite. “You can’t eat this every day.”
He was informed by an employee that some people do.
“Oh really?” POTUS said.
He was out the door by 9:30 a.m. and walked over to greet a crowd on a nearby corner before getting back into the presidential limo.
Motorcade was rolling at 9:34 a.m. and arrived at backyard event at 9:38 a.m.
