Posted on 02/19/2009 4:41:38 PM PST by fanfan
U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Parliament Hill began with a warm wave to an adoring crowd of thousands and ended with a sugary sweet BeaverTail in the Byward Market.
As Obama’s motorcade left his working visit in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill shortly before 4 p.m., it made an unexpected pit stop in the Byward Market.
Obama exited his limousine to shop, shake hands, and grab one of the iconic Ottawa fried pastries.
The Secret Service asked a nervous Jessica Milien, 17, an employee at the BeaverTail kiosk, to bring the president one of the savory treats. She served him the aptly named ObamaTail, created in honour of the president’s inauguration.
“I am standing there shaking, my legs are shaking, and I kept thinking, ‘What am I going to say? I have to sound smart, this is the president we are talking about,’” she said.
“He was such a down to earth guy, he wasn’t hard to talk to at all,” she said.
Obama wandered through the Byward Market, shaking hands and leaving awestruck shoppers as he went.
He bought a keychain for one of his daughters with a Canadian $5 bill at the Oxxo Market. Obama told shopkeeper Adnan Ustun that his daughter collects the trinkets.
Obama then dropped into the Le Moulin de Provence bakery and was presented with shortbread cookies in the shape of maple leafs, which he said were for his daughters.
“It was very surprising for everybody here,” said manger Alice Gonzalez. “We weren’t expecting him at all.”
Earlier in the day, it was the beating rotor of the helicopter as it hovered above the East Block that tipped off the crowd that the man of the hour had finally arrived.
A loud roar of approval rose from the estimated 2,500 people as they waved placards and flags and turned their heads to catch a glimpse of the motorcade ferrying Obama onto the Hill just before noon.
Obama received a hero’s welcome as he emerged from his limo and then waved from behind a bullet-proof panel of glass erected in the arch of the Peace Tower. The much-anticipated gesture was largely obscured from the crowd by a parked ambulance.
Many in the crowd had spent hours lining up against a double row of metal barrier fences in the hope Obama would briefly address the crowd.
A quick sighting of the president’s waving hand was all Lisgar High School student Samia Ahmed, 15, managed to see.
“I wanted to see more, but it was worth it,” she said.
The crowd had started forming at 6:30 a.m.. Throughout the day, RCMP posted at each gate carefully searched the belongings of those trying to get on the Hill.
Adoring Obama supporters mixed with hawkers selling T-shirts at $20 a pop, lapel pins and a clutter of other memorabilia, and activists who saw it as a chance to promote their cause.
“It’s a very special time today and I am glad he’s making his first trip to Canada. That just says a lot for our relationship with America,” said Ottawa resident Melissa Benjamin as her one-year-old son Zavion Jasper squirmed in her arms.
“Maybe Zavion will be the first black Canadian prime minister.”
laura.czekaj@sunmedia.ca
I know how it looks zlala, but it's our media that is fawning over him, not the average Canadian.
There were anywhere from a few hundred to two thousand, depending on which report you believe, to greet him at Parliament Hill.
Right after 9/11, over 100,000 Canadians attended the service at PH, to show love and solidarity with you. That doesn't include the services in all our other major cities.
I'm glad to hear people are waking up. Now y'all need to have that Tea Party. :-)
I read that too.
Was it true?
I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch.
Won’t Fenistein and the Democrats ban it in the junk food ban?
The Nanny may catch the Kenyan.
Check your premise. ;-)
I heard the audio.
Whata maroon.
Obama is probably thinking, “I was promised sweet beavertail was available, but all I got was this crummy fried dough!”
He actually said Iowa?
He IS the Manchurian ....President.
Oh, no.
Yes he said he was glad to be in Iowa vice Ottowa
Yep, completely spur-of-the-moment just like "hey, Hillary , look at the pile of rocks I found on this beach!" spur-of-the-moment.
Actually.......
The Hookers flew to the Canadian Embassy for the inauguration celebrations, to serve the new "ObamaTail".
I apologize for lumping all Canadians together. I know that not every Canadian is thrilled that 0 was elected in the U.S. After living in Washington State for more than 20 yrs, I've met many a wonderful Canadian. Thank you for the reminder!
Lowell Green, our local pathetic excuse for a conservative talked about this on his radio show today.
Paraphasing.....
Please explain how someone can think that it is ‘dirtier’ to lose a few birds in Alberta, when getting oil from Saudi Arabia means that 1/2 the population can be, and are being abused....Women.
People of the female gender.
People VS Birds.
It shouldn’t be hard to decide.
Hooker, not hooter.
There is no north south divide, there is a conservative liberal divide, and it passes unseen past our border.
:-D
OK, Barry has to go on AF1, to get elephant ears from your country?
They are Beaver Tails, not elephant ears.
He already has elephant ears!
” ended with a sugary sweet BeaverTail in the Byward Market. ‘
Which he probably threw in the trash , knowing the media wouldn’t out him.
Access Hollywood Interview July, 2008 - The Obama family
“Everybody should like ice cream,” Sasha said.
“Except Daddy. My dad doesn’t like sweets.”
Obama confessed, “I’m not a real sweets guy.”
Good catch!
Ping to 37.
Thanks, fanfan.
LOL, not sure the Ping List will want to know about this.
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