[PowderMonkey]

"I would have stood up and walked out."

Yep. And, I would have told others at my table to do likewise. Everyone in that room had to be vetted and cleared by SS in advance. That's just the way it is anytime any president puts in an appearance. Nobody gets to be in the same room with POTUS unless SS clears them. Confiscating the tableware is an election year publicity stunt. "PRES. UNDER THREAT FROM TEA PARTY ASSASSINS WITH FORKS!"

[dinodino]

...and this was a group of LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS!

Can you imagine if it had been, say, a group of farmers coop leaders, or a hunting and fishing group? The SS would have banned any and all utensils and pointy or crunchy foods. They would have served nothing but Jello and served it in those little paper medicine cups.