Post-election man-date? POTUS and VPOTUS opt to eat out.
The president’s schedule today listed a 12:30 lunch in the Oval Office with Vice President Biden. Psych! Head-fake! The duo hopped the motorcade to Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, VA. The whole excursion felt like a Biden idea. From the pool report filed by Linda Feldmann of the Christian Science Monitor:
POTUS and VPOTUS entered thru the front door, pool entered thru the back. Obama and Biden waited their turn in line. After a few moments, Obama looked toward pool and said, “Who’s taking orders here? My treat to the pool.”
“Who wants a burger?” Obama said.
Then, to Caren Bohan of Reuters: “You’re in charge of taking everybody’s orders.”
Weirdly, Obama still carries cash. President Bush never had any cash.
More deets from the pool:
While Obama and Biden waited in line, the lunch crowd stood and gawked, some took pix with cell phones. The two guys in line ahead of them studied their menus, oblivious to who was behind them.
When Obama and Biden reached the front, Obama greeted the two order-takers. The guy who took Obama’s order and money was Tim Murray. There’s still some debate among press on exactly what Obama ordered, since it was hard to hear. He definitely had a burger. I heard him say “basic cheeseburger, medium well.” But someone else heard him say “Swiss mushroom burger.” He definitely asked Mr. Murray for “spicy mustard, if you have it.” There may have also been talk of tater tots.
Obama tipped: $5
Talk among yourselves — that’s not a microphone.
Biden ordered a swiss cheese burger with jalapeno peppers.
Biden paid for his order separately, with cash. He also got some food to go.
Then Obama said to the pool: “You guys are cheap dates. I can’t believe I couldn’t get more of you to order a burger.”
Obama and Biden sat at a table and had their lunch, while the pool waited outside. At 1:05, they emerged. Crowds cheered as Obama stood on the running board of his limo and waved.
The motorcade was back at the White House at 1:14. Biden and Obama rode together.
(ap photos)
