[caption id=”attachment_92118″ align=”aligncenter” width=”1024″] President Barack Obama scrutinizes his credit card as he jokes with the wait staff while ordering barbecue at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, Thursday, July 10, 2014. Austin is the final leg in his three city trip before returning to Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
[/caption]
It’s hard to fund-raise on an empty stomach. That may be why the president stopped off at Franklin Barbecue in Austin on Thursday during his Texas fundraising blitz — and promptly cut the line.
“I know this is a long line. I feel real bad, but – I’m gonna cut,” the President said, after shaking hands and chatting with customers at the popular BBQ joint in Austin, which has a strict no-line-cutting policy. Customers probably weren’t too resentful about the extra wait time, though, because Obama offered to pay for the two customers ahead of him in line.
However, after the customers charged three pounds of brisket, two pounds of ribs, and a half-pound each of turkey and sausage to the presidential tab, he may have had grounds to regret his generous offer.
“How many folks are you guys feeding? Just kidding,” Obama joked.
The tab, which included lunch for his official travel party, came out to about $300. After double checking with his trip director that his credit card was good, Obama paid for the food and headed to the airport to return to D.C., BBQ take-out in tow.
Obama gets a fist pump as he pays for his lunch during a surprise visit to Franklin Barbecue in Texas #obamaaustin pic.twitter.com/sPUAMIAm2S
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) July 10, 2014
(H/t Chron, Austin 360)
