Obama ‘The Bear’ Lets Loose in Denver, Will Meet with Gov. Rick Perry Wednesday
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — Just as the White House cautioned, President Obama, “The Bear,” went “loose” in Denver on Tuesday, breaking the “bubble” to meet with average Americans.
Shortly after arriving in the Mile-High City, the president sat down for dinner at the Wazee Supper Club with five people who wrote him letters about their personal stories and, conveniently, issues that are high on his agenda, including raising the minimum wage, college affordability, and the controversial Affordable Care Act.
After dinner, the president reportedly appeared to surprise even his own staff when he took an unplanned stroll down the street, stopping to chat with local residents.
The travel pool reported that, unlike many of the president’s previously unannounced “off the record” movements, Obama’s walk seemed to be a genuine last minute decision. The White House didn’t think he’d do it and his Secret Service detail was yelling at the press and people on the street.
After his surprise stroll, the president turned into Wynkoop Brewing Company, which, the pool reports, used to be owned by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who, just so happened to be at the bar Tuesday night.
The president went up to the second floor and slowly made his way to the bar. He joked about the press pool huddled behind the bar, saying, “Don’t let any of them steal anything.”
After sipping his beer, the Rail Yard Ale, Obama remarked, “That’s some tasty beer.”
The president and the governor then headed to the pool table. The president won, according to the pool — the media pool, that is.
“Did you see how many balls he still has on the table?” the president gloated to the press as he gestured at the governor.
The governor had five balls on the table as the president sunk the eight ball.
Obama will travel to Dallas on Wednesday to fundraise in Dallas and Austin, but as criticism that he refused to tour the border mounted, Obama agreed to meet with Gov. Rick Perry to discuss the immigration crisis.
Perry has blamed Obama for the crisis in the past, and although he declined a White House invitation to meet the president when he landed in Texas for a fundraiser, Gov. Perry agreed to meet with Obama on Wednesday to discuss the devolving border situation.
“…[A] quick handshake on the tarmac will not allow for a thoughtful discussion regarding the humanitarian and national security crises enveloping the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas,” Perry reportedly wrote to the White House in response.
“Despite all the differences that exist on policy between Gov. Perry and this administration, there should be a level on which we can agree that it is important for this humanitarian system to be addressed,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday.
However, Obama will not visit the border, much to his critics’ chagrin. The White House said Tuesday the president has been there before and is already working to deal with the problem.
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