President Barack Obama's motorcade drove through a steamy drizzle downtown this afternoon. But that was all the glimpse onlookers got of the commander-in-chief before he was secreted behind a canopy and out of view.
Obama is in town for a $1,000-a-plate minimum fund-raising lunch and to bring in the dough for Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, in a smash-mouth U.S. Senate race with Republican Roy Blunt. fans and detractors waited patiently, but didn't get the presidential face-time they were hoping for.
About 70 people stood in the rain at 12th and Central, pressed against police barricades catty-corner the Folly Theater, where the Carnahan event is happening.
Among those hoping to catch a glimpse was Thomas Wilson, who let his 8-year-old son, Desmond, play hooky from Indian Creek Elementary for chance to see the president.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Thomas said. "I'm hoping we get chance to see the motorcade. I hear it looks nice with the motorcycles. They say it's a sight to see."
Of course, the majority of people were there to make political statements rather than to give their children happy memories. Obama
One woman holding a sign calling for Obama's impeachment, who refused to give her name for fear she would be fired from her job, said she was fed up with the president.
"He's totally incompetent," she said. "I mean, the oil spill, health care..."
Mary Brown, a local tea party member holding a sign demanding the Obama administration cut spending, said she wanted all members of both major parties out of power. She said her specific qualms were "the stimulus -- give us the money back, the health care, anything. [Air Force One] flying all over for useless reasons, like this. Using taxpayer money to raise money for a campaign."
Notably absent from the gathering was the always inflammatory Westboro Baptist Church, who announced they would be on hand to protest "the Beast Obama" and the "bloody murderer Robin Carnahan." The Topeka church hasn't released a statement announcing why they skipped the event after vowing to be there. Maybe lunatics melt in the rain?
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