Fort Pierce, FL – If President Barack Obama was looking for a lift in Florida, he got one from Scott Van Duzer.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The 46-year-old, six-foot-three Republican gave Obama a bear hug, raising him off the ground as Obama marveled at the man’s strength — and enthusiasm.
Van Duzer owns the Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant where Obama stopped on Sunday during a Florida bus swing. He also runs a foundation that helps collect blood for the ill; he has received White House commendations for his work.
As he entered, Obama admired Van Duzer’s biceps, saying “Look at these guns!”
Said Obama: “The guy’s just got a big heart, along with big pecs.”
Of his embrace, Van Duzer said: “I was overwhelmed when I saw him.”
He said Obama had his vote.
Scott should be happy the secret service didn’t shoot him on the spot!
they don’t shoot people during staged photo op events.
Fun! 😀
On Sept. 13, 2001, when former President George W. Bush visited Ground Zero, while the site was still smoldering, he was met by a number of burly construction workers. They told Bush in rather salty language exactly what they would do to Bin Ladin. Bush listened to them, and stated “I agree with you”. One of the construction workers was so overcome with emotion, that he also greeted Bush with an enthusiastic bear hug. The Secret Service wasn’t very happy about that incident. One of them turned to Mayor Guiliani and stated “GUILIANI, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE PRESIDENT, YOU’RE THOUGH!”
I saw the video footage of this just now on CNN actually! LOL That shop owner was a really big guy! Nice gentleman too! Encourages folks in the community to donate blood in his resteraunt. It’s nice when folks extend themselves like that & give back. Even when they don’t have to.
It’s guys like this that give me hope we haven’t yet COMPLETELY turned into a self-indulgant, selfish society, where it’s “every man for himself”.
Some of us are still living by the old fashioned ideals of citizenship & community! 😉
What a FARCE!
The only way the Secret Service would not tackle him is if this were all pre-planned. NO ONE gets near the president, let alone touches him, grabs him in this manner without the secret service knowing about it. If they dont know about it, a sniper would have taken this man out.
He couldn’t have done that with President William Taft. (weighed 350 lbs.)
What a disgusting sight! A pizza store owner gets free publicity by picking up the President of the US! What if Obama has a herniated disk?. If he didn’t have herniated disk before the lift, he could have developed one after. What if the president had Addington’s disease, like JFK had? What if the president had a full bladder? What if the president carried a gun, like Teddy Roosevelt did? What if this became a copy-cat exercise, with other store owners, assorted friends, yo-yos in the street trying to do the same thing? I think that the Secret Service should come out with a statement warning all would-be admirers to keep a proper distance from the president, the vice-president, their wives, other candidates and their wives getting Secret Service protection, and to keep their hands off the people’s merchandise.
Van Duzerstein sounds Jewish to me.
To #8 - Mr.  220;Anonymous 221;- Instead of characterizing my remarks as  220;urban bubba meises 221;, without any substantiation, why don 217;t you contact former Mayor Guiliani yourself, regarding that incident? He was the one who revealed that story, on nationwide tv, several years ago. Incidentally, the correct date of that incident was Sept. 14, 2001. In times of a crisis or a potential one, the Secret Service will shout at or yell at individuals, VIP 217;s not withstanding.