Posted on 02/09/2009 7:26:37 AM PST by TornadoAlley3
Hundreds queue for tickets to Obama event in Fla.
FORT MYERS -- Several dozen people set up camping chairs and blankets outside the downtown convention center in Fort Myers, two days ahead of President Barack Obama's town hall meeting Tuesday.
First in line: Roy Hendrix, a formerly homeless man who showed up at 9:30 a.m. Sunday to secure his free ticket -- one of 1,500 being given away.
''I get to see the president of the United States, in my town,'' said Hendrix, 51. ``That's better than any rock concert or the World Series.''
Jodi Sasloe of Fort Myers sat in a folding chair right behind Hendrix. She said she had been planning to camp out since hearing an announcement on the radio Friday about the president's visit.
'I was just like, `I need to get there,' '' Sasloe said.
Obama is coming to promote the $820 billion economic stimulus plan that the Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday. He chose this Republican-heavy swath of Southwest Florida because Fort Myers' unemployment rate has climbed to 10 percent -- up from 6 percent last year -- and its housing market is among the nation's worst.
Obama will tour neighborhoods in nearby Lehigh Acres before Tuesday's event. Streets around Lehigh Acres are dotted with homes in foreclosure and with unfinished construction.
Before Hendrix became homeless, he worked for 12 years at a pawn shop in town -- until it went out of business.
Then, when the housing boom came to Florida, Hendrix found plenty of construction work, but during the past two years those jobs have all but dried up in the Fort Myers area. He lived in a tent in the woods until friends recently took him into their home, he said.
''All the work just went away, and now I just do odd jobs here and there to get by,'' Hendrix said.
He brought some bottles of water and a portable radio to get through Sunday night. People in line -- about 60 by Sunday night -- would receive tickets starting at 9 a.m. Monday, and any extras will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hendrix wanted one ticket for himself and one for his 26-year-old daughter. He said he thinks he will be too nervous to ask Obama a question if given the opportunity.
''But I would like to thank him for giving us hope that he can help turn this economy around,'' Hendrix said. ``If he can do that, then he really is the best man for the job.''
I do not want to see him anywhere.
On second thought,
Possibly in handcuffs about to be deported.
Are they going to lay palms at his feet?
I would rather look down an outdoor toilet hole than look at him. Same, same.
Watch for Obummer to take a lot of boondoggles. It gets him out of the office and he gets to live it up on AF-1. He’s a campaigner, not a leader.
I see that the presidency is too difficult work for Obama, and he has returned to campaigning
Any employee who's skipping out of work for three days should be fired. Roy will soon be homeless again but that's ok because The One has promised him a check.
Hoping to get their free slice of pie.
People had to get their early so Obama could choose who gets to ask a question and what question he has the answer to on the teleprompter.
its all about continuing campaigning. he is clueless otherwise, and needs his masses of airheads, and brain deads to line up to kiss his a** and follow his orders...
I’m surprised they’re not bringing their blind, deaf, and sick to touch him.
And this is what is looked like.....
Just a typical Obama crowd—hands out for something FREE!
What a waste of time?
Promote it to the Homeless, and people so lazy they have time to
camp out for two days.
Roy Hendrix, a formerly homeless man
Huh. They want work? Job Force, McDonalds etc ought to set up an interview booths. I wonder how many would run to the hills if they had to go to work?
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