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Pizza Parlor Owner Who Bear-Hugged Obama Says People Are Boycotting His Store Now
UPDATE: It seems there are consequences to bear-hugging the president. Scott Van Duzer, who became famous overnight for lifting President Obama, tells Politico that “people are saying a lot of bad things and boycotting my restaurant.”
Monday, Sept. 10 at 7:27 a.m.: President Obama got more of a lift than he likely bargained for when he walked into the Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, Fla. Sunday. The place was nearly empty but the owner, Scott Van Duzer, couldn’t hide his excitement to have the commander-in-chief visit his store.
Obama quickly began admiring Van Duzer’s physique. “Scott, let me tell you, you are like the biggest pizza shop owner I’ve ever seen,” Obama told the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Van Duzer. “Everybody look at these guns.”
The two men hugged, and Van Duzer seemingly couldn’t resist the urge to lift the president off the ground. (Video after the jump.) "Look at that!" Obama exclaimed once back on the ground. "Man, are you a powerlifter or what?" Indeed, notes Politico, Van Duzer later said he can bench-press 350 pounds.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/09/10/video_obama_bear_hug_lift_off_ground_by_scott_van_duzer_bigg_apple_pizza_florida.html
rofl. You silly man, thankyou for making me laugh! Too funny!
Look at that... we're agreeing on something.
Don't mix politics & business.
Hell just froze over, and if I'm not mistaken, I just saw an oinker fly past my window! Not to mention the monkey that just flew out of my butt!!!
Don't mix politics & business.
Hell just froze over, and if I'm not mistaken, I just saw an oinker fly past my window! Not to mention the monkey that just flew out of my butt!!!
I absolutely loves my family and half of em are republicans. We manage to break bread together without breaking noses. Now if there was a huge sign on the restaurant or something then yeah, I can see that like someone else pointed out.
But for the major point, no you should not mix politics, religion and business.
I work for clients from both sides of the isle. Never in all the years have we ever discussed politics. It simply doesnt matter except at the polls.
But for the major point, no you should not mix politics, religion and business.
I work for clients from both sides of the isle. Never in all the years have we ever discussed politics. It simply doesnt matter except at the polls.
Gotcha...
See? TOLD YOU I'd get you back!
I know full well that the place was vetted prior to BO's arrival. The Secret-Service is lax and ineffective sometimes, but not ALL the time!
That said, I don't think the bear-hug was expected, and caught them a little off guard, but for the Right or anyone else to say otherwise, is silly as hell.
Not sure why this is even news actually. It was kind of funny, and a little laughable, and I think it's altogether HILARIOUS that the guy's being boycotted and black-listed for being a Left supporter, but other than that... it's not really news.
The guy needs to stop whining and take it like a man. As Brice said yesterday, a business owner should know better than to mix business with politics & religion. First rule of business.
Would I do business with a business that was full of Democrats that were outspoken and extremely political in nature? Hell no. And I'd expect the same treatment from Democrats that didn't want to do business with me, if I was outspoken and far to the Right.
Stupid is and stupid does... and you don't mix religion and politics with business, period.
See? TOLD YOU I'd get you back!
I know full well that the place was vetted prior to BO's arrival. The Secret-Service is lax and ineffective sometimes, but not ALL the time!
That said, I don't think the bear-hug was expected, and caught them a little off guard, but for the Right or anyone else to say otherwise, is silly as hell.
Not sure why this is even news actually. It was kind of funny, and a little laughable, and I think it's altogether HILARIOUS that the guy's being boycotted and black-listed for being a Left supporter, but other than that... it's not really news.
The guy needs to stop whining and take it like a man. As Brice said yesterday, a business owner should know better than to mix business with politics & religion. First rule of business.
Would I do business with a business that was full of Democrats that were outspoken and extremely political in nature? Hell no. And I'd expect the same treatment from Democrats that didn't want to do business with me, if I was outspoken and far to the Right.
Stupid is and stupid does... and you don't mix religion and politics with business, period.
show me it was not el.
No Teko... do your research.
The place was vetted PRIOR to BO's arrival, and everyone inside was screened beforehand.
To think other wise is silly.
Do your research Teko, please.
The place was vetted PRIOR to BO's arrival, and everyone inside was screened beforehand.
To think other wise is silly.
Do your research Teko, please.
One of the reasons that we wanted to stop by is that Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama told the Times. “And so he has set some records here in Florida. He has received commendations from the White House, the surgeon general, he has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educating kids and folks all across the country on this issue.”
Of course the place was screened and security did their clearance before the presidents arrival. To think otherwise is just well, silly.
Of course the place was screened and security did their clearance before the presidents arrival. To think otherwise is just well, silly.
I've watched it a couple of times...
Looks scripted.
I think the Right has blown this "lack of security" thing a little out of proportion! Just my humble opinion.
Looks scripted.
I think the Right has blown this "lack of security" thing a little out of proportion! Just my humble opinion.
I think it was
When it's already agreed that it's alright. It certainly could have been scripted, not saying it was but it's possible.
Since when does Security allow anyone to put their hands on the President?
Our last provincial election we had a party running called the Wild Rose Party. They are extreme right (trust me, they make your Republican Party look liberal). We also have a party called the NDP...very far left. The two parties more middle ground are the Liberals and the Conservatives. In my province, the Liberals have no chance...we are pretty conservative here. So, I voted Conservative in an effort to prevent the Wild Rose Party from becoming elected.
Anyway, point is, I strongly strongly dislike the Wild Rose and NDP...both are way too extreme for me. If local business' were displaying signs supporting them? Yeah, I can admit it, chances are I would take my business elsewhere if possible. It's not right, but I know I would. Reality is, people are affected by things like this. It's an emotional decision as opposed to logical I guess, but human nature is what it is. As for friends and family? Whole different story...we have rousing debates about politics and it's all fine. I'm not sure why it's different for me, but it is.
Anyway, point is, I strongly strongly dislike the Wild Rose and NDP...both are way too extreme for me. If local business' were displaying signs supporting them? Yeah, I can admit it, chances are I would take my business elsewhere if possible. It's not right, but I know I would. Reality is, people are affected by things like this. It's an emotional decision as opposed to logical I guess, but human nature is what it is. As for friends and family? Whole different story...we have rousing debates about politics and it's all fine. I'm not sure why it's different for me, but it is.
I agree with you that hanging a ground to roof sign on their building is not a smart thing to do, business wise. It will alienate some people and isn't about to attract converts.
You're the consumer, so spend where you wish. I like mom and pop joints too and try to support some of them. Recently, we went into a mom and pop drug store to pick up a lancet pen, to check my wifes blood glucose levels and the thing was $30!!!!! A brand new kit doesn't cost $30!!!!
Hello K-Mart......
Hello K-Mart......
I don't much care about people's politics---- I have friends and family for that matter that believe all sorts of things I may or may not. No big deal. But, that darn hardware store became political when they hung what I considered to be offensive political signs on their building. It really bugged me. And when I am irritated, I'm irritated. I think it is stupid to use your business as your place to spout your political beliefs. It wasn't that they just had the beliefs but they hung ground to roof signs. Ugh.
I am not hypocritical. If I'm irritated, I don't pretend I'm not. And that place irritated me.
Ha. Okay, I sound mean and nasty, don't I?
I am not hypocritical. If I'm irritated, I don't pretend I'm not. And that place irritated me.
Ha. Okay, I sound mean and nasty, don't I?
I used to go to a feed store back when we had horses, that had Rush Limbaugh babbling on the radio all the time. I didn't know who it was for a long time.
They never put signs in their windows or talked their politics with me so I continued to shop there. They can listen to whatever radio station they want to, no problem.
If they were to push it with big sign, like the Tea Party supporters, I wouldn't shop there.
Now, if it was good pizza I'd eat there whether it was Romney or Obama who was in there. I don't demand fellow diners agree with me politically.
They never put signs in their windows or talked their politics with me so I continued to shop there. They can listen to whatever radio station they want to, no problem.
If they were to push it with big sign, like the Tea Party supporters, I wouldn't shop there.
Now, if it was good pizza I'd eat there whether it was Romney or Obama who was in there. I don't demand fellow diners agree with me politically.
That is an interesting point. I was just thinking as I read the posts, that I really couldn't care less if I shopped at a store run by Democrats or Republicans but then ...the tea party folks? Oh no way- especially not if they advertised it.
Better not to tell and B. is right- best not to get into politics or religion if you want to run a successful business.
M-That was funny about buying a whole pizza to balance the losses...Haha
Better not to tell and B. is right- best not to get into politics or religion if you want to run a successful business.
M-That was funny about buying a whole pizza to balance the losses...Haha
Funny that this is news. There is a hardware store that is a mom and pop shop by me. I'm pretty prone to shopping at places like that because I want to support the 'little guy'. This shop was one I'd been to many times. Then, they 'revealed' themselves as big time tea party members with a big sign. Guess what, I've not been back. They put up signs about a school levy in my area that we desperately needed trying to get people to vote against it.
Now, I probably shouldn't hold their political affiliation against them. But I do. And I would rather not give that store any money. And that is my choice. And I have a lot of school PTA friends that also won't shop there either. I think it is human nature to be choosey when you can because so much in life you have no choice about.
I'm Republican, by the way.
Now, I probably shouldn't hold their political affiliation against them. But I do. And I would rather not give that store any money. And that is my choice. And I have a lot of school PTA friends that also won't shop there either. I think it is human nature to be choosey when you can because so much in life you have no choice about.
I'm Republican, by the way.
Really?
Imagine how Romney would have looked had the guy picked him up. He'd have looked like a fish out of water whereas Obama was absolutely nonplussed by it.
The first 2 rules I learned in business is, never talk politics and never talk religion. This just goes to show that there are ramifications for almost everything we do.... Tough luck.
People are saying a lot of bad things and boycotting my restaurant,” Scott Van Duzer, 46, told POLITICO. “There’s no middle line anymore, and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our country right now.”
The owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, Fla., said that both Democrats and Republicans are welcome in his store. But he also said he thinks Mitt Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan — whose sculpted abs are thanks to intense P90X training sessions — would lose to the president in a workout battle.
(PHOTOS: President Obama off the bench)
“I think Obama could take him,” Van Duzer said, laughing. “Obama looked pretty fast and pretty quick on his feet.”
So is Van Duzer. For a guy who biked 1,148 miles in 31 days from Florida to Washington D.C., lifting Obama was a piece of cake — err, a slice of pizza. And Van Duzer says he wasn’t even warmed up.
“I don’t work out that much, man. Usually, it’s about two days per week. The bike ride was my big thing,” Van Duzer said. “I’m starting to go back to the gym right now. I need to start maintaining.”
Van Duzer’s June bike-trek was part of his Van Duzer Foundation, and helped raise awareness for blood donation shortages. Founded in 2008 to support a local firefighter whose house burned down, the foundation has since raised more than $600,000, Van Duzer said. Van Duzer said he rode with a few kids from the Boys and Girls Club and met with U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin to discuss blood shortages.
Obama told The New York Times that Van Duzer’s effort in promoting blood donations was part of the reason the campaign decided to visit his pizza shop.
“One of the reasons that we wanted to stop by is that Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama told the Times. “And so he has set some records here in Florida. He has received commendations from the White House, the surgeon general, he has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educating kids and folks all across the country on this issue.”
Inside the shop Sunday, Obama wanted to know how to look like Van Duzer.
“Everybody look at these guns,” Obama said. “If I eat your pizza, will I look like that?”
(Also on POLITICO: Fit for office: 2012 candidates in the best shape ever)
Van Duzer told POLITICO that he packs on protein with his homemade pepperoni pizza. And the 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pound Van Duzer says he bench presses 350 pounds at six reps, usually twice a week — nearly double the estimated 176 pounds that Obama weighs.
“When I was in peak condition, I lifted five times a week,” he said. “But that was before my injury.”
He tore his Achilles tendon during an “intense” charity dodgeball game. Mainly, he says his active, energetic lifestyle keeps him fit.
“I move around a lot,” he said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80998.html#ixzz26AXo9SvX
The owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, Fla., said that both Democrats and Republicans are welcome in his store. But he also said he thinks Mitt Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan — whose sculpted abs are thanks to intense P90X training sessions — would lose to the president in a workout battle.
(PHOTOS: President Obama off the bench)
“I think Obama could take him,” Van Duzer said, laughing. “Obama looked pretty fast and pretty quick on his feet.”
So is Van Duzer. For a guy who biked 1,148 miles in 31 days from Florida to Washington D.C., lifting Obama was a piece of cake — err, a slice of pizza. And Van Duzer says he wasn’t even warmed up.
“I don’t work out that much, man. Usually, it’s about two days per week. The bike ride was my big thing,” Van Duzer said. “I’m starting to go back to the gym right now. I need to start maintaining.”
Van Duzer’s June bike-trek was part of his Van Duzer Foundation, and helped raise awareness for blood donation shortages. Founded in 2008 to support a local firefighter whose house burned down, the foundation has since raised more than $600,000, Van Duzer said. Van Duzer said he rode with a few kids from the Boys and Girls Club and met with U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin to discuss blood shortages.
Obama told The New York Times that Van Duzer’s effort in promoting blood donations was part of the reason the campaign decided to visit his pizza shop.
“One of the reasons that we wanted to stop by is that Scott has been doing unbelievable work out of this pizza shop in promoting the importance of donating blood,” Obama told the Times. “And so he has set some records here in Florida. He has received commendations from the White House, the surgeon general, he has galvanized and mobilized the local community and he’s educating kids and folks all across the country on this issue.”
Inside the shop Sunday, Obama wanted to know how to look like Van Duzer.
“Everybody look at these guns,” Obama said. “If I eat your pizza, will I look like that?”
(Also on POLITICO: Fit for office: 2012 candidates in the best shape ever)
Van Duzer told POLITICO that he packs on protein with his homemade pepperoni pizza. And the 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pound Van Duzer says he bench presses 350 pounds at six reps, usually twice a week — nearly double the estimated 176 pounds that Obama weighs.
“When I was in peak condition, I lifted five times a week,” he said. “But that was before my injury.”
He tore his Achilles tendon during an “intense” charity dodgeball game. Mainly, he says his active, energetic lifestyle keeps him fit.
“I move around a lot,” he said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80998.html#ixzz26AXo9SvX
politico has an article that further explains why the president chose to stop at this particular establishment and speak with this particular man. It goes deeper than politics.
I personally found it refreshing that they could both put politics aside, a glimpse of times gone by maybe? It is rare in this day and age. While I watch on msnbc the actual events in real time on msnbc, and remember how we came together as a nation that day and compare it to the childishness of today, it saddens me.
I personally found it refreshing that they could both put politics aside, a glimpse of times gone by maybe? It is rare in this day and age. While I watch on msnbc the actual events in real time on msnbc, and remember how we came together as a nation that day and compare it to the childishness of today, it saddens me.
People can choose to spend their money there, or not spend their money there.
The other side of the coin is, the guy didn't have to make a big spectacle out of his adoration for President Obama. He could have just shook his hand, like any normal human-being would have done.
Treating the man like a demi'god isn't going to win you any customers from the Right, just as a Romney'worshiper wouldn't win you any fans from the Left.
Wining about it after the fact is childish. Does he think the Right'leaning customers are going to come BACK just because he's b*tching about it?
The other side of the coin is, the guy didn't have to make a big spectacle out of his adoration for President Obama. He could have just shook his hand, like any normal human-being would have done.
Treating the man like a demi'god isn't going to win you any customers from the Right, just as a Romney'worshiper wouldn't win you any fans from the Left.
Wining about it after the fact is childish. Does he think the Right'leaning customers are going to come BACK just because he's b*tching about it?
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