Emerges into daylight, sidesteps questions on Iraq. (reuters photo)
It’s OK, America — the clouds have finally parted on the island. For days, Beltway has read with a mix of sympathetic dismay and bitter solace the Facebook updates of White House reporter friends stuck on Martha’s Vineyard with POTUS. Three days of rain! Why? Why?
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Today, the rain stopped (but for how long?) and President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and some of their friends ventured into town for lunch. Shrimp was on the menu — questions about ending combat operations in Iraq were really not. From today’s pool report:
The motorcade left POTUS’s vacation compound in Chilmark at 1:36 p.m.
POTUS, FLOTUS, Sasha and Malia arrived at Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs at 1:55 p.m. after an uneventful motorcade ride.
Some people stood on a corner near a fire station as we entered town and gave the motorcade hands-over-head applause.
Further into town near the water more clusters of onlookers gathered, and a crowd was already balooning on streetcorners near Nancy’s, which were blocked off with caution tape.
Nancy’s is a waterfront spot where POTUS also ate last year on vacation. Pool is told POTUS is eating with a large group that is expected to include: the Eric and Cheryl Whittaker, Valerie Jarrett, George and Clarice Walker, George Walker IV, Cy Walker, Ann Marchant, David Watkins and Elizabeth Alexander.
POTUS was entering the restaurant when pool got into position. Diners who were lunching on the outdoor deck cheered. He said something to them before slipping inside but pool couldn’t hear. POTUS was followed by FLOTUS, who waited for a moment at the door for Sasha and Malia.
POTUS went upstairs and appeared to be greeting some fellow diners. Pool could see him through an upstairs window.
Shortly after 2 p.m. pool was rushed over to near the outdoor ordering counter to get some footage of POTUS, FLOTUS and a few pals ordering.
At this point Nancy’s outdoor diners abandoned their paper plates of fried fish platters, clam strips and burgers to get a glimpse.
POTUS, wearing a White Sox cap, tan slacks, sneakers, a white short-sleeve polo with a Nike swoosh on the sleeve, and a black watch on his left wrist, stepped up to the counter, which was sectioned off with yellow caution tape, to order.
“Where’s my wife?” he asked, looking around. FLOTUS, wearing a coral cardigan over a pink and white striped shirt and long white shorts, then appeared by his side.
As POTUS ordered, FLOTUS turned and gave a couple waves to the crowd that was standing along the deck.
“Michelle! Michelle!” Some of them yelled. “Over here.”
“How you guys doing?” FLOTUS said to them.
“Drying off?” she added. “Finally.”
POTUS joked with Eric Whittaker about the drink he ordered and then walked over to greet some of his admirers.
“Good to see you guys,” he said, shaking hands. “You doing alright?”
They were very excited, with squeals of “Mr. President!”
FLOTUS was wearing a purple watch on her left wrist (it looks like a Toy watch but pool can’t be sure).
“I love your watch,” one woman told FLOTUS.
“Oh, thank you. It was a gift,” FLOTUS said, gesturing toward her husband, who was behind her shaking hands. “I think someody told him.”
As POTUS walked to the other side of the deck, back toward the entrance, poolers tried to ask him about Iraq.
“Mr. President…”
“Mr. President, will the war in Iraq…”
“Sir…”
He ignored, then finally turned to look at pool:
“We’re buying shrimp guys,” he said with a smile, “c’mon.”
POTUS then greeted some more diners, giving a high five to a little boy. By 2:10 p.m. POTUS was back inside Nancy’s eating his shrimp and pool is holding in vans.
