June 27, 2008
D.C. Gym Employee Asked Barack Obama for ID
The Hill has the idiot local news scoop of the day with this gem from the Columbia Heights location of the Washington Sports Club. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama stopped by earlier on Friday to check out the new facility (he usually goes to the one in Gallery Place), and the woman who works behind the counter didn't recognize him and made him show her his ID. Now, the tone of the article suggests the embarrassing part of the story is that no one at the gym recognized Obama, one of the most recognizable faces in the country. But we'll submit that it's somewhat rather more embarrassing that Obama felt he didn't need to swipe his membership card at the front desk. We all have to face the shame and doubt that comes along with wondering whether the front desk person can tell how long it's been since we've been to the gym, senator. Next time, swipe that card.
| 
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
[ report this ]
This happened today or last friday?.. I thought he was in New Hampshire today.
[ report this ]
dc education ftw!
[ report this ]
That is not the membership card I knew.
[ report this ]
OMGOMGOMG, must find out what exercise equipment he used and touch it today. I'm going to the gym tonight, and will ask around.
[ report this ]
For such a supposedly well-educated populace, D.C. sure is full of dumb people.
[ report this ]
Did he have a DC One card?
[ report this ]
Another thought: I hope the gym empoyees had the sense to save his sweaty towel. It could be sold on eBay to raise money for charity!
[ report this ]
I'm impressed ... maybe he has interest in MPD Chief's job.
[ report this ]
Is it true that his sweat can cure jock itch?
[ report this ]
Let me submit another explaination: WSC employs idiots.
Why do I say this? Last week I went to the WSC on F Street in order to find out the rates for membership. Now, a business run by intelligent people would be very receptive and try to accomodate someone who goes into a place of business uncoerced in an attempt to get that person to spend money in at their business.
Instead, I was treated rudely by their "membership consultant," who told me this was "his house" and that I "couldn't just walk in and expect to be told what the membership rates are to join." Great public relations strategy no?
I felt like I was asking to join the Stonecutters, only I had no Abe Simpson to flash around.
[ report this ]
Did he move out of Mass Court? They have a nice gym there. My liberal lady friends who lived there used to stalk...errr 'run into' him in the building gym all the time.
[ report this ]
Yeah, that Obama is SUCH an arrogant elitist. I mean, the NERVE of that man, to assume that a living breathing human being who has access to a television (presumably) wouldn't know who he was!
(although maybe he shouldn't have assumed she would know he was a member of the Washington Sports Club . . . eh, I still love him)
[ report this ]
I can't speak for all gyms, but as an employee at your standard, campus gym, we have to card everyone, regardless of who they are. That being said, the only people who 'expect' me to know who they are usually are the 2nd string quarterbacks
[ report this ]
I'm just surprised that as the presumptive nominee he doesn't have a Secret Service detail already. Unless that's what TheHill.com meant by "entourage."
[ report this ]
Didn't this happen to Senator Craig at Crew Club once?
[ report this ]
Back in the late 80s or early 90s (I can't remember) shortly after Cal Ripken had signed a huge 8-year contract with the O's for millions of dollars (which back then was the biggest contract going), he and his wife and daughter (the boy wasn't born yet) came in to the Waldenbooks where I was working and wanted to buy a couple of hundred dollars worth of books. He paid with a check. I didn't ask him for his driver's license, which is Walden's policy. My manager was cool with it, but we had to explain it to the home office....I think they (the home office) were Yankee's fans....
[ report this ]
Awwwww hell!!! This happens to me ALL THE TIME. Very Frustrating.
[ report this ]
justjack: Obama has had Secret Service protection for over a year.
[ report this ]
I worked in a Brentano's bookstore, also back in the late 80s, and occasionally waited on Diana Ross, who lived in town. One Christmas she was attempting to make a sizeable purchase, but American Express wouldn't authorize the charge at first and insisted that I put her on the phone--which was embarrassing enough. Then they asked her to spell "Ross."
(The charge did go through.)
[ report this ]
proof, it's always good to travel with protection in DC.
[ report this ]
According to the staff at WSC in Columbia Heights, Obama did come in this morning - it must have been prior to his flight to New Hampshire. He "did cardio" on a treadmill for awhile, then left. No word on any sweaty towels left behind...