DCist: D.C. Gym Employee Asked Barack Obama for ID

MrTinDC

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:02:18 -0500

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...

erahk0

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:55:43 -0500

proof, it's always good to travel with protection in DC.

ginwedding

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:32:44 -0500

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.)

mellbell

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:25:16 -0500

justjack: Obama has had Secret Service protection for over a year.

Wizzyliz

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:10:38 -0500

Awwwww hell!!! This happens to me ALL THE TIME. Very Frustrating.

adamsmorgan

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:07:00 -0500

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....

loganmo

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:04:12 -0500

Didn't this happen to Senator Craig at Crew Club once?

justjack75

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:57:14 -0500

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."

GreenLineCoed

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:53:50 -0500

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

Esmeralda

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:40:13 -0500

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)

TLB

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:39:05 -0500

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.

SpeakSoftlyCarryABigStick

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:37:58 -0500

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.

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:33:35 -0500

Is it true that his sweat can cure jock itch?

erahk0

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:33:14 -0500

I'm impressed ... maybe he has interest in MPD Chief's job.

MrTinDC

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:32:14 -0500

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!

MikeB

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:22:33 -0500

Did he have a DC One card?

HCE

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:16:53 -0500

For such a supposedly well-educated populace, D.C. sure is full of dumb people.

MrTinDC

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:09:34 -0500

OMGOMGOMG, must find out what exercise equipment he used and touch it today. I'm going to the gym tonight, and will ask around.

Reid

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:07:42 -0500

That is not the membership card I knew.

IMGoph

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:53:00 -0500

dc education ftw!

fixedgearrider

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:52:49 -0500

This happened today or last friday?.. I thought he was in New Hampshire today.