The Republican pizza parlor owner who gained fame by putting a huge bear hug on President Obama recently now says he's ready and willing to hit the campaign trail for the President.
Here's a portion of today's story from the AP wire (http://m.apnews.com/...):
Scott Van Duzer made headlines around the world when he lifted President Barack Obama off the floor in a weekend visit to his Fort Pierce restaurant, Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant. Van Duzer made a whirlwind New York media tour, but was back behind the counter Wednesday.
The 46-year-old, 6-foot-3 Republican enraged some conservatives with his embrace of the president, but he says the vitriol online has so far had the opposite effect.
"It couldn't have backfired more," he said.
He'd likely agree if Obama sought to harness his newfound celebrity by campaigning.
Though some waged a campaign to flood Big Apple Pizza with negative online reviews, by Tuesday, they were far outnumbered by thousands of positive ones. Jeff Greene, a 33-year-old legal consultant in West Palm Beach, was among those praising Van Duzer.
"To attack a guy that hugged the president just really, really made me feel bad for him," he said.
Van Duzer said he had never supported a Democrat running for president prior to Obama, but that he felt "he was the right guy at the right time" despite being of the opposite party. He said his choice was only affirmed by the president's visit.
"Four years ago, he was so young, so enthusiastic," he said. "When he came in my store, he had that same enthusiasm."
The naysayers, Van Duzer says, have so far kept their dissatisfaction online, not protesting outside or airing their views to him in person. He says they're entitled to their opinion and that he won't say anything nasty back.
I don't know if the President is going to take Van Duzer up on his willingness to campaign for him, but I hope he does. He's a genuine soul who shows other white guys it's OK to like Barack Obama. Besides that, he sure in the heck beats the hell out of Joe The Plumber who became an icon for the GOP's McCain/Palin ticket in 2008.
The contrast between Van Duzer and Joe The Plumber couldn't be more pronounced, and generally points out the differences between the parties and their candidates from top to bottom. I'm so proud to say I'm a Democrat. And so proud to say there are good and decent Republicans out there like Van Duzer. I was beginning to think there weren't any.