Yesterday, we saw photos of a fearless pro-Romney caterer at an Obama campaign event in Iowa. Today, we've been introduced to his courageous counterpart, a baker in Virginia. I sincerely hope these gentlemen have their taxes in order for the inevitable IRS audits:
Would you say no to the Vice President? One New River Valley business owner turned Vice President Joe Biden down. This might happen more than you think from both political parties, most businesses just don't talk about it. The owner of "Crumb and Get It" - did. Chris McMurray's bakery has been open only since May, barely three months. Wednesday morning, advance teams for Vice President Joe Biden walked in. "I approached her she said Joe Biden is coming to town today," McMurray said. "Crumb and Get It" is a mom and pop store. Literally. Chris and his wife Kelly run the place and need all the business they can get. McMurray said the Vice President's entourage got to the point and made its pitch. "She said they have selected 'Crumb and Get It" to be his stop on his way to Blacksburg and was wondering if that was ok." Here's the part that might make other business owners crazy. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime but essentially I said 'No offense to you or the campaign but I just decline you guys coming in here. At that time she said 'Are you sure? There's going to be a lot of press, a lot of activity,’" McMurray said.
Why in the world would a new business owner say "no" to a photo op with the Vice President of the United States? McMurray said it was President Obama's recent remarks about small business and who built what. "Very simply, ‘you didn't build that’” McMurray said. “Speaking of small businesses and entrepreneurs all across this country and actually last night my wife was up all night. No sleep, she's worked a full 24 hours." When "Crumb and Get It" said 'no', “River City Grill,” just around the corner, said 'yes' and has the pictures to prove it, and didn't care about the politics. "If you want to throw in some libertarians as well that's fine too. Stop in as well,” Chris Bell said. “Just bring your money. Sure, right! Back at the bakery, a couple of guys said they'd hoped to see Biden and didn't care that the VP had been turned away. "I mean it really doesn't matter to me. Everyone has their own views so I love the food here anyway. I agree. Everybody's different so I could care less," said Spenser Critterton of Radford.
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Interesting enough in itself, but this mini battleground state drama story soon took a fascinating turn...
Secret Service officers associated with Vice President Joe Biden bought a pile of cupcakes from the baker who refused to host Biden at his shop — and they did so out of gratitude. It’s a startling news nugget at the bottom of a local report. "Shortly after Crumb and Get It told Biden’s advance people ‘no’ — the secret service walked in and told [owner] Chris McMurray "Thanks for standing up and saying ‘no’ — then they bought a whole bunch of cookies and cupcakes," according to the Valley Reporter (Va.). McMurray refused to host the Biden entourage as a protest of Obama’s comment, made in the nearby town of Roanoke, that "if you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that." The Secret Service’s purchase proved to be a herald of things to come, as Virginia locals rewarded McMurray with a rush of business this morning. The bakery ran out of food by 1:15 pm.
Whoa. The Secret Service overtly rewarded this business owner for "standing up" to the leader they're sworn to protect, but apparently don't respect all that much. I'm amazed they were so open and bold about it. Then, local residents flooded the business this morning to affirm the owner's decision, literally (to borrow one of Biden's favorite words) selling the place out of food.
UPDATE - Video added, via Breitbart:
UPDATE II - The Secret Service is *cough* denying that they thanked the bakery for rejecting Biden's appearance.
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