Supporters Pay $1K For Presidential Handshake
DEARBORN (WWJ) - Bomb sniffing dogs could be seen around Greenfield Village in Dearborn as officials prepared for President Barack Obama's visit on Wednesday.
Supporters lined up bright and early to get in the door at The Henry Ford, including Lonnie Peek, who handed over $1,000 to stand in a rope line and shake the President's hand.
Peek said paying that price will mean a bit of a sacrifice, but it's worth it.
"A thousand dollars is a lot of money. But other folks are kickin' in for their candidates, so what you do is you bite the bullet," Peek said. "You wanna have your conscience good, to feel that this is what I did.
"You know, you go without a couple of meals. We can miss a couple meals," he said.
Phillip Levy also coughed up the cash for Obama's fundraiser.
"I'm not a huge supporter as far as monetary input to the Democratic party, but I believe in the President's principles and I'm really looking forward to just putting a little support behind him today," he said.
Local resident Rodney Sharell, out walking his dog, said he was excited to hear Obama would be in town, but he wouldn't be attending the event.
"No I'm not ... Too rich for my blood, (I'm a) retired Chrysler worker ... and proud," he said.
Another Metro Detroiter seemed angry about the President's visit, but declined a request for an interview, telling WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil not to come near him with the microphone.
Following Wednesday evening's event at the Henry Ford, Obama was scheduled to make an appearance at the Bingham Farms home of Denise Ilitch.
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