Obama makes surprise visit to Sunrise Cafe in South Bend

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Sen. Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the Sunrise Cafe on Lincolnway West

Sen. Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the Sunrise Cafe on Lincolnway West, Thursday April 10, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

SOUTH BEND — Sen. Barack Obama stayed the night in South Bend after his historic speech at Washington High School. But before he left town Thursday, he made an unannounced stop for breakfast at the Sunrise Café on Lincolnway West in South Bend.

Joking as he posed for pictures with staff at the Sunrise Café, Obama said, “Now that’s my phone buzzing there. [I] don’t want you to think I’m getting fresh or anything.”

The crowd of patrons and reporters laughed with the senator, who is dealing with a tight schedule, Secret Service agents and a media circus on his three-day bus tour of Indiana.

During his stop at the restaurant, Obama drank orange juice and talked about jobs and the economy with people who know it all too well.

Marvin Kline was laid off RMG Foundry in 2006.

“I was 59 years old when my plant shut down,” Kline told Obama. “I'm 61 years old with health issues. Nobody's going to want to hire me."

Trudy Manderfeld also lost her job in 2006. She worked at the Bayer plant in Elkhart.

“There have been heart attacks with people left in the plant, not knowing when they're going to lose their jobs,” she told the presidential hopeful. “And they're working extreme amounts of overtime."

Obama listened to both. He also talked with a local waitress who said she sees signs of the struggling economy every day.

Obama asked both Manderfeld and Kline what they feel the government should have been doing when they lost their jobs. Then he talked about the future.

“I always say in this election we can't just change parties; we've got to change our politics in Washington so ordinary voices are being heard on a regular basis," he said.

Manderfeld says she's impressed.

"It's not that he's saying the right things; he’s in tune with what's actually going on,” she said.

And just like that, he said goodbye and got back on the road.

"Sorry to interrupt your breakfast,” he told one patron on the way out. “You look like a pretty cheap date, though!”

Obama's three-day tour included stops in Gary and Lafayette Thursday. He’ll head to southern Indiana cities on Friday.

Watch WSBT News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for more on Obama's unannounced visit to the Sunrise Cafe.

Monday, Apr 14 at 9:48 AM tatianna brown wrote ...

I think that Mr.Obama is a very ood candidate an di hope he wins cause he's listening to what the small people have to say and is trying to help whereas clinton is just focusing on the big peoples issues and she dosen't really seem to care about what the little people has to say or about there problems her daughter's doing more then she is

Monday, Apr 14 at 4:44 AM hahahaha wrote ...

Pandering to the "religious" "gun owners" who he looks down on huh? What an elitist snob.

Friday, Apr 11 at 10:47 AM Brian Finch wrote ...

To "Anonymous at 3:10": Is anyone, from where ever you're from, mature enough to leave an intelligent and/or constructive comment about Obama's visit? Is that sentence complete and coherent enough for you? Just wondering.

Friday, Apr 11 at 9:38 AM mick wrote ...

Reading all theses comments about this article I can see clearly why our hometowns, state,and nation are in such a mess. Most people ( not all) believe that their personal lives are the most important issue. Like peer pressure today suggest " WATCH OUT FOR # 1 ME " Until we join together what we have is what I have!!

Friday, Apr 11 at 7:47 AM HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT wrote ...

obama, have some spamma. It's what the rest of us will be having to dine on if you're elected. HILLARY IN 2008!

Friday, Apr 11 at 7:20 AM Johnny Rotten wrote ...

Sid. You gotten more smarter since I member you from?

Friday, Apr 11 at 6:51 AM JIMBO wrote ...

ELVIS WAS CAPTIVATING TO SEE IN PERSON BUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE HIM QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT! THESE MUST BE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT SIT THERE WAVING WADS OF CASH IN THE INFOMERCIALS.

Friday, Apr 11 at 4:47 AM makesonevomit wrote ...

I don't care what a bigot following America hater does. I also do not care what people acting like sheep do either....

Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:05 PM Anonymous wrote ...

A funny thing about Obama going to Gary Roosevelt Thursday is that their spring break was two weeks ago. I guess it was OK for them to miss school.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 5:02 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Those kids on the news last night who were asked about recent WHS events could barely form a coherent thought or one that was more thought out than that of a kindergarten age child. Whenever they have local highschoolers on the local news, it's always painful to watch. We laughed out loud at the one who said, "ya never know, we might learn somethin'"! They're fatuous, just saying what they think they're supposed to be saying. Please, please interview a homeschooled kid!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 4:59 PM Sally wrote ...

I would never vote for ANYONE who lies about being under sniper fire.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 4:50 PM common sense wrote ...

I HAVE ENJOYED BREAKFAST AT THE SUNRISE CAFE MANY TIMES. THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT. I VIEW AN APEARANCE BY A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AN HONOR. TO THOSE THAT THINK THAT THIS IS SUCH A BAD PLACE TO LIVE, I HAVE A SUGGESTION, LEAVE!!!!!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 4:21 PM Sid Vicious wrote ...

A native, benighted midwesterner answering "3:10 PM Anonymous" who wrote "Can anyone in the midwest, whether highschooler or adult, form a complete, coherent sentence!? Just wondering." FYI: your comment "Just wondering." is not a complete sentence; it is a fragment. Also -- the punctuation you employed "!?" is not standard English and the word highschooler does not exist; it is properly written as two words: high schooler.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 4:09 PM Suzy wrote ...

To Anonymous at 3:10, what is your problem??? You sound like someone who doesn't have a voice at home so you take your ignorance and unhappiness out on others. WHS is a great high school, I am a proud graduate. As far as the SBC Superintendant allowing Senator Obama to speak at WHS, it was after school hours and did not interfere with the daily operations of the school which is the way it should be. Can't this community let go of the racist, sexist and ignorant comments for once??

Thursday, Apr 10 at 3:58 PM Sid Viscious wrote ...

Answering Tracy who said "Why is it so hard for people to understand that the reason that the SBCSC wouldn't allow Hillary to speak at WHS is because she wanted to speak DURING SCHOOL HOURS!!!!! I agree with the school corp." I have no proof, Tracy, but my guess is that your opinion would be different if the candidate who was refused by the school board had been John McCain. Every person I know who support the school board's decision have one thing in common -- they all hate Hillary Clinton.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 3:39 PM John S wrote ...

TO 3:10 PM Anonymous. The answer is no. You can go back to where ever you are from if you don't like it. Sorry.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:56 PM Answer for 3:10 Anonymous wrote ...

yeah well we may not be pretty talkers but we grow your food. well, ok, mostly the immigrants grow your food, but we pay them to do it... with your money too, so i guess the jokes on you!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:28 PM South Bend wrote ...

Anonymous @ 2:30 PM: As a graduate of WHS and Bethel College (B.S. Business), your comment is very ignorant. Too bad they did not teach common sense/not judge others when you don't know the facts at your school.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:20 PM OZ wrote ...

PATTY - Unfortunately people ARE that dumb! Obama is charismatic and that is enough to impress idiots.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:11 PM Hoosier Dad wrote ...

If either of them had the nomination locked up, we would not be seeing them visit our state. Wake up people, its not what they can do for us its what we can do for them, get them elected or nominated. Came November, if the polls show Sen. McCain with a large margin we will not see Hilly or Barach. They only care about themselves.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 2:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Can anyone in the midwest, whether highschooler or adult, form a complete, coherent sentence!? Just wondering.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:38 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Kristin, if you learn how to spell your comment might be taken seriously...'aloud'...try allowed. Geesh, you must have graduated from WHS/SBC School?!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:28 PM Sure shot wrote ...

Aim high, I notice you have been posting your own particular brand of inane commentry, mainly on the obama related articles. Do you have anything of value to contribute? Any dazzling insights into the political process we see at work, or the speeches made by these fine politicians? Perhaps instead of posting your negative banal comments you should go back to watching Dr Phil and surfing questionable websites? or perhaps, dare I suggest ...you try looking for gainful employment?

Thursday, Apr 10 at 1:09 PM Annie wrote ...

In other words he's not going to do anything about Indiana's future as he skirted the question entirely!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:49 PM Tracy wrote ...

Why is it so hard for people to understand that the reason that the SBCSC wouldn't allow Hillary to speak at WHS is because she wanted to speak DURING SCHOOL HOURS!!!!! I agree with the school corp...if they were to allow her to come during school, it would've seemed that SBCSC was supporting her and thats not the image that they want to impose on the students. AND its against SBCSC policy! Wake up people everything is not a race issue, or sexist issue, there are rules that have to be followed

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:43 PM Grow Up wrote ...

kristin I bet you think its funny when people die too!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:33 PM Truth Squad wrote ...

Kristin, look at the facts. The school board and the superintendent explained exactly why Clinton was turned down at Washington and why Obama was allowed. As for parking, the Secret Service makes the rules and the city has to follow them. That is why the roads were blocked. There are a number of parking garages in downtown South Bend so you can enjoy any of the new restaurants open there.

Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:09 PM PATTY wrote ...

OBAMA JUST KEEP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR! PROMISES, AND MORE PROMISES, PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT DUMB!!

Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:26 AM A retired marketing man wrote ...

I think it's very sad that Obama's camp came into town and disrupted many peoples morning commute. I guess that's one more reason people have to vote for Hillary. Seriously though, Mr. Lueke endorsed Mr. Obama! Well! Did Obama accept it? Did the mayor only do it because he was grateful to find someone who would be willing to go into a S.B High School? Let's get back to serious;did anyone think to have Obama where a silverhawk uniform while standing in front of the football hall of shame? Shoulda

Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:20 AM aim high wrote ...

Does anyone have anything better to do than to complain?

Thursday, Apr 10 at 10:00 AM kristin wrote ...

i think its funny that he was aloud to speak at a south bend school but hillary clinton wasnt....

Thursday, Apr 10 at 9:03 AM Parking or lack of ?!?! wrote ...

So I guess parking downtown really is that bad that they have to block a road for (2) buses. I thought the Marriott had a parking lot, ground level one by 1st Source too which would have made it easier for the police to monitor. Oh well guess that's why I don't go downtown so dont waste the money to bring in new business if you dont greatly increase parking options.

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