In the end, it actually did feel like a “back yard chat,” say a few of the people who were invited to Thursday’s huge event featuring President Obama at the Wedgwood home of the Foss family.
Neighbors and friends pitched in to tidy up the attractive two-story, single-family home at 7340 40th Avenue NE. Friends were invited, many bringing extra chairs for the two dozen or so folks lucky enough to get an invitation.
And President Obama, from all reports, helped make everyone comfortable with his personable manner. “You felt like you could ask him anything,” said Julianna Ross, a Wedgwood resident and friend of the Foss family, who hosted the event at their home. “He was not defensive about anything, he was very open and you could tell that he knows a lot, he’s extremely informed and he obviously cares a lot.”
It was Ross’ husband Jordan Royer, a connected Democrat and the son of former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer, who had contacted Erik Foss recently about the possibility of hosting the event, a story well-chronicled by our news partner The Seattle Times. In the story, it mentions how Erik, his wife Cynnie and daughters Anna and Elsa got to spend a little time with President Obama over coffee before the back yard event began. (For Royer’s first-person take, see his article on Crosscut.)
After Obama talked about the economy and what his administration has been doing to address it, it was time for presentations from two women who head their own businesses, Christina Lomasney, of advanced metals manufacturer Modumetal, and Jody Hall, of Cupcake Royale.
Then it was Royer who broke a bit of an awkward silence and asked the first question from attendees. Royer asked about our country’s weakening press corps and resulting distortions in the media. And he asked how people can help.
Obama said he appreciated the question and talked at length about health care reform and the Recovery Act and said he and his administration probably did not do enough to advertise their successes, a response that led several news stories, including CNN.
To read the full remarks by everyone who spoke, see transcript on Time.
