President brings his new consumer protection watchdog on visit with William and Endia Eason in Ohio

[bigtree]

Richard Cordray, who will be appointed as head of the country's new consumer financial protection watchdog, awaits U.S. President Barack Obama upon their arrival in Cleveland, January 4, 2012. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque



(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)



(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)



(REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

President Barack Obama and Richard Cordray, center, visits with William Eason, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at his home in Cleveland, Ohio.(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)



(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)






(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

[babylonsister]

1. He's sounding good, and the gloves seem to be off.

Sounds like he's tired of the rethug obstruction. And now he's talking about Ms. Eason (and her sweet potato pie).

[gateley]

4. Hope so. He did what he said up until now - trying to work with the Republicans. But if he wants

to see more progress, actions that the American people easily see and benefit from, he needs to plow ahead and just do what's right. I can't help but think that will help him in November.

[roguevalley]

8. this new guy has a kind face, a nice one.

[bigtree]

9. Ms. Eason's sweet potato pie

um-umm



Endia Eason, 91, who once ran a home bakery, baked Obama two pies – one sweet potato and one peach – and made 21 others, including cherry pies for the president's staff and secret service agents.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/01/president_obama_visits_clevela.html

[joshcryer]

13. Obama is cracking up in those pics, I wonder what she said!

Wonderful, thanks bigtree!

[bigtree]

14. I'd love to see a video

I'll keep looking

[joshcryer]

12. To be sure, he's in campaign mode (no offense), but hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

A move to the left can't hurt him in the long run.

[babylonsister]

2. And PS, hahahaha! McSame is currently endorsing Romney; Obama

is getting the airtime on m$nbc.

[bigtree]

6. ignoring the clown show

. . . while showing the President doing his job.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. The Eason's must have been thrilled to get this visit.

[gateley]

5. Obama seems to really love being with kids and old ladies! And kids and old ladies can see

through the BS.

[bigtree]

7. I'm sure

I'm trying to find out what they talked about . . .

[bigtree]

10. story behind the photos

President Obama's motorcade arrived at the Holborn Avenue (southeast Cleveland) home of William and Endia Eason about 12:20 p.m.

Seated around the Easons' dining room table were Obama, Richard Cordray, the Easons and Deonna Kirkpatrick, communications director for Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People, a local housing advocacy group.

The Easons, who bought their home in 1971, were told by the city in 2001 that their front steps violated city code and needed to be repaired. Kirkpatrick said a predatory lender told the Easons that if they didn't take out an $8,000 loan to make repairs, they would go to jail.

Kirkpatrick said the repairs were never done, the loan was flipped multiple times, and the Easons were suddenly $80,000 in debt. With ESOP's help, the mortgage broker's company wrote off part of the loan and backed off on foreclosure.

Obama "told them they were taken advantage of when they thought they were doing the right thing, and he said what happened to them, he doesn't want to see happen to others," Kirkpatrick said.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/01/president_obama_visits_clevela.html

[bigtree]

11. kick