Scott Van Duzer, the Obama hugger: Shop facing boycott

[powergirl]

I hope the Florida DUers can help Van Duzer out and go to his restaurant!!! I can't believe all the haters out there!!




By KEVIN CIRILLI | 9/10/12 3:36 PM EDT

"The owner of a Florida pizza shop says people are boycotting his business because he bear-hugged President Barack Obama on Sunday.

“People are saying a lot of bad things and boycotting my restaurant,” Scott Van Duzer, 46, told POLITICO. “There’s no middle line anymore, and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our country right now.”


The owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta Restaurant in Fort Pierce, Fla., said that both Democrats and Republicans are welcome in his store. But he also said he thinks Mitt Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan — whose sculpted abs are thanks to intense P90X training sessions — would lose to the president in a workout battle.

“I think Obama could take him,” Van Duzer said, laughing. “Obama looked pretty fast and pretty quick on his feet.”


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/80998.html?hp=f1

[Blue Belle]

1. That doesn't surprise me...

haters gotta hate.

I was hoping the exposure would draw more people to Van Duzer's business and his charity foundation. I suppose we'll see how this develops in the coming weeks.

[SaveAmerica]

49. way to support a small business. why do they hate America?

[lunasun]

100. because they only love themselves and only their ideas- nothing else esp. compromise

like the store owner said> no middle line anymore

[Indpndnt]

71. Sounds like what they did to Crist, too, for hugging Obama.

There's an ad in there, somewhere. I may not like Crist, but the parallels are strong in this instance.

[liberalmuse]

2. I thought Republicans preferred greasy fast food?

He shouldn't lose too much, if any business. I think pro-Obama supporters will counter this.

[Blue Idaho]

3. If you are local - buy a pie from this guy! nt.

[liberalmuse]

5. It would be nice to buy pizza for the homeless.

I don't know the area, though.

[Blue Idaho]

12. GREAT Idea! Buy a pie for a homeless shelter!

Everybody wins!

[WCGreen]

59. Great Idea....

[niyad]

4. if I were in the neighborhood, I would support him, can we buy gift cards or something?

paul ryan's "sculpted abs"?? is this a joke, because the little creep looks far from fit to me.

[Raven]

6. Let's order pizza and ask Van Duzer to deliver it to homeless

shelters. 772-466-8303

[sabrina 1]

8. That's a great idea, thanks. I will do that.

[liberalmuse]

14. I'm in!

Thanks for the #. I shall call as soon as I get off of work.

[powergirl]

15. You are brilliant!

I will do that.

[sarge43]

16. Some DU love, piping hot. n/t

[skeewee08]

26. Thanks Raven; I will do that too

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. I'm all for it.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

66. Hibiscus Children's Center is nearby

Hibiscus Children's Center
Foster Care
Clinical Serices
Community Outreach
St. Lucie County Development
Laural Professional Park
2920 South 25th Street
Ft. Pierce, FL 34981
[phone]

[AnnieBW]

78. Spectacular Idea! Pizza for the Children's Center!

Set it up, and I'll contribute!

[sabrina 1]

7. I hope he gets a lot more new customers and that Democrats will organize to make sure he

does.

Losing a few haters is a plus actually. Think what a nice place this will be to eat in once all the haters leave. If I lived anywhere near it I would definitely go there. It's going to be a Hate Free Zone!

[awoke_in_2003]

52. Agreed...

whenever some one is tying up the wait staff with ridiculous demands, they are always loud mouth pukes (well, down here at least)

[bluestateguy]

9. Get down there Florida DUers and buy some pizza!

nt

[BlueStreak]

10. Ideas, please?

What if there were a fund of, say $25,000 for Van DUzer to have some kind of event. Free pizza for the whole community. Maybe a voter registration event. I bet we could raise some money to help the guy out. Maybe the event could be held by the Democratic Party, but Van DUzer could supply the food. Free pizza for everybody who either shows they are registered or else registers at the event. Republicans are welcome. It is a party.

Maybe Obama, Clinton, or Biden would come back for that event.

Van DUzer shouldn't suffer for supporting our President.

Any ideas?

[BeyondGeography]

11. Ooooh, savvy politics...way to highlight your own douchebaggery, teabillies

[Ian David]

13. Here is a food bank...

http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/foodbank.cgi?foodbank=13079

Here is the webpage for Big Apple Pizza. They take credit cards.
http://www.bigapplepizza.com/

The phone for the foodbank is busy. I'm going to keep trying, to see if the pizza place has anything they can use.

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. Thanks for doing that Ian. I'll be interested to know how we can help.

[Cha]

17. Oeeeooh! The Coup de Grace'!

"Paul Ryan.. would lose to the president in a workout battle."

“I think Obama could take him,” Van Duzer said, laughing. “Obama looked pretty fast and pretty quick on his feet.”

Hope there are plenty of Dems, Indies, and Repubs for Obama who like Scott's Big Apple Pizza!

[flamingdem]

91. Oh! That just caps the worst week yet for R&R

I have a family member near there. I'll get the word soon as to what's going on I hope. Ft. Pierce is a working class community with many poor by the way.

[drm604]

18. K&R

Help this place out!
Fort Pierce Big Apple Pizza: http://www.bigapplepizza.com/locations/fort-pierce.html

[lillypaddle]

25. Can't afford to order a pizza

and I'm in Georgia. But, I did send him an email of support.

[mike dub]

38. Same thing here in North Carolina, lillypaddle...

but I did the same thing: sent him an email of support.

[Joey Liberal]

69. Alright NC!

[Joey Liberal]

68. Good for you!

[liberalmuse]

19. He's also getting bad reviews on Yelp.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/scott-van-duzer-big-apple-pizza-yelp-bear-hug_n_1871329.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

[FrenchieCat]

24. That's being handled!

As we speak!

[frylock]

36. 5-star rating across the board on yelp..

the teabaggers bit off more than they can chew and are getting their ass handed to them, as they are signifigantly outnumbered. some great posts over there calling them out for hating small businesses!

[Bibliophile]

92. Yes, very glad to see that, haters are prevented from doing him significant damage -

That's so appropriate, those "conservative" hypocrites are showing their true rotten colors. Anti-freedom of expression, anti-small-business, anti-middle-class. Anti-decency... Heartwarming to see the responses here & there, to help both the pizza shop owner & the homeless (many of whom are probably Bush-Repub-Teabagger-economics victims... can't let him be added to that list...)

[wryter2000]

95. Welcome to DU

[Kurovski]

20. K&R. (nt)

[tandot]

21. K & R

ordering pizza for a homeless shelter seems like a great idea.

[all american girl]

22. I just popped over to his FB page and left a message.

If you have time, why not leave a kind work and some love. It's Big Apple Pizza Fort Piece, FL.

[SoapBox]

23. SO, DUer's!!!!

This is so outrageous.

Let's spread this to every website we know of. I sent the article and links to Think Progress and The Political Carnival.
Please help spread the word!

Next, maybe someone can check with the restaurant and see if they would be willing to accept donations from DUers and then deliver pizzas to a deserving shelter or such?

We donated over $10,000 to the President's campaign last Thursday and his speech...maybe at the least we can send him a few thousand to help out?

If in doubt, I'll just put a 20 spot in an envelope and mail it off to his store.

[skeewee08]

28. I like that idea SoapBox

Im in.....

[SaveAmerica]

30. Also can send pizza to local dem campaign offices

[Wait Wut]

35. That's what I thought of.

Homeless shelters and campaign offices. Is it a college town? If so, we need to get the word out to those kids.

I'm off to check on the college thing.

Edit: Okay. It looks like there are a TON of colleges in the area. Tonite, I'm going to see if I can't find some blogs or forums for them and link to this thread.

[SoapBox]

40. Great idea...I'll watch to see what you can find out.

and, like I said earlier, if in doubt later on, I'll just slip some money in an envelope and mail it off to the restaurant.

[Wait Wut]

44. Okay...I think this will be the easiest.

I did a FB search for 'Florida Democrats' and a bunch of sites came up. I'd prefer not to have to 'friend' or 'like' every single one since I have zero ties to Florida, but I'm going to search through and figure out which seem the most active. I'll post this thread there.

I really, really want a pizza right now.

[Mike Daniels]

31. No shocker there

Same bunch of as@wipes probably cheered on the xenophobic jerk in Philly that sold cheesesteaks...Geno?

[Warpy]

32. What is amazing about that picture is that the Secret Service

seemed OK with it.

When Stupid was in office, they were quick to jump on anybody who got near him.

[mopinko]

80. that's what i thought of, too.

can you imagine someone grabbing darth cheney? or mittens?

[JRLeft]

33. Obama is black and to teabaggers hugging someone black is a no no.

[trof]

34. It's a small Florida chain. Here's the website:

http://bigapplepizza.com/
You can find info for the Ft. Pierce restaurant there.
Buy a pizza.

[freshwest]

37. K & R

[powergirl]

39. Al Sharpton just gave him

a plug - just now on his show. We must support this man!

[Patiod]

41. why not send a pie to Obama campaign HQ

I know the young people at Obama HQ near me last time around were NOT rich, and a pie or two would be much appreciated!

Fort Pierce Office
300 South US Hwy 1
Fort Pierce FL 34950
[phone]

[otohara]

89. Thanks N/T

[1monster]

42. That's repugnant-cans for you....

I stop in and buy a couple of pizzas, but I'm considerably north (by a few hours) of them...

[patrice]

43. Share this link and ask people to buy pizza from Steve to deliver to the homeless.

[patrice]

45. P.S. Use a permalink to a Reply in this thread that has ordering info in it. nt

[progressivebydesign]

46. Reading the comments on Politico, those tea baggers are just out of control.

1) Yes, the owner IS a self-described Republican.
2) Yes, he did go to the White House, because he was honored by the Surgeon General for his work in raising blood donation awareness. It was not a political visit.
3) It was not a staged visit. The campaign decided to visit, and called him 40 minutes in advance.
4) Just because the Secret Service didn't shoot him, doesn't mean that the hug was staged. He asked right before doing it if he could do it, and the President said as long as he didn't carry him anywhere.
5) Boycotting a republican, small business owner, who has raised money and awareness for blood donations, who has raised money for a firefighter in time of need, should NOT be a targe of scorn or hate. Regardless of who he votes for or who he poses with.
6) Tea baggers are scumbags.

[Loge23]

47. Parking lot was full today!

I happen to work nearby Scott's store.
Scott is well known in our community for his many, many unselfish deeds. He has a foundation that helps the neediest in St. Lucie county and beyond.
http://thevanduzerfoundation.org/

He brought in Tim Tebow a couple a years ago for a fundraiser. He's all about good - no wonder the fascists are boycotting him.
I don't think it will matter much - today the place was jammed.
You can send him an email (and donation) through his website. I see this guy all the time - he walks the walk.

[renate]

50. he sounds like a sweetie pie

I think their boycott is going to backfire on the haters--well, not on them personally, but on the party of hate. Too bad they're picking on a guy who invited Tim Tebow to his restaurant and promotes blood donations--it makes them look really, really, really small-minded and small-hearted.

The more people hear about what a good guy Scott is, the better his store will do, and the tears of the haters will be sweet.

[Loge23]

70. RE: Tebow

I was there (I'm a Gator alum) for the Tebow appearance.
I doubt I share Mr. Tebow's politics.
I saw Tim Tebow stand in the FL heat for over nine hours shaking everyone's hand, holding babies, and talking to kids - and he did it with a smile, from the first to the last in line. When it was my turn, I managed to blurt out some ridiculous small talk and Tebow looked me right in the eyes and really was interested in what I said to him. He's a genuine and warm good man.
I suppose I should boycott him since I'm not a Christian!!

[renate]

79. that really is nice--thanks!

I'm so glad to hear that. I have to admit that when I hear somebody is conservative my first instinct is to assume they're selfish and uncaring, so I appreciate hearing that he's a nice guy. A really, really nice guy, from your description. That was a much-needed reminder to myself to stop making assumptions based on politics.

[RedSpartan]

51. Great to know!

[Jennicut]

76. So dumb to boycott such a good guy in the neighborhood.

And it sounds like he makes great pizza. Hope the haters end up having to eat crappy, bad pizza now.

[progressivebydesign]

48. If they have gift cards or certs, consider buying them to give to non-profits or schools

they can use them for rewards for the classes, or can use them as giveways at events or raffles.

[ruffburr]

53. All I can say is

Local dems need to start buyin the kids in the area pizza and you can drink the beer LOL,If i was local i would hmm is there a web site for his shop i think i'll order a pizza and donate it to the local homeless shelter

[drm604]

60. Here you go.

Fort Pierce Big Apple Pizza: http://www.bigapplepizza.com/locations/fort-pierce.html

Phone: [phone]

[busterbrown]

54. I just called from ca.

Tried to order a pie with credit card..... they forwarded me to his foundation.
Right wingers are such scum!

[OneGrassRoot]

55. Here's their FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/FortPierceBigApple?ref=ts

[lamp_shade]

62. Thanks. I just "liked" it.

[Botany]

56. I think I will buy some pies

pizza

[RockaFowler]

57. It's my favorite Pizza Place

Love Scott and what he does for the community. Hubby & I are going again this weekend. Plus they have the best Salad Dressing around. Love it!

[Cha]

88. Maybe he'll be there... you can say

you saw him on tv! lol

And shake his hand and give him a HUG from us!

You Lucky Dawgs!

[Joey Liberal]

58. I just e-mailed him! Go for it DUer's!

[Omaha Steve]

61. Do we have one official action to take on this?

Marta and I are in.

[muntrv]

63. The pubs are only pro-CONSERVATIVE-buisiness.

[Ztolkins]

64. Is this the hard-hitting journalism Politico is known for...?

"whose sculpted abs are thanks to intense P90X training sessions — would lose to the president in a workout battle.

“I think Obama could take him,” Van Duzer said, laughing. “Obama looked pretty fast and pretty quick on his feet."


That is why I clicked on the link!

[railsback]

65. Republibaggers tried to destroy Sandra Fluke by being all pissy

Now she's a household name and spoke at the outstanding DNC. Scott will be just fine.

[SoapBox]

67. And if you can't donate...

I think someone said that he has a Facebook page?

Messages of support would probably be good for him too.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

75. Here is one Facebook page connected /w him

It's actually set up for 'Be a Hero Day' in November but it's owned by the Van Duzer Foundation:

http://www.facebook.com/events/360800157332346/

People have left him messages of support there.

[begin_within]

72. Is there a way to just send him a donation?

I'm in California so I think the pizza would get cold by the time it got here. I'd just pay for a pizza and let him keep it.

[tjdee]

73. Yes, he has a foundation:

http://thevanduzerfoundation.org/

From DUer trof:
"I tried to buy a pizza by phone ("Send it to a homeless shelter or whoever is deserving&quot
Here's what they told me:
"Yes, we're being boycotted. There isn't really a homeless shelter here.
If you want to help, make a contribution to the Van Duzer Foundation."

"The mission of the Van Duzer Foundation is to assist families and individuals in St. Lucie County Florida, who are experiencing financial and personal hardship brought about by unforeseen crisis or tragedy." "

[OneGrassRoot]

77. Wonderful info! Thanks to you and trof. :) n/t

[tjdee]

74. You can also donate to his foundation:

http://thevanduzerfoundation.org/

From DUer trof:
"I tried to buy a pizza by phone ("Send it to a homeless shelter or whoever is deserving&quot
Here's what they told me:
"Yes, we're being boycotted. There isn't really a homeless shelter here.
If you want to help, make a contribution to the Van Duzer Foundation."

"The mission of the Van Duzer Foundation is to assist families and individuals in St. Lucie County Florida, who are experiencing financial and personal hardship brought about by unforeseen crisis or tragedy." "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021314759

[Barry2012]

81. Sick bastards

They raised hell when the lbgt community boycotted chicfila, but now they're doing the same thing.so it's time to donate and buy lots of pizza.

[Bluegene]

82. Just send him money for his cause

Don't make the poor man work himself to death, send him money for his cause. He wants that, he said so.

[SoapBox]

83. Ditto! Donate to his foundation

An update at the Daily KOS:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/10/1130051/-UNDER-ATTACK-SUPPORT-BIG-APPLE-PIZZA-ORDER-A-PIE

"UPDATE #4: Notice to Kos members: Seems Van Duzer's pizza parlor is being inundated with orders. LIL This is great, but they're swamped now. Literally. So they'd much rather you donate directly to The Van Dozer Foundation. Let's keep the love flowing, folks, in the form of donations. I want to blow these GOP thugs out of the water with their stupid boycott."

I'm going to do a foundation donation....OF COURSE, those local to him can always buy pizza in a couple of weeks or so...

[SoapBox]

85. Did my donation

...just put it through.

XXXX, your donation is now complete
Confirmation number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX944T.
An email with your donation details has been sent to [e-mail] and you can print your donation receipt.

[Stardust]

101. So, is his place "swamped with orders" or being boycotted? I'm so confused...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

84. So where are all those Chik-Fil-A "Freedom of Speech" fuckers?

You know, the ones who thought boycotts were just such an abomination (despite the fact that their side went after the Dixie Chicks 9 years prior)?

[izzybeans]

86. I just found a new pizza place the next time I go visit family.

[CBHagman]

87. I first saw this on the AOL homepage.

What mean-spiritedness.

I hope this thread and the one below it give the guy's business and of course his charity some love.

[AsahinaKimi]

90. Haters gotta hate

Those Yelp reviews I saw were sick and disgusting. Teabaggers can pretty much be jerks when it comes to stuff like this. One guy said, the owner should have given the President a pile driver into the floor. Meh... We should do all we can to help support this restaurant. The idea of sending pizza to the shelters is a great idea. Give this guy some more business.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

93. Idea... Send pizza to nearby OFA office

I have spent time in Fort Pierce lately and they have just opened a new OFA office on US 1 within a mile or two of the pizza shop. There are cars parked there everyday and I'm sure the volunteers would love a surprise.
I will be in FP this weekend and plan to stop by both places

[flamingdem]

102. Here's the address for the OFA office in Ft. Pierce

https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpdhjz

yum pizza

Location:
OFA-FL Ft. Pierce (Fort Pierce, FL)
300 S. US 1
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Directions:
On the corner of Boston Ave. and US 1. If you are headed northbound on US 1, the office will be on your right!

[otohara]

94. Donated

to his foundation.

[Botany]

96. +1

I just sent them a little money. Give me a hug!

[bfealk]

97. I just ordered a pizza from Scott's shop

I spoke to Jessica and she says she is getting threats from the locals and that the store is being boycotted by the locals.

I ordered a pizza and had it sent to the local police department.

Scott apparently is on his way back from New York doing an appearance with Anderson Cooper.

[Plucketeer]

99. Threats from locals...

Disgustingly cowardly. I hope some of those pizza-stuffed cops will chase down the origins of those threats.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

98. Some other ideas for Mr Van DUser's pizza delivery (PLUS VAN DUZER FOUNDATION)

The Pizza shop is inundated, so here is the option now recommended:
www.thevanduzerfoundation.org

The mission of the Van Duzer Foundation is to assist families and individuals in St. Lucie County Florida, who are experiencing financial and personal hardship brought about by unforeseen crisis or tragedy.
You can donate through PayPal


ANGEL HOUSE OF COMFORT
417 N 9th Street
Ft. Pierce, FL - 34950
[phone]

Homeless Shelter for women and children


ALL PET RESCUE, Inc.
Non-Profit Organization 501 (c) (3) supported solely by donations and volunteers for the purpose of saving animals. They are located in Ft. Pierce, Florida. If you or any one you know cannot keep a pet for any reason, please call All Pet Rescue, Inc. at 772-633-1651 and see if we can help.

We are a "No Kill" Facility.

We are always in need of people to volunteer for outside events, fostering, fundraising etc. If you think you can help please fill out the "Volunteers" form by clicking the link above.

Humane Society of St. Lucie County
100 Savannah Road
Ft. Pierce, FL 34982
[phone]
[e-mail]
http://www.hsslc.org