Traffic Light as Obama Comes to Weho

It was the traffic jam that didn’t happen. Just like with , the predicted traffic tie-ups from President Obama’s fundraising visit to West Hollywood failed to materialize. 

Even though many roads in town were closed for the presidential motorcade, traffic was light and moved smoothly on the streets that were open. and motorists heeded the warnings by staying away.

Although the Sunset Strip was closed to traffic, several hundred people lined the sidewalks near the . Some were there to get a glimpse of Obama, others to protest his policies.

But Obama disappointed everyone waiting on Sunset by using the back entrance. He didn’t arrive via Sunset at all. He used Fountain Avenue to Olive Drive and entered via the back door of the House of Blues.

A crowd reported to number 1,000 inside the venue wasn’t disappointed however. People holding tickets, ranging in price from $250 to $1,000, started lining up before 2 p.m., even though the doors didn’t open until after 4 p.m.

Although Obama arrived about 5:25 p.m., it was almost 6:25 p.m. before he took the stage to address the crowd. He spent that hour shaking hands and posing for pictures with people who paid $10,000 for the privilege.

But once he took the stage, he was captivating, reported Weho resident Elyse Eisenberg. “He’s so smooth and so polished,” Eisenberg said. “He’s totally a movie star.”

Cindy Petersen of Lake Elsinore drove two hours for the chance to be in the same room as the president. As a longtime Obama volunteer, she got into the event for free and got to stand in the third row.

“It was the event of a lifetime to see the president,” Petersen told Weho Patch. “The crowd was so enthusiastic. They kept cheering, ‘Yes we can. Four more years.’ ”

Obama gave what several described as a 25-minute stump speech, listing off his accomplishments during his two-and-a-half years in office and then asking for support to get the rest of his agenda passed, especially his jobs bill.

West Hollywood City Councilman John D’Amico said he was excited to see the president in person and was swayed by his message.

“I think, ‘Yes we can,’ has turned into ‘Count me in,’ ” D’Amico told Weho Patch. “It’s exciting. It feels like he’s back on track again.”

The protesters outside the House of Blues would likely disagree. They chanted, “Troops out now. End, end the occupation,” “Health care yes, cutbacks no,” and “We want money for schools, not for war. We’re fired up, won’t take it no more.” 

When the demonstrators learned Obama had come in using the Blues’ back entrance, they started chanting even louder for a few minutes, then began dispersing.

Others there for the chance to view Obama from across the street were let down. “Couldn’t he have at least waved at us?” asked one disappointed tourist.

When Obama left the House of Blues, again via the back entrance, shortly before 7 p.m., he headed to the chic Fig & Olive restaurant about a mile away on Melrose Place at La Cienega. There for $17,900 a person, $35,000 a couple, attendees got the chance to engage Obama in a Q&A.

The president is reported to have stayed Monday night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Many street closures in Beverly Hills and West LA are expected Tuesday morning as the presidential motorcade makes its way to LAX. Obama is scheduled to fly out at 10:30 a.m., headed to another fundraising stop in Colorado.

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