It was quite a moment at the end of President Obama's town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Fla., yesterday. As The News-Press writes, 19-year-old Julio Osegueda "rocketed from a Cape Coral teenager who flips burgers for $7.85 an hour at a McDonald's to an instant celebrity of sorts."
And he got a temporary job.
For those who didn't see what happened at the town hall when Osegueda asked the president about when he and other low-wage workers might be able to get job benefits, here's the video:
"I have never felt this good except maybe when I got my Playstation3 for Christmas," Osegueda told the News-Press later.
After the event, the newspaper adds, Osegueda:
Picked up another job -- if just for a day -- as the color announcer for the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team's radio broadcast for its home opener April 10. The one-day gig typically pays $25, but the Miracle said the salary is negotiable.
"I'll be ready," he said about his debut.
Also during Tuesday's town hall, a 61-year-old woman named Henrietta Hughes told the president that she and her 37-year-old son are homeless after having their house foreclosed. She asked for his help. Obama said he would, and his staff put Hughes in touch with local housing authority officials.
The News-Press reports that:
Their story got the attention of another person who wanted to help.
While local and national media swarmed Henrietta Hughes for interviews, Chene Thompson, wife of State Rep. Nick Thompson, grabbed Hughes' hand and offered them a house.
The house is in LaBelle, the first home Chene Thompson bought after law school.
"Just give me the opportunity to help you," Chene Thompson told her.
But as of Tuesday night, the Hughes had not contacted the Thompsons about coming to see the house. Their cell phone is out of minutes, so it is nearly impossible to get in touch with them.
Update at 11:45 a.m. ET. Osegueda was on last night's edition of MSNBC's always liberal Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Here's some of the back-and-forth Julio had with Keith:
Olbermann: "Were you satisfied with the president's actual answer to your question about improving your benefits?"
Osegueda: "Yes, I was. I was truly blessed. The answer that Mr. President Obama gave me was such a motivation that made me feel as if success is around the corner. Just keep trying hard and don't stop for anything."
Interested in joining a discussion about Julio's sudden fame? Click here to head into our Forum section.
Click here to read the rest of The Oval.
Tags:Barack Obama Keith Olbermann The News-Press
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