Ever since he began his uphill battle for the presidency two years ago,
Barack Obama has been mobbed for photos and autographs, and that enthusiasm and passion has only grown since he entered the Oval Office. But even
Obama must be a little taken aback by the identity of some of his well-wishers of late. After his address to Congress on Feb. 24, the same House Republicans who had decried his stimulus plan as the work of another tax-and-spend liberal crowded around him like starstruck tween girls at a Jonas Brothers concert, all to get his John Hancock on their copies of the speech... None of the Democrats I spoke with had anything signed from President George W. Bush — except for Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who has five large framed photos of Bush in his office... So why the crossover with Obama? ... It's possible that Republicans, no matter how much they may disagree with Obama's politics, recognize the groundbreaking nature of his presidency and want to have a piece of history. It's more likely that they realize Obama is still riding an incredible wave of popularity, something no politician has ever been above attaching him- or herself to... "It's an honor just to be there. It is the President of the United States, after all, no matter the party," says Representative Tim Murphy, a Pennsylvania Republican...
Representative Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, rushed out after the speech to meet his two daughters, Carolyn, 14, and Jessica, 17... Signing the paraphernalia, Obama joked, as he often does, "I better not see it on eBay!" Says Turner: "The girls thought it was funny."... Not that getting Obama's autograph is going to make Representative John Culberson, a Texas Republican, any more willing to vote for Obama's agenda. "No, it wouldn't have an effect," says Culberson, who got to the chamber at 8:30 in the morning to save an aisle seat in order to be the first in line to get his speech signed, a memento for his 12-year-old daughter.