RADFORD, Va.—
Would you say no to the Vice President?
One New River Valley business owner turned
Vice President Joe Biden down.
This might happen more than you think from
both political parties, most businesses just don't talk about it. The owner of
"Crumb and Get It" - did.
Chris McMurray's bakery has been open only
since May, barely three months.
Wednesday morning, advance teams for Vice
President Joe Biden walked in.
"I approached her she said Joe Biden is
coming to town today," McMurray said.
"Crumb and Get It" is a mom and pop store.
Literally. Chris and his wife Kelly run the place and need all the business they
can get.
McMurray said the Vice President's
entourage got to the point and made its pitch.
"She said they have selected 'Crumb and
Get It" to be his stop on his way to Blacksburg and was wondering if that was
ok."
Here's the part that might make other
business owners crazy.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime but
essentially I said 'No offense to you or the campaign but I just decline you
guys coming in here. At that time she said 'Are you sure? There's going to be a
lot of press, a lot of activity,’" McMurray said.
Why in the world would a new business
owner say "no" to a photo op with the Vice President of the United States?
McMurray said it was President Obama's recent remarks about small business and
who built what.
"Very simply, ‘you didn't build that’”
McMurray said. “Speaking of small businesses and entrepreneurs all across this
country and actually last night my wife was up all night. No sleep, she's worked
a full 24 hours."
When "Crumb and Get It" said 'no', “River
City Grill,” just around the corner, said 'yes' and has the pictures to prove
it, and didn't care about the politics.
"If you want to throw in some libertarians
as well that's fine too. Stop in as well,” Chris Bell said. “Just bring your money. Sure,
right!
Back at the bakery, a couple of guys said
they'd hoped to see Biden and didn't care that the VP had been turned away.
"I mean it really doesn't matter to me.
Everyone has their own views so I love the food here anyway. I agree.
Everybody's different so I could care less," said Spenser Critterton of
Radford.
Here's the back story, we’re told that
shortly after Crumb and Get It told Biden’s advance people 'no' -- the secret
service walked in and told Chris McMurray ''Thanks for standing up and saying
'no' -- then they bought a whole bunch of cookies and cupcakes.
McMurray said he's hoping folks will
understand he just didn't want to be part of a photo op for an administration
whose policies he doesn’t agree with.