President Obama Learns What A Yooper Is

Yooper Steez doesn’t involve itself in politics often, but once in a while the President of the United States decides to come at least within a short drive of the Upper Peninsula.

On Thursday, June 11, President Obama didn’t quite make it to the Upper Peninsula. He made it as far as Green Bay though where he held a Town Hall Meeting. From what I know I believe that President George W. Bush is the only incumbent president to come to the Upper Peninsula since William Taft made it here in 1911. Other presidents have been here, though not during the presidency. President Bush was here campaigning in Marquette on July 13th, 2004. My mom even shook his hand.

Anyways, I’m getting sidetracked.

At this town hall meeting in Green Bay was Matt Stein, a teacher at North Central Area Schools in the U.P. He had the opportunity to ask President Obama a question.

Apparently, as others are saying, this is Obama’s first time learning what a “Yooper” is. If it’s his first time or not, I can’t be sure. Here’s how the conversation went down…

Q My name is Matt Stein. I’m a teacher. I’ve been in education for almost 20 years. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Matt. Where do you teach? Where do you teach?

Q I teach at North Central Area schools in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Outstanding. (Applause.)

Q UP, baby? (Laughter.)

Q UP power, UPers. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Is that what you call yourselves, UPers?

Q Yes. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, that’s cool. (Applause.) All right.

Q Proudly, we call ourselves UPers. (Laughter.)

– Read the entire text at WhiteHouse.gov

My gripe is that the White House needs some better fact checkers. Yes, the term was derived from U.P.-er, I think they could have checked the proper spelling though.

Any thoughts on it yourself?

A special thanks goes out to Doug for sending me info on this! It was also posted on the Journal Sentinel website.