Bud tent owner says Obama visit cost him $25,000

By DONOVAN SLACK
8/14/12 12:13 PM EDT

Politico:

The Des Moines Register follows up on consternation at the beer tent at the Iowa State Fair when President Obama stopped by, forcing the tent to shut down for security reasons.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tweeted on Monday, "How does PresO justify havin secret service shut down the bud tent @ the state fair nd the owner told me he loses 50,000 n 1 nite," and "Who does PresO think he is. He comes to StateFair the SecretService shut down all small business vendors depriving them of income wo compsat"

From the Register:

There are “two sides to this story,” said Mike Cunningham II, the third generation owner of the 65-year-old Bud Tent. On one hand, Cunningham, 39, appreciated the historical significance of Obama’s visit...

...On the other hand, the small business owner side of Cunningham fumes that the president “put a damper on what I’m trying to do here.” His Bud Tent was shut down at the most lucrative time of day, with a popular rock cover band, Hairball, about to perform at the Susan B. Knapp Amphitheater next door with legions of thirsty fans.

“I was in a position to make a campaign donation against my will,” said Cunningham, a Republican. Cunningham said that the more accurate figure for what he likely lost in sales Monday night is $25,000...

...The Bud Tent owner added that he hasn’t yet replied to a phone message from Obama’s staff asking him to respond publicly to Grassley’s tweet. “I wouldn’t have voted for (Obama) before,” Cunningham said. “I won’t again.”