Apr 4, 2008 12:17 am US/Eastern
Citizen Paparazzi Annoyingly Flashy With Obama
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Sources have identified a citizen paparazzi who got under the skin of Senator Barack Obama during his visit to the Italian Market Wednesday.
Employees at Di Bruno Brothers are still talking about Barak Obama's visit.
"The only other famous person I met was Sylvester Stalone. Barack had better taste in cheese," said one employee.
Outside the famous shop, Obama's patience was tried when he was asked repeatedly to pose for a photographer by an onlooker, identified by sources at Calvin Spiker from Union, New Jersey.
"You are wearing me out brother," Obama could be overheard saying to the demanding citizen. "I'll do it, but I won't be smiling."
Less that an hour earlier, the same man could be seen crowding in with school children outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center following a speech by the Senator.
Photo's from a source shows Spiker trying to take Obama's picture with a green camera and get the Democratic candidate's autograph.
Again, the Senator could be heard responding to the man's requests saying, "No eBay stuff today."
Increasingly on the popular auction site citizen paparazzi are selling pictures and autographs of the candidate.
CBS 3 found an index card with Obama's autograph with an asking price of $125.00. An accompanying photo of the poster posing with Senator Obama is meant prove the signature's authenticity.
There is no way to verify these postings are legit and in some cases they are fakes.
While it is unclear if Spiker was hoping to sell the photo, he can clearly be overheard saying he did not want an autograph from the Senator this time around.
From footage from the Italian Market and photos from the Convention Center, it appears Spiker is joined by an accomplice in a blue hat. So far none of the pictures have showed up on eBay.
Spiker did not return calls for comment by CBS 3.
Professional paparazzi believe the citizen photographers can often be "pushy" and that the photos drive down market prices.
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