Iowa caterer Ross Murty wore a “Government Didn’t Build My Business, I DID” t-shirt to an Obama campaign rally. While it is not known if President Barack Obama actually saw the Romney supporter t-shirt while at the Iowa campaign rally, the image and the man’s story are going viral online and making national headlines.
Ross Murty co-owns the Village Corner Deli in Davenport, Iowa which provided refreshments at President Obama’s Iowa rally. The “Government Didn’t Build My Business, I DID” shirt worn by the caterer references the highly controversial comments the president made last month while discussing the important role he feels government plays in the American economy.
“If you’ve got a business – you didn’t build that. Somebody else made this happen,” President Barack Obama stated, according to ABC News republished speech excerpts.
The Iowa caterer is a registered Republican who was reportedly away from his deli attending a Chicago Cubs baseball game when an Obama representative asked his business partner to cater the Iowa campaign rally. Murty’s Village Corner Deli partner, Bret Dalton, is a registered Democrat and readily accepted the large catering job, according to the Des Moines Register.
Dalton did not discuss the Obama campaign request with Ross Murty prior to committing to prepare food for the Democratic campaign rally. The Village Corner Deli partners have been friends since their teenage years at a local high school. Although Dalton did not know of Murty’s wardrobe decision in advance, he was reportedly not surprised by Murty’s decision to wear a “Government Didn’t Build My Business, I DID” t-shirt to the Obama rally. Upon seeing the Romney campaign t-shirt worn by his Village Corner Deli partner Dalton reportedly stated, “Gosh, please don’t let this end up on national TV.”
