Speculation Grows That Obama Visited D.C. Mosque During Ramadan - Part II
Go Back To Part I of Obama Visited D.C. Mosque
Eventually, the Town Car stayed on Massachusetts Ave. heading northeast until it arrived in the upscale Kalorama Heights neighborhood on the outskirts of the District’s urban core. “I started to think that one of the girls [POTUS’ daughters Sasha and Malia] had a playdate,” said Backenheimer. What he saw next may have changed his life forever.
The Town Car turned right onto Belmont Rd. just before Massachusetts Ave. crosses the Potomic Parkway into embassy row. “My heart started beating right through my chest because I knew then where he was going,” said Backenheimer. High above the corner of Massachusetts Ave. and Belmont looms the dome of the Washington, D.C. Islamic Center mosque. Emerging from the Town Car was a slender light-skinned African-American man standing at about 6-feet in height and wrapped from head to toe in Muslim prayer garb.
“I called my girlfriend and asked her if Obama has a brother, and she said ‘no’... I could barely hold my camera because my hands were shaking so much.”
“I could see the man in the Muslim gear get out of the car, and he moved just like ‘Renegade’ and was exactly his proportions,” said Backenheimer. Backenheimer clutched his Nikon D4 and starting shooting this figure striding into the mosque. The man, indeed, bears a strong likeness to POTUS but wears a small beard. “I called my girlfriend and asked her if Obama has a brother, and she said ‘no’,” said Backenheimer. “I could barely hold my camera because my hands were shaking so much.”
Already Backenheimer felt he had caught the president on film on an unescorted outing. Such an outing would not be without precedent. A restless President Nixon famously went alone with his valet to the Lincoln Memorial in the middle of the night during 1971 anti-war demonstrations to chat with young protesters. At least in this instance the president was in broad daylight, among worshipers and maintaining his anonymity.
About two hours after the figure entered the mosque he exited with other worshipers. He walked back to the car and drove it back towards the White House on Massachusetts Ave. It would, however, make one more stop.
At DuPont Circle, the driver should have turned right to return to the White House. Instead, he went straight and then made a left on Rhode Island Ave. The destination: Kennedy Recreation Center. “The car parked in front of these basketball courts,” said Backenheimer. But the figure did not emerge in his Muslim garb. “After a few minutes, ‘Renegade’ gets out in basketballer gear,” said Backenheimer. Indeed, the photos reflect that the worshipper changed into a basketball outfit. Also, he then had an “afro” style haircut – or wig – as well as a beard.
The White House mysterio played one game of full-court basketball before getting back into the car. Backenheimer said he thinks it was POTUS wearing a disguise. “The way he moved looked just like Renegade,” he said. After watching video of the president playing basketball, he became more convinced. “In both games he did not like to dribble with his left hand,” he said.
The Town Car drove back to the protection of the White House, and Backenheimer has not seen the strange and pious roundballer since.
After being shown the photos, officials at the White House did not have any comment.
