Wisconsin man's cheesehead hat reluctantly let into Obama speech, gets president's signature

(AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, Craig Schreiner)

Mansfield Neblett, of Madison, Wis., wears a cheesehead hat while waiting to listen to President Obama at Wright Middle School in Madison, Wis., Wednesday.

Associated Press

Last update: November 5, 2009 - 8:46 AM

MADISON, Wis. - Liberian immigrant Mansfield Neblett just wanted to wear his cheesehead hat to President Barack Obama's speech at a Wisconsin middle school.

The first roadblock were U.S. Secret Service agents. They initially told him the bright yellow hat in the shape of a slice of cheese usually worn by fans at Green Bay Packers games was a security risk.

The 46-year-old Neblett told them he'd skip the Wednesday speech.

The agents relented and Neblett took his place in the last row of the gymnasium.

But wearing the hat during the speech wasn't meant to be.

Before Obama took the stage, someone representing him approached Neblett and offered to get the hat signed by the president. Neblett gladly turned it over.

"I'm going to sell it on eBay!" he said with a smile.

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