WICHITA — President Barack Obama and local chocolatier Beth Tully both have much to smile about these days.
Obama, of course, got his health care bill passed.
Tully’s Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates is one of seven regional finalists for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year award.
Now, the two have shared some long-distance smiles over some of Cocoa Dolce’s chocolates.
Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, delivered some Cocoa Dolce chocolates — including Obama’s favorite grey salt caramels — to the president at a Cabinet meeting earlier this year.
“Our friend Kathleen did a nice thing,” Tully says.
Tully enclosed a note with the chocolates suggesting Cocoa Dolce be in consideration for “Official Chocolatier of the White House.”
That may not happen, but Obama clearly loved the chocolates. Tully has a photo to prove it.
“The photo is unbelievable. He looks so happy.”
Tully has been “shocked and annoyed,” though, by the negative reaction from some people when she’s told them about Obama and her chocolates.
“I’m like, hello, people. Regardless of your political affiliation or your ideologies, the fact that . . . a sitting president, you know, takes a moment, just a human moment, to open a box of chocolates . . . and have a photo taken and write a note is very cool.
“Shame on you!”