Obama Braves Snow, Talks Politics, as Monster Storm Paralyzes DC

President Obama ventured out of the White House on Saturday, but he was among a mere handful of Washingtonians willing to brave blizzardy conditions, as a record snow storm paralyzed the nation's capital and left tens of thousands without power.
Even the president of the United States had to defer to the elements.

Obama's motorcade was delayed for a few minutes by a fender-bender on its way to the Democratic National Commitee winter meeting. The DNC event was only a few blocks from the White House at the Washington Hilton Hotel, but it was slow-going after one vehicle in the presidential motorcade slid into a press SUV, Politico reported.

At the Democratic Party meeting, Obama acknowledged missteps during his first year in office, but again vowed not to "walk away from health care insurance reform." The DNC is the national party's main fundraising and organizational unit.
"Sometimes we may be moving forward against the prevailing winds," Obama told the party loyalists. "Sometimes it may be against a blizzard. But we are going to live up to our responsibility to lead."

Outdoors, yet another small weather adventure awaited the determined president.

On the way back to the White House, a medium-sized tree branch snapped under the weight of the still-falling snow and landed on top of the same SUV that was nicked in the early incident, Politico said, quoting a pool report.