Media Cheer Obama's Golf Outings; Criticized Republicans' Trips to Course

[alienlovechild 75]

President Barack Obama has gone to the golf course at least 11 times since he took the oath of office a little more than six months ago--three rounds were played during the late January, 12-day holiday Obama took with his family in Hawaii; one at Andrews Air Force Base; and seven at Ft. Belvoir Golf Course, including a round on Sunday, Father’s Day, with Vice President Joe Biden.

These 11 rounds played by the president are documented through media reports of his golf trips. The White House press office told CNSNews.com that to confirm every round of golf played by the president since he took office would take “hours” because the only records kept are those sent to the media through e-mails that are not posted on the White House Web site because they are for media planning only.

Despite ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, ongoing violence in Iran, and an economy that Obama has described as the worst since the Great Depression, the president has golfed multiple times in the past several weeks--on April 26, May 16, May 25, May 31, June 7, June 9, June 14 and June 21.

Obama’s golf outings have generated favorable reports from the media, in contrast to his predecessor, George W. Bush.

On Aug. 5, 2002, The Washington Post wrote about President Bush golfing near his parents’ home in Kennebunkport, Maine. Under the headline “Before Golf, Bush Decries Latest Deaths in Mideast,” staff writer Mike Allen described Bush as he “sprang from his golf cart at 6:15 a.m. and said he was distressed to hear about the latest suicide bombers in Israel.”

“There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process that we have started, and we must not let them,” he [bush] said. “I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers.”

“His business out of the way,” Allen wrote, “Bush barely paused for breath before saying, ‘Thank you. Now watch this drive.’”

A search of news reports on Nexis revealed that photographers, but not reporters have access to Obama when he is on the links. But his outings have been covered, including by The Washington Post on June 9, 2009, in an article with the headline “Just the Sport for A Leader Most Driven.”

“What’s the deal? Why golf?” Post staff writer Richard Leiby wrote. “The attraction seems to be simple. It’s a great escape; the game demands such attention that nothing else matters. It’s time spent with friends, an unhurried afternoon in loose clothing (shorts seem to be Obama’s preference).”

Leiby continued, “To some, Obama’s frequent outings reflect a cool self-confidence.”

In August 2003, Bush said he decided to stop playing golf to show his respect for the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” Bush said in an interview with Politico and Yahoo News on May 13, 2008. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

Bush said he made the decision after the August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top U.N. official in Iraq and the organization’s high commissioner of human rights. He was golfing when he got the news.

Bush was criticized for giving up golf, including by presidential historian Robert Dallek who was quoted in a May 14, 2008 article in The Washington Post.

Dallek said Bush’s remarks about Iraq “speak to his shallowness.” Dallek added: “That's his idea of sacrifice, to give up golf?”

Bush’s father, President George H.W. Bush, also was criticized for golfing in a time of war.

In an Aug. 3, 2006 article in USA Today entitled “No Rest for the President,” it noted that George W. Bush cut his summer vacation to 10 days because of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, and a sidebar reviewed other presidential vacations.

Among other things, the sidebar said, “George H.W. Bush: In 1990, Bush was criticized for playing golf and fishing at his Kennebunkport, Maine, summer home and seeming indifferent as U.S. troops were being deployed to the Persian Gulf in anticipation of a war with Iraq.”

Obama golfed on May 25 after he spoke and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day. Presidential aides told the media that Obama observed a moment of silence at 3 p.m. while on the links.

Obama also played golf on June 7, the day he returned from his trip to Egypt and Germany, where he visited Holocaust concentration camps, and Normandy, France, where as many as 6,000 American troops died when Allied Forces invaded the country during World War II.

“With his wife and daughters still in France, the president ducked out of the White House 90 minutes after getting home and headed out to the Andrews Air Force Base course with his clubs to enjoy a round, with skies only partly cloudy and temperatures about 80 degrees,” United Press International reported on June 7.

http://cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=49931

[jundp 191]

OMG HE PLAYS GOLF?! HE MUST BE A REPUBLICAN. MUST LEAVE USA NOW.

Oh sorry.

[Peikko 1,575]

Anything less newsworthy around?

We need more boobs!

Link

Anyone for tennis?

IT'S fame, set and match to the Wimbledon babes.

Gorgeous Anna Kournikova started the modern trend of putting glamour on court and these tennis beauties are ready to serve up a treat.

Many of the girls look just as comfortable posing in a tiny bikini as they do on Centre Court.

Here, we salute Wimbledon's Volley of the Dolls...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm sure you know why politicians (or professors, doctors and lawyers) appear on TV with certain imagery in the background - (like a bookshelf for instance) because it makes them appear more authoritative. Its no different to why politicians wear suits to "do business" - its all about managing appearances.

If reporters don't have access to Obama on the golf course there's not really a lot for them to cover - other than finding a tangential angle to create a fluff story (like the one about being "driven").

In contrast, Bush seems to have been criticised based on things he actually said on the course. Try as I might - its very hard to take a guy seriously who's talking about life and death stuff while he's in the middle of a recreational activity.

"Watch this drive" indeed.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I think its a good story. Just points out the obvious media bias that so many here wont acknowledge.

[Jenn! 918]

Golf should be banned. Seriously.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its a good story. Just points out the obvious media bias that so many here wont acknowledge.

Except it doesn't though does it. It says that reporters don't have access to the president while he's on the course - only photographers do.

Believe it or not its surprisingly difficult to write a scathing 500 words to accompany a photograph of a guy playing golf. There's really not a lot you can do with that...

Edited June 23, 2009 by Private Pike

[_Simpson_ 250]

I'm sure you know why politicians (or professors, doctors and lawyers) appear on TV with certain imagery in the background - (like a bookshelf for instance) because it makes them appear more authoritative. Its no different to why politicians wear suits to "do business" - its all about managing appearances.

If reporters don't have access to Obama on the golf course there's not really a lot for them to cover - other than finding a tangential angle to create a fluff story (like the one about being "driven").

In contrast, Bush seems to have been criticised based on things he actually said on the course. Try as I might - its very hard to take a guy seriously who's talking about life and death stuff while he's in the middle of a recreational activity.

"Watch this drive" indeed.

Was he asked the hard questions? Was it all reported? I seriously have my doubt after seeing how a majority of the media has handled it in the past.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm sure you know why politicians (or professors, doctors and lawyers) appear on TV with certain imagery in the background - (like a bookshelf for instance) because it makes them appear more authoritative. Its no different to why politicians wear suits to "do business" - its all about managing appearances.

If reporters don't have access to Obama on the golf course there's not really a lot for them to cover - other than finding a tangential angle to create a fluff story (like the one about being "driven").

In contrast, Bush seems to have been criticised based on things he actually said on the course. Try as I might - its very hard to take a guy seriously who's talking about life and death stuff while he's in the middle of a recreational activity.

"Watch this drive" indeed.

Was he asked the hard questions? Was it all reported? I seriously have my doubt after seeing how a majority of the media has handled it in the past.

What are you talking about?

You can't ask ANY questions, let alone "hard questions" if reporters aren't allowed onto the course to speak to the President.

This is all about managing appearances as I said - Bush didn't want a boundary between himself and the press when he was "recreating" (likely the thinking was that it made him look down to earth), Obama clearly does.

It doesn't exactly mean much - other than that golf games won't be used as impromptu news conferences.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Republicans complaining that life is not fair? Oh my, there really isn't any difference between the two parties, is there?

[HAL 9000 96]

Interesting indeed when there are golf clubs where certain skin colors still need not attempt to play.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How fast some forget what a name W made for himself during his first six months in office...

The vacation president

Bush can take as much holiday as he wants

Special report: George Bush's America

The Guardian, Thursday 9 August 2001 01.42 BST

You are probably expecting us to be outraged by the news that George W Bush has spent 42% of his presidency on holiday. How dare the man play hooky so often that he has managed to rack up a whopping 54 days at his Texas ranch, 38 days at the presidential retreat at Camp David and four more at his parents' place in Kennebunkport, Maine - and all in the seven short months that have elapsed since he took the oath of office.

Now he is back in Texas, starting the longest White House vacation since 1969. Forget Kennebunkport; this is the Can-I-bunk-off presidency.

That would be the predictable reaction. Recalling the fears of last year's campaign - including the charge that Mr Bush was an indolent, glorified fratboy, more suited to organising a neighbourhood barbecue than occupying the world's highest office - would be cheap.

Instead we have a subtler reaction. We begin by noting that American presidents have often taken their leisure time seriously. Bill Clinton may have had a feverish appetite for the job, but Ronald Reagan was forever disappearing off to his California ranch, while Dwight Eisenhower was rarely glimpsed off the golf course. The voters did not mind: both Ike and Ronnie are still revered in America.

So we do not begrudge Mr Bush his month-long vacation. We simply request that he now let Americans follow his example. The US currently gives workers the stingiest holidays in the industrialised world: a fortnight if you are lucky. That is clearly not enough for the president - even a fortnight a month barely does the trick for him - and it is not enough for his nation.

We would welcome such a move: it might slow down US productivity and give the rest of us a chance to catch up. Come to think of it, we would encourage Mr Bush to take even more time off: given what he has done when he has been at work, the more time he spends out of the office the better.

And less seriously but quite to the point:

CHENEY, BRIEFLY ASSUMING BUSH’S DUTIES, SAYS HE ENJOYED THE DOWNTIME

President’s Colon Procedure Offered Welcome Break From Grueling Vice-Presidential Schedule

Vice-President ####### Cheney, having briefly assumed President Bush’s duties while the President underwent a routine colon procedure on Saturday, told reporters today that he “enjoyed the downtime immensely.”

The two hours and fifteen minutes spent doing Bush’s job were “incredibly relaxing,” Mr. Cheney said, adding that they were a welcome relief from his exacting Vice-Presidential schedule.

Invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution Saturday morning, Mr. Bush transferred to Mr. Cheney all of his presidential responsibilities, which meant that Mr. Cheney spent Saturday jogging, going to the gym, and hitting a ball for Mr. Bush’s dog to retrieve.

In addition, Mr. Cheney called the nations of East Timor and Luxembourg “evil,” stumbling briefly over the pronunciation of Luxembourg.

Finally, as Mr. Bush’s colon procedure was winding down, Mr. Cheney made some remarks about the Japanese economy, mistakenly using the word “devaluation” instead of “deflation,” sending the NIKKEI stock market into a tailspin.

All in all, Mr. Cheney said he emerged from his brief tenure as President rested and refreshed, ready to plunge back into his demanding Vice-Presidential workload.

As for the President, Mr. Bush’s doctors pronounced his procedure a success, but said that they were having difficulty determining whether or not the President’s anesthesia had fully worn off.

Mr. Bush’s doctors indicated that when they asked the President the standard post-operative questions – such as, “What is the capital of the United States?” – Mr. Bush got only two out of five correct.

“Before the operation, he got three out of five right,” one doctor said.

[Ban Hammer 13,636]

How fast some forget what a name W made for himself during his first six months in office...

The vacation president

Bush can take as much holiday as he wants

Special report: George Bush's America

The Guardian, Thursday 9 August 2001 01.42 BST

You are probably expecting us to be outraged by the news that George W Bush has spent 42% of his presidency on holiday. How dare the man play hooky so often that he has managed to rack up a whopping 54 days at his Texas ranch, 38 days at the presidential retreat at Camp David and four more at his parents' place in Kennebunkport, Maine - and all in the seven short months that have elapsed since he took the oath of office.

Now he is back in Texas, starting the longest White House vacation since 1969. Forget Kennebunkport; this is the Can-I-bunk-off presidency.

That would be the predictable reaction. Recalling the fears of last year's campaign - including the charge that Mr Bush was an indolent, glorified fratboy, more suited to organising a neighbourhood barbecue than occupying the world's highest office - would be cheap.

Instead we have a subtler reaction. We begin by noting that American presidents have often taken their leisure time seriously. Bill Clinton may have had a feverish appetite for the job, but Ronald Reagan was forever disappearing off to his California ranch, while Dwight Eisenhower was rarely glimpsed off the golf course. The voters did not mind: both Ike and Ronnie are still revered in America.

So we do not begrudge Mr Bush his month-long vacation. We simply request that he now let Americans follow his example. The US currently gives workers the stingiest holidays in the industrialised world: a fortnight if you are lucky. That is clearly not enough for the president - even a fortnight a month barely does the trick for him - and it is not enough for his nation.

We would welcome such a move: it might slow down US productivity and give the rest of us a chance to catch up. Come to think of it, we would encourage Mr Bush to take even more time off: given what he has done when he has been at work, the more time he spends out of the office the better.

And less seriously but quite to the point:

CHENEY, BRIEFLY ASSUMING BUSH’S DUTIES, SAYS HE ENJOYED THE DOWNTIME

President’s Colon Procedure Offered Welcome Break From Grueling Vice-Presidential Schedule

Vice-President ####### Cheney, having briefly assumed President Bush’s duties while the President underwent a routine colon procedure on Saturday, told reporters today that he “enjoyed the downtime immensely.”

The two hours and fifteen minutes spent doing Bush’s job were “incredibly relaxing,” Mr. Cheney said, adding that they were a welcome relief from his exacting Vice-Presidential schedule.

Invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution Saturday morning, Mr. Bush transferred to Mr. Cheney all of his presidential responsibilities, which meant that Mr. Cheney spent Saturday jogging, going to the gym, and hitting a ball for Mr. Bush’s dog to retrieve.

In addition, Mr. Cheney called the nations of East Timor and Luxembourg “evil,” stumbling briefly over the pronunciation of Luxembourg.

Finally, as Mr. Bush’s colon procedure was winding down, Mr. Cheney made some remarks about the Japanese economy, mistakenly using the word “devaluation” instead of “deflation,” sending the NIKKEI stock market into a tailspin.

All in all, Mr. Cheney said he emerged from his brief tenure as President rested and refreshed, ready to plunge back into his demanding Vice-Presidential workload.

As for the President, Mr. Bush’s doctors pronounced his procedure a success, but said that they were having difficulty determining whether or not the President’s anesthesia had fully worn off.

Mr. Bush’s doctors indicated that when they asked the President the standard post-operative questions – such as, “What is the capital of the United States?” – Mr. Bush got only two out of five correct.

“Before the operation, he got three out of five right,” one doctor said.

so let's add them up and compare in another 3 months?

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets do that so we can move on to the next whining point.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It is funny - in that there is really no story here at all.