Obama vacation brings rest, relaxation and rebuke

CNN ^ | July 16, 2010 | Kristi Keck

[COUNTrecount]

President Obama and his family leave Friday for a weekend getaway to Maine, but along with a little rest and relaxation comes criticism that the president is taking it easy with the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis in a critical phase.

The Obamas plan to spend the weekend on Mount Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park. The trip marks the president's third vacation since the oil disaster began in April.

The Republican National Convention launched a website blasting what it considers Obama's "leisure activities or missteps" during the oil disaster, like playing golf, attending concerts and vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and now Maine.

Obama has also faced criticism for scheduling a trip up north, instead of vacationing in the Gulf, as he advised other Americans to do.

"Presidents are certainly entitled to vacation, just like everybody else, but there is a fine line as to when presidents should do it, what they should and where they should do it," said Brad Blakeman, a former member of President George W. Bush's senior staff and the deputy assistant for appointments and scheduling.

Video: Obama's 'good news' on oil spill RELATED TOPICS Barack Obama George W. Bush Vacations "Presidents have to be cognizant of the fact that everything they do is going to be scrutinized," said Blakeman, who also is a professor for Georgetown University's Semester in Washington program.

Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said the Republican criticism is "galling," considering Bush's frequent trips to Camp David and his home in Crawford, Texas.

[circlecity]

This is the same CBS that put forth forged National Guard memos to effect an election. Excuse me if I don’t buy it for a minute. Further, it’s already been disclosed that Obama played more golf in his first year than Bush did in 8. A day spent playing golf and attending coctail parties and mixers is a vaction day even if it’s spent in Washington.

[LibLieSlayer]

A TRUE communist commune full of communists and little brown shirt daughters to boot.

LLS

[Paul46360]

It was cause Bush would go to Crawford TX AMERICA and not the Hamptons (USA USSR)

[LibLieSlayer]

ALMOST every trip to the ranch was a working trip, with Putin and other leaders negotiating relations etc... but you just keep lapping up that leftist tripe.

LLS

[Right Wing Assault]

Didn’t they notice he’s been taking it easy all summer. He’s taken more nice vacations as president than some people take in a lifetime.

I think he wanted to be prez for the perks.

[Mrs. B.S. Roberts]

“Worlds most useless man.”

I feel the need to correct you:
The UNIVERSE’S most useless man.

I am confident that you would agree with my editing. :)

[Right Wing Assault]

I don’t think a weekend at Camp David or a few days in Crawford (his home!) quite count as vacations.

I guess zero’s excuse for regular vacations is that he has young kids.

[kcvl]

Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said the Republican criticism is "galling,"

No, Jamal, what is GALLING is for the Obamas to lecture the rest of us about when and where to vacation and they do the opposite!

What is GALLING is telling the rest of us we have "got to have some skin in the game" but they have NONE.

Jamal Simmons is a journalist who is notable for being a television correspondent for CNN

Simmons served as chief of staff to U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and as a political aide to U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor. Simmons was press secretary to Senator Bob Graham and General Wesley K. Clark's presidential campaigns, and has worked in various capacities for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

Jamal Simmons

October 21, 2005

"I AM A CLINTONISTA"

[nasube]

You are correct, sir-D.W. Griffith had it nailed “back in the day”

[nasube]

Sounds like BO doesn’t subscribe to the pleasures of “diversity”.....

[COUNTrecount]

Camp David.

The Camp is operated by Navy personnel, and troops from the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., provide permanent security. Marine One carries the President during the half-hour helicopter ride from our Nation's capital. Guests at Camp David can enjoy a pool, putting green, driving range, tennis courts, gymnasium, and the many guest cabins -- Dogwood, Maple, Holly, Birch, and Rosebud, to name a few. The presidential cabin is called Aspen Lodge.

[Sally'sConcerns]

While I'm pretty confident Camp David gives Hussein the same access and enables him to keep his finger in the government pie,I believe he uses it as a vacation spot instead of the second White House.

Personally, I tend to believe he only uses it as a vacation spot. Think about it...This is a president known to vote present during any type of crisis. Even though he has the exact same access to info at Camp David as he does at the WH, it still provides him with the opportunity for a vacation as well as a way to provide excuses since he was so isolated way off in the country at Camp David.

Isn't it wonderful we have such a great (mentally/emotionally)leader in charge especially during a crisis.

Just out of my own curiousity, I wonder what exactly he's sacrificed in support of our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush on the other hand gave up golf (and there may be other things he gave up). While our military fought, lost lives and suffered severe injuries, Nero fiddled as Rome burned.

[Nickname]

And a small business owner, who has contributed more to this country that Obama ever has or will, is lucky to get a SINGLE vacation in a year.

[Right Wing Assault]

Camp David looks very nice! For me it would be a vacation. For presidents, it is a nice getaway. For some it becomes like a second home, which is fine with me since it is so close to the WH.

[Centurion2000]

AGAIN? I have yet to vacation this year ... a$$hole,POS, lazy, shiftless, bum of a President.