By Craig Andresen on March 14, 2011
Over the years, many people have questioned the number of “vacations” or trips, our president’s take. Usually, those doing the questioning are of the opposite part as the sitting president. That is to be expected and that said, the question again begs to be answered. Is Obama taking too many days off and or too many trips?
I have no problem with a president who from time to time, takes a few days to get away from Washington. Arguably, the job is the most difficult on earth. Presidents have always taken working vacations just to recharge the mental batteries. Camp David, the ranch, the Vineyard, Kennebunkport all have been, in recent history, the favorite retreats for presidents. They go, relax and work away from the confines of the oval office, entertain foreign leaders, run the affairs of state and clear their heads. I’m okay with that. I get it.
Obama on the other hand seems to have elevated the practice to a level which defies rational explanation. During the first year of his presidency, Obama went from country to country on what many on the right deemed the apology tour. It seemed that no sooner would he get back from apologizing for the greatness of America in one overseas destination, he would be off to another to extend our apologies to another. Bowing to this leader and scraping to that one, on and on it went. Now, one COULD claim that these trips were diplomatic in nature but, I challenge them to point to what, exactly, was gained by it all. Those who liked us BEFORE the “We’re sorry we’re great” world tour still liked us and those who didn’t…still don’t.
