So says Joe Curl in the Washington Times:
Being president of the U.S., the most powerful man in the world, is often most about perception. The man (or, one day, woman) in the job takes actions large and small every day, but it is the perception of the man that seeps into the everyday lives of working Americans.
That’s why presidential candidates always hit Philadelphia for a cheesesteak during campaigns (Democrats to Pat’s, Republicans to Geno’s). Sure, they’re running billion-dollar operations trying to win the White House, but one picture of them wolfing down a Cheez Whiz-covered glob of meat on a Philly street hits home with millions of voters: “Hey, that guy’s just like me! He loves him a Pat’s [or Geno’s] cheesesteak, too!” (Unless you’re John F. Kerry and order Swiss cheese — then everyone hates you.)
Sometimes, that perception cuts to the core. Like when President George W. Bush stopped playing golf in 2003, at the height of the Iraq War.
“I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal,” he said years later. “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them.”
That’s also why Mr. Bush did two other things, without fanfare or praise. First, he never headed home to his Texas ranch until after Christmas, instead going to Camp David for a few days. That way, the hundreds of people revolving around him at all times — White House staff, Secret Service agents, reporters, photographers, all the others — could spend the holiday with their families in and around Washington, D.C. No one ever reported that — until this column.
Second, he rarely attended sporting events, although he once owned a baseball team and was a self-confessed stats junkie. His thinking there was the same: If he went to a baseball game (right down the street from the White House), his mere presence would mean hours and hours of extra security for fans. He once stopped off at the Daytona 500 and the metal detectors through which every fan had to pass left thousands outside in line when the green flag fell; he didn’t attend many sporting events after that.
But something remarkable has happened with these occupants of the White House: Neither President Obama nor first lady Michelle appear to give a damn about perception. They won the White House and, by God, they’re going to enjoy their time there, no matter the cost. And who cares what you think, anyway?
I’ve felt this way from the moment the Obama’s hit town. There has been this aura of “we gonna get ours now”.
The Rio Norte Line 
Largest crime syndicate in the history of the World. The Obamas and the Democrat Party.
What is it, Utah? Something like $1.4 billion in tax payer dollars to fund Obama vacations thus far?
It makes me weep for all those disabled, and poor children out there that Obama stated he must choose between.
Yep:
But Curl is wrong about being first to report about Bush, I remember Rush and others talking about how Bush always postponed his trips during the holidays so that the people responsible for protecting and working with him could be at home with their families.
From Jim Geraghty’s Morning Jolt email:
I’ll start believing that there is a government funding crisis when the people who claim there is start acting like it.
I actually believe this administration creates faux-crisis on a daily/weekly basis as a means to an end …
To push their totalitarian agenda.
You definitely are the KING if you send your children to the Bahamas and then Sun valley, Idaho, for spring break.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/ad-lib/2013/jan/7/president-obamas-back-hawaii-how-many-vacations-ha/
“President Obama in his first four years has taken 131 days, dividing his time between Hawaii, Martha’s Vineyard and, of course, Camp David, the official get away of U.S. presidents. At this rate, he could hit 262 days by the end of his eighth year, about average for modern presidents.
He certainly is not the king of vacation days. That honor falls to President George W. Bush, who racked up 1,020 vacation days in his eight years in office, including one five-week vacation, the most of any president in 36 years. Not to say he wasn’t on the job when he was at his Crawford, Texas ranch, but he was away from the White House.”
1020 out of 2920. In other words he spent nearly a third of his Presidency on vacation. Any bad link you can find about Obama I can find about Bush. Let’s just agree all politicians are leeches on the public. The best thing they can do is try to improve other people’s lives while they are living high on the hog.
I seem to remember that when Bush was at Crawford that unemployment was around 5% and the GDP was growing, not shrinking. Obama’s “vacations” do not count his 120 or so golf outings.
Crawford, Texas = Hawaii. Not really. You have obviously never been to Crawford.
The point is that we have president who has no qualms about continuing to spend taxpayer money on lavish vacations for he and his family while food stamp usage, disability payments, defects, public debt and unfunded liabilities are at historic levels. He gives speeches about tightening our belts and then hops on Air Force One to fly to Colorado for an hour and then on to LA for a partisan fundraiser to the tune of 1.4 million dollars when the free tours at the White House are cancelled.
And Bush was roundly pilloried for his “vacations” by the mainstream media, something that hasn’t happened with Obama.
You are clearly making a false equivalency that cannot be supported:
Dave … perform your count by the same standards. If Bush flew to Camp David for a 2 hour meeting, that my friend was not a vacation. When you practice honest observations, you get honest answers and understanding.
Dave gives the appearance that he is against all of this! Throw them all out!
But when you don’t address the specific instances and circumstances of Obama’s profligate actions in light of the different economies and media treatment of his time and Bush’s and the excuse for Obama is that “Bush did it”, the partisanship is clear.
False equivocation, it’s what’s for dinner.
bag longchamp