At first blush, I looked at the headline of this story (Timing of Obama Indonesia Trip Questioned) and thought “come on, give me a break. Presidents go on international trips. Lighten up.” Then I read the substance, and, while I do not really question the timing (seriously, does it matter if Obama is here or not? He has mostly been a distant figure, pontificating, badgering, and insulting private companies and citizens the whole time). I do question the trip itself
With President Obama’s health care bill hanging in the balance, the White House is facing intensifying questions about whether Mr. Obama should take his planned trip to Indonesia and Australia next week.
One problem I have with this is, who, exactly, is questioning the trip? Oh, there it is. “Some lawmakers, mostly Republicans.” And not one is named. And apparently some of the White House reporters, who are wonder if this is really a family trip
The visit, which has been timed to coincide with spring break for the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, is something of a homecoming for Mr. Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia. The trip is unusual, experts say, in that there is no economic summit or other multinational gathering for the president to attend.
Instead, Mr. Obama plans to meet with the leaders of the two countries, and also intends to show his family a bit of his past. The White House says the trip will send a powerful message to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and to Australia, a major trading partner.
Would this be the same Indonesia which tore down Obama’s statue, and featured people throwing shoes at his picture? Maybe we should question the timing, not for the politics of health destruction, but, as what appears to be a family vacation slightly disguised as an official state visit.
Another thought occurs: it would probably be better if Obama used this trip strictly as a vacation, since he usually ends up either insulting or bowing to the world leaders he meets.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU
The postponement could be for safety concerns.
Keep in mind how many people that hate America spend time there.
Yeah, I was kinda surprised that the trip got canceled. I’m sure he will find another way to take a tax payer funded vacation shorty, though.