And by “schedule”, I’m referring to all the non-POTUS business events, such as golf, campaigning, fundraising, meet and greets, that Obama constantly does
(Daily Caller) White House spokesman Josh Earnest affirmed Monday that the president won’t cancel any of his fundraising events this week despite the major international crises in Israel and Ukraine.
President Barack Obama, who was criticized last week for conducting a burger joint photo op while the downed Malaysian airliner was still smoldering on the ground, will be conducting a series of fundraisers on the west coast in the coming days.
When asked whether the White House was “concerned about the image that the president is going to be sending later this week — that he’s on fundraising trips while these two crises are going on at the same time,†Earnest replied that Obama can do his job “from the road†and that they won’t cancel any of his events.
“When the president travels he travels with an array of staff and advisers and communications equipment that allows him to do his job from where ever he happens to be, and that will be the case this week when he’s traveling,†he explained. “We want to make sure that the president has everything he needs to fulfill his responsibilities as the commander in chief and if it becomes clear that there is a need for him to come back to the White House in order to fulfill those functions then we’ll make a change in his schedule. Right now it’s not apparent that that’s the case.â€
Interestingly, Liberals/Democrats assaulted George Bush for being at his home in Crawford, Texas, despite having all the same tools and staff, if not more. At the end of the day, it’s not about having the tools and staff, it’s about the optics. Obama typically had great optics during the campaigns in 2008 and 2012, but he and his political staff just do not seem to care whatsoever about the optics of continuing the non-POTUS events while Big Issues happen.
Now, Big Issues always happen. That said, is it appropriate to be seen shooting pool and drinking beer while avoiding visiting the border to see the “humanitarian crisis”? How about continuing his adulation while having a burger event when a civilian plane is shot down in the Ukraine? Add in a military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, Iraq in meltdown, Syria, and others, and one wonders what it will take to get Obama to focus on his job. Remember, not even the murder of 4 Americans, including our Ambassador to Libya, could get Obama to change his schedule (BTW, I’ve said before and I’ll say again, I believe the “it was a video” talking points were implemented in order to protect Obama refusing to do his job and going on the fundraising trip in the aftermath of Benghazi).
Politics rely heavily on optics. Obama just doesn’t seem to give a damn about his optics when it comes to Doing The Job.
Someone refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding. That’ll get his attention.
Look. Squirrel.
Obama must be where he is loved and worshiped. Policy and work does not provide that sense. He does not like the confrontation in foreign policy, congressional negotiations, cabinet meetings, etc. so he is off fundraising, vacationing, and playing. Does his schedule have any family time set aside?
The presidents who spent the most time away from the White House were Reagan and bush
Coincidentally both were non black
How did President Reagan handle the Russian shooting down of KAL-007 in 1983? 269 died including a US Congressman.
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/jul/21/kate-obenshain/did-reagan-really-rush-back-dc-after-korean-plane-/
Chris Wallace, who covered Mr. Reagan said,
“He was in Santa Barbara at his ranch when this happened, and quite frankly he didn’t want to leave,” Wallace said. “And his advisers realized how terrible this looked, and eventually persuaded him he had to fly back to Washington and had to make this speech to the nation.”
Reagan wrote this in his diary that evening: “We were due to return to Wash. on Labor Day but realized we couldn’t wait so we left on Fri. It was heartbreaking. I had really looked forward to those last three days…”
On Sept. 5, 1983, four days after the jet was shot down, Reagan spoke to the nation in a televised address.
What a horrible man.
I just want to make sure that I understand your point, Jeffery.
Reagan returned to the White House a day after the incident and chose to put the nation ahead of his own wishes and desires. Reagan returned to the White House and looked like a president and more importantly, a leader.
Obama, in a different age where communications are different and responses are expected much faster due to news cycles continues on fundraising.
You want to compare the actions of the two Presidents?
Go right ahead.