White House Gives Perfect Response To Dumb Golf ‘Optics’ Question
Going into the last weekend of President Obama’s vacation, the White House added a briefing to the schedule on Friday to give reporters an opportunity to serve the public by asking about important news events. That’s why, of course, the first question asked of Principal Deputy Press Secretary and sun-tan-goggle-sufferer Eric Schultz was on the all-important topic of President Obama’s golf game following a press conference on Wednesday.
Schultz was asked about the “flak” President Obama has been taking for going golfing this week, and if Schultz could “explain why he does this?”:
“I am not going to get into the President’s mindset on that. I will say that, generally, I think that, you know, sports and leisure activities are a good way for release and clearing of the mind for a lot of us.“
Boom. Quick and to the point, impossible to argue with, and illustrative of the idiocy of the entire premise. The leader of the free world likes to clear his mind, just like the rest of us.
It didn’t stop there, though, because old reliable Jon Karl had some Thoughts™. “Given the gravity of the events that he’s had to struggle with while he’s been up here, has there been any consideration, any internal discussion of saying, hey, maybe a day off from golf might not be a bad idea?” Karl asked, and then added “I mean, particularly yesterday, when you’re — or particularly dealing with, in the wake of what happened with James Foley, and the President comes out and gives a very powerful statement on that murder, and then he goes right from here to a golf course. Is there any discussion of maybe, in a circumstance like that, it’s best to stay off the links for a little while?”
Schultz handled this one pretty well, too, seizing on …READ MORE
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
99 responses to White House Gives Perfect Response To Dumb Golf ‘Optics’ Question
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fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 20:34
Eisenhower…. 800 rounds of golf while he was president
Obama …..just over 200 rounds of golf
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 20:58
Republican WWII war hero, black muslim illegal alien usurper. No contest.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:12
You forgot to mention the anti-colonial Kenyan mindset…
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:00
Didn’t want to pile on, you know.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:17
You’re too kind
No–really. You’re too kind…
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 21:16
hero’s don’t always wear military camo but you already knew that
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:01
Eisenhower never did. He did have his own distinctive jacket designed, though.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 22:19
that’s because camo as we know it today wasn’t worn until viet nam / Korean war long after Eisenhower’s death
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:22
Well, he died in 1969, so he did see the decline of the use of our military. But, still holds the style points over camo!
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:23
lol I guess your telling me Eisenhower was a runway model for the military ?
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:12
What amazes me the most about that is that somebody keeps track.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 21:14
yea ive noticed how the rw says Obama plays a lot of golf as apposed to other presidents ?
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:22
Yup–and vacation time and executive actions–it’s a real hoot too because they’ve got it completely bassackwards.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:28
Executive orders ? there are too many to list who have Obama beat. why pull straws about this, Obama doesn’t suck up to the rw Aztec gods / so called world leaders and our gop is trying to make him look bad any way they can while making TOTAL clowns of themselves in the process. I for one am enjoying every minute of it !!!!
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:35
It is funny–until people vote the fools back in. The executive order thing is so ridiculous–they COULD actually look that stuff up…
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:39
obviously the gop doesn’t know how to look up presidential golf facts much less anything posted on this thread. like I said ” total clowns ” As far as voting people back in goes ? start at the beginning of this response then repeat…
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:44
You got it–like a snake eating its tail.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 20:34
Eisenhower…. 800 rounds of golf while he was president
Obama …..just over 200 rounds of golf
As our golfer in chief, President Dwight D. Eisenhower brought golf to the White House lawn and played nearly 800 rounds while in office. Not since Mary Queen of Scots has a head of state done so much to popularize the game. Fred Corcoran, the legendary golf promoter, once said Eisenhowers devotion to golf was the greatest thing that ever happened to the game.
http://golfweek.com/news/2009/nov/02/dwight-d-eisenhower-golf-white-house/
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 20:58
Republican WWII war hero, black muslim illegal alien usurper. No contest.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:12
You forgot to mention the anti-colonial Kenyan mindset…
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:00
Didn’t want to pile on, you know.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:17
You’re too kind
No–really. You’re too kind…
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 21:16
hero’s don’t always wear military camo but you already knew that
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:01
Eisenhower never did. He did have his own distinctive jacket designed, though.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 22:19
that’s because camo as we know it today wasn’t worn until viet nam / Korean war long after Eisenhower’s death
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 22:22
Well, he died in 1969, so he did see the decline of the use of our military. But, still holds the style points over camo!
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:23
lol I guess your telling me Eisenhower was a runway model for the military ?
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:12
What amazes me the most about that is that somebody keeps track.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 21:14
yea ive noticed how the rw says Obama plays a lot of golf as apposed to other presidents ?
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:22
Yup–and vacation time and executive actions–it’s a real hoot too because they’ve got it completely bassackwards.
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:28
Executive orders ? there are too many to list who have Obama beat. why pull straws about this, Obama doesn’t suck up to the rw Aztec gods / so called world leaders and our gop is trying to make him look bad any way they can while making TOTAL clowns of themselves in the process. I for one am enjoying every minute of it !!!!
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:35
It is funny–until people vote the fools back in. The executive order thing is so ridiculous–they COULD actually look that stuff up…
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 23:39
obviously the gop doesn’t know how to look up presidential golf facts much less anything posted on this thread. like I said ” total clowns ” As far as voting people back in goes ? start at the beginning of this response then repeat…
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 23:44
You got it–like a snake eating its tail.
abbyjo2001 August 22nd, 2014 at 20:40
How about bush, fancypants, how many rounds did he have?
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 20:48
after 911 and the invasion of Iraq I don’t think too many cared where gwb hung out because all ( or some ) knew how we were going to end up.
Dwendt44 August 23rd, 2014 at 00:23
Bush spent more time away from the White House, in other words he was ‘off’, than any president before, and WAY more than Obama at this point in his second term.
abbyjo2001 August 22nd, 2014 at 20:40
How about bush, fancypants, how many rounds did he have?
fancypants August 22nd, 2014 at 20:48
after 911 and the invasion of Iraq I don’t think too many cared where gwb hung out because all ( or some ) knew how we were going to end up.
Dwendt44 August 23rd, 2014 at 00:23
Bush spent more time away from the White House, in other words he was ‘off’, than any president before, and WAY more than Obama at this point in his second term.
Obewon August 22nd, 2014 at 20:45
Add another count to Boehner’s hypocritical lawsuit: ‘Obama played golf while on vacation!’
Obewon August 22nd, 2014 at 20:45
Add a new count to Boehner’s hypocritical lawsuit: ‘Obama played golf while on vacation!’
NW10 August 22nd, 2014 at 20:51
President Obama: Guilty of Golfing While Black.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 20:58
Are we sure he wasn’t caddying for Biden?
(((NW10,PATRIOT! ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ))) August 22nd, 2014 at 20:51
President Obama: Guilty of Golfing While Black.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 20:58
Are we sure he wasn’t caddying for Biden?
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:11
Why do I keep seeing flashbacks of Bush 43 chopping brush and driving his truck around on his mini-ranch in Crawford… He was President for 8 years, but I think he was absent for about three of them…
Dwendt44 August 23rd, 2014 at 00:21
At least a year. IIRC, it totaled about 1000 days off over the eight years.
M D Reese August 23rd, 2014 at 00:23
I know that misoverestimated it–but not by much. I think he actually took a lot of stay-cations…
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 01:05
1020 to be precise. But…when you’re a white rethug “the White House travels with the President.” Now….well, The Black Man in the White house has changed EVERYTHING!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:51
That’s interesting– John F Kennedy was President for the same length of time that GWB was on vacation. Just one of those odd little historical curiosities.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 01:04
Do you recall how Bush would strut with his arms out from his sides, as if he was too muscled up to wipe his own ass? Talk about a puffed up douchenozzle.
John Tarter August 23rd, 2014 at 08:34
Better optics than Obama on his bike with his stupid helmet.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 13:10
No. Bush was a strutting peacock who was the idiot who allowed 911 to happen. He was in charge of a war we were lied into, and his asinine arrogance was on full display as THOUSANDS of brave Americans died for NOTHING in Iraq. Stupid helmet? You rightist assplugs will latch onto ANYTHING to attack the Black Man in the White House, won’t you? The fact that you bring up his stupid helmet amply exemplifies that you’re yet another racist who hates EVERYTHING about the President, based on NOTHING but his skin color. Know who else wore a stupid helmet? Bush did, you ignorant asshole.
Whit "Whitney" White August 23rd, 2014 at 22:56
I laughed, I cried, I hurled
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 23:02
You make the same comment over and over and over and over…it’s the sign of a dullard and a simpleton. Did you get banned again at Media Matters, trollass fool?
Whit "Whitney" White August 23rd, 2014 at 23:12
Wow !! , you share the same Dark Triad as 0 bama?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The dark triad is a group of three personality traits: Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy. The use of the term “dark” reflects the perception that these traits have interpersonally aversive qualities
Carla Akins August 23rd, 2014 at 23:29
He seemed to have left.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 23:35
He’ll be banned soon…he makes unbelievably sick comments, and threatens posters and their children…he’s a sick puppy.
Carla Akins August 23rd, 2014 at 23:38
Oh, I was being glib. I had already banned him.
Anomaly 100 August 23rd, 2014 at 23:40
You hurt his fee fees. He’s now flagging comments.
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:49
Oh noes! I hope he doesn’t hurt our feelings back…
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 00:04
HIGH FIVE!! What did he do to get your attention?
Carla Akins August 24th, 2014 at 07:28
You did. After seeing your comment I went to check him out and history was not promising. Figured it best to to stop it now.
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 12:31
Bless you, my child…live long and prosper!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:59
He wore a helmet AND a flight suit for one photo op…
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 17:05
Don’t forget the CODPIECE!!!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:46
…too dumb to loosen the straps on the flight suit…but what’s the surprise there…
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:58
Oh–you mean setting a good example for children?
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:57
Talk about puffed up, he was just too cute in his little flight suit…Mission accomplished indeed.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 21:11
Why do I keep seeing flashbacks of Bush 43 chopping brush and driving his truck around on his mini-ranch in Crawford… He was President for 8 years, but I think he was absent for about three of them…
Dwendt44 August 23rd, 2014 at 00:21
At least three years. IIRC, it totaled about 1000 days off over the eight years.
edited to correct the years.
M D Reese August 23rd, 2014 at 00:23
I know that misoverestimated it–but not by much. I think he actually took a lot of stay-cations…
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 01:05
1020 to be precise. But…when you’re a white rethug “the White House travels with the President.” Now….well, The Black Man in the White house has changed EVERYTHING!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:51
That’s interesting– John F Kennedy was President for the same length of time that GWB was on vacation. Just one of those odd little historical curiosities.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 01:04
Do you recall how Bush would strut with his arms out from his sides, as if he was too muscled up to wipe his own ass? Talk about a puffed up douchenozzle.
John Tarter August 23rd, 2014 at 08:34
Better optics than Obama on his bike with his stupid helmet.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 13:10
No. Bush was a strutting peacock who was the idiot who allowed 911 to happen. He was in charge of a war we were lied into, and his asinine arrogance was on full display as THOUSANDS of brave Americans died for NOTHING in Iraq. Stupid helmet? You rightist assplugs will latch onto ANYTHING to attack the Black Man in the White House, won’t you? The fact that you bring up his stupid helmet amply exemplifies that you’re yet another racist who hates EVERYTHING about the President, based on NOTHING but his skin color. Know who else wore a stupid helmet? Bush did, you ignorant asshole.
Whit "Whitney" White August 23rd, 2014 at 22:56
I laughed, I cried, I hurled
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 23:02
You make the same comment over and over and over and over…it’s the sign of a dullard and a simpleton. Did you get banned again at Media Matters, trollass fool?
Carla Akins August 23rd, 2014 at 23:29
He seemed to have left.
RioBravoHombre August 23rd, 2014 at 23:35
He’ll be banned soon…he makes unbelievably sick comments, and threatens posters and their children…he’s a sick puppy.
Carla Akins August 23rd, 2014 at 23:38
Oh, I was being glib. I had already banned him.
Anomaly 100 August 23rd, 2014 at 23:40
You hurt his fee fees. He’s now flagging comments.
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:49
Oh noes! I hope he doesn’t hurt our feelings back…
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 00:04
HIGH FIVE!! What did he do to get your attention?
Carla Akins August 24th, 2014 at 07:28
You did. After seeing your comment I went to check him out and history was not promising. Figured it best to to stop it now.
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 12:31
Bless you, my child…live long and prosper!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:59
He wore a helmet AND a flight suit for one photo op…
RioBravoHombre August 24th, 2014 at 17:05
Don’t forget the CODPIECE!!!
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 17:46
…too dumb to loosen the straps on the flight suit…but what’s the surprise there…
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:58
Oh–you mean setting a good example for children?
M D Reese August 24th, 2014 at 16:57
Talk about puffed up, he was just too cute in his little flight suit…Mission accomplished indeed.
Red Eye Robot August 23rd, 2014 at 02:46
Candidate Obama on Vacations, Oddly doesn’t mention clearing his mind http://youtu.be/zsB1iX5T504.
Red Eye Robot August 23rd, 2014 at 02:46
Candidate Obama on Vacations, Oddly doesn’t mention clearing his mind http://youtu.be/zsB1iX5T504.
John Tarter August 23rd, 2014 at 08:32
You libs went bonkers about Bush and his golfing, suddenly with Obama not so much. The Grand Poobah can do no wrong!
John Tarter August 23rd, 2014 at 08:32
You libs went bonkers about Bush and his golfing, suddenly with Obama not so much. The Grand Poobah can do no wrong!
Budda August 23rd, 2014 at 10:21
Geez, even I could take care of business while playing golf.
Budda August 23rd, 2014 at 10:21
Geez, even I could take care of business while playing golf.