Thursday, August 5, 2010

“Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation had to get away …”

“Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation had to get away …”: "

Michelle Obama‘s numerous lavish vacation excursions.


Barack Obama‘s numerous vacation trips.


Barack Obama’s golf outings.


Headline from Bloomberg News: Jobless Claims in U.S. Unexpectedly Climb to Three-Month High.


“Unexpectedly”? Right. The only thing really “unexpected” about what’s happening to our economy right now (not to mention the oil spill issue) is the fact that this administration continues to be so outright tone deaf on the issue of at least appearing engaged and “in touch” with what’s happening. As I’ve written before, I have no issue with Presidents taking vacations because a President really never is “on vacation,” but in the context of what’s happening, symbolism is everything and this President – and the First Lady – carry on excessively in a “business as usual” fashion when it comes to lavish travel (and golf ‘appointments’) while millions continue to look for jobs in an economy that shows no signs of “recovery” (contra to what the administration wants you to believe) in a way that is insulting to many of us who remember his campaign rhetoric on “sacrifices”:


There is no talk about how his plans might have to adjust to the nation’s wrenching financial crisis, but Obama does warn that change will not come easily.


“Bush has dug a deep hole. It’s going to take some time to dig us out. We’re all going to need to tighten our belts a little bit. We’re all going to need to sacrifice,” the senator says.


Then he tells voters exactly how they will have to sacrifice, from being better parents to conserving electricity. This cautious candidate clearly does not want to risk stressing his supporters this close to the election.


What he didn’t say then, that we knew both then and which has been confirmed now, is that apparently he expected everyone outside of his “inner circle” to “sacrifice.” Those sacrifices include sacrificing health care choices, your earnings, your freedom of speech …

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