You may have missed it, with all that's going on, but last week Barack Obama explained why he hasn't been engaged in leadership on Washington spending priorities, including the debt-limit impasse.
Referring to Congress, he told reporters: "They're in one week, they're out one week. And then they're saying, 'Obama has got to step in. You need to be here.' I've been here. I've been doing Afghanistan and bin Laden and the Greek crisis. You stay here. Let's get it done."
When I heard this sound bite for the first time, I actually thought someone had cleverly put together a montage of Obama's words to make it seem he had made this incoherent, arrogant, almost-childish statement.
Think about it.
Osama bin Laden? Wasn't he killed by Navy SEALs two months ago? What has Obama needed to do regarding Osama since May 2? Talk about it perhaps? Relish in what he sees as perhaps his only real accomplishment since taking office?
It's a very strange comment indeed from the White House occupant who has played more rounds of golf in his first two years than any of his predecessors, including those who served eight or more years. Does anyone seriously believe he spent more time on the Osama mission than he did on golf?
In fact, on the very weekend after Obama threw his little hissy fit about his busy schedule, he played golf twice. In case you didn't notice, he's also getting ready for a long summer vacation. With Americans hurting financially, many are forgoing even their one family vacation this year. The Obama family, meanwhile, has taken at least a dozen since moving to the White House. And that doesn't include many trips domestically and abroad that had other purposes. Nor does it include weekend getaways.
Still, Obama is suggesting with his comments last week that he is overworked – a virtual workaholic.
He's not. He's a golfaholic.
He's been golfing more than 60 times as president. Let me try to put this in some context for you. At an average of five hours per trip to the links, Obama has spent the equivalent of two months of his presidency's available working time on the golf course. Of course that doesn't even count the hours traveling in presidential motorcades to and from the courses. It also doesn't count any time he spends on the White House putting green.
So he vacations more than any of his predecessors, and he golfs more. What else does he do with his time?
He raises money for his 2012 re-election campaign – a lot of time.
By last count, he has attended at least 37 fundraisers since taking office – and with 2012 nearing, that schedule will increase.
Obama is boasting about his ability to raise a record-setting $1 billion for his re-election effort. Daily I get email fundraising pleas from Obama. He asks for money more than any televangelist I've ever seen. He uses the assets of the White House for much of this activity. Fundraisers include food tastings with the White House chef and overnights in the Lincoln bedroom a la Bill Clinton.
May I point out that this sort of activity is not only unethical and questionably legal, it also takes a lot of time – time Obama suggests is all devoted to worthy and selfless causes such as assassinating bin Laden, winning a war without objectives in Afghanistan and helping to avoid an economic calamity in Europe.
Personally, I'm not complaining. As far as I'm concerned, the more time Obama spends on the golf course, on vacation or dispossessing his supporters of their money, the less time he has to ruin the country in his official capacity.
I'm just saying …