Obama criticized for 'jetting around,' expensive vacations
It was during an interview with KMOV in St. Louis that a reporter finally had the guts to confront the president about his ritzy travel.
From the Weekly Standard:
KMOV-STL's Larry Conners: "The economy is a big issue and concern for folks. I mean, the unemployment, trying to make ends meet, gas prices, food prices going up. Some of our viewers are complaining, they get frustrated, even angered, when they see the first family jetting around, different vacations and so forth, sometimes maybe they think under color of state business and that you're out of touch, that you don't really know what they're experiencing right now."
President Barack Obama: "Well, I don't know how many viewers you're talking about that say that."
Conners: "We do hear from some."
Obama: "I hear from all kinds of viewers about everything."
Conners: "I'm sure you do."
Obama: "But the fact of the matter is, I think if you look at my track record, I'm raising a family here. When we travel, we got to travel through Secret Service, and Air Force One, that's not my choice. I think most folks understand how hard I work and how hard this administration is working on behalf of the American people."
As a campaign issue, Obama's golfing and vacations at expensive resorts give the impression of someone who doesn't care much about how ordinary people are suffering. Expect to see at least some attention paid to this theme by the Super Pacs during the fall campaign.