Media Obsession with Obama's Golf Game

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The media is obsessed with the fact that President Obama, like many of his presidential predecessors, is able to take vacations and (horrors) play golf whenever he feels like it. Because, you know, Obama can't possibly golf and THINK at the same time. Or maybe the press can't watch golf and think at the same time. Today they criticized him for taking a hike, because walking and thinking don't go hand in hand either. I think Henry David Thoreau and Gandhi might disagree with them. Surely Martin Luther King and every person who marched for Civil Rights would disagree that physical activity rules out thinking or pondering.

Anyway, it's all about "Optics" because there are BIG things going on in the world, and Obama should be solving them all NOW. How dare the President try to relax so he can deal with them when the time comes. How dare he recharge his batteries like every other President before him. Funny that no one cared when the Elder Bush was watching "Curly Sue" in the theater at the White House, or relaxing at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Funny they never said this when President W. Bush was down in Texas at the BBQ ranch or choking on Fritos and then falling asleep on the couch in front of football at the White House. How many hours of sleep did W. need a night? Something like 14?

But the Optics of Golf meme is way to fire up the right-wing, or white-wing, readers, so some media outlets keep tweeting and reporting on what the black President is doing up in (usually white) Martha's Vineyard. And after the reporters tweet about golf, the trolls jump on the bandwagon.

Golf is the new teleprompter. It's a tell. Feel free to ignore anyone who brings either up.

— Allan Brauer (@allanbrauer) August 22, 2014

A very useful cudgel, this golfing is.

— We Be Du Bois (@eclecticbrotha) August 22, 2014

The president is now being criticized for *walking* http://t.co/uUM1oYAaXx

— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) August 22, 2014

Golf golf golf golf golf: @wuerker's latest http://t.co/JldNWiGuL5 pic.twitter.com/bMFIRDEI1G

— POLITICO (@politico) August 22, 2014

No optical illusion: Obama balances world crises with golf, time off http://t.co/lzo5jW8kJp via @reuters // Always be naysayers and haters

— PoliticQues (@politicques) August 10, 2014

@CNN OBAMA CAN'T WIN W/CNN! @CNN: OBAMA HAS NO FRIENDS! @CNN: OBAMA PLAYS GOLF WHILE IRAQ BURNS! @CNN CREATIVE NEWS! @CNN BROKEN NEWS!

— BayonneBernie (@bayonnebernie) August 21, 2014

Stop vacation-shaming the president http://t.co/bL0QM7X4BH Via @MilliganSusan @USNewsOpinion

— U.S. News (@usnews) August 22, 2014

If You’re Upset About Obama’s Golf Game, Here’s #Reagan Goofing Off During Major Events http://t.co/vOogQba5fO #tcot #p2 #optics

— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) August 23, 2014

"Dwight Eisenhower leads the pack as a duffer, logging in more than 800 rounds of golf in eight years." http://t.co/pqpcTGiqcI

— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) August 21, 2014

@20committee Read up boy, read up on these "optics." http://t.co/3XSCeWjdKo @JM_Ashby

— aspirational12 (@aspirational12) August 22, 2014

CNN, MSNBC have live on-site coverage of more clashes in Ferguson. FOX has a repeat of Huckabee complaining that Obama plays too much golf.

— Les East (@EastAdvocate) August 18, 2014

RT @soxfaneast Politico Has Figured Out Barack Obama’s Big Problem — And It’s Golf http://t.co/yxSpOy7Z2t … via @Salon // OMG.. Really?!?

— Sheila Friend (@Slfriend79) August 9, 2014

From @POLITICOMag: What Barack Obama's golf game tells us about his presidency. http://t.co/TXfFghXhzK pic.twitter.com/C94FWJBzxn

— POLITICO (@politico) August 8, 2014

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POOL REPORT: "Obama stepped to a podium and delivered his remarks… Afterward, the motorcade drove to the Vineyard Golf Club."

— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) August 20, 2014

And, a classic WH line: “Just because the president is in a different location doesn’t mean he isn’t doing his job" http://t.co/QJNs9Zmp9i

— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) August 22, 2014

ABC's Jon Karl: Obama WH 'Entirely Unconcerned' by Optics of Golfing During Crises http://t.co/mplbHlT6KG #golf #news

— Howards Golf (@HowardGolf) August 19, 2014

According to WH travel pool w/POTUS, the president arrived at Vineyard Golf Club at 1:05 p.m., following statement on #JamesFoley and #ISIS

— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) August 20, 2014

Blistering @NYDailyNews front page. "Golf War" may just stick. Department of Optics, line 1. h/t @nycsouthpaw pic.twitter.com/xUqMzLctrz

— Jonathan Wald (@jonathanwald) August 21, 2014

Priorities: Obama is back to golfing at the Vineyard Golf Club after delivering statement on Foley's murder - @mpoppel

— PzFeed Top News (@PzFeed) August 20, 2014

Quelle surprise - President Obama is back on the golf course this afternoon. 11th round on Martha’s Vineyard this summer

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) August 21, 2014

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President on Vineyard golf course today (tweet copied/pasted from yesterday)

— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) August 21, 2014

Thank God Our Tie-less Commander- In Chief is back on the golf course in Martha's Vineyard a few minutes after the Beheading of Jim Foley.

— Andro Paul Lucich (@AndroPLucich) August 22, 2014

Oh thank god, CNN is reporting that Obama's statement only delayed his time on the Martha's Vineyard golf course by a few minutes!

— bmaz (@bmaz) August 14, 2014

This business with ISIS and James Foley is really upsetting me. Maybe a round of golf on Martha's Vineyard would help calm me down.

— Paul D. Gallagher (@paulgallagher) August 22, 2014