Republicans are furious that President Obama took his wife Michelle to a Broadway show last night, at least according to a statement issued by the Republican National Committee. Republicans claim to be concerned about the cost of the President’s outing in light of the pending GM bankruptcy.
I have no doubt that the trip cost more than had the first couple remained at the White House or attended Washington area entertainment. However, the complaint sounds petty. I think the Republicans are jealous. They’re acting like children in need of more attention from mommy and daddy. Republicans need love too.
The President of the United States needs to get out of the Washington bubble. The incredible cost of that travel to taxpayers is painful but legitimate. I wish to add that while the President was on his date he was probably unable to meddle further into either the GM or Chrysler mess, something he should have kept the taxpayers out of all along. Let’s be grateful even for small things.
Folks, during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, then President Jimmy Carter (Obama is often compared to Carter by Republicans) sealed himself in the White House making himself a sort of hostage to the terrorists along with the U.S. citizens being held hostage in Iran. The image helped to make the Iranian Hostage Crisis one of the greatest foreign policy debacles in U.S. history and Carter one of the greatest presidential failures. Image is important.
Image matters in an economic crisis just as it does a foreign policy crisis because it impacts confidence. Confidence is arguably more important than any other factor in turning the economy around, trillion dollar stimulus packages included. The Obama’s date night showed confidence.
I am often critical of President Obama in this blog. Not this time. The Republican criticism of his travel is wrong because it is petty. It is petty because Republicans stand for nothing right now but criticism. They need actual positions on issues. I invite Republicans to consider the Principles of MindYourOwnDamnBusinessPolitics.
In fact, I urge all readers to email the Principles of MindYourOwnDamnBusinessPolitics to a Republican they know as a way to show that Republican some love.
BTW, while you’re at it, email it to Democrats too. Their time will come.
