Obama Set to Take a Week Off the Trail
For the second time since he declared his candidacy in February of 2007, Barack Obama is taking a vacation — and it couldn’t come at a better time. A Pew poll out this week showed that 76% of respondents said the presumptive Democratic nominee was the candidate they had heard most about, compared with 11% who named John McCain. Close to half of those asked said that they had been hearing too much about the “rock star” candidate.
When asked about the survey aboard his campaign plane today, Obama joked with reporters, “You know we are going to correct that this week, hopefully with your help.”
“We had the longest primary in history, and so I can imagine that folks need a break from politics and they didn’t really get one like they normally do,” Obama said. “John McCain got one, but I think that the majority of people have been fed a constant stream of political chatter, and I’m sure that having a couple weeks off and enjoying the Olympics is probably what the doctor ordered for everybody,” he continued.
done
Obama last escaped the continental U.S. for a few days off during the height of his contentious primary race in March, when he and his family went for a long weekend in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Last time Obama abandoned his press corps - although one intrepid TV producer found the candidate lounging with his family at the beach - images that hit the cable news airwaves.
This time around, Obama, his family, some staffers, and Secret Service agents will be joined by a dozen or so reporters on board Obama’s chartered 757 campaign plane bound for Hawaii. The campaign and the television networks covering him have come to an agreement to best accommodate both sides. The candidate will hold at least one “OTR” stop (an unannounced photo-op) and will not abandon his protective press pool. In return, the press corps will give the candidate some privacy, and not attempt to get shots of the Democrat, say, in his swimming trunks. Remember that?
The candidate grew up in the Aloha state and still has family living there, including his 85-year-old maternal grandmother whom Obama hasn’t seen since he started running for president. “I couldn’t go last year so it’s been about 19 months since I saw her, and she’s at an age where it’s really important for me to see her. And those little girls need a little love. As does Michelle, I think. So we’re going to take some time,” he told reporters earlier this week.
Obama’s chartered airplane is scheduled to depart Chicago tomorrow morning.
Tags: hawaii, obama, obama fatigue, vacation
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So Mr. Obama is making sure he vacations with his grandma, so his children (& Michelle) can “be unconditionally loved, and take a break from politics. As compared with Mr. McCain, who divorced
his wife (while cheating on her), because she “got fat” after a car accident.
Family Values anyone?
-Sue in Arizona
At last McCain can rest for a week knowing that Obama is vacationing
Obama is lazy, that’s why he’s taking time off. Obama is 47, yet he takes more time off than Mccain 72 and Clinton 60 put together.
[...] [...]
Mabye he’ll go camping and get eaten by a bear in Yosemite!!
I think this small break or vacation for Obama show that Obama is not the nominee we need as a president! If Obama needs a break from the fatigue of the campain trail what would he do under the fatigue as an American President? This shows Obama’s lack of experience to be a President and just how arrogant Obama is, Obama doesn’t take running for President very serious if he can take a break during the race.
How many misleading statements does Obama think the voters will listen too? We are not as stupid as Obama would think and wish us voters to be.
I think that a break is good for everyone, especially if its to visit his grandmother, it shows he cares about family and that his needs and concerns match that of the American people.
On William Delongs comment, it should be remembered that President Bush took a rather long vacation when he first got into office. I’d rather have a presidential candidate who took a break before getting elected then one who waited to become president to take a rather long vacation.
Feb 2007 till Aug 2008 = 16 months. So he took a helf week off once to VI and in his absence Clinton made the Bosnia story. Every American is entitled to at least a week a year.
Obama campaigns on weekends, McCain takes a break. But no one should grudge McCain his downtime nor Obama his vacation. Besides the polls say we have gotten too much coverage of him. I dont think this has any import on who will make decisions that will better our lives.
WHY would a candidate take an entire week off - seems like that vacation could wait until after November. At least WE will get a much needed vacation from this FRUAD - but - then again he is taking “his” press.
Have a nice vacation and flight of your fuel powered personal chartered jet Obama, where will these emmisions end up, I’m ready to by myself a tricycle. Oh, and make sure those Jet tires are fully inflated….
Have a nice vacation and flight of your fuel powered personal chartered jet Obama, where will these emmisions end up, I’m ready to by myself a tricycle. Oh, and make sure those Jet tires are fully inflated….
Voter in Callifornia
OMG he’s taking a week off!!! Who would do something like that while running for President?!? The nerve of this guy!! (i’m being sarcastic.)
You people really need to get a life. He’s taking a week off. BIG DEAL!! Do you really want to hear more about his energy policy vs. McCain’s energy policy?? I’m tired of it & I need a break so thank you mr. (soon to be President) Obama. You really are in touch with the american people!! & thank you for not being so dumb as to (jokingly) enter your wife in a topless beauty pageant. It shows you think before you speak (unlike some folks).
Obama has been on the campaign trail for 1 yr 6 mos.He has taken off one long weekend for four days in this time.I think 1 week off before he becomes president should be deserved.John Mccain’
had 4 months off waiting for the democratic primary to be over and then takes every weekend off
since.Lets not go into the direction of who has more stamina or energy.I think its there for everyone to see,and its not the old wrinkly white haired guy.
He fits right in with the dem. do-nothing congress. Probably come back and throw pelosi under the bus! He should go on to Kenya and stay there with his cousin odingba. They could see who could burn alive the most christians locked in their churches. Then they could fight each other to see who would be dictator of Kenya!
Good lord folks. give the guy a break! How many of you have worked 6 or 7 days a week for 16 straight months with only 1 long weekend off. First you complain that you see too much of him, now you won’t let him out of your sight…make up your minds..flip floppers!
WOW!!!
Is this where all the hateful bloggers come to spew their hate?
Besides being racists, are you all also white and old?
NEWS FLASH: Obama is white, too. And Annie….Obama is an American citizen running for the US presidency. Get it right.
i just remembered why listen to fox news: subjective news.
you people are so biased.
what a bunch of tools.
http://www.marigoholdings.com/store/
Perfect for a day at the beach! Spread the word!
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perfect for the beach! spread the word!
Since Obama is going to be gone on vacation, now would be the PERFECT time for McCain to notify the public that he has selected Gov. Mike Huckabee as his VP. This would be the big story for the whole time Obama is vacationing. Huckabee was first in a Rasmussen poll about which VP candidate the American public favors. He has also won many more VP online polls. This pick would energize the conservative base of the Republican Party and inspire evangelicals to become more involved in McCain’s campaign. Huckabee is exciting and a great communicator.
McCain / Huckabee ‘08
Check out Gov. Huckabee’s new website!
http://mikehuckabee.com
I would rather have a cat in the white house than the president we have right now. God Bless America and give us someone that can at least say a sentence that makes sense. I wouldn’t vote republican if there wasn’t any other choices. If someone takes a week’s vacation because he needs to regroup, thank God. I’d rather someone see their limitations rather than keep on plugging along and neglect his family. Obama is a fresh face, with new ideas and hopefully can bring peace back to this country. George Bush has run this country into the ground and made billions in profits. God people what does it take to see the truth and the situation as it really is. Do all of you enjoy the unemployment rates skyrocketing, jobs going overseas and the gas prices going through the roof, not to mention the cost of groceries, medicine and doctors fees. Especially if youve lost your job and your benefits. Let’s hope the democrats can turn things around, they couldn’t do worse than the republicans. It wouldn’t be possible.
Too much hate. Vacation is a good thing for everyone. What concerns me are these ads by McCain implying he is the anti-christ (the-one?). It’s this dumbing down of of US citizens with superstition that scares me. And the other ad that implies he’s after the white girls, is this the 50’s?. Do you really what a group of people who go to this level to gain power running things for you and me?
A true democracy would never work in america. To many idiots. Glad we are a republic. Just reading the posts here, I hope many of you forget to vote or put your ballots in the trash.
I’m not for either candidate but the pure stupidity of some people just amazes me.
It is good that Obama takes a week off. It is nice to know that deep down Obama loves his mother (now deceased) and his grand mother. I am touched. The guy has my admiratiion. He is a great family man loves his daughters and his lovely wife. Can we say that for a lot men, please.
Leave him alone for the week. I think we have seen and heard too much of him. I think we long need a break. But I will be definitely looking forward to seeing and hearing on TV on when he comes back from his vacation.
Go Obama
Is anyone noticing how tired Obama has been looking but McCain get’s out there every day to talk to the people — so much for the Democrat ‘old age’ theory (which seems to be the only issue they have to grasp onto). I also notice how defensive he is about absolutely anything that’s said about him — the playground cry baby that always feels like he’s a ‘victim’. This guys’ background has him believing that America has made him a victim — he can’t seem to find anything right about the country. I truely believe that moderate Democrats will see through the fluff and recognize that putting this inexperienced guy in office in not the right decision for this country at any leve.
Dems don’t watch FOX because it’s “Fair and Balanced” they’re responding to this article only to bash their pro abortion, flip flopping, stand for nothing liberal candidate! They’ve once again proven they will do and say anything to get their candidate elected. So now they’re going on all the message boards lying about McCain and trying to slam him. You Dems have stooped to a new all time low! Obama is losing ground because he doesn’t have any facts or a record to talk about.
Comment by lo
August 7th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Obama is lazy, that’s why he’s taking time off. Obama is 47, yet he takes more time off than Mccain 72 and Clinton 60 put together.
____________________________________________________________
You are really an idiot. I just had to respond to this one. This is a guy who has worked 24/7 for the last 1yr and 6month and took off for vacation once after the primaries and now to clear his head and be with his family. You really are an idiot.
Mccain needs to take a vacation till the general election comes up. How nice it would be not to have to listyen to him basing Obama all the time, thinking this is going to get him the election. Of course all the childish, stupid and racits puma people will vote for him, cause they think Cindy will put gas in their cars, by the grocerys for them, and make their house payment, oh ya and she can also get plenty fo drus for you too. You puma people out to be brought down on your knees.
William Delong. How much vacation has GWB taken as president. LOL you are kidding with your post. I mean it is just stupid. I am actually shock that there are not 22 pages of commenst for teh article where some guy was arrested for threatening him. I am surprise you guys on thise site did not find a way to spin that to be Obamas fault.
This is what is wrong with american politics. I support Obama but I like Mccain. I dont think he is an evil person and I think he is doing what he feels is best for america. I just disagree with his positions.
Maybe that Obama knew this was going to hit the news and so wanted to be far away from being asked questions about it. I sure would like for someone to ask Barack why it is that he’s willing to enbrace and talk to people like the president of Iran and Mr. Asbahi but refuses to talk with Bill O Reilly on Fox News? This Mr Asbahi is cause for concern along with all the others of his type surrounding Obama and his campaign.
http://goodtimepolitics.com/2008/08/08/mr-asbahi-links-should-give-pause-for-concern-about-obama/
For all you McCain supporters visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
I cant understand how anyone could vote McCain. If you want the opportunity to debate let me know. Please dont bring up flag pins or anything else that wont effect anyone of us. Bring up real issues. There isnt one issue that McCain has a logical solution for.
What most of you fail to realize is that McCain hasn’t been in the senate for the last year and a half. Obama has been working 2 jobs and McCain has been workiing half of one. Considering he shut down the straight talk express. Guess he has been caught too many times double talking during those interviews. Course he does enough of that in public. I.E. “Obama wants you to keep your tire pressure right, keep your engines tuned. That won’t work.” Then the same night “of course keeping your tire pressure up and engines tuned helps”. I think McCain needs a looooooooong vacation. Can you say Nursing Home.
I just wish the media would take a week off as well and agree not to mention his name.
I am sick of hearing Obama over and over again and just think if he gets elected what it will be having to hear his name every day for the next 4 years because it probably won’t be 8 years as it won’t take him that long to screw up everything and besides the only people who will be able to have cable or dish to watch the news will be those on public assistance.
I really like his boneheaded idea on raising taxes on those making $250,000 or more per year… Duh,aren’t most of those business owners and employers? and
Guess what they will do as a result…Raise prices and cut back on benefits to employee’s and Obama knows that but it is just another way of screwing the average worker and blaming someone else.
What would be great, if Obama stayed and did not return from Hawaii.
Democrats for McCain
Wait a minute. Hasn’t Obama been on vacation from the U.S. Senate for 16 months. I wish my employer would pay me while I looked for another. And by the way is this the “Typical White Grandmother” he is visiting.
This reminds me that I should go visit my aging grandparents. Sometimes I forget how important family really is… I have a week’s vacation this year, I think instead of using it to veg out, I will go visit Granny and Pawpaw. It’s nice to see a candidate who really cares about family.
Great, he’s taking a week off. McCain is going full steam and looks great and Obama is tapping out. The presumptious nominee feels he can just dial in the election. Don’t need to see the folks; don’t need to meet the people; let the media work to get him elected. America is about to face one of its biggest decisions and he’s going on vacation.
Don’t compare him to regular Americans. He is running to be president of the United States of America. A thankless job that carries the weight of the world on it. Everyday Obama is proving more and more he is not capable of being president.
Good for you Obama. Take your chartered 757 - that is paid for by your contributors - to Hawaii for a vacation from compaigning. Lord knows you don’t need a vacation from your real job as a Senator where you’ve missed every vote since July 9th.
How do I sign up for that sweet deal? Get hired to do a job, not show up to work, still get paid while I’m off doing something else, then take a vacation that is completely paid for by my employer (just the contributors, thank goodness not the taxpayers), while I’m still collecting my original salary.
(BTW, you’ll find your grandmother under The Bus where you tossed her.)
To be fair, McCain has been away from the Senate for longer, but he’s not “on vacation.”
To Sue in Arizona,
You must be Democrat!! Yes, you forgive your past President, I think his name was Bill had a love afire with Monica during his term serving. He used our tax to play around behind Hilllary!!
Did you forget that? At least Mccain divorced her and moved on so what wrong? I don’t think that is Not the reason they went their way. If you believe everything what Arizona Republics (newspaper only bias to Republicans), you are going to be a big trouble!! Study more and get educated like us, Republicans. Females are terrible sometimes because they become more emotional then they can Not see the Truth!! Sure are you one of them?
Wake up America, and think where Obama will take you!! I live in HI and I don’t think Obama will take all the votes in Hi. due to there are lots of Conservatives live in Hi!
Dark skin doesn’t mean anything. I thought Blacks don’t like to swim because they believe that there is an evil spirit in the ocean!! Right, I forgot Obama is only 4% black!
I have worked 18/19 hour days for 6 months and it sucks but I worked unlike Obama. Please he not working.
i think he deserve a vacation with his family give him a break. he’s doing a great job iam proud of his effort and his ability to become one of the greatest president american people can long for just pray for him and his family.
voter in arkansas
Hawaii sounds great, but I can barely pay my gas too get to work. By the way, my wife filled her tires and unfortunately overfilled them causing a blow-out. Now I will have to purchase new tires too. People dont overfill your tires.
Legal Immigrant in California voting for McCain
No doubt looking to boost his standing in the polls with an All-American family photo op after none of his other tactics have worked real well for him, i.e. recent trip to Europe and the Middle East, flip-flopping, throwing Rev. Wright and his other unsavory mentors and associates under the bus, the constant playing of the race card, etc.
Michelle’s appearance on NightLine lastnight appeared to be the opening act of this latest tactic to appeal to voters’ family values.
I would be far more excited over a photo op of Senator Obama and his family on a bus headed back to Chicago.
Here he goes again! In the middle of the democratic campaign, he took off to another tropical island while Hillary continued to bust her a$$ campaigning for our Country.
I cam imagine how many get away’s we the taxpayers will be covering IF he wins the presidency.
Well, at least we know where our higher taxes will be going!
And to think, no one in my family can afford even one get away this year, but our taxes are paying for his motorcade durring his vaction, and god knows what else we are paying for!
And this isn’t another showing of ARROGANCE?
I hope he stays there I am sick of Obama. He is lazy. He can’t keep up with Clinton or McCain.
Paris Hilton for President
Hilton 08
[...] his protective press pool. In return, the press corps will give the candidate some privacy. –FOX … which was a WORKING vacation. His Honolulu fundraiser brought in $1.3 [...]