Romney: Obama should 'suck it up'
April 18th, 2012
02:11 PM ET
11 years ago

Romney: Obama should 'suck it up'

(CNN) - Mitt Romney drew new contrasts with President Barack Obama on Wednesday by targeting the president's fondness for golf and vacations with his family.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Obama's golf trips make him "scratch his head."

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"I must admit, I scratch my head at the capacity of the president to take four hours off on such a regular basis to go golfing," Romney told WLW Radio in Cincinnati, responding to a question about the president's hobbies. "I would think you could kind of suck it up for four years particularly when the American people are out of work."

When asked about vacations taken by the Obama family, who travel to the president's native Hawaii annually, Romney said his family would not use four or eight years in the White House to "see the world." Instead, the former Massachusetts governor said he would frequent Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountain Park of Frederick County, Maryland.

"I think one of the great resources that the president enjoys is Camp David," Romney said, after the host referenced a recent trip by Obama's eldest daughter Malia to Mexico. "I would anticipate if I were fortunate enough to become elected president that I'd be spending some time at Camp David, and my family and I would not be jetting around the world and using four years in office to see the world."

Obama has admittedly not used the grounds as much as his predecessors but is scheduled to host the G-8 summit there in May.

"Somebody pointed out that I hadn't had any of my counterparts, who I've worked with now for three years, up to Camp David," Obama told reporters in March. "I think that the weather should be good that time of year."

Team Obama did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Romney's interview.

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Filed under: 2012 • Mitt Romney • President Obama
soundoff (612 Responses)
  1. Liz the First

    Romney's 'president' spent a third of his term on vacation down in Texas clearing brush and biking. bet that didn't make him scratch his head. i prefer my president well-rested and clear-headed insteaed of worn down to a frazzle and tense to the point of crazy, thank you! the presidency is a pressure cooker you can't escape, even on the golf course. Obama is always in control and in touch. God knows the man needs a break once in a while. if we're unlucky enough for this idiot to become president, let's see how long it takes him to take some time off! what a tool!

    April 18, 2012 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |
  2. mms55

    got news for you mitt your going to be sucking his dust real soon.obama/biden 2012

    April 18, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |
  3. luckjoe

    Obama has added 147,000 federal jobs since taking office. Private sector has lost 2.5 million jobs. Obama is an egotistic empty suit. I know Romney referred to coporations as people. So do I. Corporations employ people and have stock holders who are guess what, people. America has the highest business tax rate in the world. Obama has no clue, Romney 2012!

    April 18, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |
  4. Reality check

    Obama has done such a great job we don't have jobs. We have gas prices out of control. We have wall street doing fine. We have an out of control spending problem. We have government anti-waste wasting our money. We have more wars than we had before and more enemies.

    Re-elect this man if you are happier now with hope and change. No more back door deals or whispers while the mic is off OPPS!!! it is on.

    April 18, 2012 08:09 pm at 8:09 pm |
  5. Constantly Amazed

    The coming debate between Romney and President Obama should be very interesting. When former Gov. Romney has to have a substantive debate with President Obama about this country's issues, he's going to need more than talking points and foolishness about the President's vacations with his family. One-liners, talking points, and "$10,000 bets" aren't going to be enough.

    April 18, 2012 08:10 pm at 8:10 pm |
  6. JJinCVCA

    Mitt should suck it up and file his 2011 tax return. THAT'S what should happen.

    April 18, 2012 08:13 pm at 8:13 pm |
  7. Eugene

    I don't understand why everyone hates on Romney?

    Let's hate on the guy that went to school, went into the business world, started his own very successful equity trading company and adapted to the environment and circumstance and succeeded financially. MItt is a goal driven achiever, when he worked privately his goal was to maximize profits and he did that exceptionally well! When he becomes president it will be to maximize America's potential and effectiveness, considering how bureaucratic and inefficient our government is right now, I'd welcome some change and restructuring in the government.

    And I mean real change! Not the change you put on a poster or the dimes you hand out to the individuals while you gave 700 billion to the banks!!!!

    I will vote for a capable president, who tells the truth and get's things done! versus a smooth talker, with an empty record and empty promises. Sometimes you can't save everybody's job, but you can do what's best for the company! Obama bailed out the banks... has anyone seen the banks do the same to the people?

    For all those who think Obama can accomplish his campaign promises, let me just ask you: is Guantanamo Bay still open in Cuba? We're about two years overdue with that promise. Obama couldn't achieve anything worth value in the first two years of his presidency and that's when he had the Congress! What makes you think now that Republicans hold the House he'll do anything better? I guess Obama figured out the hard way that talking isn't as easy as doing.

    Mitt is a moderate conservative, if any of you did your research, you'd realize that the die hard conservatives, that the media is painting Mitt to be, are not too comfortable with Mitt because he takes everything case by case and will protect the best interest of the constituents...

    April 18, 2012 08:13 pm at 8:13 pm |
  8. Thomas

    Mitt Romney said President Barack Obama is "in over his head and swimming in the wrong direction" when it comes to the nation's economy.

    Where was Mitt Romney , and where was his warnings about the Economy when Bush was in office.

    Romney needs to take responsible for his actions and his no regulation stance before the Bush recession !

    Five sons , all avoided military service, Nothing like promoting conflict and not showing your duty and patriotism .

    April 18, 2012 08:15 pm at 8:15 pm |
  9. Reynald

    says the one going to the Olympics

    April 18, 2012 08:16 pm at 8:16 pm |
  10. CBR

    Of course the Obamas do not own three homes, one of which is on a NH lake and the second in San Diego. Mr. Romney took vacations with his family to NH. He traveled when he was Governor as well.

    He has no idea what he will do. He has not asked ANN yet.

    April 18, 2012 08:18 pm at 8:18 pm |
  11. Majesty Rider

    Golf is your argument!?... Talk about desperation...

    April 18, 2012 08:21 pm at 8:21 pm |
  12. once upon a horse

    I wish Mitt would come point out all these golf trips the president has taken because the last time I saw he was on vacation was back during the hoildays when ALL of Congress was on vacation. As much as this man does I don't see how or when he even sleeps less known play golf. As usual I think Mitt is LYING once again with no shame and pandering to his clueless right wing base that he is still trying to win over.

    April 18, 2012 08:25 pm at 8:25 pm |
  13. works4me

    No need for AF 1... he has his corporate jet. Does he really believe President Obama is on "vacation" while he's away. He's President 24/7. If he takes a few hours to play a round of golf, or go fishing, or be with his Family so be it. I would rather have a stable minded leader at the helm than some redundant, stuck on stupid, partisan spewing flip flopper any day!

    April 18, 2012 08:28 pm at 8:28 pm |
  14. Athena

    You right-wing hate-mongers and racists! Your idol, GWB is the hands-down winner of the Maynard G. Krebs Memorial Award.

    "There has been criticism of the president's vacation at this time. But how does the number of vacation days the president has spent compare to his predecessors? CBS Radio's Mark Knoller has kept track of presidential vacations for years and supplied the data.

    "So far, President Obama has taken 61 vacation days after 31 months in office. At this point in their presidencies, George W. Bush had spent 180 days at his ranch where his staff often joined him for meetings. And Ronald Reagan had taken 112 vacation days at his ranch.

    Among recent presidents, Bill Clinton took the least time off - 28 days."

    But then again, you jackals have never been much concerned with the truth, hence you adoration of Rush, Beck, Dubya, Coulter and Fox News just for starters. Do us all a favor and don't reproduce.

    April 18, 2012 08:31 pm at 8:31 pm |
  15. Yowsers

    These comments ae almost as bad as the belief blog, and those comments are atrocious! Wheres the civility anymore?

    April 18, 2012 08:31 pm at 8:31 pm |
  16. howard

    Come one Willard, reveal to us how many foreign trips you and your family had taken, including the ones paid for by you-know-whom ! And just a reminder : Hawaii is part of the United States. Willard. Good luck on your next trips.

    April 18, 2012 08:37 pm at 8:37 pm |
  17. Drinnc

    Romney is right. No I mean he is correct in saying that the Obama's are taking advantage of their situation, a great deal more than other recent presidents. During such a hard time for so many Americans, it just unseemly to travel so much. Sure the POTUS who ever he is needs time to clear his head once and a while, but the Obamas are clearly overdoing it.

    April 18, 2012 08:44 pm at 8:44 pm |
  18. Thomas

    I think Mitt is referring to his need for a car elevator !

    April 18, 2012 08:45 pm at 8:45 pm |
  19. kmmalone

    The internet is still your friend...vacations taken by Bush in first two years of presidency, 180...Reagan 112, Obama 64 (100 iif you count Camp David). I will give Bush credit though...its hard to call a trip to Texas a vacation...more like purgatory...and he hardly ever left the country...scared of foreigners!

    April 18, 2012 08:46 pm at 8:46 pm |
  20. Nick

    Hi Mitt, save your outrage to some one who believes it. You sat around on your millions and did nothing but fire people and take the profits of the companies you took over.

    April 18, 2012 08:47 pm at 8:47 pm |
  21. Kraig

    I don't see why people are surprised that Mittens thinks going to Hawaii is seeing the world. Most of the GOP (for that matter birthers) do not think Hawaii is part of the USA otherwise they would not have questioned the authenticity of Obama's birth date. Definately not the brightest bunch.

    April 18, 2012 08:48 pm at 8:48 pm |
  22. rexdogcanadien

    Romney seems to be implying that President Obama should always stay at the White House. Has he forgotten that slavery was abolished in America? Come on MiTT end the comic show. Tell us who you are and what you're really about. The American people want to know what you really believe about your self, others and the world in which you live. They need substance -not FLUFF

    April 18, 2012 08:51 pm at 8:51 pm |
  23. JLO

    Pathetic. I refuse to listen to WLW but I can guess he was talking to Bill Cunningham.

    April 18, 2012 08:52 pm at 8:52 pm |
  24. Larry

    Actually would prefer that the pretender in chief take more vacations. He can do less damage.

    April 18, 2012 08:54 pm at 8:54 pm |
  25. leftwetcoast

    Ah Mitt, perhaps you should review the job description of the position you are currently applying for. President of the United States is unlike any job in your sacred "private sector." Despite what the right wing likes to say about how 24/7 365 their favoured CEOs are, there is never any true down time for the President. The Presidency always follows you were ever you go. As President you will always be followed by numerous people who can connect you to every aspect of the US government. And yes, that includes those that can launch a nuclear attack that would destroy all life on this planet. Funny how your right wing friends made such a deal about "liberal" attacks on George Walker Bush's vacation, but Obama's are over the top. Give me a break! Obama's vacations are no different in substance than every other President's.

    April 18, 2012 09:03 pm at 9:03 pm |
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