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.

Also see:

Nugent threatens death if Obama wins in November

Romney campaign 'bracketing' aims to 'step on president's message'

Dems, Republicans make their picks in election to replace Giffords

CNN Poll of Polls: All knotted up between Obama and Romney

Romney chimes in on Secret Service, GSA


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

    Just when I thought this soulless loser couldn't get any more transparently ridiculous. Real winner you've chosen, GOP. Why don't we talk more about "values."

    April 18, 2012 10:34 pm at 10:34 pm |
  2. wide-eyed

    Yeah, and if he didn't have to drag along Secret Service Mitt and Ann would be in Europe with their show horse.

    April 18, 2012 10:35 pm at 10:35 pm |
  3. Jackoo

    I can see the Obama bots are at work on this thread. The partier-in-chief has really gotten a WHOLE LOT DONE... to his impressive community organizer/con law professor resume will soon be added:

    Signature OBABACARE LAW verdict: UNconstitutional

    April 18, 2012 10:38 pm at 10:38 pm |
  4. Balls McGhee

    Bush golfed, and took more vacation days than any president ever. I thought Romeny was going to focus on the economy and not on this meaningless babble. what a two faced liar.

    April 18, 2012 10:39 pm at 10:39 pm |
  5. Stacey

    During the oil spill in the Gulf Obama went GOLFING multiple times before even visiting the spill. Disgusting. Get your priorities right, buddy. Not making the same mistake in voting for him again!

    April 18, 2012 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm |
  6. stevetall

    MaryA, you're not sounding too sharp. Obama has spent a lot less time on vacation than his predecessor, so what's the big deal? He has a huge job in being the janitor for the previous administration, and I bet he takes fewer vacations than you do. I wouldn't want him or his family to go anywhere without Secret Sefvice protection. Period. Your game of playing with the president's name, and the names of his family show just how representative of the poorly educated you are. Don't come crying to me when the president wins by a landslide!

    April 18, 2012 10:50 pm at 10:50 pm |
  7. Former Republican, now an Independent

    If the republican want to talk about vacations, they should talk about George W. Bush who was almost never in Washington. The nation began to wonder if the White House has been moved to Texas.

    April 18, 2012 11:13 pm at 11:13 pm |
  8. twophad

    This President came to office in one of the more difficult times to hold that office. He's done well at beginning to turn the economy around, and will do better in his second term. I really don't begrudge him a golf game, and I don't think Michelle is the first First Lady to take trips, Secret Service and all! She is a wonderful First Lady, and she can't be taking that many vacations because I always see her on the tv right here in Washington, in connection with one of her projects. Romney is full of it.

    April 18, 2012 11:28 pm at 11:28 pm |
  9. Chris

    I think it's funny that Romney complains of Obama using time to "see the world" in reference to Obama visiting family in one of the 50 United States, his home state no less. His geography seems worse than Palin, who I bet would at least know that Hawaii is a state, and not some international part of the world. I wonder if Romney would "see the world" visiting family in Mass. when he's president?

    April 18, 2012 11:29 pm at 11:29 pm |
  10. Native Americans

    Will vote for President Obama!

    April 18, 2012 11:32 pm at 11:32 pm |
  11. Carol

    Only a socialist would think of "Fairness" and redistribution of wealth, as their top political agenda. Say No to Obama's socialist agendas for America.

    April 19, 2012 12:01 am at 12:01 am |
  12. slickteigkcmo

    Maybe taking vacations with his family, keeps his family intact. Not all presidents value their families and some cheat on their wives. Obama is a family man too in addition to being the president. With all the stress of his job, I would hope he'd relax occasionally considering how many days/nights he works at his very difficult job. Please keep having a balanced life President Obama, it will keep you a balanced leader, and a more sane person.

    April 19, 2012 12:04 am at 12:04 am |
  13. Edwin

    Sal,

    The worst part about Romney is not really having any idea what he intends to do. He made lots of promises during the republican primary, but many of them contradict what he said prior to that... and of course, he plans to "etch-a-sketch" those promises. So... what will he actually DO if he becomes president - aside from dismantling some companies for profit?

    April 19, 2012 12:04 am at 12:04 am |
  14. Tony in St. Louis

    The more I attempt to listen to Romney, the more of a dolt he becomes!!! Is this guy really running for POTUS!!!

    April 19, 2012 12:05 am at 12:05 am |
  15. traductio2

    This is utterly unbelievable... I realize that some people may not fully understand how each of these systems work, but to judge a candidate really does not require more than understanding when someone (such as Mr. Romney) lies through his teeth and will literally say anything to gain attention, and possibly win over someone who distractedly listens or reads to news headlines without digging into such details. REALLY?

    April 19, 2012 12:16 am at 12:16 am |
  16. Oliver

    President Obama "Ideas, Initiatives, Being Classy (ie Frank Sinatra), Education, Sciene, The Working Class, Yes."

    Mitt Romney "Personal Attacks, Fair Weather, Being Classy (ie car elevators) Ignorance, Religion, The Owning Class, No."

    The choice is pretty clear.

    YES WE CAN...AGAIN!

    April 19, 2012 12:18 am at 12:18 am |
  17. Jeff

    Mean old Romney....he is an evil rich guy. Oh wait.....being rich and successful is the American dream! At least it was the American dream a long time ago. Now the American dream is to make the government rich.

    April 19, 2012 12:20 am at 12:20 am |
  18. Political Capital

    Is this really what Romney has come to already? Criticizing how the President spends vacations? In a country where there is an increasingly big divide between those who have and those who have not and where issues such as gun control, women's rights & healthcare are all waiting to be address satisfactorily, Romney choses to focus on golf? If that’s his idea of prioritizing then we’re in for a rough ride if he happens to win in November.

    April 19, 2012 12:21 am at 12:21 am |
  19. Namryan

    I guess he already travelled enough when he was a missionary in France (famous third world country... Montecarlo and St. Tropez particularly)!

    April 19, 2012 12:41 am at 12:41 am |
  20. B

    Romney spent 212 days of his last year as Gov. of MA out of state, Obama has taken 61 days of vacation since he started, in the same time Bush had taken 180, and Reagan 118.

    April 19, 2012 12:57 am at 12:57 am |
  21. cgs

    Why is it such a crime to be rich in America these days?

    April 19, 2012 01:03 am at 1:03 am |
  22. FED up

    Ok first Romney is still in the primary stage, despite this fantasy the MSM have made up about Romney having won the GOP candidacy already. Anyone paying attention to the real score (not the associated press polling numbers) knows Romney isn't doing nearly as well as the corporate media driven spin is suggesting. YES America is tired of paying for presidential vacations in the wake of so many of us losing our homes and jobs to a government that can't do their's. Obama and Mitt are both equally poor choices for America. Anyone who belives Mitt isn't just sucking up to the public to actually secure his candidacy for the GOP race (still ongoing, the conventions have barely started folks) is a fool. Anyone who thinks Obama isn't abusing his position is a sucker.

    April 19, 2012 01:12 am at 1:12 am |
  23. Reality

    President Obama's is handling SERIOUS BUSINESS. Doing BIG THINGS. Mitt's like a kindergardener...still wet behind the ears. I'm voting for the grown up...President Obama!

    April 19, 2012 01:18 am at 1:18 am |
  24. Skip S. Skeptic

    Obama, B. +27 in today's golf score.
    Finance drops and he plays a men-only game? Get with it!

    April 19, 2012 01:27 am at 1:27 am |
  25. CrimsonDuece

    Mitt Romey is like Chauncy the gardener in "Being There". Except without the childlike curiosity, charm, or like-ability. However, he does seem to have stummbled through life unaware of who he is.

    April 19, 2012 01:39 am at 1:39 am |
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