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:

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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. ThinkAgain

    Mittens scratched his head? How'd he do that without breaking a nail on that sprayed in place hair?

    April 18, 2012 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |
  2. Latishia

    Met Rodmey, You need axe you self why Barrack so much better than you. You lie and make fool of you self. Barrack takes care of people and you selp on bed of mony. You so stupd. That ol fool Bush and you causd all our problems and you never take responsblty for it. lie lie lie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    April 18, 2012 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |
  3. JV

    Tragically, this buffoon will be our next president

    April 18, 2012 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |
  4. The Real Tom Paine

    A millionaire venture capitalist with multiple vacation homes complaining about the frequency of the POTUS's breaks? Please. even Dan Quayle has not begrudged Obama taking golf breaks, accurately pointing out that Presidency is a 24×7 job and the POTUS needs to relax sometimes. Has the GOP had a fit when the Speaker joined the Presdient on the golf course? Of course not, but they have a marvelously selective memory when it comes to their own taking breaks, vacations, etc.: just remember not to go hunting with a member of the Cheney family, ok?

    April 18, 2012 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |
  5. BLKMANinAmerica

    OMG right................................soooooooooooooooooooo Romeny dosen't take vacations? STUPID!

    April 18, 2012 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |
  6. CitizenAJ

    So, with all the responsibility that a President has, he is not suppose to take a moment to refresh? Bush did, and other President's before them. Considering the President's policies kept the U.S. economy from falling over a cliff, I think he can take some time to unwind. Also, his daughter happens to be coming of age in the white house. If the Obamas were not in the white house, she still would have went on this trip. Your family's life just suspends because you are the President? I don't expect that of elected officials, just don't abuse funds to do extras, like the GSA, but going on vacation, to me, is recommended.

    April 18, 2012 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |
  7. jb

    To think this is the best that the GOP can offer.

    Cannot wait till November and 4 more years!

    April 18, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  8. GI Joe

    Romney was an active governor 2 years - the last two he was out of state campaigning constantly. that's how Massachusetts survived. They would have kicked his lazy dictatorial butt out if he hadn't gone on his own. TWO YEARS WAS ALL HE COULD HANDLE, and that was ONLY 1 state. The entire country/world is quite different.

    April 18, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  9. blarkin

    How does somebody with 5 vacation homes say this ?MITTENS has proven himself to be world class lier the best money can buy.

    April 18, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  10. FloridaRes

    Sure Romney and Ann and 5 kids and retinue have been all over the world courtesy of the jobs that Romney outsourced to companies abroad and his wealth. I don't think that the Obamas need to stop living while Barack is president. Look at what Pres Bush did for 8 years – over 77 trips to Crawford TX at cost of 10s of millions of dollars just for Air Force 1, secret service, etc. Not to mention the trips that Laura Bush made (the right just criticizes Michelle but not Laura!) Why can't the President play golf – I remember Eisenhower played plenty of golf – but wait he was GOP...that makes it right to Romney.

    April 18, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |
  11. ThinkAgain

    @The Real Truth and yada yada: "Did verybody hear Obama's comments when he was in Columbia? How he and Michelle like to scout out these places while they are there for potential future vacation spots?!"

    You just love to copy and paste from the conservatard blogs, don't you? Here's the actual quote:

    “I want to thank President Santos and the people of Colombia for the extraordinary hospitality in the beautiful city of Cartagena,” said Obama. “We’re having a wonderful time. And usually when I take these summit trips, part of my job is to scout out where I may want to bring Michelle back later for vacation. So we’ll make sure to come back sometime in the near future.”

    Anyone with half a brain (that doesn't include Repubs, BTW) knows that the words were said within the context of a compliment to Colombia and light, self-deprecating joke.

    You Repubs are just so disgusting in your unending efforts to bring down President Obama, even though his policies kept our country from going into a Great Depression and are turning the economy slowly around.

    President Obama = GM is alive and Osama bin Laden is dead. DEAL WITH IT!

    Obama/Biden 2012

    April 18, 2012 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |
  12. Maxx

    When Romney was governor of MA, he was out of state more often than he was in. Lots of time spent at his "small place" (6000 sq. ft.) in NH. The man is so dishonest.

    April 18, 2012 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |
  13. julie

    ol boy is gettinga little arrogant now that rick backed out of the race................we will see how his arrogance holds up when the debates start..................dude trying to be all bad....be careful willard

    Obama 2012............only way forward

    April 18, 2012 03:15 pm at 3:15 pm |
  14. docame

    Bill said:

    "I love how all these GOP'ers talk so much trash about the only guy who is actually trying to save our country from the conservative fiscal policies of the past 13 years. Where was the GOP the past 13 years when this country was being driven into the ground; Oh I forgot, the GOP were the ones doing the digging."

    Nice one Bill. But, instead of the word fiscal, I'd insert fascist. Yeah, that's right. The GOP loves calling us socialist (when they haven't a clue what that even means). How do they like being called fascist? Had a pic of G Bush, Sr. on my wall for decades with a Hitler mustache and swastikas drawn in – they fit right in with his "Heil, Hitler" salute going on there! HAHAHAHAHahahahhaha!

    April 18, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |
  15. Matt

    I guess when you have nothing of substance to say, this is the sort of desperate route you have to take.

    April 18, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |
  16. alleygator

    Willard, dood! Your 'bromance' with Ted Nugent is paying off! He's teaching you to talk the way regular people do!

    April 18, 2012 03:16 pm at 3:16 pm |
  17. sonny chapman

    Repubs. would complain about how Obama kisses his daughters Good Night.

    April 18, 2012 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |
  18. James

    How much time is he really spending playing golf? I don't see Obama screwing around any more than any other president in my lifetime. Whether you agree with the work he's doing or not, the guy is working his butt off and deserves a little down time now and then. I'm not a huge Obama fan, I swore I wouldn't vote for him again, but I really don't see anyone else putting a lot on the table beyond criticism of the status quo. It's easy to criticize someone for not doing a good job. Cut it out and provide some real ideas, not just idealistic talking points.

    April 18, 2012 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |
  19. Mark Bernadiner

    Obama has much more serious problem than golf, his birst certificate, he released, is fake., his economic plicies are fake, his relatives in US are illegals.

    April 18, 2012 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |
  20. bk753

    Presidents don't take "vacations" as we know them. They work EVERY DAY. Does Mitt Romney not think you can work while golfing? Is he serious or just pretending to be that stupid. "Mitt, they have these marvelous cell phone things... that keep the leader of the free world in touch 24/7/365." Stop pandering, you elitist buffoon.

    April 18, 2012 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |
  21. REG in AZ

    Romney and other Republicans are really complete hypocrites. Criticizing Obama for playing golf when all they do is fault and block every real effort at reforms or to get anything done. They stubbornly withhold bipartisan cooperation and arrogantly only protect the interests of "the few, their strong supporters, as they belligerently put their political ambitions above all responsibilities to the people. They fault Obama yet they ignored that the president that literally worked the least, with constantly relaxing at either Camp David or at his Texas ranch, was GWBush. As usual, they expect their rhetoric to con the people and manipulate public opinion while their actions contradict all they say by just serving the interests of "the few". Disgusting to say the least.

    April 18, 2012 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |
  22. Iconoclast

    Coming from Mitt I hardly think he's in any position to judge. I'd rather have a sane relaxed president than somebody who exhibits all the traits of a well polished sociopath. Watch how he (and his supporters) go down in flames come November. Keep hoping his draft dodging buddy Ted will come over and blow his brains out at the concession speech, just for show of course!

    April 18, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
  23. Penobscot

    Good job Romney!! America wants a President that has some discipline and restraint. Romney has both, Obama has neither.

    April 18, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
  24. DC

    How easy it is to criticize from the cheap seats when you have absolutely no responsibility. Talk about the issues Mitt. That is what people (read independent voters) are interested in and not this nonsense. I really don't care if the president spends 364 out of 365 days a year on vacation as long as he or she gets the job done. I don't know which adviser is whispering this nonsense in your ear to say but you need to fire that person right now. The American people are not interested in this crap.

    April 18, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
  25. docame

    I'd take Mittens more seriously if he committed to taking no vacations or time off IF he becomes POTUS!

    Maybe Democrats = socialists, but GOPers = FASCISTS!

    April 18, 2012 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |
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