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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This is coming from a guy who grew up in wealth and was lavished by other means during his upraising, and makes money off of others investments. Right, good argument there, Mitt. Last I checked, since you haven't filled the shoes, how can you judge how easy or difficult it is, or how, someone should manage their time as president? I think your wife would be a better judge of that then you, since she apparently knows your household economy better than you.
OMG – He did not go after the daughter? What tool, that will come back on him.
tend to agree with Mitt on this one, when you factor in all of the time he's taking off to try and get re-elected, it makes you scratch your head a bit
I cannot wait for President Obama to debate him! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!
Not going to matter since the next time you see the inside of the White House will be on a public tour the day after the election. Grow up, Governor. Your childish behavior and ridiculous comments aren't helping to endear you to the electorate. President Obama will be re-elected with a 6 point popular vote margin.
Well Mitt, riding in Air Force One will be a step down for you.
What a pompous ass Romney is. Everyone, even the POTUS, needs down time to "refuel" and refresh. Again what a pompous ass to criticize the way Obama takes his down time. It's unbelievable to me that such a moronic, wishy-washy, double-speak person such as Romney can even BE in serous contention for the presidency, and absolutely scary to think of him actually winning the election.
OBAMA is Otter, Romney is Neidermier. Enough said.
Maybe Romney should be talking to W about all the vacations he had in Waco and maybe he should talk to his doctor about getting a cream for that itch.
Gee, What a nauseating man and family. I am sick of them ALREADY. Such a Big Phoney Family! Everybody knows Black people vacation in WARM climates. Black people don't like camping. See! This is what I mean about Mitt not winning. He has not one clue as to what every American is about. This is not a country with just WHite Americans. Hello! there are other people of other cultures who make up this fine country. Mitt is not ready. This country is not ready for a REAL WHITE family again in the White House.
Past two republican presidents have taken more vacation days than Obama ever did at this point. Romney's idea of a vacatiion is to put the dog and the roof and try to imitate National Lampoon's Vacation.
Do you seriously think he's not working the whole time anyway?
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Yeah, working on his golf game, which by all accounts, is as bad as his economic policies. Its a close call on whether he's lost more jobs or golf balls.
So, MItt, lets make a pledge right here and now. I, Mitt Romney, if elected President, will never vacation at my million dollar condo in Belmont, MA, my multi million dollar mansion on Lake Winnepesauki, NH, or my even more expensive home on the ocean in the ultra-rich enclave of La Jolla, CA, where I am expanding it to include elevators for my mutliple vehicles, and instead will spend my down time at Camp David, where I will make believe I understand and show empathy for the pitiful 99%!! Almost forgot, does the Romney family still have that retreat in Canada?
Mitt is correct. Obama has used the Presidency as a first class ticket for exotic vacations. It has been exceedingly more days than Bush. Obama goes far and wide not to Texas for Gods sakes and the American people did not have to foot the bill for high end lodging that the Obama's require. Basically the Obama White House is just like the GSA and is acting like the American peoples money is their money.
@Bob on page 7:
George W. Bush net change in annual deficit:
Started = $300B [FY2001]
Ended = ($1.5T) [FY2009]
Net change to annual deficit = ($1.8T)
Barack H. Obama net change in annual deficit
Started = ($1.5T) [FY2010]
Current = ($1.3T) [FY2012 projection]
Net change to annual deficit = $200B
Mitt Romney wants to implement the same economic policies as Bush.
Pres. Obama has us moving in the right direction.
I cant wait for a debate between Obama and Romney. I hope Romney will wright some stuff on his hand (might come handy).
I don't care if the president takes time off but I don't care for this president either. Go Romney – 2012!!
Anybody who works with the President confirms that the president always take working vacation. I am so sick of Mitt and his family who looks down their noses at everyone. I also truly dislike closet racist such as Mitt and his family. His reason for not apologizing for Ted Nugent is Ted is saying exactly what Mitt and Newt want to say but truly is trying to hide. Closet racism.
Etch-a-Sketch Mitt Romney is a walking IDIOT!!!....he is like a puppet just spouting off whatever his flip-flopped mind could conjure up. No substance. No core. Just being out of touch with reality be assuimg he is already president!!!
Get A Life Mitt!!!!
"Don't say anything at all about the rich; they've "earned" they're lifestyles" vs. "Obama, no vacations for you." Mitt makes no sense. Also, Obama needs a break everyone in a while; stressful job. It's not like this is keeping him from doing anything; Congress isn't sending anything to his desk lately anyway. They're the ones who need to 'suck it up.'
Glass houses sadly come to mind. Romney must expect Americans to ignore his own vacation mansions in LaJolla, Wolfeboro, etc. as well as his trips while he was governor.
Just because most Americans do not have Romney's elitist means, does not mean Mitt should be hypocritical trying to point to someone else, who has actually taken far fewer trips than predecessors.
Romney's got nothin! Bush took by far more vacations than any president to date. I'm still waiting to hear how Romney is going to fix the economy. Oh wait, he'd have to admit it was a Republican who messed it up!
It takes a man who has no worries in the world to pick on such mundane issue like golf. Romney doesn't have to work or feel anything the normal people feel. The president needs his break from the uncalled-for stresses of the GOP. He doesn't sit home with his wife and open envelopes of checks from around the world, he ruthlessly made firing and closing businesses.
Mr Romney is making himself look and sound like a big jerk. Mitt, please stop listening to these idiots on the far right or you ARE going to lose this election.
What a total hypocrite this guy is. With his millions, does he want us to believe he hasn't vacationed his butt off for years? I agree with the writer who said Air Force One would be a step down for this guy. EVERY president deserves vacation time, and time for his family...they have the most pressure-filled job on Earth. Mitt diminishes his avowal of family values by criticizing Obama on this. Hello...the guy grew up in Hawaii...he has friends and family there. Why WOULDN'T he vacation there? More power to him, and good luck trying to relate to real people, Mitt. Another job well done, GOP. You sure know how to pick them.