When Politics and Sports Cross Paths, I Get Even More Controversial [Barack Obama Edition]
Usually we don’t address politics too often on this site beyond the occasional “Barack’s got court vision” post. I read something last week though that got my attention about our President. It was about something seemingly innocuous: Obama’s apparent love of golf. The love has gone a bit far, however. As of last Monday, he surpassed the amount of rounds played by Bush in his entire time in office (sidenote: Bush didn’t play after 2 years and 10 months for the rest of his presidency because, “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander-in- chief playing golf”):
“Today (Oct. 26) – Obama ties Pres. Bush in the number of rounds of golf played in office: 24. Took Bush 2 yrs & 10 months.”
Obama has also played tons of basketball and tennis. This is about to get a bit political and include me railing against the media, so please leave the room if you are pregnant or have any heart-related illnesses. Gone? Okay, here’s my problem. Why are we just hearing about this now? Did you have any idea Obama was playing so much golf? When Bush even took an afternoon off, the media covered it ad nauseum. With Obama we don’t hear a peep. Until now.
Why, you ask? Here’s my theory. The media has an agenda, be it NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, or whatever. This applies to the news media as much as the sports media (heard about that Favre guy lately? Or how “violent” the NBA culture is?). I’m not here to comment on whether Bush deserved the criticism or not (he definitely did, though), but the media turned on him very quickly, and all of a sudden they magnified everything he did and painted it in the most negative light possible. With Obama, the exact opposite happened. Instead of reporting on what Obama was actually about, the 24-hour news media decided to play to its adoring audience (like my girlfriend, who wants to sleep with Obama as much as she likes his politics) and throw puff pieces at him.
Well it appears his “honeymoon” with the American people is over. Unfortunately the media’s treatment of him hinges on what the ratings say (or whatever the media’s secret agenda is) and not on what he is actually doing. That is the reason the information about all the golf just came out. That’s why Bush was skewered for days off while Obama was not, even though they are both taking quite a bit off (golf is pretty much a day off, let’s be honest).
So beware, loyal readers. The media plays its own game and you cannot always trust that their agenda is pure. This applies to sports media and news media alike. Feel free to mock this wild “Mainstream Media is Corrupt” conspiracy theory all you want, but you have to admit to yourself it is a little true.
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Comments
Comment from Stormin’ Norman Disciple
Time November 4, 2009 at 9:50 am
Come on now, when he goes to play golf up at Camp David, he leaves his house around 10 and gets back around 4. That is a day off for all intents and purposes. How many times have you gone golfing on a work day and not had to call in sick?
Comment from Stormin’ Norman Disciple
Time November 4, 2009 at 9:51 am
Also, how come we are all of a sudden hearing about Obama’s recreation stuff being too much now, out of nowhere, right when the mainstream opinion about him has soured and the media has clearly turned on him? Oh right, agenda…
Comment from Hef
Time November 4, 2009 at 10:02 am
The President’s schedule is public record. You can look it up if you’re that concerned. But here’s an excerpt from your link (emphasis added):
When a president goes golfing, the public sees little of it — only the ritual comings and goings of the president from the White House, such as the long afternoon spent Sunday at Fort Belvoir, out of the White House shortly after noon, back by about 6:30 pm.
Comment from Ethan
Time November 4, 2009 at 10:19 am
if i was president i’d golf all day everyday. running the country? that’s what his staff is for. he is just a face.
Comment from StevieY19
Time November 4, 2009 at 10:41 am
“he took more vacation days than every other president before him combined. Combined.”
George Washington never took a vacation day. e-fact.
Comment from ben
Time November 4, 2009 at 12:14 pm
it seems like this might be a trash job because your girlfriend wants to sleep with obama …and that obama has a better jump shot than you. talk about agenda!
Pingback from November 4, 2009: New Oscar Hosts; Vujacic Lands Sharapova; Padilla Shooting | FanSided
Time November 4, 2009 at 12:57 pm
[...] Keeping Track of Barack Obama’s Leisure Time (For the Good of the Nation) [...]
Comment from chitown
Time November 4, 2009 at 1:13 pm
“Instead of reporting on what Obama was actually about” – Fox News tells that every day, he’s a muslim, commie, fascist, nazi of course. In regards to media reporting on Bush I wish they were more critical on his administration over things that mattered such as pre-emptive war, warrantless wire tapping, and ignoring the Geneva convention.
But I digress…
Pingback from Sports on the Web | Gunaxin
Time November 4, 2009 at 3:17 pm
[...] Obama has played more golf than Bush already [Not Qualified to Comment] [...]
Comment from Rule 5 Draftee
Time November 4, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Oh, he’s been golfing this whole time? Maybe that explains why we gave up the Missile Shield program AND STILL FAILED to get the Russians to side with us on sanctions with Iran. Maybe if Obama had spent a little less time on the links, he wouldn’t have allowed such an embarrassing failure of foreign diplomacy to take place. Side note: foreign relations with Canada are at an all time low since the War of 1812. I’m just sayin’………
Comment from MJM
Time November 6, 2009 at 2:57 pm
” he took more vacation days than every other president before him combined. Combined.”
Give me a break – no President is ever on “vacation”. Furthermore, who complied these vacation day stats? Michael Moore?
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Comment from Hef
Time November 4, 2009 at 9:48 am
Pretty sure you can play golf and tennis and basketball at the White House or nearby at Camp David. The reason we heard about Bush’s absence (not just golf…that wasn’t the focus so you’ve created a bit of a strawman) was because he took more vacation days than every other president before him combined. Combined. How many vacation days has Obama taken so far?