"A Cozy Little Date Night!"

It's time to Break It Down!

It appears the lines are drawn in the sand on this one. Seldom has a non Reality TV date (think The Bachelor) generated so much buzz. Four days later, an eternity in the perpetual 24-7 continuous news cycle business, reporters are still writing about it, and analysts continue flaying POTUS for his gross insensitivity, or defending him for his chivalrous valor.

In the grand scheme of things, the manufactured outrage around this issue is the equivalent of a mosquito flying in the wake of a jumbo jet; so infinitesimally insignificant as to be indiscernible. On its face, there are a number of plausible responses to those with heightened sensibilities on the matter.

One might start with posing a simple query; what did W, or his predecessors do? Of course, most folks who follow such mundane things recall President George W. Bush was renowned for vacationing, and accumulated more personal travel miles than any previous President. You probably also remember most of those trips were round trips between Washington and his Crawford, TX ranch. But do not worry; this is not a Bush beat down piece.

Conservatives have attempted to frame the issue around the troubled economy, and the pending bankruptcy of General Motors (GM). They argue that with that catastrophe as a backdrop, it just looks bad for the President of the United States, who dictated the terms, and orchestrated GM’s filing, to be flying off on some opulent Saturday night date in Gotham. Never mind that the auto maker’s move was a desperate ploy to save itself, and that even shareholders recognized if they did not cut their losses now, the company may never be able to repay the addition federal funds they would have required to help them stabilize the firm.

Not surprisingly, much of the vitriolic rhetoric being bandied about is of a partisan nature. Much of it actually smacks of disingenuousness. Most of the political insiders hurling insults, and pandering to a shrinking base know better, and fully understand that the President is billed for and pays for personal aspects of trips such as this. His personal tab included a sitter, unless his mother-in-law was available; of course if she was, he paid for that already. He paid the equivalent of air fare, undoubtedly First-Class, dinner, theater tickets, and their drinks. More over, the traveling press corps is billed as well.

Now, there are aspects for which tax-payers pick up the tab. When NYC shut down city streets, or worked with the Secret Service to ensure other security measures, you and I paid for that. But let’s face it; that is the price we pay for the American Dream! Wherever the President goes, any President, he is escorted; across the street, or across an ocean; around the corner, or around the world. In other words, the strategies and tactic used to protect the President were not devised by President Obama, and they are not optional.

Finally, when asked why he chose to take this trip last Saturday Mr. Obama responded that he had made a campaign promise to Michelle that when the campaign season was over he would take her to New York, and by doing so, he was honoring that pledge.

That simple declarative statement was really all you need to know. In the face of snap polls, and shrill and antagonistic naysayers, POTUS was guided by the only poll that mattered (to him) on this issue. He did not need a Gallup Poll, nor a Pew Research Poll, nor a Washington Post, New York Times, or CNN Poll.

Clearly, President Obama tracks the Michelle Poll…assiduously. He understands the rest of us routinely dissect his actions and assess his effectiveness in keeping campaign promises. However, he knows that in order to focus effectively on ending the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, navigating issues that surround nuclear policy in South Korea, and Pakistan, re-engaging Cuba, securing the Mexican border, and stabilizing the national and global economies, he must ensure peace and "domestic tranquility" at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Give the gentleman credit for a great idea; “A Cozy Little Date Night!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/nyregion/31obama.html?_r=1

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05312009/news/nationalnews/obama_keeps_his_big_apple_pledge_171810.htm

http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-in-new-york-city/452442

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/30/obamas-head-new-york-city-date-night/

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/obamas-enjoy-date-night-in-nyc-2009315

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctKxWTsBMl4

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/06/obama-date-night-in-nyc-.html

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/01/should-taxpayer-money-cover-obamas-nyc-date-night/

http://gothamist.com/2009/05/31/date_night_in_nyc_obamas_dine_at_bl.php

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/23122.html