by Christi Parsons
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- President Barack Obama heads to the island resort of Martha's Vineyard today for a family vacation likely to be interspersed with talk of - and work on - his drive to pass a health-care overhaul this fall.
The president, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters are set to spend the week at the well-appointed Blue Heron farm, a private estate which they are renting from a family of Republican political donors.
The 28-acre spread affords the Obamas access to the sand and surf, along with something else they don't get much of when they travel as a foursome: privacy.
But the health-care debate won't pause this week. And signs are that the president, and his White House -in-residence, will keep working, if at a slightly more relaxed pace.
Aides to Obama say he is planning to keep in touch with lawmakers, especially members of the Senate Finance committee, by telephone. Advisors haven't entirely ruled out the possibility of a "town hall "-styled meeting before the family's vacation ends on Aug. 30.
Also, the island retreat is not far from the Cape Cod home where Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) has been spending a lot of time this summer, raising the possibility that Obama could pay a visit to the ailing senator, a longtime advocate of health-care reform who is battling brain cancer. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview on ABC News' This Week today that the absence of Kennedy, a master negotiator, has had an impact on the health-care debate.
Today, the first family was making their way to the island a little later than earlier planned, out of concern for the weather -- with the passage of Hurricane Bill, a tropical storm warning was lifted from the island.off the south shore of Cape Cod.
The president also sent word via his press secretary that he hoped people would respect the privacy of his daughters.
"It is our strong hope and desire that you all, during this family vacation, will respect the privacy of Sasha and Malia Obama," spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "This is a strong request by the first family."
The trip is the first full week of vacation the Obamas are taking this summer, their first in the White House, and the staff has been working for months to make sure it is a quiet, private one. The family is expected to be joined by longtime friends from Chicago, including presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett and physician Eric Whitaker.
Asked if the White House was worried about how the public might view the president taking a break at such a "tony" vacation spot, Gibbs said he didn't think so.
"I don't think the American people begrudge the president taking some time with his family," he said, adding that the time off is "well-deserved, well-earned" -- and only set to last a few days.
Comments
The country needs a rest from Obama more than Obama needs a rest from his job (aka constant campaign). Did not anyone ever advise him about over-exposure? Or thinking before engaging his mouth? By surrendering the drafting of health care planning to the Pelosi-Reid-Schumer axis, he made himself vulnerable by revealing how shallow his is as a president. Back to the platitudes; the details are hurting him.
Posted by: Emeril | August 23, 2009 11:31 AM
"It is our strong hope and desire that you all, during this family vacation, will respect the privacy of Sasha and Malia Obama," - Unless they are trotted out for a photo-op like they were at the Grand Canyon.
Maybe while BO is on vacation he give the girls a math lesson about what the number 9,000,000,000,000 means.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE57K4XE20090821
Posted by: Terry | August 23, 2009 1:03 PM
Millions of Americans have lost their jobs under the failed obama policies, but he jets off to play with the rich and famous.
Change you can believe in....
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | August 23, 2009 1:10 PM
I doubt many of us could truly begin to imagine the amount of constant stress the president is under not to mention the numerous demands and expectations from people of all walks of life. Everyone thinks their demand is the most important and best option! Our president needs to get away (as much as it is feasible) to have quality time to be alone, reflect and spend with his family. President Obama deserves this time for renewal and will come back ready to work for all Americans, even the "haters".
Posted by: Laverne | August 23, 2009 5:22 PM
i could care less about the president vacationing in m-v. and yeah i can imagine the stress - poor obama - he had his arm twisted into becoming president of our country. and i doubt that he is much less stressed at the vineyard - pretty much a 24/7 job.
@terry: right on, we should be focused on the reckless and unethical generational theft. this guy is dangerous. i wish he would take more vacation or pull a sarah palin. just stop spending everyone else's money!
@paulo: i hope you did not vote for him or believe the 'change' rhetoric. this is a self serving megalomaniac with little competence to govern. like all the other politicians, promoting a system to perpetually enrich the governing class with disregard for pretty much anything else. real change needs to come from the ground up: man help man.
@laverne: i truly admire your compassion and humanity but get on the trolley. you are losing your society and culture - rapidly [even faster than w.]. it does not matter that this guy is on vacation, and yeah he works hard. the point is that he is working for himself and his system [not ours]. the problem is that incompetence, overconfidence, and dishonesty create a dangerous result when mixed with power and ambition. it is not about him relaxing. it is about govt interfering in our lives in a destructive and unsustainable manner. and no i do not have a demand of mr president that i think is important - i hope he stays in the vineyard.
Posted by: sugbear | August 24, 2009 5:20 AM
I also heard he has played golf 10 times since being in office. Paris, Marthas Vineyard, etc., etc. Boy I wish I had a job so unimportant that I could be on vacation all the time. This guys a joke.
Posted by: Knock | August 24, 2009 8:33 AM
Oh Please....you IDIOT....the rest of us can't pay our bills and are out of work....you just keep on spending our money and enjoy your vacations....you don't know how to do anything else anyway.....I'm glad you are doing your part to help....WHAT A JOKE!!!
Posted by: mom1 | August 24, 2009 8:38 AM
The President NEVER really takes a vacation - he is always in constant touch with all his people. The only 'vacation' he really gets a change of view, which does change the pace a bit.
As for making this an important 'headliner', it isn't.
Posted by: Wake up | August 24, 2009 9:02 AM
Picture an image of a turtle sitting on top of a fence post.
You know that he doesn't belong there, that he did not get there on his own, and that there is nothing functional he can do while up there.
Obama is a fence turtle.
Posted by: Greg | August 24, 2009 9:49 AM
Oh yes, Obama wants everyone else to watch their pennies and tighten their belts while he goes off to the ultra high end Martha's vineyard with all his elitist east coast friends. What a joke that you people bought into his "change"! He is right where he always wanted to be - on the east coast and vacationing with the wealthy!
Posted by: nancy | August 24, 2009 10:13 AM
We need a hard working President loike George W Bush again. He took not a single vvacation day while in office. None. He didn't play a single round of golf in his 8 years. He worked 20 hours a day, minimum, Some times he went 3 or 4 days without sleep, because he was so focused on working for the American people. It was because of that dedication and hard work that Bush handed Obama an economy of un-precedented prosperity. GDP growth at 8%, unemployment and interest rates at 1%, housing prices were booming, the Dow was at 20,000. The Obama came and screwed it all up by playing golf and going on a vacation.
Posted by: Notes from the Republican fantasy world | August 24, 2009 10:58 AM
I wonder if Obama will have any more open and transparent meetings with more Big Pharma guys while on vacation. I heard they like to hang out up there too.
Posted by: Chris | August 24, 2009 2:39 PM