Stay on Vacation?

President Obama is on vacation on Martha's Vineyard after his 3 day campaign bus trip through the Midwest.  Seeing some of the aftermath of the trip, it might actually be better that he is vacationing than in Washington working on the People's business.  Here are three specific examples of why it might be better for the country if he did not worry about getting back to work too soon.

Example 1
I wrote yesterday about his exchange with the misinformed college student from Augustana College in Illinois.

Example 2
Peter Kirsamow of The Corner has these questions for President Obama after the trip.

During your bus tour this week you repeatedly called for “shared sacrifice” and for the “wealthy” to pay their “fair share” in order to reduce the federal deficit and debt. According to the latest IRS data:

• The top 1 percent of income earners pay 38 percent of all federal income taxes. They earn 20 percent of all (adjusted gross) income.
• The top 10 percent of income earners pay 70 percent of all federal income taxes. They earn 55 percent of all income.
• The top 25 percent of all income earners pay 86 percent of all federal income taxes. They earn  67 percent of all income.
• Approximately half of U.S. households pay no federal income taxes whatsoever.

From which of the above categories do you want more “shared sacrifice?”

Do you want those in the top 25 percent of income earners to pay more than 86 percent of all federal income tax? If so, how much more?

  

Do you maintain that the top 25 percent should pay more federal income taxes because they use federal government services or benefit from federal government programs more than those who pay no federal income taxes? If so, which specific federal programs/services provide more benefits to the top 25 percent than to those who pay no federal income taxes?

What, if anything, should be the “fair share” paid by those presently paying no federal income taxes?

The threshold adjusted gross income for the top 25 percent of income earners is $67,280.  Do you consider that “wealthy?”

Example 3

Finally, consider the experience of M.J. Lee of Politico who followed the President's advice that he gave to  a farmer who had questioned the President about new rules and regulations that could impact his farming business.   He contacted the USDA.  Here is the background in the story.

At Wednesday’s town hall in Atkinson, Ill., a local farmer who said he grows corn and soybeans expressed his concerns to President Obama about “more rules and regulations” – including those concerning dust, noise and water runoff -- that he heard would negatively affect his business.

The president, on day three of his Midwest bus tour, replied: “If you hear something is happening, but it hasn’t happened, don’t always believe what you hear.”

When the room broke into soft laughter, the president added, “No -- and I’m serious about that.”

Saying that “folks in Washington” like to get “all ginned up” about things that aren’t necessarily happening (“Look what’s comin’ down the pipe!”), Obama’s advice was simple: “Contact USDA.”

You really need to read the entire chronology of what the reporter had to deal with to appreciate how unhelpful President Obama's advice was to the farmer.  As Lee observed, he was soon  in "the bureaucratic equivalent of a hot potato."  You can also better understand why the room broke into laughter while the President answered the farmer.

I am not begrudging anyone taking a vacation. However, most American workers have to make sure all of their work is done before they go on vacation.  I think Congress and the President both should have stayed on the job since there is so much unfinished work in Washington.

At the same time, considering the aftermath of the President's bus trip, perhaps he will do less damage attacking the golf ball, the beach and lobster rolls on Martha's Vineyard than he did earlier this week in the Midwest.


From Michael Ramirez in Investor's Business Daily

President Obama's statements on rest compliments of Mark Levin.

NOVEMBER 2, 2009 – "We will not rest until we are succeeding in generating the jobs that this economy needs"

NOVEMBER 23, 2009 – "I will not rest until business are investing again, and businesses are hiring again"

JANUARY 28, 2010 - "We will not rest until we build an economy that's ready for America's future"

MARCH 5 2010 – "I’m not gonna rest & my administration is not gonna rest in our efforts to help people who are looking to find a job"

JULY 8, 2010 – "My administration will not rest until every American who is able and ready and willing to work can find a job"