President Defends Vacation Plans

President Obama responded to criticism from Republican Presidential candidates Tuesday and defended his decision to vacation on Martha's Vineyard while his constituency suffered from a stale economy and financial uncertainty.

The President speaking for five minutes before an 11 a.m. tee time at Mink Meadows emphasised that his golf outing was very much work related.

"Look, let's be clear," Obama told reporters. "My staff has found and hired a local unemployed teacher to caddy for me, and I can assure the American people, that I will be paying her a dollar more per hour than minimum wage. I would also add that Michelle is encouraging our friends in the banking industry to do the same. And the girls came up with the slogan:"Go play a-round with the unemployed." So before I go, let me say once again that while my Republican friends continue to offer no plans to put Americans back to work, I am actually adding jobs, and while vacationing, I might add."

White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, later released a statement that said in part, "Going on vacation during times of hardships is not without precedent by presidents or military leaders of this nation. It is a well known fact that George Washington took a couple of weeks and vacationed in Williamsburg while his troops suffered at Valley Forge. And I think we all  know how well things went for our Nation upon the General's return from his holiday -  I mean, com'on, none of us have a 'spot' of afternoon tea, do we?"

Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid, also released a statement that read: "I will not speak out nor be critical of the President's vacation plans. I do not think most Americans truly understand how exhausting it is to watch unemployment numbers rise and stock market numbers free-fall on a daily basis. Good Lord, cut the man some slack."

The Govern_Mint Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved. The Govern_Mint is a political satire publication. Any resemblance to the truth is a pure coincidence excepting for references to certain political figures and their wives and families, and sometimes a brother-in-law.