In Defense of President Obama

I'm not normally in accord with President Obama on most matters particularly policy decisions. However, here is an instance where I have to vigorously defend the man.

We asked Terry O'Neill, the new president of the National Organization for Women, what she thought of those Democratic women and others quietly complaining about a "boy's club" atmosphere at the White House, as exemplified by the president playing basketball earlier this month with 11 members of Congress and four Cabinet Secretaries -- all men.

As the New York Times and cable news chatter looked at whether the Obama White House is too fratty yesterday, President Obama brought along a woman golf partner for the first time in his 24 golf outings as president, domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes.

Is this much ado about nothing? (Ed. Ya think?)

O'Neill says no.

"Relationships get built in those more informal settings," O'Neill told ABC News, "and the relationships have a huge impact on the influence an individual has. We know what happens when we segregated whether it by race or whether it by gender -- you end up with 1st class citizens and you end up with 2nd class citizens."

Who gives a tinker's damn who he golfs with (besides the nags from NOW)? I care about the policies he pushes when he is not golfing. Also, even if he adds the occasional woman to his foursome he will not likely be adding any diversity of opinion to the outing. Beyond that, I don't remember this woman's advocacy organization having any public complaint a decade ago when a president was caught lying under oath during testimony in a sexual harassment lawsuit deposition (you know, that perjury stuff).

Far from complaining about the amount golf he plays, as some on the left did with Bush's golfing or other athletic recreation, I have no problem with Obama golfing or taking vacations. After ten months of this administration, I'd rather he'd golf than govern. In all seriousness, a president is never on vacation and has no real time off. Where ever a president is located the troubles and responsibilities follow.