Loyal Twitchy readers likely escaped a rebuke from Politico reporter Jennifer Epstein tonight, who made it clear that President Obama did not golf this weekend despite having an empty schedule. A tweet promoting her Politico article, “Government shutdown, cancelled trip leaves Obama schedule empty,” had plenty thinking the president took the opportunity to hit the links.
With Asia trip cancelled, the president's public schedule is open during the shutdown http://t.co/uJK7cq8BVq
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 8, 2013
As Twitchy reported yesterday, the president did not go golfing despite summer-like conditions in and around Washington, nor did he leave the White House. Most reporters speculated that decision was based on the poor optics of golfing during a government shutdown that closed open-air monuments and national parks. As Epstein mentioned in her own piece:
Also notable is what Obama is not doing. Aware of the optics of even the most casual outing, the Obamas stayed in to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary on Thursday, and the president stayed off the golf course over the weekend.
Epstein herself said it was notable that Obama wasn’t golfing, so what makes these people trolls, besides not having read to the end of her article? Somehow the American public has gotten the impression that Obama likes to golf, a lot.
https://twitter.com/BruceCarrollSC/status/387377934287511553
@jeneps @politico good golf time.
— daniel davis (@Benito35ddDavis) October 8, 2013
Tee time! RT @jeneps: With Asia trip cancelled, the president's public schedule is open during the shutdown http://t.co/wf8VbjvtVN
— Chris (@4cchild) October 8, 2013
@BruceCarrollSC @jeneps he's schedule isn't empty…those rounds of golf don't play themselves
— CynNiki (@cynniki9) October 8, 2013
@jeneps @politico I guess Obame will get in a bunch of golf.
— TJVol (@tjvol49) October 8, 2013
@jeneps golf is very relaxing. Who want to listen to boehner and Grover's T party
— daniel davis (@Benito35ddDavis) October 8, 2013
@jeneps @politico G. O. L. F. F. O. R. E.
— Debdash (@DebDash) October 8, 2013
@politico @jeneps probably getting in a lot of golf.
— Lori Olivia (@simplylorilee) October 8, 2013
Just so we’re clear, President Obama did not go golfing this weekend … and that’s news.
@jeneps aren't you now asking for trolls ? 🙂
— j. galt (@Astonvillausa) October 8, 2013
@Astonvillausa not quite — just getting a lot of @ replies mentioning golf since @politico tweeted my story
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 8, 2013
CBS News’ Mark Knoller is the unofficial White House golf statistician; let’s see if he can shed some light on why people assume the president was golfing this weekend.
As president, GWBush stopped playing golf in Oct 2003, considering it inappropriate during wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) September 24, 2013
Pres Bush played 24 rounds of golf, his last on 10/13/03 at Andrews. Last Sat., Pres. Obama played his 146th round of golf, also at Andrews.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) September 24, 2013
Join the conversation as a VIP Member