Let the president chill out on the beach

Randi Kreiss

President Obama and his family are heading to Martha’s Vineyard for a vacation. It’s a pretty straightforward concept. The man with the most challenging and stressful job in the world is taking a timeout. Even so, the complainers are complaining. How dare he leave his desk when the sky is falling?

Of course, there are those who would grumble if Obama pulled on a wetsuit, dived down to plug the gusher in the gulf, then hopped on a plane and convinced the Israelis and Palestinians to kiss and make up, then flew to Afghanistan, took rifle in hand, wiped out the Taliban and came home with all 90,000 American troops following close behind, then convinced Congress to pass laws that would bring Wall Street to heel, then found money to make American education the best in the world, then created jobs for everyone who wants to work, then flew down to Mexico and then up to Canada to help build a magic fence to keep out illegals, and finally conceived and organized a national security system that would guarantee the safety of our cities and our citizens. If he cleaned up our rivers and our food supply along the way, would that impress his detractors? He’s smart; what if he also cured cancer in his spare time?

Quite simply, nothing would be enough for those who see American life and world events through a troubling Obama-hating filter.

Some who consider themselves moderates agree that he needs a rest, but insist that a beach vacation sends the wrong message, especially when the beaches of Louisiana and Florida are being fouled by the BP oil spill. These are the same observers who found the president’s affect and temperament too cool and calm in the days following the oil spill.

Can we really be that shallow? Well, yes we can. What better proof of our insistence on image over substance than calls for the president to shed a tear or raise his voice in anger or call out BP execs in four-letter temper tantrums?