It has been said that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. In much the same vein, President Barack Obama has ensured he can play golf while the government shuts down. While a number of key government services have been suspended due to the government shutdown, it appears President Obama’s favorite golf course will stay open, at taxpayer expense.
According to a report by Bloomberg.com, while President Obama has made sure the shutdown forces the closure of grocery stores on military bases, the golf courses on those bases remain open. That includes three 18-hole courses at Andrews Air Force base, where the President often plays because of its close proximity to the White House.
The website ObamaGolfCounter.com estimates the President has played the courses at Andrews AFB over 60 times since he took office, with his most recent round on September 14. At that time, he played for six hours, and his foursome included ESPN commentators Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon.
Most Americans are unaware that the U.S. military operates 234 golf courses at bases around the world. PolicyMic.com estimates the cost of operating these courses is at least $140 million a year
President Obama has played golf 146 times since taking office, with his last outing a week ago. By comparison, President George W. Bush, himself an avid golfer, only played 24 rounds while in office. He stopped playing golf after the War on Terror began, saying it sent the wrong signal.
Victor Medina writes for Yahoo News and his political blog WhenLiberalsAttack.com. His other writing credits include The Dallas Morning News and SportsIllustrated.com. He has served as a Dallas County election judge and on the Board of Directors of The Sixth Floor Museum. You can follow him on his blog, VictorMedina.com or on Twitter at @mrvictormedina. He can be reached by email at vic@victormedina.com. Click here to receive a weekly email update from WhenLiberalsAttack.com. To be notified of future stories by Victor Medina, click the SUBSCRIBE link here or at the top of this page.
