Obama Defends Vacationing in Down Economy

Tells Katie Couric He Thinks Americans Want Him to Work in Quality Time With His Daughters

(CBS)  After a wide-ranging interview of President Obama, "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric strolled along with him outside the White House and asked him a question suggested to her by someone on Twitter -- on whether he feels "guilty going on vacation when so many families are struggling."

Mr. Obama and his family plan to take a break in Martha's Vineyard next month.

"If the question is, 'Do I think every single day about the hardships that people are going through'? Absolutely," the president responded. "Do I think the American people think that because of those hardships I shouldn't spend some quality time with my daughters? I don't think that's what the American people think about it."

Couric then observed, "You're so confident, Mr. President. And so focused. Is your confidence ever shaken, do you ever wake up and say, 'Damn, this is hard! Damn, I'm not going to get the things done that I want to get done,' and it's just too politicized to get anything done?"

Mr. Obama's response? "Are there days where I say, 'This is a big dose'? Absolutely. Are there days where, you know, I think we've suffered setbacks and I've got to continually question and reexamine how I'm approaching problems, all the time. You know, there's a constant process of reevaluation in it, and self reflection that the job forces on you. But this country just makes me confident. I have faith that in the end we will do what's right for the next generation."

Couric's interview covered the battle over healthcare reform, the economy, joblessness, abortion funding and other key issues.

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To read a transcript of the interview, click here.

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[James_Texas]

OK, to the morons who bring up Camp David or his home in Crawford. None of us would be complaining if his family went to their home in Chicago or if he spent time at Camp David. However, he has been flying his family all over the nation and world for extravagant vacations continually since he took office. He is not giving the American people what he promised, but instead is giving his financial supporters (SEIU, ACORN) everything owed them for getting him elected. Where is CBS on the 2 billion to Petrobras (George Soros) for offshore drilling. Why isn't CBS talking about the Apollo Project, its members and why they wrote the stimulus bill our congress refused to read before passing. How about covering some real issues instead of the meaningless dribble!!

[litlestarr]

These people have been on vacation since Jan when they moved into the White House. Off to NY for the evening? Michelle, Mom and the Kids, go shopping in Paris and hop over to London for supper and see Harry Potter? She had her own plane and breezed into places and took them over. Now they are checking out the Parks in the West. With the whole family. He travels with his daughters, he sees a lot more of them them my husband saw of our kids while he worked from dawn to midnight. I'd like a job where I got a vacation after only 7 or 8 months. Every time he takes the family that's more secret service men and more expenses for us. People are losing jobs and homes and the Obama's are living high on the hog. All these trips to all these states to campaign for his health care is a waste of money. Does anyone realize how much it costs to fly that Air Force One. Stay home and get the economy and war under control. Our kids are dying over there in the Mid East and I'm getting sick of seeing the Obama vacation.

[breezy34]

Eventhough I am a Republican, I believe President Obama is a good man, sincerely concerned in the well being of all Americans. It is time that we start acting like patriotic Americans and support the President of the United States and give him the respect that he deserves. He has inherited a very difficult job, requiring all of his intelligence, patience and God's help. He does not need to be constantly criticized and defamed. Witn all of the stress inherent in being the President of the United States, he is entitled to a vacaction with his family to offset the enormous pressure upon him.

Let us work together and support our President.

[ibsteve2u]

I have no problem with any President taking vacations at reasonable intervals.

I want my President as stress-free as possible in order to ensure that they are ready, willing, and able to take the appropriate actions when attacked.

However those attacks are mounted, and wherever those attacks originate from.

Besides, Obama actually has to BE the President - unlike Bush, whose 487 days at Camp David and 490 days at his Crawford ranch went virtually unnoticed given the other partners in Bush, Cheney, & PNAC, LLP.

[dragyn30]

So what?? We are still taking vacation too!!! My husband's work is down because of the economy, but we are not going to make our kids suffer! They deserve something fun!!! My husband and I cut back so we saved $$$ to go away!

[revlin1]

Well, well, Martha's Vineyard. A real "come uppence" for this Chicago based crew, now isn't it? Wonder if he stays with Teddy? OR? Who else outside the USA owns homes on Martha's Vineyard? Oh, I know...MID EASTERN descent persons (lots of them) .... And, uh Katie: Were those the TOUGH QUESTIONS? AND Do we NEED TO HEAR about this guys' vacation while we are all wondering how to pay for homes, schooling, vehicles, and where to get the jobs here in USA? Unbelievable. I feel now like I'm watching a SOAP OPERA on White House rather than something real life. OOPS, it IS REAL LIFE. We are all in big, big trouble!

[valentin73]

President Obama is flying all over the world, with his family on his recent trip. He does not seem to care if Americans are out of work. He simply cannot change the world for being the leader of one country.
He should stop spending American tax payer's money and remain in The White House, where the people put him, and work, like the rest of us (who do work, but are on the brink of losing our jobs due a poor economy - lucky he).

[valentin73]

President Obama is flying all over the world, with family on his latest, and now he wants to take a vacation. He does not seem to care if Americans are out of work. He cannot change the world simply because he is the leader on one country. He must stop spending American tax payer's money and remain in The White House , where the people put him, and work, like the rest of us (who do work, but are on the brink of losing the job - lucky him).

[jstrong8]

I think the President can go anywhere he likes for vacation, and it is really ridiculous for the millionaires at CBS to even broach the question. Why aren?t they questioning the multi millionaires in Congress that vacation wherever they like. I do believe there is a double standard, Mr. Bush had over seventy trips to Texas and I don?t recall the questioning of that and other places he went. The other Presidents did a lot more. Kathi questioned the President going to New York, she and the rest of the television millionaires don?t care about the public. They should talk about those things that are important to the American people. I think Katie is getting more conceited since the Palin interview. Hypocrites!

Oh give it a rest already. That document that starts "We the people" if we don't like what he's doing let's band together and change things. I would say contact our congressional "leaders" but they are on vacations for months at a time and taking other breaks which other Americans don't get. We don't complain about them being gone all the time, seems like all we can band together to do is complain.
We all know the office of president has perks just like any other job.
Don't like it... either try and change it or run for the office yourself.

[watkinsjr2000]

You people criticizing President Obama for planning to take a vacation next month are total hypocrites.How often did any of you criticize George W. Bush for spending months every year vacationing at either his multimillion dollar Crawford, Texas ranch or his patents oceanfront mansion in Maine? How many of you carped about the many very extended vacations Ronald Reagan took at his California ranch every single year he was in office? Every president in U.S. history has taken vacations (even during World Wars)! Get real!!

[mt_guy]

The 'Vacations are GOOD for Workers' ship has already sailed. If our Chief Executive does not get away from the massive problems he's dealing with at work, he will gradually lose perspective. Returning to work rested and refreshed often brings a new, better approach than was being tried prior to the vacation break.

I notice that many people who I know personally who are rich compared to me haven't really slowed their consumer spending in the least. One thing they've increased is their whining on Wall Street tanking last year and how they lost a big chunk in the Market.

I say, if you have the time and money to take a vacation with your daughters when they are little, you need to do that because they won't be little forever. When those moments are lost, they're gone forever.

[writescripts]

Face it, you elected a wantabee King and Queen!

[sddemocrat]

My question is...Is the President paying for this vacation or are we the taxpayers paying for it??? He and his family just got back from an international trip on Air Force One and there is the weekends at Camp David, plus all the other extra curricular activities we don't hear about. I don't think it's a problem if the President wants to take off and spend the day with his children. He has that luxury, unlike alot of other Americans who need two or three jobs just to provide for their children. I'm sure they would like some free time with their families too.

[PophamSmith]

Sometimes, I am quite dismayed at the bashing of our duly elected President. Yes, if I had become President, I would be spending most of
my time repairing our economy, because I do not have children, but
Mr. Obama has a family, so he assumes the privilege of spending his
vacation time with them. They are and always will be a distraction from
the issues that face this great nation. With the power of the
White House, his 'time off' will, as with most Presidents, be a working
vacation. But let us not forget, my fellow Americans that his vacation
destination is Martha's Vineyard, where most of the senior executives
of Goldman Sachs have lavish summer homes.
Coincidence? I think not, Katie.
Respectfully,
Christopher Popham Smith
Boston, Ma.

[mt_guy]

We pay the President a salary large enough that he can pay for it himself. However, when you see someone like Dubya who spent more days on the ranch out of DC than any previous president, you could say he's taking that extra share of vacation time on the taxpayer's dime. Ever think of that?

[Hank009]

Quality time with his daughters? This man does not have any care but of himself. He must forget that his office is located in the same place where he sleeps on taxpayer money. He has also traveled everywhere with his family including Europe, Russia, and Ghana. He even takes other family members with him on this trip. Mr. President you were selected to fix the economy, you stated that the American people deserved the same Health coverage you had. Why are you giving us a very diluted one from the one you have. Stay home and do your J O B! Stop spending tax dollars at our expense.

[mlemac]

Does a parent have to go to Marths'a Vineyard to have quality time with his/her children? The President is really out of touch.

And where is the transparency that was promised during the campaign? When will this health bill be posted for all of us to read before it is voted on?????

And when are we going to require that all members of Congress and all workers for the federal government share in the same health care that they are foisting on us?

And lastly, when is it going to be a basic requirement that members of Congress fully READ a bill before they vote on it?

[Hank009]

The bill has a stipulation that will make them (Congress) exempt from the HealthCare Bill they are working on. The Sen. that said HealthCare would be BO waterloo said that they are told not to read the Bill and to pass it quick before it gets posted on the internet.

[fzy1hc]

This health insurance is going to hurt all Americans including the small business. We are all ready seeing close to 10 % unemployment, wait until this gets pushed. Obama is trying to get it going before anyone can evaluate the whole thing.

Also he likes spending money which the middle class will feel and their children for years. His children won't feel it because they have no issue with their financial back ground.

When you see also the Democrats Republicans questioning there's a issue.