In a Fox News article we learn that Obama has North Carolina taking the NCAA Championship. Honest first reaction? Doesn’t the President of this troubled country have better things to worry about? Well, yes, obviously he does. After some thought though I realized that no matter how I feel about the decisions being made, everyone needs an escape. It is no secret that Obama is a basketball fan, and no doubt that he did brackets and watched games along with the rest of us in the past. Should moving to the White House change that? Surprisingly, my answer is no. On a much smaller scale, we feel pressured and stressed by our jobs and sometimes a good game of hoops can be a welcomed treat.
Having said that, there are some very important and disturbing things happening in Washington. The President has chosen to “escape” them with his many trips around the country. There are some conflicting thoughts going through my mind about this. On one hand we have an administration spending more money, in a very short amount of time, than any previous administration. It could be argued that the costs related to these trips are wasteful. An argument that could be justified completely. On the other hand though, we have a President who is determined to stay in contact, on a more personal level, with the very people who put him in office. Notice I said “the people who put him in office”, that is assuming all of them still care to see him. Also assuming there aren’t many “Republican” voters rushing out to greet him. Who knows how far into this first term that personal connection will last? Making history as the first sitting president to appear on Leno may have been a little much, but I can almost get what he is trying to do.
Most of us know that this gallivant around the country is an attempt to convince Americans that all is well. Unfortunately, there are many people who saw Obama questioned by Leno, and that was the first time they had heard him since he took office. It is hard to believe that, right now especially, some people just don’t pay attention. All we can do is pray they start paying attention between now and 2010 elections, some definite changes need to be made.
So, do I care if the President spends a few nights watching March Madness, with his family, on the White House big screen? No. Do I care if the President turns it into a party for 300 people, funded by taxpayer money, with high dollar Wagyu beef? Yes, that I do care about. As long as he is just a fan, watching some games, checking his bracket, there will be no complaints here. After all, at least it would keep him at the White House for a few weeks, so during the day he could do his job!
Not only is it basketball, it is March Madness. Not participating in the excitement would be un-American (sort of like it is un-American to enforce immigration laws, right Pelosi?). And since he is an American like you and me, let him have his fun. Oh, wait, he is an American, right? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
