President Barack Obama had apparently planned a trip to Whitefish last weekend. His near visit was news around town and local law enforcement for weeks had been preparing for his arrival. The president canceled, of course, after the debate over the debt ceiling ended how things in Washington do – with more debate.
There are those who believe it’s in the country’s best interest if it defaults on its loans. Economists disagree. So does Obama. So do most of the Republican leaders in Congress. So the discussion over how to prevent that took precedent over a vacation to the Flathead Valley, which is a shame. We could have used the publicity.
This summer – along with many tourists – was late in arriving. Flooding in North Dakota cut the Amtrak’s Empire Builder line to the east and area lodges have felt the consequences. Going-to-the-Sun Road’s opening was delayed because of colossally deep snowpack. Fly-fishing season is belated because of high waters.
But whenever a president takes time off, especially during a looming crisis, there are always absurd implications of laziness. It was equally lame when critics targeted former President George W. Bush for spending too much time on his Crawford, Tex. ranch.
And it’s easy to imagine the media circus that would have surrounded the Obamas’ visit here. I did.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
CORRESPONDENT: Hi Ron, as the country teeters on the brink of defaulting on its loans President Obama and his family headed west to Montana to stay at a resort in the exceptionally lavish town of Whitefish.
Many think his vacation, as the country nears its debt ceiling, is inappropriate. In fact, one source told me that, quote: “While Obama drinks champagne under the Big Sky, he has once again proven that he’s not serious about fixing problems in Washington.”
ANCHOR: That’s a pretty serious charge, Suzanne, what’s that behind you?
CORRESPONDENT: That, Ron, is the Montana Vortex and House of Mystery, a curious tourist attraction near Glacier National Park. Apparently, some visitors notice swirling energy there and strange objects show up in their photographs. We chased the Obama caravan here this morning and are hoping to get some footage of him in the gift shop sipping a milkshake flavored by something called “huckleberries.” The locals are obsessed with them.
ANCHOR: Sounds like a crazy place.
CORRESPONDENT: It is. In fact, one source told me that, quote: “It’s ironic that Obama is visiting the House of Mystery, since during this debt crisis the president has become the International Man of Mystery.”
ANCHOR: That is ironic. What else is on the president’s agenda during his visit?
CORRESPONDENT: The itinerary for the first family is a tightly held secret. But sources tell me the president’s vacation is costing taxpayers $300 million a day, part of which is being spent on locally harvested caviar for his entire entourage.
ANCHOR: Outrageous.
CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, one source told me that, quote, “While the economy is swimming with the fishes …” END TRANSCRIPT.
At least one event was scrapped because of the president’s cancellation. Republican Whitefish Rep. Derek Skees said a group of locals had planned to protest the president’s visit, complete with live entertainment. “People mistakenly think that Whitefish is a safe ground for liberalism, and we wanted to make sure the president knows he can’t come to our little town and expect there not to be dissenting voice,” he told the Daily Inter Lake.
Instead the First Family is reportedly heading to the Massachusetts island Martha’s Vineyard in August to spend about a week on a 28-acre estate. Talk about a safe ground for liberalism.