CHUCK TODD: During that vacation, you made the statement on Foley then you went and golfed. Do you want that back?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, it is always a challenge when you're supposed to be on vacation. Because you're followed everywhere. And part of what I'd love is a vacation from the press and --
CHUCK TODD: I promise you, 2 1/2 years, I think that happens.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Because the possibility of a jarring contrast given the world's news, is always -- there's always going to be some tough news somewhere is going to be there. But there's no doubt that after having talked to the families, where it was hard for me to hold back tears listening to the pain that they were going through, after the statement that I made, that you know, I should've anticipated the optics.
You know, that's part of the job. And you know, I think everybody who knows me, including, I suspect, the press, understands that that you know, you take this stuff in. And-- it-- it's serious business. And iou care about it deeply.
But part of this job is also the theater of it. A part of it is, you know, how are you, how, how are you, well, it's not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I'm mindful of that. So the important thing is, in addition to that, is am I getting the policies right? Am I protecting the American people? Am I doing what's necessary?
And when it comes to the policies, when it comes to the actions we've taken, I have no higher priority than keeping the American people safe. I think I've done a very good job during the course of these last, close to six years, doing so. And I intend to continue to meet that responsibility or meet that duty, for as long as I have the privilege of holding this office. .
Did Bush apologize for this?
"Now Watch This Drive" On August 4, 2002 -- several months after the United States began bombing Afghanistan -- Bush was filmed speaking to reporters on the golf course. Immediately after denouncing a suicide bombing in Israel and speaking to explicit threats to U.S. citizens traveling abroad, Bush said: "Now watch this drive," then took a swing.
Just asking.....I thought that Obama and his staff screwed up royally. But that wasn't the first time for him....and for other others.
How do these things happen?
How does Bush think a "skit video" for the WH Correspondents Corps in which he pretends to be looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction hiding in the Oval Office is FUNNY right? Given the supposed threat, the death toll, the costs, it is obvious it is not, correct? But....they do these things. How does a smart man like Obama say: "We don't have a strategy yet." in regard to ISIS?
I think that presidents stumble like this because they live in this strange bubble where one moment they are approving a drone bombardment on a dozen homes that may kill bad guys or their families, or both....and then, in the next moment, they are strolling into a room in the WH to greet 7th graders there to show him their science fair projects.
They are constantly parsing, and mincing their words. Always under observation, they are caught in nearly every error. They are criticized non-stop by their opponents and supported without hesitation by those closest to them.
The response is often called "Aloof Compartmentalization". All I know is they all do it.
Mon Sep 08, 2014 at 10:24 AM PT: In the poll, 56 Percent disagree with the statement The Criticism of President Obama in this matter was justified." 24 percent agree with it.