![]() Place yourself in the shoes of the president by reading the full transcript of the video from the depraved terrorists. If the president waited a day, would that have been enough? What about a week? Many of the criticisms levied at President Obama regarding his decision to play golf appear to be made out of political discontent, not American pride - though I trust there are sincere concerns and love for the Foley family expressed by all sides. Arguing over the timing of the president’s tee time is more of a distraction to our national mourning than the game itself. Unfortunately our presidents perpetually live and operate in crisis mode, 24-7-365.įew can comprehend the anguish a president endures, even in times of peace, and especially in times of war. As someone who advises leaders through crisis, I can tell you that downtime is precisely what I prescribe for burden-laden-executives during a protracted challenge. In terms of the mental health aspects, most smart, reasonable people agree that presidents need time to relax whether it is clearing brush, riding horses, or hitting a golf ball, recreating is good for the mind and soul. It is possible that he explained that he was going to go on with his vacation and that it is in no way meant to show any disrespect to their family or their brave son. My hope is that he explained this to the Foley family during their conversation, if it is in fact one of the reasons he teed-up that day. He also needed to send a message to ISIS. Golf is exactly what President Obama should have done after the press conference he needs to heal, clear his mind, recreate, yes, even have some fun, as challenging as fun must be in that moment. I am not comparing the two presidents but I am suggesting that Reagan might have ridden horses after the Foley press conference as a way to send a message: terrorists cannot deter America’s resolve. We still talk about his decision not to wear an overcoat to a meeting with Gorbachev on a cold day at the height of the cold war - it’s legendary. To this day we commend Reagan for his sense of the moment and the strength of his verbal, as well as his non-verbal, responses to situations. President Reagan was a hero to me getting to spend a little time with him early in my career remains a life highlight. If our president is forced to cancel his family vacation because of the actions of an organized band of terrorists, are they not in a way winning? Is it possible that the president’s national security team made the decision that he play golf that day? Perhaps it was they who suggested that he go out there and show the world, and especially the terrorists, that he - and we - will not be taken out of our lives by their atrocious acts? In terms of the optics, let us not forget that the United States is facing a new and extremely dangerous enemy in ISIS. He may have done an excellent job of expressing his sympathies in an appropriate and meaningful way. We do not know, nor are we entitled to know, how that very personal and private conversation went, what was said. Should President Obama have played golf after his Foley press conference?Ĭritics suggest that the president showed no sympathy for the family or that his decision to play golf proves he is “out of touch.” I do not have enough information to make those assumptions.įor starters, President Obama called the Foley family. While not supportive of many of Obama's policies, he is in fact my president I know with a high-degree of certainty that Foley's murder weighs heavily on him personally. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for President Obama to read or hear those words - so tragic. In no time since he took office have I felt more pain for my president than I did when I read the transcript and saw the pictures from the gruesome beheading of American journalist James Foley. The commander-in-chief carries a heavy burden emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and physically healthy distractions are few. ![]() There is something to the challenge posed by that dimpled orb that creates great distraction. Though I have now sworn off the dastardly hobby of using a metal stick to hit a small object toward a tiny hole, I understand golf’s appeal to a POTUS. ![]()
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