A silly criticism of the president

There are any number of issues on which we differ with President Barack Obama -- from his failed economic policies to his appointment of liberal activist justices to the Supreme Court.

But one current criticism of the president, like similar criticisms of previous presidents, is a bit silly.

Some are saying the president is wrong to be taking a vacation on Martha's Vineyard, an upscale island off the coast of Massachusetts. The critics say that vacationing there -- or vacationing at all -- is insensitive during a time of economic crisis, when millions of Americans are out of work.

Well, do the same critics believe the president should live in a small apartment in Washington instead of in the luxurious White House? Do they think he should trade in the presidential limousine for a compact car?

Other presidents, too, have been faulted over where they vacationed, and how many days of vacation they took -- though no one seems to have come up with a precise formula for how much vacation is appropriate for a commander in chief. And given the nature of their difficult job, presidents generally have to work during their "vacations" anyway.

These kinds of petty criticisms draw attention away from the much more serious deficiencies of the Obama administration. Whether he vacations on Martha's Vineyard, goes camping at a state park or doesn't vacation at all, it won't really reduce our $14.6 trillion national debt.

It also won't eliminate the threat by Congress to raise taxes. Nor will it cut down on the 9.1 percent unemployment rate.

Those are matters on which the president can legitimately be challenged. It would be wiser to focus on those issues, not on minor questions such as his choice of vacation spots.

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