President Barack Obama, the hardest working man in show business, is planning a family weekend vacation in south Florida this Thursday.
This comes on the heels of the Obama family’s his & her separate Washington’s Birthday weekend vacations (three weeks ago), which followed on the Obama family’s Hawaii Christmas vacation that First Lady Michelle Obama stayed on well in to January (nine weeks ago) after the rest of the family returned to Washington.
CNN Coverage Manager Steve Brusk reported on Twitter:
Steve Brusk ✔ @stevebruskCNN Follow President and first lady go to Miami area for education event tomorrow, and had planned to stay for family weekend in south Florida.
Steve Brusk ✔ @stevebruskCNN Follow No change has been announced yet but Earnest said "it is possible the President may return to the WH on Friday as events unfold in Ukraine"
White House spokesman Josh Earnest defended President Obama's weekend vacation in Key Largo, despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, arguing Obama would be able to monitor events from Florida.
“What the president will be doing this weekend in Florida is essentially what the president would be doing back at the White House. It's just that the weather will be a little warmer,” Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“The president is looking forward to spending some time with his wife and daughters, who are traveling down to Florida as well,” he continued. “There are some recreational amenities on the property, including workout facilities, tennis courts, a couple of golf courses.
“If there is an opportunity for the president to enjoy some of those amenities, then he'll do that. What he will do, and what he is looking forward to doing, is getting a little downtime in the warm weather with his wife and daughters.”
Earlier this week, there was speculation the president could scrap the trip — his third vacation of the year — because of the crisis. But Earnest downplayed the suggestion, saying deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken is traveling to Florida with Obama, along with the “regular assortment of communication tools” allowing the president to attend secure briefings.
“We have complete confidence the president can handle all the responsibilities he has," Earnest said.
The White House spokesman also said it was not unusual for the president, vice president, secretary of State and national security adviser to all be out of the nation's capital. John Kerry and Susan Rice are traveling on business, while Vice President Biden is visiting the Virgin Islands for his second vacation there in three months. (emphasis added)
His Highness' THIRD vacation just 2 months and 8 days into the year? The court jester's SECOND vacation during the same period? Wow, they really are hard working guys, aren't they?
As for this: "“There are some recreational amenities on the property, including workout facilities, tennis courts, a couple of golf courses." I'll say there are "some recreational amenities", alright.
...local media reports said he, his wife and their two daughters would be staying at the Ocean Reef Club, a private membership club set on 2,500 tropical acres on the northern tip of Key Largo.
"For avid golfers like Obama, the property boasts two championship 18-hole golf courses. The club also has a swimming lagoon, tennis courts, a spa and fitness center, a private airport and more than a dozen restaurants among its varied offerings."