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GOP: Obama the 'Clark Griswold president'
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass., Republicans questioned whether U.S. President Barack Obama should be vacationing for nine days in Vineyard Haven, Mass., at a time of war and economic distress.
The Republican National Committee criticized the president's getaway on the seaside island, calling Obama "the Clark Griswold president," referring to the character played by Chevy Chase in the "Vacation" movies, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
But CBS News has found Obama has taken fewer vacation days than former president George W. Bush had at the same point in his term.
Obama has taken 48 days off during nine vacations. Bush had vacationed at his Crawford, Texas, ranch 14 times, taking 115 days off, at the same point in his presidency.
Bush had been criticized by Democrats for taking excessive vacation time.
White House officials have said Obama's vacation still comes with plenty of work, with many of his advisers coming along and pressing issues like wars, the economy and counter-terrorism consuming much of his time away.
"Communication systems are very robust," said John Brennan, Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser, who meets with the president every morning. "We can move information at the speed of light. We can get to him very easily here."
Many visitors and residents on the island said they believe Obama deserves some relaxation time.
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass., Republicans questioned whether U.S. President Barack Obama should be vacationing for nine days in Vineyard Haven, Mass., at a time of war and economic distress.
The Republican National Committee criticized the president's getaway on the seaside island, calling Obama "the Clark Griswold president," referring to the character played by Chevy Chase in the "Vacation" movies, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
But CBS News has found Obama has taken fewer vacation days than former president George W. Bush had at the same point in his term.
Obama has taken 48 days off during nine vacations. Bush had vacationed at his Crawford, Texas, ranch 14 times, taking 115 days off, at the same point in his presidency.
Bush had been criticized by Democrats for taking excessive vacation time.
White House officials have said Obama's vacation still comes with plenty of work, with many of his advisers coming along and pressing issues like wars, the economy and counter-terrorism consuming much of his time away.
"Communication systems are very robust," said John Brennan, Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser, who meets with the president every morning. "We can move information at the speed of light. We can get to him very easily here."
Many visitors and residents on the island said they believe Obama deserves some relaxation time.