Gloves Are Off: Romney Goes After Obama's Grip!

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Jennifer Jacobs reports that Republican hopeful Mitt Romney took a jab at President Barack Obama for his upcoming Christmas vacation and expected multiple rounds of golf.

In a tele-town hall meeting tonight with Iowans, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticized President Barack Obama as someone who “watches affairs and has not guided affairs.”

“The other day I understand that Chris Christie said that he was a bystander president. That he watches affairs and has not guided affairs,” Romney said during the 30-minute telephone call, referring to the governor of New Jersey, who has endorsed Romney.

“And in some respects, his idea of a ‘hands on’ approach to the economy is getting a grip on his golf club. He’s going off for 17 days in Hawaii,” Romney said.

Romney made the comments in this "tele-town hall" from his San Diego, uh, large home.

Turns Out, Obama-Boehner Golf Summit Was Productive!

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It seems ESPN dropped the infamous Hank Williams Jr. opening song for Monday Night Football telecasts following comments made by the singer-songwriter on Fox and Friends.

From USA Today's Michael Hiestand:

Says ESPN, in a statement: "While Hank Williams Jr. is not an ESPN employee, we recognize he is closely linked to our company through the opening to Monday Night Football. We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result have decided to pull the open from tonight's telecast."

Williams, perhaps best known for his "are you ready for some football?" lead-in to ESPN's Monday Night Football, Monday compared this summer's so-called golf summit between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner as "one of the biggest political mistakes ever."

As Williams put it on Fox News' Fox & Friends: "It would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli leader) Benjamin Netanyahu."

Faced with no longer earning royalties, Williams clarified his comments to TMZ (taking the high road!) and naturally, blamed golf.

Williams Jr. adds, "Every time the media brings up the tea party it’s painted as racist and extremists – but there’s never a backlash – no outrage to those comparisons… Working class people are hurting – and it doesn’t seem like anybody cares. When both sides are high-fiving it on the ninth hole when everybody else is without a job – it makes a whole lot of us angry. Something has to change. The policies have to change.”

Long Putter Shows Up In Obama's Vineyard Four-Ball!

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The Note reports that some of the White House press corps on Martha's Vineyard felt the earthquake, but as usual the lede was buried. Check out that putter being used by the Presidential playing partner. I can't tell if he's bracing, but the Obama look of disdain says all I need to know about his stance on long putters. Thanks to reader Rob for this.
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"In the annals of presidential golf history, the Obama-Boehner round...is an oddity."

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An unbylined AP story on how the White House sees some of the particulars playing out for Saturday's Obama-Boehner buddies trip golf outting.

Presidential spokesman Jay Carney says he anticipates that Obama and Boehner will find time to discuss important issues such as budget negotiations.

But the outing is mostly about giving them a chance to socialize. Carney says that gives it “great value beyond the game.”

Carney isn’t saying whether the White House will disclose what the golfers shot on their round. The Ohio lawmaker is known to be a much better golfer than Obama.
Carney says reporters and photographers will get a chance to see something of the action. The White House hasn’t said what course they’ll play.

In last Sunday's New York Times Opinion section, Don Van Natta filed this worthwhile analysis of the round, where it fits historically and why it's a risk for the President.

A president has never played a round of golf with the leader of the opposing party who was also considered a near-lock to win the match (the closest thing was a round L. B. J. played with Dwight D. Eisenhower in February 1968 at Seven Lakes Country Club in Palm Springs, Calif.; Ike won in a breeze). So, perhaps Mr. Obama deserves to be spotted a few free strokes for sporting courage.

More important, the timing of the “golf summit” is curious (and not just because it coincides with the United States Open at nearby Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.). Two wars (three, if you count health care; four, if you count Libya), a stubborn economic downturn and partisan rancor combine to make the president’s decision to play with Mr. Boehner a surprise and one that appears to offer more downside than upside to the White House.