As Louisiana Reels from Flooding, Obama Golfs

As Louisiana was ravaged by devastating floods this month (August 2016), the state’s largest daily newspaper in a scathing editorial asked the President of the United States, Barack Obama, to cut short his vacation and take a first-hand look at the large scale of destruction of property and loss of life. At least 15 people have reportedly died while a minimum of 90,000 has registered for federal disaster aid. Obama is currently on his seventh vacation at the Martha’s Vineyard, a verdant island off the coast of Massachusetts.

“In coming here, the President can decisively demonstrate that Louisiana’s recovery is a priority for his administration – and the United States of America,” said the editorial published in The Advocate.

In the past, the natural disaster which wrecked the most havoc on Louisiana was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Then President George W Bush was subject to stinging criticism by a large section of the media for what was perceived as a tardy administrative response to the catastrophic consequences of Hurricane Katrina. Bush was even accused of “not caring about black people”.

President Obama earlier interrupted his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard to attend an upscale fundraiser for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton. Tickets at the event were being sold for $10,000 per person.

Even as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump toured the flood-devastated state, earning generous praise even from his critics, Obama was on a golf course in Martha’s Vineyard.

Responding to the criticism, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement on Friday (19 August 2016) that “The president is mindful of the impact that his travel has on first responders and wants to ensure that his presence does not interfere with ongoing recovery efforts.”