Harper Lin
During his presidency, Barack Obama faced criticism for his frequent golf outings and fundraising events, which some deemed excessive and obsessive. This criticism was particularly pronounced during the 2012 Benghazi attack in Libya, where US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans lost their lives. Obama's response to the attack was questioned, as he initially gave vague orders before retreating to his residence. The administration's hesitation to label the Benghazi assault as a terrorist attack and the subsequent evacuation of the US Embassy in Libya drew further scrutiny. Obama's defenders, however, argued that leisure activities like golf helped him manage stress and that he remained engaged with pressing international issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of golfing | 9 August 2014 |
| Location | Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts |
| Number of holes played | 18 holes |
| Number of rounds played during vacation | 8 rounds |
| Number of rounds played during presidency | 124 rounds |
| Number of golf outings during crises | Multiple |
| Obama's response to criticism | Golf is a way to "clear his mind and ease the stress of his pressure-packed job" |
| Obama's actions during the Benghazi attack | Obama gave some vague orders and then retreated to his residence |
| Date of the Benghazi attack | 11 September 2012 |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's golfing during crises, including Benghazi
During his presidency, Barack Obama faced criticism for his golfing habits during times of crisis, including the 2012 Benghazi attack in Libya.
On September 11, 2012, the US embassy in Benghazi was attacked, resulting in the deaths of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The day after the attack, Obama made a statement referring to "acts of terror" but was criticised for not explicitly calling it a terrorist attack. In the aftermath of the Benghazi attack, questions arose regarding the security measures in place and the rejection of requests from US diplomats in Libya for greater security. These issues cast a shadow on Obama's characterisation of his Middle East policy as successful in fighting terrorism and promoting freedom.
Amid the Benghazi controversy, Obama's golfing habits came under scrutiny. Critics pointed out that he often retreated to the golf course during challenging times, such as the unfolding world crises in 2014, including the rise of the Islamic State, racial unrest in Ferguson, the Ukraine crisis, and the Gaza crisis. Obama's decision to play 18 holes after delivering a statement on the execution of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants drew particular criticism.
Obama's supporters defended his golf outings, arguing that leisure activities helped clear his mind and ease the stress of his demanding job. They emphasised that the president remained engaged with the issues facing the country, even while taking time for leisure.
However, some commentators characterised Obama as an absentee president during perilous times in international affairs, suggesting that he was sometimes disengaged from the challenges at hand. They pointed to his focus on fundraising and golfing as distractions from governing.
While opinions vary on the appropriateness of Obama's golfing habits during crises, the Benghazi attack and its aftermath undoubtedly posed significant challenges to his administration and Middle East policy characterisation.
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Obama's response to the Benghazi attack
On September 11, 2012, during the Benghazi attack in Libya, Barack Obama gave a few orders and then retreated to his residence. The next day, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas. In the aftermath of the attack, Obama accepted responsibility but did not address why Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were left vulnerable.
The day after the attack, Obama made a reference to "acts of terror" when speaking about the deaths. However, he faced criticism for his administration's hesitancy to explicitly call the Benghazi assault a terrorist attack. Conservatives argued that Obama was speaking about attacks in general and not Benghazi in particular. Obama's senior officials also faced scrutiny for avoiding clear language about the attack.
Obama's critics, including Republicans, described his response as a cover-up and evidence of his failed Middle East policy. They pointed to the Benghazi assault as contradicting Obama's claim that al-Qaida was on the run after Osama bin Laden's death. During a presidential debate, Obama defended himself against accusations of a cover-up, stating that it was offensive to suggest that his team would play politics or mislead during such a tragic event.
Obama's supporters defended his golf outings during crises, arguing that leisure activities help clear his mind and ease the stress of his demanding job. They emphasized that international issues had captured the president's attention, and he was actively engaged in addressing them.
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Obama's foreign policy during the Benghazi attack
On September 11, 2012, during the Benghazi attack in Libya, Barack Obama gave a few orders and then retreated to his residence, with aides insisting that he was "briefed". The following day, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas. Obama faced criticism for his actions during the attack, with some arguing that he was absent during a perilous time in international affairs.
In the aftermath of the Benghazi attack, Obama was criticised for his administration's hesitation to label it a terrorist attack. While Obama referenced “acts of terror" in his speech following the incident, his senior officials, notably the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, avoided similar language. This led to accusations of a cover-up by Republicans, who claimed that the Benghazi assault contradicted Obama's assertion that al-Qaida was on the run after Osama bin Laden's death.
Obama's foreign policy during his presidency has been scrutinised, particularly in the Middle East. He was criticised for his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the rise of the Islamic State, and his approach to Iran. Obama's sanctions on Russia were also deemed insufficient, and he was accused of neglecting the Free Syrian Army, allowing more radical opponents of Assad to gain strength.
Obama's supporters defended his golf outings during crises, arguing that leisure activities are essential for stress relief in a pressure-packed job. However, critics pointed out the stark juxtaposition of these outings with unfolding world crises, such as the execution of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants.
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Obama's actions during the Benghazi attack
On September 11, 2012, during the Benghazi attack in Libya, President Barack Obama gave a few vague orders and then retreated to his residence, although his aides insist that he was briefed. The next day, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas.
Obama faced tough questions about the Benghazi attack during a presidential debate with Mitt Romney. Romney tried to accuse Obama of a cover-up, to which Obama responded:
> "The suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the secretary of state, our UN ambassador, anybody on my team, would play politics or mislead when we lost four of our own, governor, is offensive."
Obama also accepted responsibility at the debate, but he did not address why Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was left vulnerable to the attack.
Obama's critics have described his actions during the Benghazi attack as a neglect of duty and a failure of foreign policy. They argue that he was "golfing while Rome burned," referring to his golf outings during other crises, such as the Ukraine crisis and the Gaza crisis.
Obama's supporters, however, defend his golf outings as a way for him to clear his mind and ease the stress of his job. They argue that sports and leisure activities are essential for his well-being and do not reflect a lack of engagement in governing affairs.
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Obama's defence of his golfing during crises
On August 22, 2014, former US President Barack Obama delivered a statement on the death of American journalist James Foley, who was executed by Islamic State militants. Following this, Obama played 18 holes of golf, drawing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. This event was one of many where Obama was criticised for his timing of playing golf while the country was facing various crises.
Obama played approximately once every eight days during his presidency, including during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, which infected and killed thousands in the US alone. However, Obama was not blamed for his actions during the H1N1 outbreak, and critics remained silent on the issue.
In defence of Obama's golfing habits, White House spokesman Eric Schultz stated that sports and leisure activities are essential for release and clearing the mind. Schultz emphasised that the issues facing the country had captured the president's attention, even while on vacation.
Despite the defence, some critics, including the Washington Post, argued that Obama was often absent during crucial times in international affairs, such as the attack on Benghazi in 2012, the Ukraine crisis, and the Gaza crisis. They pointed out that Obama's excessive attention to activities unrelated to governing was disturbing, especially during times of national and international crises.
In summary, while Obama faced criticism for his golfing habits during crises, defenders argued that leisure activities are necessary for the president's well-being and that he remained engaged with the issues facing the nation. Critics, however, believed that Obama's focus on unrelated activities during his presidency was excessive and inappropriate during critical times.
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Frequently asked questions
Obama was not golfing during the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012. However, he did face criticism for his response to the attack, which involved giving a few vague orders before retreating to his residence.
The day after the attack, Obama made a reference to "acts of terror" in a speech addressing the deaths of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. However, he faced criticism for not explicitly calling the Benghazi assault a terrorist attack and for not accepting responsibility for the security failures that led to the attack.
The Benghazi attack raised difficult questions about Obama's foreign policy and his characterization of his Middle East policy as a success against terrorism. It also raised questions about the security measures in place for US diplomats in Libya and whether requests for greater security had been denied.
Obama faced tough questions and criticism from Republicans, who accused him of a cover-up and claimed that the Benghazi assault contradicted his claim to have al-Qaida on the run. However, during a presidential debate, Obama deftly fended off accusations from Mitt Romney, and there was little evidence that the issue significantly impacted voters.
Yes, Obama has been criticized for his frequent golf outings, especially during times of crisis. Some have argued that he paid excessive attention to activities unrelated to governing, such as fundraising and golf, rather than focusing on pressing issues. However, presidential aides have defended Obama, stating that leisure activities are essential for stress relief in a pressure-packed job.
