Liberal Media Clubbed President Bush for Playing Golf in Time of War. Obama Plays 48th Round in 19 Months.

The liberal media was severely critical of former President Bush for playing golf in a time of war. He finally gave up the game and started biking in August of 2003. The media also hammered his father George H. W. Bush for golfing and fishing in a time of war. Yesterday, President Obama played his 48th round of golf in 19 months. That doubled former President Bush's 24 rounds in the three years before he quit. Most Americans wouldn't begrudge someone with a tough job a little downtime, but the contrast in the media coverage has been astounding. If a Republican were in the White House, the war in Afghanistan was going poorly, 9.5% of Americans were unemployed and the economic recovery was stalled, the liberal mainstream media would be all over them for playing golf and taking too many vacations.

Here is an example from The Washington Post of how the media reported Bush's golf outings.

Before Golf, Bush Decries Latest Deaths In Mideast

Upcoming Holiday to Be No Vacation From Strife

By Mike Allen

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 5, 2002; Page A02

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine, Aug. 4 -- It's a ritual when President Bush golfs: As he gets ready to tee off, reporters toss out a few questions about the news of the day from their perches on a nearby sand trap. This morning, Bush wasn't waiting. He sprang from his golf cart at 6:15 a.m. and said he was "distressed to hear about the latest suicide bombers in Israel."

Just over four hours before, as Bush slept at his parents' seaside retreat, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a bus in Israel, killing nine passengers.

The reporting, in the excerpt, paints President Bush as callous and nonchalant about tragedy. Of course, President Obama does have one advantage former President Bush didn't. He doesn't have to worry about questions being shouted out while he is on the golf course. He doesn't allow reporters on the golf course. That alone would have created a media storm of criticism during the Bush presidency.