August 2011: Is Obama Creating His Own Crisis?

Frustrated? Oppressed? Since his arrival at Martha’s Vineyard, for a vacation that has been criticized not only by Republicans, the 44th president seems rather withdrawn and reclusive on Blue Heron Farm. Headlines like “Obama Buries Himself in Books,” from The Daily Beast aren’t going to do his image any favors. For several weeks now, the media have been following a solitary, grave and aloof Obama. It makes for a questionable strategy for his 2012 candidacy.

With the last few challenging months in Washington and Gallup’s popularity polls putting him at 42 percent, Obama is somewhat aggrieved. It has become increasingly difficult for him to win over the American public, of whom 73 percent say that their country is not on the right track. This is all the more reason to demonstrate his happiness in being with his family doing activities together. We have been waiting for the Martha’s Vineyard vacation to see the return of the swimmer, the fun-loving cyclist in the midst of his family, and to see him regain his upbeat nature. However, in this respect, he’s doing the least possible. News coverage is peppered with sparse commentaries. Politico, for example, reports on his “ritzy vacation,” announcing that he is leading a “hermit’s” life, although he did buy two books, including a thriller, with his daughters. The rest of the media have followed suit. It seems that the press office has done a good job and has suggested that it’s mentioned as little as possible.

But this is about more than just a vacation. For months now, the women in his life, Michelle, Malia and Sasha, who until recently maintained a highly visible presence, are no longer to be seen and are increasingly reticent. Where have they gone? They brought a sense of humanity to his position. Michelle and her fight against junk food and child obesity, the “Let’s Move!” campaign with Beyoncé and even the journeys with the whole family to see the Pope or the Queen of England have all established an image of a presidency unlike any other, unprecedented in its personal and warm nature with which the first daughters were associated.

At his side, cool, “normal” and friendly, they embody a relaxed First Family that is curious about the rest of the world. After their first two summers at Martha’s Vineyard, it was understood that he is of a generation who deal with even the toughest of problems in Bermuda shorts at the height of summer whilst taking care of the family. And that made him rather cool. Perhaps he’s saving up a host of appearances with his tribe before his return to Washington? There’s a fear that the 150 employees from the administration who are on the island to work are spoiling the “party” a little with their isolation strategy – not to mention their “funeral-esque” convoys. It’s a shame.

This is a strategy that we have already seen outlined in August, with his journeys by black coach in the Midwest. The New York Times showed his convoy touring the roads. It had a sinister, inhuman character to it. For a rural tour, it was very “Washington Wilderness.” If this is the model for the 2012 campaign, it is pretty scary! Real people are unlikely to embrace it.

Let’s get back to the vacation: When will we see a return to what made this First Family such a sensation, their visible pleasure in being together and exemplifying the good old American dream?