After making a big show for the media Friday afternoon of carrying a huge binder supposedly filled with files on potential Supreme Court nominees that he would be studying rather than attend the funeral on Saturday of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Barack Obama went golfing on Sunday.
Apparently the Almighty was none too pleased and opened the heavens on Obama, forcing him off the course during his round of golf.
We only know this took place thanks to tweets by CBS News White House reporter Mark Knoller.
Pres Obama at @AndrewsAirForce since 9A playing golf with aides. Threat of rain.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 21, 2016
Rain cuts short President's round of golf at @AndrewsAirForce.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 21, 2016
A search of Google News shows no reports by any media outlet that Obama tried to spend several hours golfing on Sunday after making believe he would be too busy studying replacements for Scalia to spend a few hours at Scalia’s funeral.
A similar search of Twitter showed only the reports by Knoller–and a slim number by fellow White House reporters NY Times’ Peter Baker, USA Today‘s Gregory Korte and Real Clear Politics’ Alexis Simendinger noting Obama went golfing but no follow-ups that he was eventually rained out.
Obama passed on golfing yesterday during Scalia's funeral but is hitting the links early today to beat the rain.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) February 21, 2016
Having skipped golf Saturday— apparently out of respect for Justice Scalia—President Obama has early tee time at Joint Base Andrews today.
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) February 21, 2016
President Obama is golfing today at Andrews AFB, after remaining indoors Saturday.
— Alexis Simendinger (@ASimendinger) February 21, 2016
On Friday White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told the media Obama would be “dedicating a significant portion of his weekend” to studying potential replacements for Scalia.
The obsequious White House media obliged Obama with headlines and ledes such as this article by ABC News:
President Obama to ‘Dig Into’ Potential Supreme Court Nominations This Weekend
“While family and friends gather this weekend to mourn the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the president is skipping the funeral to “dig into” information on a long list of nominees to fill the pivotal vacancy on the high court.”
Breaking: First images of @BarackObama with binder of info on candidates he's considering for Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/KsZkETBqfd
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) February 19, 2016
WH calls photo op as Pres Obama leaves Oval Office carrying huge binder of materials on possible SCOTUS nominees. pic.twitter.com/kIUw1stZGv
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 19, 2016
WH said Pres Obama would be using the weekend to start plowing through materials on possible SCOTUS nominees. pic.twitter.com/MH9l7FOUJ5
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 19, 2016
After the press briefing, the Obama administration orchestrated a photo-op of Obama walking with a huge binder to make it appear he would be hard at work all weekend studying candidates.
