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malaise

(267,797 posts)
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:11 PM Sep 2014

Good Effin' Grief!! President Obama Rejected From Top NY Golf Courses Over Labor Day Weekend

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/President-Obama-Rejected-Trump-Golf-Course-Westchester-274423351.html
<snip>
President Obama was turned down at several top golf courses in Westchester while he was visiting the area over Labor Day weekend, sources tell NBC 4 New York.

The Trump National Golf Club, the Winged Foot and Willow Ridge were among some of the elite courses that rebuffed the president's request to tee off there, according to several sources who were told about the president's advance team's calls to the club managers.

Club managers apparently did not want to inconvenience their high-powered and high-paying members over Labor Day weekend by shutting down their courses to accommodate the president.

The president was in town Aug. 29, a Friday, for fundraising events in New York and Rhode Island. He had been scheduled to stay overnight in Westchester County in order to attend the Saturday evening wedding of MSNBC host Alex Wagner and White House chef Sam Kass at Blue Hill Farm.

--------
Racist pigs!!!
146 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Good Effin' Grief!! President Obama Rejected From Top NY Golf Courses Over Labor Day Weekend (Original Post) malaise Sep 2014 OP
sounds more like a money thing to me strawberries Sep 2014 #1
Eh. With security and celebrity status, a course would have to virtually shut down. randome Sep 2014 #2
I know a lot of folks at Beverly and they were there when the President was there AngryAmish Sep 2014 #53
Okay, good information. But Labor Day weekend may have been more crowded than usual. randome Sep 2014 #60
Isn't Labor Day one of the busiest days for golf courses? Calista241 Sep 2014 #101
Yes - and tee times are typically booked months in advance Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #124
apparently clinton was also rejected when he was president. La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2014 #3
I sort of recall that... joeybee12 Sep 2014 #41
Those damn racists. bigwillq Sep 2014 #59
i think they would have closed the course for bush samsingh Sep 2014 #4
More likely an anti-Dem Republican thing. nt tblue37 Sep 2014 #11
This tazkcmo Sep 2014 #31
Dumb of them, though. Bad optics, considering the history of tblue37 Sep 2014 #69
They need an audit. conservaphobe Sep 2014 #5
What utter nonsense yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #8
It is unconscionable that any President be treated in this manner. conservaphobe Sep 2014 #10
Ok I would accommodate any President yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #13
As I said, there's never a justifiable excuse to turn away the leader of our nation. conservaphobe Sep 2014 #17
Oh boy! Wrong!!!!!! yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #21
he's not a king, just a public employee who brings a huge entourage msongs Sep 2014 #25
Yeah, 'cuz golf courses are non-profit outfits. WillowTree Sep 2014 #81
There's no way any course makes $80,000 in four hours for one thing. Kingofalldems Sep 2014 #40
Thanks! yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #42
That's a great story about FR. Kingofalldems Sep 2014 #62
Yeah same here. Rex Sep 2014 #64
Your ignored. Causing trouble is not interesting. yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #75
I certainly won't be ignoring you. Kingofalldems Sep 2014 #76
the members of these clubs pay about 100 grand in fees just to join cali Sep 2014 #44
Nice post, Hugh Moran. Orrex Sep 2014 #61
Ah, no we don't. I've seen it but rarely. Kingofalldems Sep 2014 #63
They still have members who pay a lot to join. Travis_0004 Sep 2014 #49
That's hugh! RandiFan1290 Sep 2014 #46
Why? He's President, not King. Codeine Sep 2014 #14
No other nation on the planet would allow disrespect of their leader in such a manner. conservaphobe Sep 2014 #22
That's beyond silly. Codeine Sep 2014 #32
you've departed from any semblance of.... sense. cali Sep 2014 #36
Dafuq? Egnever Sep 2014 #65
You sound irrational at this point. LanternWaste Sep 2014 #74
get a grip, he isn't a king....it's GOLF Marrah_G Sep 2014 #85
Authoritarians crack me up. Marr Sep 2014 #98
I will say heaven05 Sep 2014 #143
lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tazkcmo Sep 2014 #33
Why is that? ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #52
If you don't genuflect... Dr. Strange Sep 2014 #67
fucking ridiculous why the fuck should a club boot off people cali Sep 2014 #18
The commander-in-chief of the largest military on the planet was turned away. conservaphobe Sep 2014 #24
With no 'repercussions'?? B2G Sep 2014 #26
oh baloney. seriously? you think that because the President didn't get to boot a lot of cali Sep 2014 #27
You are making DU look weak tkmorris Sep 2014 #43
What repercussions do you suggest would be appropriate? Throd Sep 2014 #51
Obviously Obama should have sent in tanks, send the Navy Seals in to make sure the mythology Sep 2014 #115
It wouldn't make us look weak, it would make us look like North Korea. Quackers Sep 2014 #56
Dictators make peons suffer if they don't bow low enough. Democratically elected tblue37 Sep 2014 #71
Now you're just trolling. Stop making yourself look foolish. nt Codeine Sep 2014 #83
So, what would you suggest? Fla_Democrat Sep 2014 #100
They would have had to stop doing normal business on a holiday weekend Yo_Mama Sep 2014 #95
Many threads on this yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #6
No, racism is the only possible explanation Capt. Obvious Sep 2014 #9
If it makes you feel better believing that. yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #19
one could take that sig line two ways, I suppose Tuesday Afternoon Sep 2014 #35
What sig line? yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #38
it would appear that Capt. Obvious in not quite so obvious as he appears ... Tuesday Afternoon Sep 2014 #45
"Whites only" clubs? LordGlenconner Sep 2014 #7
I know Westchester. I grew up in neighboring Fairfield County. cali Sep 2014 #12
His team tried on Friday to get a tee time for Sat a.m. ?... Whiskeytide Sep 2014 #15
Amazing how many people who don't belong to a Golf Club no for certain what happened... brooklynite Sep 2014 #16
I have know idea RandiFan1290 Sep 2014 #47
Racism? Hardly. B2G Sep 2014 #20
I find it interesting that you scream that this is racist cali Sep 2014 #23
This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Sep 2014 #28
Obama must have realized he was making a difficult request, else why call 3+ courses? . . . Journeyman Sep 2014 #29
Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #30
This thread is going the way of creative speculation Capt. Obvious Sep 2014 #34
Who leaked the story? BKH70041 Sep 2014 #37
IDK. But the media always promotes their 'Everyone hates Obama' meme. freshwest Sep 2014 #88
That seems to be the opinion of many here. BKH70041 Sep 2014 #102
'Irrelevant.' And you have no source for your claim about the WH or any other reasons. EOM. freshwest Sep 2014 #103
It's a matter of elimination. BKH70041 Sep 2014 #109
Oh baby, Wellstone ruled Sep 2014 #39
racist? jesus, i can't believe you went there ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2014 #48
6 years of racism heaven05 Sep 2014 #86
if every incident ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2014 #89
right heaven05 Sep 2014 #93
obvious in its intent, aye? ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2014 #94
Actually I don't think this has to do with race Cali_Democrat Sep 2014 #50
shhh... you'll be called a racist... n/t ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2014 #96
I would tell the President: thanks, but no thanks. And it's not because I am racist. bigwillq Sep 2014 #54
A lot of paces don't have tee times AngryAmish Sep 2014 #55
They still have members who were looking forward to playing golf Travis_0004 Sep 2014 #78
Those courses are booked weeks, if not months, in advance for Labor Day weekend. WillowTree Sep 2014 #84
They could probably squeeze him in though treestar Sep 2014 #104
Obama probably took the incident with a grain of salt. BlueJazz Sep 2014 #57
I wonder why they didn't just do a "rolling blackout" on the course? MADem Sep 2014 #58
Who are "they" in your last sentence? Hard to tell whom you are accusing of tblue37 Sep 2014 #72
And then publicized same. mahina Sep 2014 #66
This is hard to believe. Major Hogwash Sep 2014 #68
In the middle of the week probably not. Savannahmann Sep 2014 #70
Nikita Kruschev wanted to visit Disneyland in 1959. He was told no . . . Journeyman Sep 2014 #92
Sorry, but the members have rights. badtoworse Sep 2014 #73
Would Dubya Bush have been allowed to play at any of those golf courses during Labor Day Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #77
YES. AND YES. Rex Sep 2014 #79
OF course treestar Sep 2014 #105
He can play at any of the DoD operated courses Crabby Appleton Sep 2014 #80
One of the biggest golf weekends of the year Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #82
The minimizing of this incident heaven05 Sep 2014 #87
Where do you get racism in this? Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #91
I thought your post was ok kcr Sep 2014 #108
I am not defending the 1% Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #117
Of course it might seem ridiculous to those who know how things work in their world kcr Sep 2014 #119
Good point Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #122
I'm not focusing on the 1%. I'm not adding a darn thing. kcr Sep 2014 #125
Courses run the gamut Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #128
Institutions with inherent racism don't deserve kneejerk defense either kcr Sep 2014 #130
The "institution" here where I live Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #132
I'm doing no such thing kcr Sep 2014 #134
what sport, basketball, football heaven05 Sep 2014 #142
Oh, come on. What BS. Yo_Mama Sep 2014 #99
yep, yep heaven05 Sep 2014 #110
Something tells me that if a person of color Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #118
well, false equivalency is a typical ploy heaven05 Sep 2014 #133
Do you really believe this nonsense? tritsofme Sep 2014 #121
See post #127 heaven05 Sep 2014 #131
I'm with you on this, malaise. Octafish Sep 2014 #90
Amazing Savannahmann Sep 2014 #106
much BS heaven05 Sep 2014 #112
Your forgot something. Savannahmann Sep 2014 #114
obama is president, not King. Travis_0004 Sep 2014 #107
same goes toyou heaven05 Sep 2014 #113
Such silliness. You are either engaging in parody tritsofme Sep 2014 #123
very silly heaven05 Sep 2014 #127
What racial factors were in play when President Clinton was similarly denied in the 90s? tritsofme Sep 2014 #136
and a pig with lipstick is still a pig heaven05 Sep 2014 #137
So you don't care to address the analogous situation with President Clinton? tritsofme Sep 2014 #138
nothing silly heaven05 Sep 2014 #139
A simple "no, I don't want to talk about Clinton because it makes my ridiculous tritsofme Sep 2014 #140
+1000 heaven05 Sep 2014 #111
I truly could not give a crap cwydro Sep 2014 #97
How are they racist for wanting to avoid the huge disruption that would result Nye Bevan Sep 2014 #116
yeah, yeah heaven05 Sep 2014 #141
fuck them. spanone Sep 2014 #120
lol, how dare those clubs decide against disrupting hundreds tritsofme Sep 2014 #126
lol. that one person is the President of the u.s. fucking assholes yes. spanone Sep 2014 #129
And...so what? Our leaders are citizens, not royalty. tritsofme Sep 2014 #135
IT...now wait for it........????? heaven05 Sep 2014 #144
Nonsense. tritsofme Sep 2014 #145
Everything that happens doesn't have to be about race. WillowTree Sep 2014 #146
 

strawberries

(498 posts)
1. sounds more like a money thing to me
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:13 PM
Sep 2014

You can challenge and say no to people of color (any color) and not be a racist

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
2. Eh. With security and celebrity status, a course would have to virtually shut down.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:14 PM
Sep 2014

They would be pissing off their clients if they let the President and his entourage have their run of the place.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]If you don't give yourself the same benefit of a doubt you'd give anyone else, you're cheating someone.[/center][/font][hr]

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
53. I know a lot of folks at Beverly and they were there when the President was there
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:49 PM
Sep 2014

Due to a unique routing Beverly took the President's visit in stride. Beverly is bisected by 87th street. So half the course could function normally while the President was on the other nine. Also, secret service did not anyone on the holes beside and a hole front or in rear. So if you are familiar with Beverly on 1 the 1st and 7th were closed, 2 had 1,2 and 3 closed and so on. Everyone on property was wanded a lot, bags searched etc. The Bev has a big parking lot so it was really not a big deal. Well, it was a big deal but every member that wanted to play that day could.

That said a lot of courses get off on telling famous people to fuck off. A lot of courses in Chicagoland would not let Michael Jordan join, especially since he wanted discounted membership and to jump in line from the waiting list. Butler famously told the PGA Tour to go pound sand when they said it was either admit lady members or lose the Western Open (and the USGA would give it's eye teeth to have Butler open up for the US Open and the latest vote was not even close).

Winged Foot will not let the Clintons' join at any price. I am actually surprised that they did not let our current President play, especially in light of the two courses they have. I am sure if he asked to Play East but if he was insistent on West...

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
60. Okay, good information. But Labor Day weekend may have been more crowded than usual.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 03:01 PM
Sep 2014

And 'rejected' is likely a more incendiary word than one that conveys the facts of the matter.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)
[/center][/font][hr]

Calista241

(5,584 posts)
101. Isn't Labor Day one of the busiest days for golf courses?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 09:48 PM
Sep 2014

Not everything is racist. I will say that if I payed a lot of money to be a member of a club, I'd want to use the course on high traffic days.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
124. Yes - and tee times are typically booked months in advance
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:58 PM
Sep 2014

Whether it is a high brow country club or a local municipal course. The first and last weekends of "golf season" are where the clubs (and their service staff) make their paychecks - especially here in the northeast where we only get 6 months of 12 for outdoor sports.

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
69. Dumb of them, though. Bad optics, considering the history of
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:18 PM
Sep 2014

discrimination against black people (and women, and other minorities) by country clubs and golf courses. Even if it was not racism, it is going to be *seen* as racism by a lot of people.

 

conservaphobe

(1,284 posts)
10. It is unconscionable that any President be treated in this manner.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:19 PM
Sep 2014

No matter what excuse they give.

If the President comes knocking, they best be greeted warmly.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
13. Ok I would accommodate any President
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:24 PM
Sep 2014

On Labor Day weekend for the Hugh loss I would take accepting the request. So lets say I would normally make 80,000 dollars during the four plus hours I would have to close the golf course plus the hours my staff would need to call all the prior appointments that I would have to disappoint. I would charge 85,000 for his tee time. If he accepted good to go. If not, perhaps making an appointment on a non holiday would be adventageous for the President.

 

conservaphobe

(1,284 posts)
17. As I said, there's never a justifiable excuse to turn away the leader of our nation.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:25 PM
Sep 2014

Over profit especially.

Kingofalldems

(38,360 posts)
40. There's no way any course makes $80,000 in four hours for one thing.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:23 PM
Sep 2014

Second--the courses are private so no actual profit is made.

Third--it's huge not 'Hugh'. That's the way they say it on Free Republic.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
44. the members of these clubs pay about 100 grand in fees just to join
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:33 PM
Sep 2014

and we say hugh for huge all the time here and have for years and years.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
49. They still have members who pay a lot to join.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:44 PM
Sep 2014

I can understand why a golf course doesnt want to shut down on a holiday weekend. They were likely fully booked and didnt want to cancel their reservations that their members had already made.

 

conservaphobe

(1,284 posts)
22. No other nation on the planet would allow disrespect of their leader in such a manner.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:30 PM
Sep 2014

It makes us look weak when the commander-in-chief can be told to fuck off and they have to fuck off.

At the very least, the media should have not reported on this embarrassment.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
32. That's beyond silly.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:47 PM
Sep 2014

People golf on that holiday. They reserve time well in advance. They don't deserve to be told to fuck off because the president decides to golf that weekend.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
36. you've departed from any semblance of.... sense.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:08 PM
Sep 2014

first of all, he wasn't told to fuck off. He was told he couldn't take over a private club on short notice on a busy holiday weekend. I find it distasteful that his team had no problem disrupting the plans of dozens of people so that the President could get in some golf time. Fuck the imperial presidency.

and it's just loony to think that this makes us look weak and what the fuck is your basis for the claim that no other nation on the planet would allow such a thing.

crazy stuff.

 

Egnever

(21,506 posts)
65. Dafuq?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 03:41 PM
Sep 2014

It makes us look like a democracy and not some two bit dictatorship where we would be forced to worship our leaders.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
74. You sound irrational at this point.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:42 PM
Sep 2014

You sound irrational at this point. I'm sure you're better than these unsupported allegations and hysterics of yours.

 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
98. Authoritarians crack me up.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 09:00 PM
Sep 2014

Would you be this servile to someone like Bush Jr., too, or is this another one of those tidal sorts of principles?

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
143. I will say
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 12:12 PM
Sep 2014

this total disrespect should have NEVER happened. But it did and it just showed me the truth.

tazkcmo

(7,286 posts)
33. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:48 PM
Sep 2014

He's President, not king. I wouldn't even spit on Bush because he's not worthy of my spit.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
18. fucking ridiculous why the fuck should a club boot off people
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:26 PM
Sep 2014

who have reserved a time months in advance on no notice? And why would ANY president want to fuck up the plans of so many people?

 

conservaphobe

(1,284 posts)
24. The commander-in-chief of the largest military on the planet was turned away.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:33 PM
Sep 2014

With no repercussions.

At the very least, this story should have been kept out of the media.

Because it makes us look weak.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
27. oh baloney. seriously? you think that because the President didn't get to boot a lot of
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:37 PM
Sep 2014

people off a golf course, we look weak? yikes. gadzooks.

repercussions? why the hell should there be repercussions. this isn't a fucking monarchy. And his idiotic team should have known better than to try to disrupt the plans of so many on a holiday weekend. stupid of them.

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
115. Obviously Obama should have sent in tanks, send the Navy Seals in to make sure the
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:41 AM
Sep 2014

ponds aren't occupied.

This is an utter nonsensical story and no the golf course owners aren't racist based on this.

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
71. Dictators make peons suffer if they don't bow low enough. Democratically elected
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:23 PM
Sep 2014

leaders don't. This isn't North Korea.

Fla_Democrat

(2,545 posts)
100. So, what would you suggest?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 09:11 PM
Sep 2014

Boots on the ground? Maybe a selective drone strike or 8? Perhaps just freeze their assets?






Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
95. They would have had to stop doing normal business on a holiday weekend
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:53 PM
Sep 2014

Okay, it's an honor. But the regulars would be furious (and many of the their reservations would have been cancelled), and they are the ones that keep the course open. On a holiday weekend, it's very problematic.

It's not anyone's fault, but regular play has to be greatly curtailed for security reasons. No, this isn't racism.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
6. Many threads on this
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:16 PM
Sep 2014

Labor Day weekend is a horrible time for the President to try getting a tee time last minute. Most would say, sorry no can't accommodate". First at all you have to close the place down and Labor Day is a huge weekend for golf courses. Hopefully he requested tee times for 2015. They MIGHT have availability.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
45. it would appear that Capt. Obvious in not quite so obvious as he appears ...
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:39 PM
Sep 2014

see my sig line below ....

and Now Capt. Obivous sigline

pretty nifty little trick, eh?

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
12. I know Westchester. I grew up in neighboring Fairfield County.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:23 PM
Sep 2014

I think this was about not pissing off their membership by shutting down the course and the club. You have to reserve months in advance for a tee time on labor day at these courses and everyone would have been booted off. I doubt that this was about racism- as has been pointed out, Clinton had the same thing happen to him. And frankly, I think it's a bit selfish for any President to disrupt the plans of so many just to play a few hours of golf. It's not like a President doesn't have a lot of great opportunities to play.

Whiskeytide

(4,459 posts)
15. His team tried on Friday to get a tee time for Sat a.m. ?...
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:25 PM
Sep 2014

My guess is they would turn away almost anyone under those circumstances. But especially a golfer who would require them to essentially shut down the course for 4 hours - cancelling the tee times of more than 100 golfers - on one of the busiest golf days of the season.

This isn't as big a deal as the media seems to want it to be.

 

B2G

(9,766 posts)
20. Racism? Hardly.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:28 PM
Sep 2014

It's called business. They would have had to completely shut down for him 2 days before a holiday weekend and kick everyone off who had tee times for months.

I can't believe he even asked. Why should he take precedent over the little peons that actually pay for membership?

Had this been a Republican, the screaming of elitism would be deafening. Get real.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
23. I find it interesting that you scream that this is racist
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:31 PM
Sep 2014

when you claim that a doc refusing to treat an old lady because she's Jewish isn't anti-semitism.

biases are interesting and people seem to be spectacularly bad at recognizing their own.

Response to malaise (Original post)

Journeyman

(15,001 posts)
29. Obama must have realized he was making a difficult request, else why call 3+ courses? . . .
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 01:42 PM
Sep 2014

Holiday weekend, hoity-toity private courses, short notice -- the President knew it was a gamble, but he took it on the off-chance he'd get some time. Obviously, his staff wasn't too put out, otherwise they wouldn't have continued to make the calls.

Well, off to read about important stuff. I understand the President plans to speak to us as Commander-in-Chief this evening. This could be the beginning of a whole new clusterph*#k.

Response to malaise (Original post)

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
88. IDK. But the media always promotes their 'Everyone hates Obama' meme.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:19 PM
Sep 2014

What they gain is a better paycheck than the majority of Americans get. It's all designed to depress the Democratic vote and get the Republicans out to vote by running with this.

BKH70041

(961 posts)
109. It's a matter of elimination.
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 09:21 AM
Sep 2014

I agree I have no source, but I also don't expect them to come out and admit it. There are others claiming "racism" was the reason, but they don't have a source, either. This is all just opinions and discussion.

If we're going by source, then the source said POTUS wanted to play, the golf courses were booked for the busy weekend, end of story. Besides speculation, what more is there to discuss?

But back to my point: Who knew the information? The WH and the golf courses. Why would the golf courses release information the POTUS wanted to play but was turned away? What do they stand to gain by doing so? Nothing. They have no reason to do so. The WH does.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
39. Oh baby,
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:22 PM
Sep 2014

this will come back to bite someone in the ass. Security Services plan these weeks or months in advance. Just Wing Nut politics as usual. Wake up folks,there has been a big time push from the Rethugs since January to do what ever or when ever to discredit or embarrass Mr. Obama. If you doubt,check out the postings that appear here in and around any speech or event involving Mr. Obama,links appear to Drudge,Washington Times and NY Post. Give me a break,it has turned into a total PR shit fest from the Rethugs. Remember,all of our so called Media,is owned or controlled by six people.

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
48. racist? jesus, i can't believe you went there
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:44 PM
Sep 2014

this is the exact reason people think racism DOESN'T exist! shit like this where people scream racism where there is absolutely no evidence of racism...

calling out racism where it is??? hell, yes! but this? where's the 'facepalm' smilie?

sP There it is...

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
86. 6 years of racism
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 07:59 PM
Sep 2014

stupidity and ignorance directed toward the first brown skinned POTUS, IS ALL THE PROOF I NEED!!!!! period. Every action like this slap in the face of my POTUS is within the purview of knowledge that this country is irredeemably RACIST. All this excusing, minimizing racist behavior, attacking people for telling the truth has caused me to wonder, deeply, about the so called liberal. Real, honest, dyed in the wool liberal? Dying breed in this country.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
93. right
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:35 PM
Sep 2014

if you say so. Meaningless words, yours, to me. You're definitely NOT part of the solution. Simplistic and weak words to cover a situation that is obvious in its intent and executed with typical americam minimizing of extreme racist intent. If I'm part of the problem, I will proudly continue to be so. Amerikkka should be ashamed of how this POTUS has been treated during his presidency. ASHAMED!!!!!Thank you.

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
94. obvious in its intent, aye?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:45 PM
Sep 2014

you don't understand the situation then... goodnight and good luck with your worldview...

sP

 

Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts)
50. Actually I don't think this has to do with race
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:47 PM
Sep 2014

Crying racism when no racism exists actually hurts the fight against actual, pervasive racism.

 

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)
54. I would tell the President: thanks, but no thanks. And it's not because I am racist.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:51 PM
Sep 2014

But I would offer a day in the future for the President to play at the course.
But on Labor Day weekend, it would probably be a logistics nightmare, and unfair to those folks that already had tee times scheduled.

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
55. A lot of paces don't have tee times
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:55 PM
Sep 2014

Especially clubs with smaller memberships.

However if there was a tournament then that is a horse of a different color.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
78. They still have members who were looking forward to playing golf
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 06:11 PM
Sep 2014

I don't blame a club for not shutting down on a holiday weekend. The members pay the bills and labor day might be one of the busiest weekends.

WillowTree

(5,325 posts)
84. Those courses are booked weeks, if not months, in advance for Labor Day weekend.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 07:24 PM
Sep 2014

If I was a member who had paid lots of thousands of dollars in membership and greens fees and had made a reservation well in advance and then got bumped for ANYONE at the last minute, I'd tell the club what they can do with it going forward.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
104. They could probably squeeze him in though
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 11:05 PM
Sep 2014

And would have had it been Bush. I don't see this assumption everyone else would have to give up their game as necessarily true.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
58. I wonder why they didn't just do a "rolling blackout" on the course?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:58 PM
Sep 2014

It takes a little more work but it can be done. First you run background checks on everyone scheduled to play. They get metal detected/screened as they arrive. A few may be told that their tee times are pushed back a bit--not cancelled, pushed back.

Then you hold everyone until Obama and crew have cleared the fourth hole. Then you let foursomes out, one at a time, on a very slow, staggered basis well behind him. You let them know that they need to take their time. He has security bringing up the rear anyway, so you have another set between his people behind him and the players behind him who are providing a rolling phalanx as he progresses through the course. They can, of course, hold anyone back who is playing too fast.

They put security all over the courses anyway when he plays --they'd just have a bit more work to do. They're really in need of acquitting themselves well anyway, given their hi-jinks, unprofessional conduct and drunken missteps in the past few years.

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
72. Who are "they" in your last sentence? Hard to tell whom you are accusing of
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:30 PM
Sep 2014

"hi-jinks, unprofessional conduct and drunken missteps."

 

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts)
70. In the middle of the week probably not.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:22 PM
Sep 2014

On a Holiday Weekend where tee times were almost certainly booked weeks in advanced and private parties were scheduled at the clubhouses? No way would they tell everyone to go elsewhere so the President could play a round of golf. No matter who the President was. It was Labor Day weekend, things like tee times had been booked weeks in advance. The staff of the clubs were told to get ready for a busy weekend. Then you want to in essence shut the place down for four hours while one guy makes a trip around the links?

Imagine asking Disneyland to shut down for a day so the President could go visit. They would say no. The honor is obvious, but the fall out would be catastrophic. Thousands of complaints from people who had planned their vacations around the trip.

Come on, get real for a minute.

Journeyman

(15,001 posts)
92. Nikita Kruschev wanted to visit Disneyland in 1959. He was told no . . .
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:34 PM
Sep 2014

Security was the stated reason. His wife and children were invited to go, but the Premier was barred. He was not happy.

And yes, imagine the impact such a visit would have had on the other visitors to the park that day. It would have been far from "the Happiest Place on Earth."

 

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)
73. Sorry, but the members have rights.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:38 PM
Sep 2014

If they don't want to give up their tee times, that is their prerogative. If it was GWB, we'd be cheering.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
82. One of the biggest golf weekends of the year
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 06:59 PM
Sep 2014

People book tee times months in advance for labor day weekend.

Quite honestly, as a tax payer, I don't want to fund a private course to make up for the loss of revenue (and members!?) to close the course and cancel all of those reservations.

POTUS is a member of many golf clubs, and has access to a plane. He could play anywhere the SS has cleared - and if there is a course in NY he wants to play, he can do it on any given Tuesday.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
87. The minimizing of this incident
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:09 PM
Sep 2014

is truly fucking amazing. No racism involved, everyone is just overheated. Right? SOS with 'white privilege'. Just imagining these things, right?

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
91. Where do you get racism in this?
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:33 PM
Sep 2014

After I wrote my response, I read through the thread and found that I am certainly not alone.

He is POTUS, not dictator. He can play mid-next-week. And. He. Knows. That.

Someone probably said, "golf tomorrow?" and he probably responded "sure, why not; *shrug*", and then this tripe hit the paper.

The escalation of this incident is "truly fucking amazing", IMO.

Have more respect for him than that.

kcr

(15,300 posts)
108. I thought your post was ok
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:04 AM
Sep 2014

But I am taken aback reading the posts by people here who just can't believe that everyone doesn't understand how high moneyed exclusive golf courses work. And it's labor day! Why don't people understand that's a big day for the country club set, geeze. You'd think everyone would have intimate knowledge of the culture of the 1%. Soooo annoying this knee jerk race card playing due to ignorance. What are they teaching in the schools these days? How are they going to serve this class if they don't know proper protocol?

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
117. I am not defending the 1%
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:34 PM
Sep 2014

I don't even belong to a golf course. I am addressing the ridiculous 'racism' claims on this story. It diminishes the true tragedy of racism to claim that anytime a person of color is told no (for whatever reason), it *has* to be racism because there is no logical alternate explanation.

Same thing with the constant 'sexism' accusations. Just because something happens to a woman doesn't necessarily mean 'sexism' was the explanation by default of her being a woman.

That weakens the argument and people roll their eyes and quit listening and then the folks offended get even more offended because they believe no one is taking them seriously. (See Boy; Wolf).

kcr

(15,300 posts)
119. Of course it might seem ridiculous to those who know how things work in their world
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:39 PM
Sep 2014

But most people aren't familiar with the world of the 1% and the goings on of private country club golf courses. And, this wasn't just any person of color, was it?

Constant sexism accusations? Yeah, so tiresome, right? Because it never happens.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
122. Good point
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:53 PM
Sep 2014

By focusing on the 1%, you are adding another dimension to this. "Golf is 1%". Now you are also diminishing the valid argument of pretty much everyone on this board that the income/wealth disparity of this country will lead to its destruction.

Golf isn't about the 1% - what I wrote applies to GOLF as an INDUSTRY/SPORT. Don't know about where you live, but here, we have municipal courses where people can join for a small fee and play as much as they want for a fraction of what it costs to take a family to the movies. These courses would do the same thing - because of their business model. You don't cut your members off on one of the busiest weekends of the year without notice. The schools here are VERY active in Golf as intramural sporting and it gives the kids something to do/learn after class this time of year (and in the spring). I donated my clubs years ago to the impoverished city school within whose district I reside in order to support this effort.

We should just cut all that off and let them go join the local suburban heroin epidemic because "Golf" is inherently a "1%" topic. Right?

kcr

(15,300 posts)
125. I'm not focusing on the 1%. I'm not adding a darn thing.
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:58 PM
Sep 2014

Or do you think these are public golf courses we're talking about?

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
128. Courses run the gamut
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:09 PM
Sep 2014

From municipal/member to exclusive/private to public. There is no question there is inherent racism in golf. Just look at Augusta National - who only started accepting black members a few years ago. The crying orange congresscritter belongs to a course that doesn't allow women members (and why that never got more press just irritates the shit out of me).

I am merely trying to explain that not everything deserves a label by default because of the characteristics of the person affected by it.

Years ago I used to use the explanation of this phenomenon (and how it weakens an important message) by saying "lost a quarter in a pay phone", but when was the last time you saw a pay phone? I likened it to the argument of losing the quarter means the phone company was sexist, racist, or (insert religion)-phobic. When you cry wolf, people stop listening and the message is weakened even further.

Some times there are reasons why things happen that have nothing to do with someones gender, race, religion, orientation, etc...

kcr

(15,300 posts)
130. Institutions with inherent racism don't deserve kneejerk defense either
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:16 PM
Sep 2014

If you're going to put forth a defense of that institution with the intent to show why a particular incident is not an example of that intuition's well earned reputation, then assuming that everyone already has the same inside knowledge you have and painting them as idiots who just want to kneejerk is not the best way to do it.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
132. The "institution" here where I live
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:20 PM
Sep 2014

double times it to get inner city kids involved with the sport because it gives them something to do for a few hours after classes rather than them just wandering the city looking for something to do.

Feel free to package everything into one bundle, but realize that if you label things without looking at alternate explanations, you may lose the very audience whose hearts and minds you seek to influence.

Thats all I was saying.

kcr

(15,300 posts)
134. I'm doing no such thing
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:25 PM
Sep 2014

I'm only commenting on ire directed at those who even possibly dared to give a passing thought to the possibility for even one millionth of a second that racism played one tenth of a billionth of a part of a role in the decision to turn away Obama at their hallowed links. How could they suggest such a thing! Such ignorance!

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
99. Oh, come on. What BS.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 09:04 PM
Sep 2014

A) The request came in just a day or two before.
B) These are top echelon clubs, and reservations would have been made months in advance, and members get priority for those - and if you pay 50-100K a year to keep the place open, and you have a party with a tee time on Labor Day weekend, you are not going to be pleased to get a call that night before saying you're cancelled.
C) If you go to the link provided, it explains the situation.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
110. yep, yep
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:01 AM
Sep 2014

right. Did go and did read the 'explanation'. It explained the situation to people who need points to deny facts of history and of the last six years. "Top echelon"!!!! Oh my!!!! How dare that POTUS try to buck the "top echelon" status quo of these 'exclusive' clubs. He definitely is NOT more important than the "top echelon" people who have paid their many thousands of dollars to prove their top echelon status. He doesn't have that type of..... privilege. Right? Okay. But bushieboy and darth would have had it, IF you get my drift.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,216 posts)
118. Something tells me that if a person of color
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:38 PM
Sep 2014

had their golf game cancelled without notice at a club they belong to because the most powerful man in the world wanted to play (and SS required it as they didn't have time to thoroughly vet the property), you would call that racism as well.

Right?

Oh, and BTW, Clinton was also denied Labor Day club access to clubs he didn't belong to - and for the same reason. What are we going to call that? Reverse racism? Reverse sexism? Sometimes life just happens.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
133. well, false equivalency is a typical ploy
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:24 PM
Sep 2014

and it didn't happen that way, so moot point and nice try. What you think will always be suspect to me also. I don't care how much lipstick you're trying to put on this pig, it's still a pig. Like I said, typical and lovely try. By the way, for the uninformed, there is no such thing as 'reverse racism'. Stupid term. Without merit or substance.

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
121. Do you really believe this nonsense?
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:48 PM
Sep 2014

What a strange paranoid reality you have created in your head here.


 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
131. See post #127
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:17 PM
Sep 2014

no, I'm not paranoid, just know how racist this culture really is. But your response is really typical of quite a few 'liberal' and 'progressives' and means nothing to me. So typically................disgusting.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
90. I'm with you on this, malaise.
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 08:31 PM
Sep 2014

The golf courses, and their respectable members, should have felt it their patriotic duty to step aside for one day so the guy with the toughest job in the world can play through.

The fact that several courses said, "No" makes me think that a large percentage of the affluent in the United States are self-serving unpatriotic bastards, if not plain racists.

 

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts)
106. Amazing
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 05:59 AM
Sep 2014

Either you don't know what kind of security demands such an honor entail, or you haven't ever endured it. Atlanta has exceedingly busy roads and highways. President Clinton visited more than two times while I was living in Atlanta. The disruption to traffic alone was catastrophic. Shutting down the interstate and the roads from when his convoy was due to travel, until he had actually traveled caused incredible delays and problems that lasted for hours.

It may seem like no big deal to have the road closed for fifteen minutes, or even an hour. But those closures caused accidents further up stream, and traffic jams that lasted for hours later.

Now, lets say you were the manager of the club in question. You have tee times booked weeks in advance for the LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND. Remember, it's a holiday weekend. The Country Club is going to be very busy as well with several scheduled events. Less than a week before these things are going to happen, probably no more than a few days, you are called up and asked if you can cancel all of those things, a hundred tee times or so, and a half dozen events at the clubhouse, so President Obama can go around the links.

Honestly, if you say yes, you're going to be fired the next week. Because the people who pay your salary, the club membership, are not going to be happy that they arrive at the clubhouse and find police with the gates closed. Their plans made weeks in advance are going to be completely screwed up. They are not going to be happy, and they are going to demand answers like why did you book them a tee time in July when you knew you couldn't accommodate them? If you manage to keep your job, you will be dealing with complaints for the next several weeks.

Yes, it's an honor to host the President. If the President had asked to golf on a Tuesday, any normal weekday, I'd agree that there was something wrong with them saying no. But remember, it was the LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND." Nobody is going to bring everything to a screeching halt to accommodate one guy. I mentioned Disneyland in another response. Seriously, would Disneyland shut everything down for the day to let the President go around the park? The answer is no. It wouldn't matter if the President was one of Roy Disney's Grandkids. They wouldn't do it because it would cause problems for months with people complaining and demanding free days in compensation.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
112. much BS
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:11 AM
Sep 2014

what don't you understand about unpatriotic, self serving, toughest job in the world and maybe, just plain racist? All those words, of yours, to deny one fact. It's in my last sentence, think you can pick it out?

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
107. obama is president, not King.
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:47 AM
Sep 2014

There are probably a lot of members who dont get to golf nearly as mich as Obama and were lookong forward to goolfing over the holiday weekend.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
113. same goes toyou
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 10:14 AM
Sep 2014

as to the ones in denial of the amerikkkan facts present in this latest 'incident' of POTUS disrespect and obvious racism. And trust me, you can dress up this rejection in any fine cloth you please, it still looks like RAGS to me.

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
123. Such silliness. You are either engaging in parody
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 07:54 PM
Sep 2014

Or you have become a parody of yourself. The internets makes it hard to tell.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
127. very silly
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:05 PM
Sep 2014

in a serious sort of way. People can laugh and amuse themselves with this 'incident' and how it's been misunderstood. "Its just business", "to hell with Obama, he's no better than any one else", "he's no 'king'" yadda, yadda, yadda and blah, blah, blah. Amerikkan racial culture does not engender trust in people's good intentions when diminishing and minimizing 'incidents such as this, which is seen as harmless and reasonably 'normal', by a certain racial element of amerikkkan culture, which is typical. So I presume, you're free, white and over 21, so laugh on. Malcolm X said it, in these last 6 years, the chickenshits have come home to roost. Have a good one. Parody no. Distrustful? Extremely.

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
136. What racial factors were in play when President Clinton was similarly denied in the 90s?
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:31 PM
Sep 2014

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. There is no doubt that President Obama has been treated like absolute crap since he took office, but the only thing that happened here is that an unreasonable last minute scheduling request was not granted.

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
138. So you don't care to address the analogous situation with President Clinton?
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:39 PM
Sep 2014

I mean I know it kinda makes your persistence with this argument look even sillier, but...

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
139. nothing silly
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 08:57 AM
Sep 2014

I did address it, and your reluctance to face facts. Your group on here looks silly with their persistence in defending the poor golfers who would have been inconvenienced or the poor club losing some of their members and dollars. This is truly a light shined on a lot of people on this site calling themselves 'liberals' and 'progressives" which I find to be BS. This was an obvious insult to BHO and no amount of wishing that it was not will make it any less than the total disrespect of a POTUS. Get a grip. Your transparency is showing. I'm done with all of you. "much ado about nothing"? Fine. But the light shined on this 'incident' has been revealing of the truth of the Democrats of 2014. Very revealing. Fear of being shown what a lot of people in this Party are is what is driving this denial. It's enough for me to say......well I won't say it. Good bye, I really have had a LOT of fun turning over rocks and draining the swamp on this one just to see what comes out and it ain't pretty. I'm ashamed at what I've found in my Party over this incident and for that matter, THE LAST SIX YEARS.

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
140. A simple "no, I don't want to talk about Clinton because it makes my ridiculous
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 11:20 AM
Sep 2014

argument looks silly" would have sufficed.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
116. How are they racist for wanting to avoid the huge disruption that would result
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 11:00 AM
Sep 2014

from the President coming? When he golfed at Martha's Vineyard the Secret Service descended on everyone who happened to be on the course at the time and insisted on searching them. Who wants that kind of pain in the ass when they are just there to enjoy a round of golf?

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
126. lol, how dare those clubs decide against disrupting hundreds
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:01 PM
Sep 2014

of paying members on Labor Day weekend, who made plans weeks or months ahead of time, for the benefit of one person who happens to be in town and only inquired about playing a day or so ahead of time?

Fucking assholes! lol

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
135. And...so what? Our leaders are citizens, not royalty.
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:25 PM
Sep 2014

No one here would be upset if this same scenario played out for a Republican president. It really is the height of silliness.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
144. IT...now wait for it........?????
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 12:19 PM
Sep 2014

would never have happened, today, in this political climate,to a RW potus. You are only fooling yourself. Realist know. YOU DON'T or won't or can't accept the truth of this matter. America is racist all the way up to how it treats and for the last 6 YEARS, treated it's current POTUS. No, it's the depths of racist depravity. No heights to this.............

tritsofme

(17,320 posts)
145. Nonsense.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 01:25 PM
Sep 2014

A Republican president would be just as likely to be denied for making an unreasonable last minute request as Clinton and Obama were.

I know the fact that Clinton was denied in the exact same situation irritates you and interrupts your false narrative, but facts are stubborn things.

WillowTree

(5,325 posts)
146. Everything that happens doesn't have to be about race.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 01:53 PM
Sep 2014

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2014, 03:27 PM - Edit history (1)

I remember when someone once called me a racist based solely on the fact that I don't care for Anita Baker's records. I just HAD to be a racist if I didn't like her music. Couldn't have been that it's just too.......ummmmm.......lethargic.......for my taste.

Look, the man doesn't have any sort of "right" to play golf anywhere he wants to any time he wants to without notice any more than anyone else. Frankly, I think it was pretty silly, knowing how much security is involved and knowing, as any golfer does, that Labor Day is probably one of the most difficult weekends to get a tee time all year just about anywhere, to think that they would be able to get him on any course, especially on such short notice, regardless of the color of his skin or his political affiliation or job title.

When you toss the race card like this, you trivialize the very real issues we face that actually ARE race-related.

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